The Red String

Chapter 2. Unexpected Help

Camila's weeping intensified as she desperately clung to Milika's arms, the latter studying her with a worried look while taking her snapback off her head.

"What's wrong, Camila?" The woman asked, rubbing her back soothingly as her fingers combed through her hair.

"He's gone, Milika," Camila whispered, sniffing. "My dad is gone, he left us."

Camila let out a heart-wrenching sob, and Milika hugged her tighter, feeling a deep sense of sadness for her. Suddenly, memories of Sinu came rushing back. They had been close friends and had worked together for so many years that they had grown to know each other inside out, just like their daughters did.

Milika remembered those conversations where her friend would confide in her about her marriage. There was no denying that Sinu loved Alejandro, but he had always been an absent father—a man who had helped Sinu in financial terms but had never shown any interest in her daughters and never truly supported them. And when Sinu died, things took a turn for the worse, leaving all the weight on the shoulders of a nineteen-year-old Camila.

"I just don't understand... Why does he hate me so much?" Camila frowned. "I should've never come out to him."

Milika sighed, drawing her close against her chest. Camila was kind, humble, responsible, and a wonderful daughter. She had known her since she was just a little girl, and she somehow felt like a second mother to her.

"You should never be afraid of who you are," the woman said, stroking her cheek.

"But no one loves me for who I am," the brunette whispered weakly. "I'm different, and society is not accepting of those who are different."

"Close-minded people might not..." Milika remarked. "But we love you, Mila, and we accept you just the way you are, regardless of who you're dating."

"He said so many awful things in front of Sofi," Camila sobbed, nibbling on her lip. "He can hate me all he wants, you know, but it's not Sofi's fault. She's already been through so much since our mom died, and now this... Why? She's just a kid, I'm... I-I don't know what to do."

Milika let out a sigh and pulled away, gently wiping Camila's tears.

"He didn't leave you anything?" The woman asked, and Camila shook her head.

"He just left... What was I supposed to do?" 

Milika hummed. "What about the apartment?" 

Camila shook her head again.

"It's rented, so nothing in there is ours. And now, we have to find a new place, but... I don't know where to start." Her eyes filled with tears again, and Milika looked at her empathetically.

Suddenly, shrieks of excitement filled their ears, prompting the woman to shift her gaze toward Camila with a raised eyebrow.

"I couldn't leave her alone..." the brunette explained.

"It's okay, hija," Milika said reassuringly, offering her a smile, before Dinah came rushing into the kitchen.

"Hey, what's going on?" the blonde asked, hurrying over to her friend. "Why did your sister call you this morning?"

Camila's lower lip trembled, and Dinah moved closer, giving her a comforting hug. The two of them had been on campus when Camila got a call from Sofia asking her to come home. Dinah couldn't join her because she had to take an important exam, but that didn't stop her from feeling worried ever since.

"What happened, Mila?" Dinah asked, making Camila look into her eyes.

"My dad," she murmured, lowering her gaze. "He left us."