Chapter 65: Was she not part of them?

Jessie gave Luciana a long hug, patting her back as she did.
"I'm going to be back soon, don't miss me too much," she smiled at Luciana as she pulled herself out of the hug, staring at her face intently.
Luciana had still not cheered up, even with all the hard work Jessie and Alyssa were putting in to make her feel good.
Alyssa was in Luciana's bathroom freshening up, as she was going to spend the night at the Ranez home, Luciana's room precisely, as Luciana was the one facing emotional hurt.
Just as Jessie was turning out to leave the room, as she had to go over to Charles's place, Alyssa walked out of the bathroom, smiling as she did.
"You are going to spend the night in the warmth of your boyfriend," Alyssa huffed, "it's sad that we get to sleep alone."
"Alyssa this is another time where I'm still not answering you, even as I realize that I'm answering you," Jessie giggled.
"I don't know, just get going," Alyssa fluttered her hands like she was trying to sweep Jessie off, giggling as she did.
Luciana smiled widely, which did not escape the eyes of the girls. They were so excited watching her as they realized it was the first that she was doing in a while. Jessie ran to her and pecked her cheeks, then she gave Alyssa a quick hug before she left the house, hurriedly rushing out, as she made her way to the taxi that had arrived for her, which she only came to notice when she stared at the screen of her phone. The ride map on it indicated that the driver had arrived at the Ranez home.
Jessie stared at the bustling life of the city, as they drove past different clubs, restaurants, and other busy parts of Carlton city. Since she got to the Ranez home, she had spent little time outside at nights, so she had not really experienced the whole thrill of the nightlife.
The occasional visits she took to Charles's house, were the only thing that gave her such privilege and she enjoyed it.
While her mind ran through thoughts, Jessie remembered how her life was in Ausburg city. There, the nightlife was a major part of her existence.
Her family, the Gibsons had a large hotel and resort. Jessie, as the first daughter and member of the Ranez home, had to spend most of her nights there. Not like she was necessarily filling in as a worker, but her father, Mr. Gibson always made her pass her time there, and attend to the big customers.
He was always showing her off to them, even as she saw no reason for him too. She remembered the lustful gazes they always used to stare at her, they made her want to poke their eyes most of the time. Her only luck was that her Father was too protective of her, so they dared not come closer to her asides from the fact that they admired her beauty. Who would not?
Notwithstanding, Jessie took all of it in good fate, besides it was her father's business, what else was she supposed to do?
Her thoughts traveled back to her little brother. They were quite good while he was growing up, but for some reason, he became rude to her, and could even raise his voice at her. Jessie kept quiet experiencing all of it, as she took it as occasional family feuds.
Her mother, Mrs. Gibson did not even help in any way. Not just that she was one mother that did not bring her eyes down on the well-being of her children, but she also gave the boy special treatments whenever she decided to check out for them, and Jessie did not enjoy it at all.
The only comfort she got from staying at the Gibsons mansions, was her room. Her everything pink room offered her all the solace and tranquility in the world.
Starting from her pink-colored bed cloths to the pink duvet. Not like it wasn't changed, but the majority of the time, they were dressed up in pink. Even the helpers at the Gibson's mansion were fully aware of it, so they made sure to use pink-colored beddings most of the time.
It wasn't that Jessie liked the pink color, but her mom, Mrs. Gibsons felt she could derive all the satisfaction in the world from the things she got materially which included the fancy decorations of her room, so Jessie was just playing the part.
Another thing she liked dearly in her room was the humidifiers. Jessie always made sure that they were filled with essential oils that were relaxing and soothing her soul. Even though she did not necessarily like some treatments the Gibson gave to her, staying there gave her an escape from the world, as she was always to herself, locked in her room or probably the art studio.
The art studio, another very important place in Jessie's life. It was formed from her thoughtful fixing of art pieces together in an empty room. The Gibson's home was a large mansion, so they were a lot of empty rooms with few occupants, as the helpers had their space in the servant quarters.
Jessie picked that room since it was one close to her room, arranged it, and turned it into her little art studio.
Art was one thing Jessie liked so much, even though it was strange since the other members of the family did not have such talents.
"Or was she not part of them?" She always asked herself, even till the moment she was in and her face lit up in excitement thinking of all the happy moments.
Jessie enjoyed drawing so much, and it was something that she could do even at her lowest moments. She enjoyed every single thing about drawing. It made her bring to sight all of her imaginations.
The painting she had at the Ranez home was one of the last she did, and it was done not long after she began to leave with them, and was still keeping to herself.
The scenery captured in it, was from the place she took shelter in, after she was made to leave the Gibson's home by her parents.
All of it happened one fateful day when she got back from high school, quite stressed out.
She went to her room with the hopes of relaxing, and only for her to get to the door of her room, Jessie realized it was locked up. Her brows furrowed in confusion, but she paid no attention to it, and went to the Servant quarters to see if she can get an extra key.
Jessie was surprised that on getting there, the servants told her that they were instructed to lock her room, and they could not do anything about it. As unlocking it was only going to make things worse for them.
She was surprised why such strict rules were placed against her, and stomped out of the Servant's quarters in anger.
She moved to her brother's room to check on him, since the Parent's part of the house was a little bit restricted.
On getting there, she did not find him and was informed by a helper that he travelled alongside the parents, and they said that she should leave the house before they were back. All Jessie's efforts to call them was in vain, and few of her things were packed at a corner of the house.
Jessie had no choice but to leave. Filled with tears, as she left the big walls of the Gibson's mansion that did not ever offer her the warmth and love she needed.
Her life continued that way, with her account blocked and every single thing that could be a help to her, cut in supply. She was left with the little money she had reserved in a personal account, and began to move from streets to streets ever since then.
It was on one of those occasions that she came across two guys that looked like rogues, trying to have their way with her.
One with his breath that reeked of stale cigar smoke, and the other with markings on his chest.
Jessie knew one thing, whoever they were, she could not stand against them. She tried avoiding them, and took few steps backwards.
Unknowingly, Jessie missed a step and fell into a ditch. It felt like she ran out of lucks that day, as she did not only fall into a ditch, but the ditch turned out to be filled with so much dirts that day. Just great!
Jessie was not fully aware of what happened next, but a guy walked up to her and helped her out. She was covered in dirts and could not really see him. He brought water to her, and gave her some money. Before Jessie could rinse off the dirts from her face, and raise it to him, he had left leaving no sign or anything.
The only words she exchanged with him was a thank you, and that, "he was always going to get help whenever he needed it." She had no idea why she said those words, but she felt she owed him a great deal, and could only repay with those words since.
Jessie opened her eyes slowly, as her memories and all her thoughts rushed back to the present.
"If she had not left the Gibson's home, will she have gotten the care and affection she was getting from the Ranez?" The question kept on replaying in her head, "or will she have gotten the opportunity in anyway to know Charles, and get such happiness and thrill she was getting from the relationship?"
Life's deal always had two sides, and Jessie felt like she was always on the receiving end. She had always hated herself, and every way her life played out. The moment she began to see the beauty in everything, then her life became enjoyable for her.
Jessie picked up her phone, to check how far she was from the Restaurant she had to meet Charles, and exhaled a deep breath with thoughts of how the date will turn out clouding her brain.
"Ma'am, it's here," the driver of the taxi announced, awakening her little mind. Jessie's curious eyes looked out of the window and right into the heart of the restaurant.
She was a little nervous and still excited about the date, taking in deep breaths as she made her way out of the car.
She cleared her fares, then told the driver thank you, waving him as he zoomed out of the restaurant parking lot.