CHAPTER 28: THE MEETING

It was a sunny day, a perfect day to go to the beach and play with the water wearing some bikinis and show off some naked skin.

On this beautiful day in November, Juan was currently inside her apartment and had not left it ever since she walked in it after getting back from her trip. Juanita who took the miraculous fruit a week ago was now a changed person.

Who knew that she will go through so much agonizing pain after taking a delicious fruit? Juanita still recalled the screams, yells, and cries she let out as she rolled on the green grass for like forever.

Even when she was stuck in that burning building, she didn’t suffer the way she did that day. At least she fainted sometime later and didn’t get to taste how horrible the pain of getting cleansed and detoxification was like.

When Juan woke up and opened her eyes, five days had already passed. This was what Gem told her, the little fairy who was guarding her even though there was no need for her to do that.

When she woke up, she was in a poodle of dark, sticky and stinky substances that made her puke so bad it became even worse. The first thing she did was fetch some water from the well and take off the dirty clothes and rub herself clean before entering the villa.

She took another bath inside the villa and as she was about to change her clothes, she looked at her naked body and got the shock of her life. Her body which was almost seventy percent burn scars was around forty percent and the scars were not that scary as they used to be especially the face.

Her body even felt lighter than before, it was no longer itchy or painful. Juanita knew that the process had been successful and all she needed to do no was recover and wait for three more weeks before taking the second fruit and seeing its miraculous effects.

After getting out of the villa, Juan cleaned her house first and prepared a feast for herself. In her ranch, Juan was keeping chickens, ducks, rabbits, and pigs. She slaughtered a chicken and ate it heartily.

The next two days were spent with Juan inside and not leaving for anywhere as she wanted to take some rest and there was nothing for her to go out to. Before she went to take her fruit, she had closed down the store for a while so there was no need for her to rush into things.

Juanita also called her parents and informed them that she was okay and that she will come and see them in a month or so as she still has things to do. Her parents were relieved hearing from their child.

This meant that she was alive and kicking and whatever she did to herself, it was working so there was no reason for them to worry about a single thing.

What Juan never expected when she was busy watching T.V and thinking about how to proceed with her life and make more money, she received a call from someone she thought she wouldn’t hear from for a while.

Juan’s feelings were complicated as she looked at Irene's incoming call. She couldn’t run away from this forever so she picked up the call.

“Hello, Irene.”

[It’s been long, how are you doing?]

“I am doing okay; life had been treating me quite well. How are the family and everyone?”

[We are all doing okay. I want to meet you; do you mind me coming over to your place?]

Juan didn’t know what to think about this but when she recalled how Irene didn’t know where she was staying, she felt a bit bad. They have been friends for years after all.

“Okay, I will send you the address and you are welcome at any time.”

After that, the two hang up and Juan sent Irene her current address. Juan had no idea when Irene will stop by but to be prepared, she checked her almost empty pantry and decided to go buy some groceries.

Juan changed into a colorful dress, she didn’t even cover her face like she used to like some female character from a horror story but proudly tied a ponytail and let the remaining fading scars be out in the open.

She proudly went to her car and drove while humming a tune, with her body feeling the way it was right now, Juan felt like she had been gifted with the whole world and nothing was going to stop her.


After buying her groceries she went back home and began to fill in the empty pantry. As she was done and just thinking of what to cook, she heard a knock on her door.

She didn’t have friends nor did she converse with her neighbors so the only person who would come to knock on her door can be only one person. So, Juan calmed herself down first before making her way to the door.
When she opened the door, she smiled at Irene who was dressed beautifully. It looked like she was going to some party or something but Juan was happy to see the other.

Juan opened her arms for her long-life friend and hugged Irene, “it’s good to see you again friend.”

Irene was busy checking this friend of hers and the shock was simply too much for her. Who knew that in this period when she didn’t see the other, Juan changed so much like this?

Irene didn’t need anyone to tell her that Juan was getting healed and she didn’t know-how. She didn’t come here to see this at all, how can she be calm at a time like this?

“It’s good seeing you again,” Irene spoke stiffly, she didn’t want to be here at all.

Juan could also tell that there was something wrong with Irene but that wasn’t her business anymore. What she wanted to see now was the reason why Irene came to her house and what she wanted.

Juan gave Irene a seat and gave the other a glass of apple juice, produce of her farm. When Irene took a sip of the juice, she was in love but she felt embarrassed to ask Juan so she missed out on a chance of having something great in her life.

“So, why are you here?” Juan decided to get straight to the point and get over with it.

Irene was giving her these bad vibes and she just wanted the other to say her piece and leave her alone.