Autumn Leaves

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

In the morning, I was woken up by Megan for breakfast. I quickly fixed myself to look presentable at least and went to the kitchen. The guestroom was in the same floor as the kitchen and it was hidden in a spacious hallway near the living room and kitchen.

I was right on time when I arrived. The food was freshly cooked and placed on the table once I sat down. Megan pulled a seat beside her, looking at me with a tired smile and puffy eyes - both from crying and sleep. The two boys sat across us but Ivan was the one in front of me. He stayed here for the night because he didn't like to be stuck with his crying mother that will make him cry too.

"Good Morning," he greeted me, a charismatic smile on his face.

"Good Morning to you, too," I replied. "I'm sorry for your loss," I said to them in general.

Megan smiled and put her arm around my shoulders and patted it. "It's okay. It's fine. That's life." She shrugged then continued to her waffles.

My eyes automatically flicked to Trevor's and he was looking at me with such emotion that I couldn't comprehend. It reminded me of what happened yesterday when Jonathan was talking about 'her' who was supposed to be me. Trevor wanted to hold my hand because he likes me and I made him less tense - because he likes me. I finally understood why he tightened his grip on my hand when I wanted to let go because I was the girl he was talking about.

I blushed a little and looked away but when I did, I caught sight of Ms. Hastings from the living room. Her eyes were puffy as well, her hair slightly messy, and she was wearing a blue robe. She walked towards us but stopped at the door frame.

"Can I join in?" She asked, her head down unlike her confident posture. We all stared at her for a while with different expressions - Megan with slight surprise, Trevor with the same stern face, and Ivan and I both with troubled faces like we weren't allowed to be seen here.

Megan got off her seat to get a plate and utensils for their mother. "Uh, sure, mom." She said and settled the plate near the edge of the table beside them.

"Thank you, Megan." She said in a weak voice, taking her knife and fork.

Megan sat back down beside me. "You're welcome, mom." She replied then the table became quiet.

"Good morning," she greeted us with a small smile before taking a bite of her food.

"Good morning," we all said back, except for Trevor who just continued with his food.

"How are you Ivan? I haven't seen you even though you were in New York last week," Ms. Hastings spoke.

Ivan swallowed his food before replying. "Well, I was very heartbroken about yesterday but I'm fine." He shrugged.

"How about Lauren?" She inquired.

Ivan said, slowly with caution, "She's been happy with her and dad's decision to divorce. Well, that happened for years now but they still considered their relationship as friends."

Ms. Hastings's face changed, from a grieving-but-smiling to uncertainty. "Good," her voice quivered a bit. She looked at her plate, probably to blink her tears away.

Trevor was the first person who finished his meal and I was the second since I only have a small appetite. He stood up to get water from the fridge and took it to the table.

"I didn't know about that." Trevor spoke for the first time. He seemed to be surprised as Megan was.

"None of us did," Megan said, staring at an empty space with astonishment.