You decide to go to the kitchen, "maybe there'll be some snacks in a cabinet," you think.
Getting closer, you hear music emanating from the kitchen, walking into the kitchen, you see Maria washing dishes, and a radio blares 80s music. Spotting you, Maria seems to somewhat panic and quickly stashes something into a nearby cabinet.
"Heeeey, Maria... what's going on here?" you ask.
Maria nervously laughs, "Just washing the dishes and listening to oldies on the radio..." there's an awkward pause as you wait to see if she'll say more, "Anyway! Did you need anything Lucas?"
"Well, I did originally come down here to see if there were any snacks or something, but-"
Maria quickly interrupts you before you can finish, "Oh, I'm going to make dinner soon, but if you ABSOLUTELY have to eat something right now, there's some fruit on the countertop over there," Maria points at a bowl of assorted fruit.
You get closer to Maria and speak once again, "As I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me, I did originally come down here for a snack, but now I just want to know what you put in THAT cabinet!" you dramatically point at the cabinet in question.
Maria's eyes widen, "Well I was just... putting some clean dishes up obviously..."
You clear your throat, you have her right where you want her, "That would be a pretty good answer if it wasn't for the fact that your drying towel isn't even wet yet!" you triumphantly hold the towel into the air as if your revelation was some grand achievement to be marveled at.
Maria lets out a sigh, "Fine, you caught me..." Maria turns the faucet off and motions you to hand her the towel, you comply, she dries off her hands and reaches into the cabinet, to your surprise she pulls out a bottle of wine.
"Whoa!" you say in shock, "I didn't know you drank."
"Yeah, I kind of picked it up earlier this year..." she says sheepishly.
You take the bottle out of Maria's hands, "Jesus, Maria, you know it's not a competition, you don't have to drink it all in one sitting" you shake the bottle to emphasize its emptiness.
"I- I didn't drink it all just now!" she protests, "I've been, you know... just taking a sip here and there."
You search your parent's wine cooler, "Yeah, it looks like you've done more than take a 'sip here and there,' how have they not noticed wine missing?"
"Well, luckily your parents don't actually drink that much, and when they do they like the more expensive stuff, so if I just drink the cheaper wine, they usually don't notice." Maria awkwardly laughs at her own alcoholism.
"Usually?" you question.
Maria turns away from you a bit in her shame, "Well, when I first started drinking I went a little overbored, and they noticed one of the bottles missing, but I managed to convince them I was just clumsy and dropped it when I was cleaning the cooler."
You smirk, "Clever girl, first you tell me you're an alcoholic, and now you tell me you're a lier too, you sure have been up to a lot this year."
Maria pouts, "There's a lot you don't know about me, especially since you're never around anymore... you're not going to tell them, are you?"
You let out a chuckle, "No, Maria, I'm not going to tell them."
"Well, how do you feel about this?" she asks.
Approve. Page 36
Disapprove. Page 37
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Windows To The Heart
Short StoryIn this visual novel inspired "Choose your own adventure" story, experience something that was mostly written in a few hazy hours, a story about love, death, family, and most importantly, choice. Told from the point of view of Lucas, a homesick rich...
