Pain And Pleasure 18+✓

Fifty-five

A week has gone by ever since I came to know that my life is back to ordinary. Acceptance, however, seems to be the quest only triumphant to the few brave ones, and I'm certainly not among them. But life must go on, I'd constantly remind myself, that way I can live again.

Smile, Ara. There's a lot to live for.

I get home at dusk after a busy, distracting day at college. Just another ordinary day on my calendar, except for the painting of memories blurring in my head from time to time. I still believe time can fix everything, and Adrian Castle is not an exception—hopefully.

"Hey, you're back." Sally's in the kitchen, chopping potatoes for dinner.

Potato peels are scattered on the island, and the scent of spices flies around.

She's been very helpful around here, and it's like she's grown up a lot lately compared to the little princess in her big mansion from a few years back. But I feel like there's more to her decision to be here than she lets on. I wonder what happened.

"Hey." I drop my bag and head straight to the sink to wash my hands. "You good?" I quiz, slowly trying to get to her undefined mood.

Cool water from the tap cascades on my hands, beating up the lavender scent of the handwash as my fingers mingle.

"Yeah." Her smile doesn't touch her lips. "I was idle so I decided to Google some fried chicken recipe to go with chips, and here I am, making a mess in your previous kitchen."

Eyes around, I see the drumsticks in a marinating bowl covered with plastic wrap. I free a laugh, for she's doing it even though she despises cooking.

"Great. I'll be your guest," I say, pulling a chair from the breakfast table while drying my hands. "Jake. Isla. Where are they?" I gaze around, and no one is in sight.

"Well..." She presses the cutter on the potato, producing slices of chips that fall straight into the bowl of water. "Isla is invited to a rooftop party. How classy is that for a kid, huh?" She chuckles.

I frown. "Rooftop party? What are you talking about?"

"Just a birthday party for some kid next block? She literally cried for me to let her go with her other friends who dropped by to pick her up."

"Oh?" That must be Anastasia, one of Isla's classmates living next block. Her mom told me about it a few days ago, but I completely blacked out. "Alright. I'll go pick her up in an hour or so," I say tiredly. "Jake?"

He's the notorious one. I'm constantly worried.

"Out with his friends, at last. They were here the whole day, and guess what?" Sally grins expectantly at me. I shrug. "He finally opened his boxes! Adrian's special."

"Really?" I stifle a laugh.

"Told you he'd come around. And as you know—boys and their favorite toys can't be apart for too long."

"Well, all for the best," I remark, grabbing a jug of water to help myself after the long day I've had. "Hey, are you okay? I noticed that you're a bit... I don't know how to put it."

"I'm a bit what?" Sally asks warily, profound worries lacing her voice as though I'm closer to the truth about something.

"Nothing. I just wanna know if you're okay, Sally. I noticed you weren't at campus the whole day so I'm checking. Besides, we always talk about me and I think I forgot to ask how you're truly doing," I tell her, meaning every word.

Sally is always a firework—bright, charming, and noisy—but lately, I see less of her personality. It's probably growth, but I'm tempted to believe otherwise if I consider the fact that she skipped classes today and disappeared to a place only she knows.