Rancorous

Chapter 31

PRESENT

Herlina

"You're not putting enough icing on them my dear." My mother takes the cupcakes my father had decorated and spread another fat glob of icing on top.

"I'm sorry, honey. I forgot I live with the two biggest sweethearts on the planet." My dad chuckled and my mother and I joined him.

"I think you mean sweet tooths dad." I shook sprinkles all over the cupcakes I made.

"Oh yeah, that too. Sweethearts and sweet tooths." My dad gathered a generous amount of frosting for the next cupcake. When he was done evenly icing the little cake, he smiled proudly. "Like this?"

My mom and I gave him a pleasing smile.

"Yes, exactly like that." My mother kissed him on the cheek and I smiled in happiness.

This. This is what I'd missed so much. The energy in the room was reminiscent of what I grew up in and I thanked the man upstairs for bringing it back to me.

After all the two dozen cupcakes had been decorated, we put them in the fridge but not before we each got one. Well, my dad got one, but my mom and I couldn't help ourselves so we each grabbed two. Tomorrow night, they would probably be gone thanks to my mom and I.

The three of us gathered on the couch in the living room as my dad chose a movie. I dropped the large bowl of popcorn in the middle of the coffee table along with three waters.

My dad chose my favorite Disney princess movie growing up. The one that I had to have on my backpack, notebooks, pencils, toothbrush, clothing, stickers, practically everything I owned as a little girl.

I laughed. "I'm not six anymore dad."

"I know. But this movie has actually grown on me and I kind of missed it." My dad smiled sheepishly.

My mother giggled. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with your dad Lina."

I smiled at the nickname she called me as a little girl.

She leaned against my father who had an arm wrapped around her. Tears of joy wanted to break out, but I blinked, eating my cupcake and getting lost in the movie.

Even if the rest of my life was crumbling apart, there may be this whole in my heart the shape of a missing puzzle piece, but I felt safe, sound, comfortable, and home with my parents.

And that was something that no one could take away from me.

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I didn't seek him Monday morning. Or even Tuesday yesterday. I could feel his eyes on my every move. Although he didn't sit next to me in the few classes we shared, the everlasting effect of his gaze was never lost on me.

The several times that I glanced up at him throughout the day, I gave him a soft smile. He didn't reciprocate, but instead darted his eyes away only to bring them back to me when I wasn't looking.

I felt it. Felt the way my skin lit with goosebumps under his stare. The way my heart picked up pace as if to remind me who it beat for. Who it yearned for.

His eyes held a vast array of questions, and I just couldn't bring myself to go near him.

Truth is, I was hurting. And I needed some space between us to breathe in relief and serenity.

He'd been wreaking havoc over my life ever since he came back. The destruction he had caused was immense. I didn't have any friends at the moment. I walked through the halls alone. I no longer had Milo or Presley to lean on. Nobody glanced in my direction.