BLURRED

Chapter 1

at 8 years old

– You're grounded for a week!!

Four children lower their heads and just receive the punishment, because they already know that if they protest, the punishment will be worse than just spending a week without the video game.

– Honey, they are just children, is punishment necessary?

– They secretly ate the nuts cookies and gave them to Mira to eat too! Now the girl is in the hospital being treated for her allergy! If they had complied about not going into the kitchen before dinner this wouldn't have happened!

Ren's father looks at the boys and with a "who tried to help" face, he smiles at the boys and leaves the room.

– I already called your mothers, and they agreed with the punishment. After school you will each go to your house and without visiting each other during this time. Do you understand?

– Yes mom.

– Yes, Mrs Aira.

– Your drivers will be here any minute to pick you up. Behave!

Ren's mother leaves her son's room and leaves the four boys sitting on the bed looking sad.

– Did anyone know that Mira was allergic to nuts? – MJ asks quite furiously.

– I knew…

Ren responds and throws himself back onto the bed.

– And why did you give her the cookie? – Thyme takes a pillow and throws it at Ren's stomach.

– She was smiling and saying that the cookies smelled good, I forgot to check if it has nuts and I gave it to her.

Kavin, MJ and Thyme grab pillows and start throwing them at Ren.

– I can't believe you made us get grounded because of your stupid girlfriend! – MJ screams.

– Ew, girls! - Kavin pretends he wants to throw up and MJ and Thyme pretend too.

– I wanted to ask if she wanted to date me when we were older, but I think Mrs. and Mr. Asavarattanakul won't let me near her anymore – Ren, who received the pillows attacks, just regretted knowing that he caused Mira to have to go to the hospital.

– If you try to stop reading and drawing so much with her and play more football with us, you would realize that in a matter of time she would like you! Girls always like guys who play soccer! – Kavin adjusts his glasses after they almost fall off his face after letting go of the pillow.

– But I like to draw more than football...

– Kavin! MJ! Your driver has arrived!

Upon hearing the voice of Ren's mother, the two boys say goodbye to their friends and run down the stairs, after a quick hug with Ren's father, they go outside to meet the driver of MJ's family.

– Is it true that I'm taking two boys straight home to be grounded for a week? – Joss, MJ's driver, jokes when he sees the boys walking towards him with a sad expression. Mike, Kavin's driver, was probably busy driving his parents.

– This time it was all Ren's fault! – Kavin and MJ respond at the same time after giving Joss a quick hug and getting in the car.

Already on the way home, the boys seem to be quite sad for spending a week without video games and not being able to see each other after school.

– I hope I never like anyone! I just need the three of you as friends, nobody needs a girlfriend! – MJ says with his arms crossed.

– Ren wants to date Mira and Thyme will marry Lita when he is older! They won't care about us anymore – Kavin says with a sigh, remembering the girl they once saw at Thyme's house. The girl got her hair full of glue after Thyme found out that she would be his wife when they grow up.

– So promise that at least us will remain friends until we grow up?

– I promise! Girls are forbidden to play with us too! – Kavin answers and the two friends hug.

– You're not even grown up yet, kids. It's normal for boys to start to be interested in girls when they get older – Joss, who was listening to the boys' conversation, responds smiling without taking his eyes off the traffic.

– But we're going to be different, aren't we MJ?

– We will never date!

The driver just smiles, shaking his head and decides not to bother the boys any more, and Kavin and MJ hold each other's hands as they remember that they're not going to see and play with their best friend for a week.

_______________

A year later, I know...