A Guide to Love (ONC 2023)

Chapter 8:

The nerve-racking experience of being left in the dark with a bunch of strangers wasn't new to Mila. As a kid, she had lived in more than a handful of orphanages, all with poor electricity, and single light bulbs strung up around the room. Often, the electricity would go out, granted, and Mila and the other kids would huddle on their rock-hard cots with the thin blankets over them while the director ran around touching heads and counting them, sure she was missing someone.

Evidently, the other students were not ready for the sudden black-out, as the large speakers blaring music cut off suddenly, leaving a handful of students belting out songs without music.

"It's me! Hi!-Hey! Where did the music go?!"

"I'm so-Where did the lights go?!"

Sighing, Mila stretched out her hand, trying to find the chairs so she could sit down and wait for the lights to go back on. Instead, she found her hand on the hand of another person, who, by the looks of it, was fumbling around and looking for a flashlight.

Taking her phone out of her pocket, Mila swiped open the flashlight, to find herself face to face with a familiar mop of red curls and freckles. "Sorry."

The boy stared at her in shock. "You-you look just like my-my sister!"

Mila started, concerned about that. "I-no! I'm-I mean-"

Just then, the lights went back on, and the music came back on, and everyone went back to normal.

Except for the boy.

He continued staring at her, before offering his hand. "I'm Milo."

Reaching her hand out to shake his hand, Mila realized what was so offsetting about the name. "I...I'm Mila."

*_*_*_*_*_*_

With the lights out, Scarletta had no choice but to continue wasting phone battery on the flashlight. Crowds of people had huddled around the window, staring out at the black streets, which were just illuminated with lights a mere second ago.

"Everyone, calm down." The employee at the shop stepped out from behind the counter. "It's just a little technical difficulty on our server for this road, please stay calm and stay in an orderly fashion."

Vivan made her way over, still snapping her gum like usual. Sliding onto the seat across from Scarletta, she placed a small light-bulb shaped light. "Wanna play Uno?"

Shrugging, Scarletta took the cards and started shuffling, then paused. "It's...seven cards right?"

Celia made her way over here, and slid in next to Vivian. "Seven cards." She confirmed, taking the piece of gum Vivian had offered.

Cassandra then slipped in next to Scarletta, who was madly texting on her phone. "Count me in..." then a loud slap came from her slapping the marble table, then a long "Ow!"

Staring questionably at Cassandra, Scarletta tilted her head towards Cassandra, as if to ask what's going on?

Filling in the blanks, Celia smirked. "She's having an 'argument' with her boyfriend."

Dealing out cards, Vivan scoffed. "Glad I'm asexual, relationships are hard."

Picking up her hand, Scarletta played out a blue three, then responded: "Can't relate. Bi here, and relationships sound pretty amazing to me."

Cassandra, who had finally finished the 'argument' with her boyfriend, sighed. "He's so annoying."

"I think what you're trying to say is 'he's so cute and I love him so much but I can't say that cuz I don't want to'."

"No I'm not!"

The lights chose that moment to come back on, and Scarletta squinted in the sudden brightness. The employee sighed, and continued wiping down countertops before she exited to the kitchen.

"Uno!"

*_*_*_*

The smell of the hospital hit Kathleen, sanitizers and the smell of mint. Aspen had already made his way towards the reception desk, where a clerk sat, hands around a steaming mug of coffee.

"Hi. I'm here to visit Marilyn Chan?" He stated, leaning on the counter. Kathleen, next to him, stood awkwardly.

The clerk typed something up on the computer, then stated, "Relationship with patient?"

"Niece." Kathleen cut in, placing a hand on the countertop.

"To the left; she's in room 28."

Aspen slung an arm around Kathleen, making her freeze. The sudden movement warmed her heart, as she realized just how short she was compared to him. Tilting her head back to completely rely on his arm, Kathleen sighed.

Aspen stiffened underneath her, but relaxed suddenly, a brilliant grin flashing across his face.

The door to room 28 was open, and someone spoke from inside. "Marilyn...we're here on behalf of Aspen, such a d-"

Aspen stiffened again underneath Kathleen, and she felt the rage coming up. Stalking inside, she sat down next to her aunt. "I hope we're not interrupting anything?"