The next day was Sunday, and as the sun gently peeked through my bedroom window, I found myself torn between the desire to face the world and the fear of confronting my mother after the events of last night. Could she have possibly seen me in action during that call with Karen, or was she too sleepy to notice? The uncertainty gnawed at me, making it impossible to leave the sanctuary of my bed.
Reluctantly, I reached for my phone, hoping for a distraction or a reassuring message from Karen. My heart raced as I discovered seventeen new messages from her, a clear sign of her worry. She had every right to be concerned; not only could I face grounding from my parents, but Karen could also lose her job if our secret was exposed. I reassured her that everything was fine, though the truth behind last night's commotion remained too embarrassing for me to share.
Lost in her own thoughts, Karen remained blissfully unaware of my mother's intrusion, her messages revealing her genuine apprehension. She had no idea my mom had walked in, but she sensed something was amiss, fearing I might be having second thoughts about our connection. "Well, if everything is fine, I would like to continue where we left off last night, maybe in person," she texted, her longing palpable in every word.
Caught between my own desires and the weight of responsibility, I knew I had to tread carefully. "I can't, I've got school tomorrow," I replied, deflecting the conversation away from the intensity of our relationship. It was a half-truth, a convenient excuse to buy myself some time.
Karen persisted, her messages becoming more insistent, and I began to feel smothered. I needed space to clear my head and focus on anything other than this complicated situation. I decided to lie, my guilt growing as I typed out the words. "Karen, I feel the same. I think I'm falling for you too, but I don't think I'm ready considering the pace we're moving at. I'll see you at school tomorrow." With a mixture of relief and regret, I hit send, hoping that my decision would deepen the chasm between us.
With guilt weighing heavily on my conscience, I reluctantly got out of bed and headed for the shower. I needed a fresh start to the day, one that didn't involve evading my mother's watchful gaze. As I entered the kitchen, hesitant to confront her, I greeted her with forced cheerfulness, "Morning, Mum. Is breakfast ready?"
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "You're up early! What a pleasant surprise."I took her response as a sign that she hadn't noticed my indiscretion or, at the very least, she wasn't making me feel like she knew. Relief washed over me, even as the guilt persisted in the back of my mind.
Leaving my worries behind, I attended my tuition and later hung out with my friends. Lately, Karen and I had become the subject of most of our conversations, which boosted my ego. However, beneath the surface, our relationship felt suffocating and overwhelming, except for those stolen moments of passion.
As the day drew to a close, I couldn't help but wonder how long I could keep up this charade. The secrets were piling up, threatening to consume me from within. I needed to find a way to navigate this complicated situation, to balance my own desires with the expectations of those around me. But for now, I would immerse myself in the laughter of my friends, hoping it could temporarily drown out the inner turmoil that plagued my every thought.
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Age Is Just a Number
Ficção Adolescente"Age is Just a Number" is a suspenseful tale about a high school student who forms an unusual bond with his new English teacher, Karen. Karen's mysterious aura sets her apart from the other teachers, and Miles is instantly intrigued. As they become...