Meeting You Again

Chapter 19

"Lyra, I missed you! How have you been? How's our little Milo doing?" We haven't talked in so long. Lyra was really busy with her bank work while I was occupied with my research and academic work. Milo was Lyra's four year old nephew, or legally adopted son. Esme had a very difficult birth and she passed away shortly after giving birth to Milo. After fighting the family for a long time, Lyra satisfied Esme's wish and adopted Milo instead of leaving him in an orphanage. Lyra and Jace, her older brother, have been taking care of Milo ever since while Milo's biological father never came to visit him even once.

"Ugh, nothing much. The usual. Even though the job pays well it's working me so hard. I feel like a beaten up volleyball everyday after work! I might as well just resign and look for another job soon. The work is making me stay up too late and Grandma's been yelling at me that I keep losing weight. Milo's been doing okay, but he's been getting sick quite often recently. All the hospital reports seem to be showing he's okay but he's been looking sickly. I'm worried. How are you doing?"

"Have you gotten them to do an updated blood test? Hasn't it been two years since he's had one?"

"Yeah you're right. I'll take him for a blood test this Saturday. I booked his appointment 4 weeks ago. It takes so long to book an appointment for anything nowadays! Anyways, why'd you call so suddenly?"

"Am I not allowed to call just because I missed you?"

"Are you the type to do that?"

"...You're right."

"Tell me the actual reason, I'm waiting. We haven't had an update on each other's lives in a long while."

"Something happened recently and I felt the need to rant."

"Let's see...you wouldn't call me for something like finding a new favorite strawberry cake store. I don't think you would call over anything happening at University D either...did you finally adopt a dog?!"

I felt a little heat rise up towards my face. Why did this seem like Tariq was being called a dog?

"No! Grandpa introduced me to this man who seems nice, but also dead set on courting me. I...part of me wants to give him a chance but the other part of me just doesn't want to give anyone a chance anymore."

Lyra, on the other side of the phone at this moment, was completely quiet, until 2 minutes later she started squealing like a rice cooker.

"OMG finally! It's been about time! How does it feel to finally not ignore the men chasing you?" Lyra never considered what Ayla had with Remus as a relationship. To her, this was Ayla's actual first experience with someone courting her.

We both soon lost track of time while talking and by the time we hung up, it was already 11:30 pm. I chuckled softly, warmth blooming from within. Nostalgia hit me suddenly and I felt myself reminiscing about the days of undergrad. We would sit at the table in front of the tv at our homely apartment, watching tv and gossiping at 2am, eating noodles and chatting after finishing school work.

The little moments like that made me happy. Happy that at least I had Lyra, Grandpa Hayes, and Mom in my life. Despite all the sad moments I've experienced, I had amazing people who helped ease the pain. Who didn't experience painful things in their life? Is it even called a satisfying life without both ups and downs?

These were the late bedtime thoughts that plagued my brain, easing me to fall asleep.

Friday passed by pretty usual and soon, before I knew it, it was Saturday, as well as the first week of March. I woke up fairly early today, despite it being a saturday. I wanted to roll around a bit more but I decided to get up, only to realize I didn't have anything to do. I was ahead on all of my work, and there wasn't anything urgent that required my attention. Mom was likely busy right now as Saturdays were a typically hectic day for her weekday (something about it being a romantic date location?) so I couldn't call her. I didn't want to call Grandpa and risk having to talk about Tariq. Lyra was busy with Milo's blood test appointment. What to do...