Taylor and Victor

Chapter 23

Taylor

First day of new year, she wakes up to her mother cooking lunch. In the kitchen, mushrooms are being roasted, shrimps are being prepared, and few more extra dishes her mother either finished or hasn't started.

They had a big lunch when her parents were busy.

"We'll have a gathering with our colleagues," her mother said. Taylor didn't ask if her father'll go, she already saw him prepared.

Before they leave, at one, Minh gave her a red envelope, with her excuses being allowance, because she said Taylor's one year older, she gave her as a gift. She knew no way her mother would do it on such occasion, but rather some sense of having her old country tradition around was comfortable. Even when she had left her country for so long.

She keeps this tradition anyway. Taylor still feels that she does.

She spent the rest of her day staying over Victor's house. Her best friend's busy, going out with his parents. Taylor was a bit dejected over the news, though she soon got used to it. And because staying at her house is making her nostalgic in a bad way, she finds her way to being over his house.

She could already imagine when standing outside his house. But inside his house was opposite from hers, filled with pictures and decorations hanging on his smoke wall. And there were many toy-like model displays on top of every shelf she could find. The interiors are much more complete than the outside of their house.

Inside his room was this huge bookshelf, mostly scientific books or foreign classic stories, placed in the middle were indoor trees and ornaments. And on his desk, her flower crown and butterfly sample were kept safely in one corner.

His house was nice, but despite all the comfort she got, Taylor didn't feel much better once settled down on his desk. With Victor sitting beside. She makes her mind busy by taking out her holiday work to finish, though she had done all the fun parts.

Sometimes when she thinks of nothing, she takes a peek over his computer screen. But he never lets her do so.

When she has nothing else to do, and everything seemingly less charming, Taylor comes down to the kitchen, finding herself some treats just because. She found a box of biscuits inside a cabinet over her head, buttery smell and sprinkled with raisins. She sat down on a chair, crossed her leg and broke tiny bit from one biscuit and put it in her mouth. Despide finding an eating therapy for herself, she didn't feel like eating.

Victor came down later on, looking at her but didn't say anything. While he approached the refrigerator, her eyes moved along with his movement and wondered what he's doing. His body was hidden from behind the door for seconds, before he closed it and took out two cans of beer, shaking one in front of her.

"Want some?" he asked. Taylor shakes her head slowly.

"I don't drink," she said.

"You looked like someone who will."

"Maybe. Soda," she muttered, and then looked up. "Do you have soda?"

Victor turns back taking out a can of sparkling cherry. He tossed it to her as she lightly receive.

"You're gonna tell me what happened," he said.

"What's there to tell?" Taylor opens the can and takes a slip. "Just nothing to do."

"You wouldn't say things like that."

"Then what can I do?"

"I'm not sure, going out, inhaling some fresh air?"