For more than a decade, I've tried to forget the life I had before. Waking up knowing that what I was hoping for may never come. But when it finally did, I thought my life would finally be better. But boy was I wrong.
Phoenix walked out of her room and walked into the kitchen. She saw John cooking a bunch of food. There was bacon and eggs, French toast, oatmeal, cereal, and many more.
"Uh...what's...all this?" Phoenix asked.
"Breakfast. I didn't know what you liked, so I cooked a bit of everything."
"I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be the one cooking food. You are my guest."
"I don't mind cooking for you. It's Christmas Eve, why don't you have a tree set up?"
"Because I hate the holidays."
John was surprised by her answer, and more surprised how she said it, with a determined, cold, and flat tone. She said it with great pride as well. Like, she's happy that she hates the holidays.
"What? No, you don't."
"I do. It's a sickening holiday about presents and laughter."
"What about your family? Don't you visit for the holidays?"
"No. But I do pick up the phone and wish them a Merry Christmas."
"Well, this year your days of spending Christmas alone are over. Why don't you come over to my mother's Christmas party? I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh. Thank you, but I don't want to ruin any holiday plans."
"Nope. You're not getting out of this one."
"I don't get a say in this?"
"Nope. Now pack a bag."
"But we don't leave until tomorrow."
"Always plan a head."
"Ugh! Fine."
Phoenix went to pack some clothes. John watched her leave, and he smiled.
I watched Phoenix leave to pack a bag and I couldn't help but smile. She's beautiful. Wait...Did I just call her beautiful? I mean, she is beautiful. But...she's my employee. But I did spend the night at her apartment, and cooked her breakfast, and invited her to meet my family. No, no, no, no. I can't...I'm not...I'm not falling for Phoenix. Right?
As John continued over-thinking, Phoenix walked out and sat down at the table. John also sat down, and there was an awkward silence between the 2.
"Can I ask you a question?" John asked.
"Was that the question?"
"Haha, very funny. I know I shouldn't have, but I went through an old box in the closet. What's A Child's Dream?"
Phoenix choked on her orange juice and started coughing.
"Shit! Are you ok?"
"Yeah...I'm fine. You just caught me off guard. Um...A Child's Dream...is a place that I wanted to forget. The reason why I hold on to that box is because I hope one day I'll get the answer I've been asking about for 15 years."
"What are you looking for?"
"Jesus, what's with all these questions?"
"I'm just curious."
"Well, I gave you your answer. Take it or leave it."
"Phoenix-"
"Drop it!"
Phoenix got up and stormed off to her room. John heard the door slam shut and he can tell he hit a nerve. Phoenix had secrets that she wasn't ready to reveal. Hours went by and it was night time. Phoenix still hasn't come out of her room and John was in the living room reading one of Phoenix's books. She finally opened the door 10 hours later, and saw John on the couch reading.
"You're still here?"
"We have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow. And...I wanted to say I'm sorry. I crossed the line by pushing the question. It's clearly something you don't want to talk about, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"I'm sorry for going through your personal belongings."
John let out an awkward smile, and Phoenix just nodded her head.
"What book is that?" Phoenix asked.
"Oh, I saw your bookshelf and picked out this one. It's James Patterson's Obsessed: A Psychological Thriller. Never read it, but it's good so far."
"You also like James Patterson?"
"Like him? He's a book machine. I love his books."
"Did you read The Summer House?"
"Of course I read that one. How about 21st Birthday?"
"Duh. It was really good."
"Good to know there's another book nerd out there."
"Yeah. It makes you feel like you're a part of something. Suddenly you don't feel so-"
"Alone."
John and Phoenix stared at each other for a long while. Phoenix knew she and John had a lot more in common than she believed. But she couldn't trust him. Not yet at least.
"Are you ok?" John asked.
"I'm...fine? Why?"
"Well, you were in there for 10 hours at most. You didn't even leave the room for even a bathroom break."
"There's a bathroom in the bedroom."
"The point is, you didn't leave the room. Did you even eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
Just then, Phoenix's stomach started to make noise. John lifted a condescending brow.
"Ok, so maybe I didn't eat. But I'll eat later."
"Nope. Not on my watch. Get dressed. We're going to get some food."
"It's Christmas Eve. Where are we gonna get food on a holiday night?"
"I know a place that's open 24/7, and never closes on holidays. Trust me."
Oh, honey. Trust is something I don't have.
YOU ARE READING
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רומנטיקה"Quick question: why do you live in a two-bedroom apartment when it's clearly just you alone?" "I have 5 brothers. Life...falls apart on some people. Life is full of disappointments. There's people who make you believe they love you. But they don't...
