Quicksand

Chapter 2

"Snapping out of my trance, I rushed to meet my mom, eager to see her. As I approached, I flashed her a bright smile, recalling her words from earlier. Inwardly, I made a promise to myself to make her proud.

The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the music on the radio. As "Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez came on, a smile spread across our faces, and we both prepared to sing along. The melody was like a warm embrace, wrapping us in a sense of joy and contentment. In that moment, I made up my mind: this song would be played at my wedding, a reminder of the love and connection I shared with my mom, and the promise I made to her to always make her proud. The memory of this moment would stay with me forever, a treasured snapshot of our special bond.

As the music faded away, my thoughts wandered to the enigmatic and handsome Adrik. Despite our conversation ending abruptly with his intense grip on my hand, I couldn't shake off the impression of his chiseled features and captivating gray eyes, which seemed to hold a depth that almost appeared haunting. His gaze lingered in my mind, leaving me with a sense of intrigue and curiosity. I found myself wondering what secrets lay behind those eyes, and what had driven him to grasp my hand with such intensity. The memory of his touch still lingered, sending a shiver down my spine as I tried to make sense of our brief, yet unsettling encounter.

Drawing me out of my thoughts,"My mom's words brought a warm smile to my face as she said, 'I'll miss you when you're gone to school.' I replied, 'Aww, I'll miss you too, Mami,' and gave her a tight hug while she drove, feeling grateful for the special bond we shared. She teased, 'Do you want to get us killed, move away from me, child!' as she wiggled out of the hug, but I could see the hint of a smile on her face, revealing she loved the affection. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of humor and love, and I knew in that moment, I'd always cherish our little moments like this. When we finally arrived home, I quickly rushed inside to remove my heels, which were killing my legs. I flopped down on the couch, letting out a dramatic sigh, and wondered who invented these torture devices. 'Why must they be so beautiful yet so painful?' I thought to myself, but I knew I was overreacting. After all, I was the one who chose to wear them."

"I dragged myself upstairs to my room, shoes in hand, exhausted from the day's events. A relaxing bath and a nap were just what I needed to recharge. But, as I drifted off to sleep, I had no idea that my culinary fate was already being sealed downstairs. By the time I woke up, it was past 7:00 pm, and my stomach was growling with hunger. I stumbled into the kitchen, hoping to find something edible, but what I saw made my heart sink. My mom, bless her soul, was attempting to cook dinner again. I love her dearly, but cooking was not her forte. The kitchen was filled with the acrid smell of burnt offerings, and I could tell that another gastronomic disaster was unfolding before my eyes.

"'Oh, hello honey, I'm making mashed potatoes and sauce,' she said, beaming with pride, oblivious to the impending doom. I raised an eyebrow, knowing that this would end in a culinary catastrophe. The potatoes would be gluey, the sauce would be bland, and the whole thing would be a flavorless mess. I couldn't bear the thought of suffering through another one of her dishes.

"So, I did what any self-respecting foodie would do in this situation – I ordered a pizza. Discreetly, of course, so as not to hurt her feelings. I'd pretend to enjoy her cooking, make some polite noises, and then, when she wasn't looking, I'd devour the pizza in private. It was a small white lie, but necessary to avoid hurting her feelings. As I waited for the pizza to arrive, I couldn't help but think that this was a tragedy waiting to happen. But, I was ready to put on a brave face and suffer through it, all for the sake of love and family."

"After surviving the culinary catastrophe that my mom called dinner, I escaped to the sanctuary of my bedroom, phone in hand. I texted my best friend, "Sup girl, still awake?" knowing that she'd be up, plotting her next move or binge-watching her favorite show. She responded with her signature sass, "Dorrr!! It's too early to be asleep, after all, I'm not you who sleeps like a dead pillow!" I laughed out loud, feeling a moment of levity after the dinner debacle.

But then, my curiosity got the better of me. I asked, "So, how's David? What have you two decided on about the different schools and long-distance relationship?" I knew she had been stressing about this for weeks, ever since we got our acceptance letters. We had both been thrilled to get into our top choice school, but David's rejection had thrown a wrench into their plans.

I could sense the drama unfolding, even through text. "Girl, it's complicated," she replied. "We're trying to make it work, but it's hard. We're talking about a long-distance relationship, and I don't know if I can handle it. I love him, but I also love my sanity." I felt for her, I really did. I knew how much she cared for David, but I also knew how much she valued her independence.

"Have you guys talked about what you're going to do?" I pressed on, eager for more details. "Like, are you going to visit each other every weekend or something?" I was invested in their love story, and I needed to know what was happening next.

"We're still figuring it out," she replied. "But I'll keep you posted. Thanks for listening, girl. You're a lifesaver." I smiled, feeling grateful for our friendship. We had been through thick and thin together, and I knew that no matter what happened with David, our bond would remain unbreakable."

"Virgin Mary, do you plan on giving Mark a chance?" my friend asked, her words piercing through the screen like a dagger. I rolled my eyes, exasperated by her persistence. Mark was the epitome of perfection - charming, handsome, and kind. Everyone wanted a piece of him, but I just didn't see us working out.

"No, I texted back, trying to sound nonchalant despite my racing heart. "He's just not my type." But my friend wouldn't let up. "Babe, you should give him a chance! He seems like a nice guy," she urged, her words dripping with conviction.

Just then, as if fate was playing a cruel joke on me, Mark's name popped up on my screen. "Hello, Joy," he texted, his words sending a flutter through my chest. I hesitated for a moment, my thumbs hovering over the keyboard.

"I know I might seem persistent," he continued, "but I really like you, Joy, and I'd love to take you out on a date." My heart skipped a beat as I read his words. I couldn't deny the spark I felt whenever we talked.

I snapped a screenshot of the message and sent it to my friend, seeking her advice. "Tell him yes! Tell him yes!" she responded, her enthusiasm infectious.

But I was torn. A part of me wanted to take a chance on Mark, to see where things could go. Another part of me was terrified of getting hurt, of opening myself up to vulnerability.

As I sat there, pizza box open in front of me, the aroma of melted cheese and fresh dough filling the air, I knew I had to make a decision. Would I take a chance on Mark, or would I play it safe and risk losing out on something special? The fate of my love life hung in the balance, and I had no idea what the future held.

"Okay, will tomorrow be good?" I sent back to him, my heart racing with anticipation. I knew I was taking a chance, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted to see where things could go with Mark.

It took him a while to reply, and I could almost sense his surprise. Was he really interested in me? I wondered. Finally, his response came through: "Yess, tomorrow will be good. I'll come pick you up."

I squealed with excitement, snapping a screenshot of the message and sending it to my friend. "He's taking me out tomorrow!!" I texted her, barely containing my enthusiasm.

Her response was immediate: "YAAAS, GIRL!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!" I could feel her excitement radiating through the screen, and I couldn't help but feel a little thrilled myself.

As I drifted off to sleep that night, I couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Would it be the start of something special, or just a fleeting moment of fun? Only time would tell, but one thing was for sure - I was ready to take a chance on Mark, and see where the night would take us.