OUR GAPS

CHAPTER 4

A few weeks have passed, and Yssey still hasn't figured out who sent her the sketchbook. After receiving the package, she managed to sketch some buildings on several of the pages.

"Mommy, Daddy, I'm gonna head to school now." Yssey said to her parents who were chilling in the living room after she got down on the staircase.

Simon, Yssey's father, stood up after hearing his daughter. "I'm going to take you to school, darling. I've been busy with our business these past few days, ensuring our clients' loyalty. That's why I had Rujie drive you to and from school."

Yssey smiled as she heard this. She ran over to hug her father, then turned to her mother, who was watching them with a warm smile. Yssey sat beside Yrain and kissed her on the cheek, which made Yrain smile and hug her daughter back.

"Take care on your way, honey..." Yrain said looking at his husband who kisses her goodbye too and assures her.

The father and daughter safely arrived at Yssey's school while chitchatting about Yssey's plans for college. Simon parked his car in the school's parking lot.

Since it's only 6:50 A.M, Yssey and Simon got time to talk.

"Architecture suits you, darling... What's stopping you from taking it?"

Yssey sighed, looking at the window of her passenger seat. "I'm worried about the expenses for my course, Dad."

Yssey heard his dad somewhat thinking what to say to comfort her.

"Sweetheart, you know that the money we spend on you and Ylai doesn't matter to your mom and me. We want the best for you, and if architecture is your dream, then go for it, darling. Stop worrying about the money."

Yssey turned her head to her father then Simon gave her a warm smile before patting Yssey's hair.

"Dad! Not my precious hair..." Yssey protested removing his father's hand then fixes her hair.

Her dad left out a soft chuckle. "I really like your mindset, Yssey, even though you know that we have the money, you still manage to worry and understand us. Stay in that way, darling."

The two hugged then Simon signaled Yssey to now enter her class.

The morning periods of classes went by fast, usually Yssey and Asvien together with all of their stem classmates being active on every activity and oral.

"What will you get?" Asvien asked Yssey while they were lining up in the canteen.

Yssey shrugged while scrolling through her phone, searching for the sketchbook that the unknown person had given her. She wanted to find out if it was expensive, knowing that if it was, she would feel bothered—she didn't want anyone spending money on her.

Asvien decided to get Yssey spaghetti with meatballs, while she chose chicken inasal with white rice and a vanilla lava cake for dessert. They opted for water to drink.

Looking for an available table, Yssey put her phone away, but they couldn't find any empty seats because the canteen was packed. So, they decided to eat at a kiosk not far from the canteen, enjoying the fresher air outside instead of the air-conditioned space.

After sitting down, the girls picked out their MacBooks that have pink covers to get the assignment on their minor subject done. And Yssey also took the sketchbook out to scribble something if she is done on her assignment.

"Whoa! That sketchbook is beautiful, Yssey!" Asvien exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. She grabbed Yssey's sketchbook and examined it as if it were a puzzle.

The sketchbook has a leather cover with baby pink color and ribbon designs and it looks expensive by the materials used, by the chosen color and design, it is as if the person who gave it to Yssey knows her well.

"Yeah, someone gave it to me on our first day of school. But I feel bad... I searched for the price and it's almost five thousand pesos."

"Who's that person?" Asvien asked—putting it back to Yssey's side.

Yssey opened her MacBook, "I don't know, the note says it's from "YouWillKnowSoon", that's all, but the handwriting is familiar to me, I just couldn't remember who."

Asvien looked at Yssey with a malicious smile. "Hmm... someone seems to have a secret admirer again and again!" then she laughed loudly.

"As if you had none?" Yssey said back with a smirk without looking at Asvien's who suddenly stopped laughing and just pouted.

"Oh, shut up, Yssey, and just start your assignment." Asvien said while sticking her tongue out.

"Already started."

The two girls spent their lunch hour working on assignments and munching on their food when Lerille and Lerthy, Leon's younger sisters, spotted them at the kiosk. Instead of heading to the canteen, they decided to join Yssey and Asvien.

"Asvien! Yssey!" Lerthy and Lerille called when they finally reached the two.

Yssey and Asvien quickly turned their heads toward the familiar voices of the two juniors. The four girls exchanged smiles.

"Hey, Lerille and Lerthy!" Asvien greeted the two while Yssey was just smiling.

Lerthy fixed a strand of hair blown by the wind and smiled at the two. "We were looking for you during break at the canteen," she said, pointing to the nearby building. "But we didn't find you there, so it's perfect timing that we finally ran into you! We want to invite you both to a party at our house."

Yssey and Asvien looked at each other, Yssey signaled Asvien that she wanted her to ask the juniors what party it was for.

Asvien rolled her eyes on Yssey then spoke. "We would like to come! What is the party for?"

"For Lerthy's 15th birthday..." Lerille explained—side hugging Lerthy.

"Are you not twins?" Yssey finally spoke, with her confused look.

Asvien agreed with Yssey, noting that the two juniors shared almost identical features: they both had blue eyes, straight black hair, similar heights, and matching skin tones. Their brother, Leon, had the same hair and skin color, but his eyes were different—blue with a hint of gray, a combination they inherited from their mother's blue eyes and their father's gray ones.

Lerille and Lerthy shook their head back and forth while quietly laughing after hearing Yssey's question. They always get this question or compliments when they're together somewhere so they're used to it.

"Lerthy is actually only in 9th grade of junior year while I am in my 10th grade."

After knowing that, Asvien and Yssey started nodding and put their happy faces back.

"Thank you for inviting us, when is that though?" Asvien asked then opened her calendar on her MacBook.

The two Myers siblings walk towards Asvien to look at her, making a schedule on her laptop. Yssey did the same as the two juniors.

"24th of July, only 4 days left!" Lerthy said.

Asvien then made a schedule for 24th of July that says, 'Lerthy's birthday party!'

Yssey then remembered the last time she went to the Myers mansion, on Leon's birthday. Her cheeks heated by the thought of that embarrassing day but fun party of her life.

'I'm gonna see him again...'

Yssey wanted to feel excited, but she knew that the man was attractive in her eyes. He was the only one she had become attached to, aside from the fictional characters she read about. However, knowing that Leon was now in college, she realized she shouldn't allow her feelings for him to grow any stronger.

END