My country side

Neville #2

Sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of my room, casting a warm glow that did little to ease the pounding in my head. I blinked against the brightness, confusion settling in as the memories of last night came crashing back. The laughter, the chaos, and then-boom-the police showing up, cutting the night short. I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow.

A soft knock interrupted my misery. "Neville? Are you awake?" It was Maria, our housekeeper, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Yeah, I'm up," I mumbled, still half-dazed.

"Good. You may want to get dressed. Your parents are back," she said, her tone implying that I was in for a rough ride.

I sat up, a jolt of panic shooting through me. "What? They're back already?" My mind raced as I quickly got out of bed, the events of the previous night flashing through my thoughts like a bad movie reel.

"Yes, they returned early this morning," Maria continued, her expression unreadable. "I think you should prepare yourself."

I threw on a wrinkled t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, the remnants of last night's party still scattered around my room. I could only imagine how the rest of the house looked. With each step toward the living room, my stomach twisted tighter.

As I walked downstairs, I could hear my parents' voices echoing through the grand foyer. The familiar scent of coffee wafted through the air, but it did little to settle my nerves. I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath before stepping in.

My mom sat at the table, her brow furrowed as she read through a stack of papers. My dad leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee, looking every bit the picture of a businessman ready to tackle the day. They both looked up as I entered, and I felt the weight of their gazes immediately.

"Good morning, Neville," my dad said, his tone neutral but sharp. "I hope you had a nice evening."

"Um, yeah... about that," I started, but the words caught in my throat. I could already see the disapproval flickering in their eyes.

My mom set down the papers and crossed her arms. "We received a call from the police last night. They informed us about the party you threw."

"Yeah, I know," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm really sorry. I thought it would be fun, and I didn't think it would get so out of hand."

"Out of hand?" My dad's voice rose slightly. "Neville, this isn't just about noise. You had dozens of people in our home without our knowledge. Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is?"

I felt heat creep into my cheeks, shame flooding my system. "I didn't think it was a big deal! I thought you'd be okay with it since you weren't here," I defended, but even I could hear the weakness in my words.

My mom shook her head, her expression a mix of disappointment and concern. "You're lucky no one got hurt. And the last thing we need is the police getting involved. What would our neighbors think?"

"Exactly," my dad added. "You're not a child anymore, Neville. It's time to take responsibility for your actions."

"I know," I said, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I messed up, but I didn't mean for it to go this far. I just wanted to have a good time."

"A good time doesn't come at the cost of our reputation," my mom said sharply. "You need to think about the consequences of your choices. This isn't just a game."

I fell silent, realizing that the weight of their words was sinking in deeper than I'd expected. The fun and laughter of last night felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the reality of the situation.