𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 || 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✿twenty two✿

Her Pov

"You're always so lost in your phone," my mom said, her voice a gentle nudge through the early morning fog. I looked up to see her standing in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the hallway light.

Groaning, I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The room spun for a moment, a reminder of the drinks that had been shared with Tia last night. She remained blissfully unbothered by the commotion, snoring lightly into her pillow. Carefully, so as not to wake her, I slid off the bed and stumbled towards the bathroom. The cold floor bit at my bare feet, a jolting reminder that it was indeed morning.

As I brushed my teeth, the minty toothpaste doing little to combat the stale taste in my mouth, I couldn't shake off the image of the moment I shared with Boba, which made me felt a pang of... something. It wasn't love. But it was definitely something. The thought lingered in the back of my mind as I rinsed and spit, watching the swirl of minty water disappear down the drain.

My reflection in the mirror was a mess. Dark circles, tangled hair, and a wrinkled shirt that had seen better days. I chuckled at the sight, remembering the laughter and conversations from the night before with Tia. We'd talked about everything and nothing, but the memory of Boba's digital embrace was what stuck. It was absurd, really. But also... nice.

Mom's footsteps retreated down the hall, her reminder to wake Tia still echoing in my ears. I turned on the shower, letting the hot water wash over me, hoping it would wash away the fog in my head too. As I scrubbed away the grime of last night, the warmth seeped into my bones and the image of Boba grew fainter, like a distant star at dawn. I sighed, knowing I had to face the day and all its mundane realities.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and poked my head into the room. She groaned, rolling over to face the wall. "Come on, Tia," I whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Mom says breakfast is ready."

Her eyes cracked open, and she grumbled something unintelligible before rolling back over. I laughed, knowing the feeling all too well. "Alright, five more minutes," I relented, tossing her a clean t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

Five minutes turned into fifteen, but we eventually made it downstairs, where the smell of eggs and toast filled the kitchen. Mom was at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease, a look of mild exasperation on her face as she glanced at the clock. The table was set for four, and the sight of the steaming plates brought back a rush of hunger I hadn't felt in hours.

"Good morning, sunshines," she said with a smile, her voice carrying the hint of a scold. "You're just in time. Your grandma's waiting in the dining room."

We shuffled to the table, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of the previous night's fun in every step. Tia's eyes were half-closed, her hair sticking out in every direction like a scarecrow's, but she managed a sleepy smile. Mom placed a plate of pancakes in front of each of us, and I took a bite, savoring the sweetness and the warmth that spread through my chest. It was comfort food, the kind that made you forget about the mess you'd made of your life, if only for a little while.

"So, what's new with you two?" Grandma asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She always had a knack for asking the right questions at the worst possible moments.

Tia and I exchanged glances, both of us knowing we had nothing new to share. "Just the usual," I said with a shrug, hoping she wouldn't pry. But Grandma wasn't one to be deterred. She leaned in, her elbows on the table. "Come on, spill it. Did you meet anyone interesting?"

Tia took a sip of her orange juice, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Well, there was this one guy..." she began, launching into a story about a cute barista with a terrible sense of humor. I listened, smiling and nodding in the right places, while internally my thoughts drifted back to Boba.