Battle of Hearts: Two

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After the party, I had enough of drinks to make me forget the pain and I slept like a baby the next morning. When I woke up around ten, I check my phone to see it being bombarded with notifications. I wondered for a second how had I become so popular but even my unconscious state knew it was just from one person.

The summary of all the messages were that he was sorry. I sighed and thought for a moment. Though, I was furious last night, I didn't want to extend this trivial matter for a long time. I told him that everything was fine.

He replied instantly.

Really? You're not mad at me? -C

No. I was but I'm not. There must be some reason behind what you did. -A

There isn't actually. I just slept early... I'm sorry. -C

Another sigh escaped my lips. It was the lamest excuse I was hoping he wouldn't say. But I lacked strength to nag him about it so I decided to cut him some slack and let it go. There was no benefit in arguing over something he does all the time.

It's cool. Don't do it again. -A

I hit send and after a few seconds, out of nowhere, I see his name on the caller ID. I looked around the empty space in the room. Ava had already woken up and was hanging out somewhere and I could have a long conversation with him. As soon as I picked it up, I was greeted by his frantically surprised voice, "Are you really not mad at me?"

I giggled. He was really something else. "Yeah. Why won't you believe me?"

"It's weird. You generally get angry when I sleep while we're talking."

"I guess, I got tired of getting mad at you." I said it in a very casual way. Not to taunt him about his treacherous habit, but because of the stubborn person I am. The 'I-don't-care' kind of person. If I say something to someone, and they don't bother to it then I stop saying it altogether. I easily give up trying to change people's habits.

But, of course, he thought I'm taunting him. He pleaded, "I swear, it won't happen again."

"Miller, honestly I'm not mad at you. I just don't bother saying the same thing again and again if people don't listen to me."

He raised his apprehension, still not satiated by my answer. "Okay... But I promise it won't happen again.'"

"Okay."

"So, wh-...." He started, but stopped to hear a loud voice calling him out. "Yeah mom! I'm coming! Just a sec!" I heard him scream back.

I don't know how he sensed my disappointment as his voice turned into apologetic again. "Baby..." He dragged. I hated when he said that because it mostly meant he was doing something I don't like.

"It's... fine. Go..." I finished for him, closing my eyes shut, letting out a husky grunt.

"I'll call you in the evening, okay?" I heard the pain in his voice, the pain I was feeling as well. Every time we were spared some moments together, there were shortened by something or the other. As if every force in the world was trying to pull us apart. We were frustrated, even angry, but we couldn't let them win. We had to tightly hold on to each other during these storms.

"Okay, I'll wait. Bye." I said gathering my strength. I was swallowing my hurt emotions, and I knew he was doing it too. Every day was a fight between wanting to spend time with each other and balancing our lives. We couldn't get angry at our circumstances so we were infuriated at each other.