𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃

24

Song:
stronger- kelly clarkson
slowed + reverb

LEENA

My eyes flutter open at the distant sound of birds chirping and I groan, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

Sunlight streams through the curtains, filling his room with a soft, warm glow and creating a peaceful atmosphere.

I glance to my right, my eyes settling on Angel's sleeping form sprawled across the bed. His hair is tousled in an effortlessly beautiful way, and one arm is draped over his forehead as he lies on his back, completely at ease.

There was a calmness about him when he slept, a serene stillness that softened his usually sharp features. The peaceful expression on his face made him look almost angelic, and I couldn't help but think how rare and precious this moment was.

It was a sight that drew me in, one I found myself wanting to witness again and again, as if memorizing it could somehow bring me closer to understanding him.

After taking a moment to admire him, I reach over to the nightstand and pick up my phone, resting beside his. The screen lights up, displaying the time.

Seven in the morning. Wow, that's a new one.

I stretch, letting out a yawn as I make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Angel had thoughtfully kept the spare toothbrush there for me to use whenever I stayed over.

Which meant that he wanted me to stay over in the future.

While I'm in the bathroom, I use the opportunity to splash some water onto my face.

Careful not to make a sound, I quietly slip out of the room and make my way down the stairs, each step slow and deliberate. As I descend, the savory aroma of bacon and eggs fills the air, immediately catching my attention and making my stomach rumble in anticipation.

The scent grows stronger with every step, and with each of my steps, I walk faster. His dad must be awake.

My eyes fall onto his figure in front of the stove, his focus on the food cooking in front of him. I clear my throat awkwardly.

At the sound, he turns, his gaze sweeping across the room until it lands on me. "Oh, you're that friend of his, right?" he asks.

With a brief nod of my head, I plaster a smile onto my face. "Yes, I'm Leena." I wanted to have the best first impression, so I tried my hardest not to ruin it.

He bears a striking resemblance to Angel. Both share the same chiseled jawline and sharp, defined features. Even their eyes are the same color, adding to the uncanny similarity.

His gaze moves down my figure. I look down after a moment, wanting to know what had caught his attention.

Oh, right. I'm wearing Angel's clothes.

"Uh, your son gave these to me to wear, it's not what it-" my sentence is cut off as he waves his hand dismissively. "Whatever you kids are doing, you can keep it to yourselves."

Shit, he must've gotten the wrong impression.

"It's really not what it looks like," I quickly reassure him, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. That would just make things weird.

"...Mr. Miller," I say, adding his name with a deliberate pause for effect. The words slip out smoothly, but there's a touch of formality to my tone that I know he'll pick up on.

He turns back to the stove, glancing over his shoulder for a split second. "Just call me Alexander," he says with a casual tone, his voice warm yet dismissive of the need for any formalities. "There's no need for all that 'Mr.' business."

His focus quickly returns to the cooking, as if the conversation is a mere afterthought.

The silence in the kitchen hangs heavily for a few seconds before I finally speak up. "I know it's not my place to say this, but for Angel's sake, I think you should try harder," I pause, allowing the weight of my words to settle before continuing.

"I can see how much it's affecting him, and it hurts me to watch him struggle, admitting how badly he wants you to get better." I meant every word that came out of my mouth. It truly did hurt me when I watched Angel break down last night.

He doesn't speak, but I can tell that he's listening because his movements come to a halt. I use it as a chance to continue. "I don't know what happened to make you this way, and I don't know why Angel believes it's his fault, but please consider it. If not for you, then for your son."

I knew I had no right to say any of this, but I couldn't stand by and watch Angel fall apart any longer.

He lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead in an attempt to relieve the tension. I had almost forgotten that he's hungover. "You're right, Leena. I'll try harder for him," he says.

That was enough to give me a flicker of hope. "Thank you, Alexander." A grateful smile spreads across my face as he turns towards me with two plates in his hands. On top of them is bacon, eggs, and pancakes.

I watch as he sets them onto the countertop, gesturing for me to take one of them. "Is this for me?" I ask.

He shoots me a look. "No, it's for our pet turkey," he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I nearly miss it, distracted by the serious expression on his face.

The room goes quiet and I awkwardly stare down at my plate.

He lets out a soft chuckle at the sight. "Cheer up, I don't mean it in a bad way." His words cause my shoulders to relax, and I let out a sigh.

With a soft chuckle of my own, I begin to eat.

Not too long after, Angel makes his way into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "What are you doing up so early?" He stares at me confusedly and I turn to glance at his father who's leaning against the countertop and eating from a plate of his own.

He follows my gaze and pauses, his attention fixed. I watch as he finally notices the plate set out for him on the countertop. "You haven't made anything for me in a while. Why would you..." His voice trails off as he takes in the sight.

I notice the faint gloss in his eyes, and it nearly brings me to tears. He's just too precious.

"I want to apologize for last night," Alexander begins, exhaling deeply. "I fell back into old habits, and I'm sorry, Angel. I truly am. I'll try harder."

Once Angel takes in his dad's words. He quickly crosses the kitchen and pulls him into a hug. "Thank you," he whispers softly.

A smile spreads across my face. Maybe there's hope after all.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!!

Until next time 👋