A Trip Down Memory Lane

Chapter Ten: A Heck of a Day

POV: Annika

"Aeri, is my answer correct?" I asked.

"Let me see," she said. "Hmm... Yah, but can you please elaborate more?"

"Oh, I see. Thanks."

Aeri and I were in the library. Since our class was dismissed early because of the faculty meeting, we decided to answer our 'activity sheet' in Physics as a group. Zieg is also our group mate, but he already finished his part. He excused himself in a bit to go to the washroom.

"Nika?" Aerilyn asked me.

"Hmmm?"

"I noticed that you and AZ are close, are you -- together?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You know - in a relationship?"

"Eh? What makes you think like that?"

"Ah, nothing. Just forget it. Hehe."

"Done?" Zieg suddenly appeared in our table. Aerilyn and I startled.

"Yup, done!" Aerilyn said as she put her paper in the center table, facing Zieg.

"Ah wait. I'm almost done." I said.

"Tsk. Focus Nika! Finish that first because talking to others."

"Oh shut up."

"Faster! After this, we will buy groceries."

"Eh?"

"Stop complaining. Suzy just texted me."

I stopped writing. "I don't want to rush my answers. It could be costly if I answered wrong."

"Okay fine. Let's do this later."

"K."

Aerilyn was lost to our convo, "Wait... you two are living together?"

"For now," Zieg replied.

"So you two are...."

"No! It's not what you think Aeri." I don't even let her finish to what she's about to say. I think she's misunderstanding things. "We're friends. Zieg and her sister, Zoe, are like a family to us."

"Oh okay. You see... I'm not the only one who thinks like that in the room. Maybe our classmates have the same reaction. If you know what I mean," she said.

"But, believe me, Aeri, you don't want to live with this girl," Zieg said. "She's kinda deadly."

"Oh really? Haha."

"Hey, what are you talking about?" No, I'm not!" I defended.

"Yosh! Let's get going," he said as he stood up, followed by Aeri.

But they stopped walking and watched someone passed-by. It was Aimee. She's holding many books that seem too heavy to her to bear.

I looked at Zieg. I can sense that she wanted to help her. But it's too late because someone just did.

"Come on. Let's go," he said to us. Aeri nodded at him and so do I.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

We went shopping. What I mean of shopping is we bought some goods and other things that we need at home and for school, not for our personal purposes. But first we dropped by in the bus terminal to say goodbye to Aerilyn, who live in the other town. She said it's an hour bus ride to the bus stop she will get off and then a ride in a tricycle or walking will do to their house.

So now, we are in 'Emon's Snackhouse'. It's like a mini-restaurant, but they serve mostly foods for snacks. Zieg said that they usually eat here so they known personally the owner and some staffs here. Unfortunately, it is full house.

A staff approached us and led us to a reserved table. I hesitated at first, but they assured as that it's okay for us to take this.

"How do you know the owner of this place? Are you related?"

"Nah. We've met him in the Ball Park years ago, I think three to four years ago," Zieg recalled. "We used to play basketball together. Opponents, at first, but as the days goes on, we can be teammates. Actually, we were surprised when he once invited us here and learned that he is the owner. Unbelievable."

"So it's because of the basketball huh."

"Yeah. Thanks to basketball," he giggled. "It's like a language, it connected us all. Not just basketball actually."

He also told me that he worked here as a service crew in his last two summer vacations.

Moments later, a young girl ran towards our direction and hugged Zieg.

"Daddy!" the girl called.

"Daddy? Don't tell me she's your daugh---"

"Dummy... Of course not, biologically," he said. "She's the owner's daughter. She used to call me like this since we played 'playhouse' when she was three."

"Aww. That's cute."

"Hello there, sweetie," I said to the girl. "If Zieg is your Daddy, who's the Mommy?"

Family is not complete if there's no Mommy right?

"You!" she said.

"Huh??? Oh -- I would love to!!!" I said. She's just a kid and I think it's a funny idea. I noticed Zieg was surprised to my response to the girl.

The girl then went to me and sat in my lap. Wow, I can tell she's comfortable with me now. She's so cute! Kyeopta! Kawaii!

Suddenly a man served what we ordered. "Lovie dear, come here. Daddy AZ and his friend will eat first."

The man suddenly introduced himself to me. "Hi, Miss Annika. I'm so sorry if my daughter bothered you. I'm Emon Minter, the owner of this place."

"Nah, it's okay Mr. Minter. Your daughter is so cute! And please, just call me Nika."

"Okay, Nika. Please enjoy your meal. And you too, AZ."

"We will Emon. It's delicious as always." Zieg said.

"Thanks," I said with a quick nod.

"Say goodbye to Daddy AZ and Mommy Annika." Mr. Minter said to his daughter, Lovie.

"Bye-bye Daddy, Mommy! Let's play sometime."

"Bye-bye"

The ramen that we ate was really good! Oh great, another place to be included in my 'point of interest' list. After we ate, Lovie went back to our table and we had a little chat together. I also learned that Lovie called Zoe as her sister while other Zieg's teammates in the basketball team, included Kyle, are her uncles. That kid really got attached to them.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

We were walking in the sidewalk on our way to the tricycle terminal. We have some stuff to carry so we decided to have a ride home.

We saw kids playing in the nearby playground. They were running and laughing like there's no tomorrow. Basically, they were enjoying. But those joyful moments turned into horror when a kid was barely hit by a fast moving motorcycle just in front of us.

Fortunately, Zieg anticipated what might happen. He dropped the plastic bags he was carrying and pulled the kid in he's left arm, just in time to prevent being hit.

I can't believe what I just saw. I'm in shocked and can't move. That was a resemblance...

...the same and exact thing...

...what happened to me...

... ten years ago.

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