A Genuine Infatuation and A Theorem for Love

Chapter 12

 I woke up to the ringing of my phone’s alarm – tone; I had set it to buzz at 04:00 a.m. daily. A yawn escaped my lips and I stretched my arms, a euphoria of a good night’s sleep creeping through my rested sinews and joints. Thereafter, I made my way to the wash-room to freshen-up. Upon completing my routinely tasks, I arranged my Mathematics textbooks and notes on my study-table and made a swift exploration through my mobile; I had an unread message from Miranda. It said:

 <Pack some clothes. I’ll obtain Aunt Ellie’s permission to have you over at my place once school’s over. ‘Kay? Luv you> - Yesterday: 11:45 p.m.

  I read the message with a smile, only to have it snatched away when yesterday’s events tumbled down on me. My breath quickened and I wrenched each drawer open, hunting through my systematized possessions for my wheezing-puff. I located it in the second drawer and pressed it to my mouth. My breath reimbursed back to its ordinary pace and I leant back on the office chair.

 Forget Linda, just forget – I chanted and revised through the theorems and solved complex equations. Rays of sunshine projected through the lace curtains and shiny beams of light bounced off metallic objects, causing me to shy my eyesight away from the bright illumination. I bent over, drafting more solutions and then proceeded to get ready for school.

  I made my way below and that was when my ears pricked at the sound of a commotion at the kitchen. Frowning, I slowly headed towards it, to pry at the cause for the heated argument.

“Mom, you could have given me a prior warning – I would’ve made it home, early!” Henry spoke angrily.

“Or maybe, Mom simply didn’t want us here when it happened. I distinctly recall her sending me to the Grocer’s to purchase a list of items that weren’t there to begin with!” Paul raised his tone. I was beginning to comprehend the cause for their absence yesterday – Mom had created her diversion formula all over again.

“Listen, both of you - I only wanted the best for your sister and should that have meant sending you’ll away for a while, I didn’t object to it. I know all too well that neither of you would’ve let her go, easily. Trust me, she’s in good hands,” Mom reasoned firmly.

“Well that’s bull-shit, Mom! You have no clue about this Samuel guy!” Paul retorted heavily. I grimaced; he did not have to defend me in this manner.

“Paul! Watch that mouth of yours! Now be off to school. Henry, the same goes to you: aren’t you late for work?” Mom questioned the two of them. I could hear the scraping of chairs and the clatter of dishes. I hesitated and drew further behind.

“I’m off for today. I’ll drop them at school,” Henry offered. I could perceive from his tone that he was still frustrated at Mom.

“That would be nice of you, honey. LINDA!” Mom called out for me. I ran back upstairs and pretended to slowly approach her from the top of the stairway.

“Coming, Mother,” I yelled back and ran to the kitchen, panting slightly. Mom gave my share of brunch and kissed me on the forehead. Right then Bill appeared at the front with dishevelled hair, rubbing at his eyes – apparently Mom had enforced him to wake up today, as well.

“Paul, Linda, Bill – Henry would be driving the three of you to school. Be safe,” she told the four of us. We bade farewell and climbed Henry’s Aston Martin – it was presented to him by his employer, a shiny white beauty. We were all proud of it, with the exception of Dad. Paul sat in the passenger seat, while Bill and I climbed in behind. We waved at Mom and Henry slowly drove out of the lane-top.

“I know you were snooping onto our earlier conversation, Linnie,” Henry stated in a matter-of-factly tone, once we emerged from the hill-top. Bill’s head softly hit the window pane and he began snoring. I shook my head at him; he pretended to doze-off while he was clearly hanging onto every spoken word.