Tangled Strings

Chapter 5

Bryan

And I don't know where to start. I'm very happy, indeed. Ashley offered to come over my house! I'm sounding really excited, and believe me I am. I mean it's not the first time she's coming to my house but it has been a long time. And more importantly, I always asked her out. But, this time it was the opposite. It's exciting but on the other hand it's also awkward. I don't know if I'm right but maybe she has started feeling something for me. Maybe. I'm saying maybe because she's so stupid (don't mind my language, because I often tell her how stupid she is) that she doesn't really understand. But there are always exceptions and exceptions are important. Like me. It's because she knows me so well, that she's able to guess me and read me. I'm like an open book to her, which she has read so many times that she's able to recognize every word, every line. She knows where a comma is placed and what a full stop means.

And it's the same for me. I can tell what she is thinking by just looking at her, and I know that she doesn't realize that I love her so much, and maybe she won't ever realize (unless I tell her which of course is next to impossible for me) because I'll never show her. She must feel it. And when she does, I'll get to know. When I'll get to know what she feels, I'll express myself too. Often Fred and Harold force me to confess but I think that it's just not the right time. Someday, I'll definitely tell her, even if at that time, it doesn't mean anything to her. But it's just not the right time. No, not now. I'm waiting for that perfect moment.

Now I've started deviating from the topic. I always do. One moment I'll be thinking of one thing and the other moment I'll be relating it to Ashley. Well, it's really good to see someone, who actually cares about you, around you. Lately I've been feeling so distressed, so frustrated and angry at myself that I even wanted to unleash all ties. No one knows much about the problem except of course Ashley and Fred. Maybe the others know it, I'm not sure, because nearly everyone talks behind our back and mostly it's a negative thing. The people who backbite are the ones who appear very friendly, frank and pleasant before us and may even praise falsely but their actual faces are hidden behind masks. Masks which they always wear and never... I'm sorry. Again deviated from the topic! Sometimes I go so philosophically and psychologically insane that I can't control. It's alright, however. It happens with people (of animals, I don't know) because they are the most intelligent creations of God and somehow they are still not perfect. They have their own flaws and fallacies, which they cannot overcome however hard they try. Because that's how we are made. Nothing can be perfect. If there is perfection in anything, then even that thing, however a trifle it may be, cannot develop and evolve. I think that's why we aren't perfect because God wants us to develop. Besides, there is perfection in every imperfect thing.

Till now, you may have well noticed how much I deviate. So I was talking about Ashley. Ashley has always been a joyous and sensitive topic for me. You won't believe but I grew fond of her when we were still young, though not so young. I was in third standard when Ashley joined our school. She had always remained shy. And as my gentleman-like manners told me to make comfortable anyone who was new to your surrounding, I was bent upon making Ashley a little bold. Since then she has always been by my side and maybe that's one of the reasons why I love her so much. Actually, I try to find the reasons for my attachment but I end up with a headache. I can't really find those reasons. Maybe my love doesn't need reasons to survive. It can survive, I know, because it's strong... Very strong.

When I look at her I think that I don't love her for any particular reason of her but for what she is and who she'll be. And these reasons are enough for me.

I love to tease her and make her angry. I just love it when her cheeks go pink in embarrassment and anger. She looks damn hot when she's angry and I get a chance to butter her! The way she falls in my arms while crying, the way she punches my shoulder, the way she sometimes slaps me (of course not in anger), the ways... These ways can go on and on and on. Buy I need to stop, because I have to practice. Whenever I think of her while playing, the ball never makes it through the basket. So I've got to stop being distracted. One basket. Meghan is still sleeping. Actually, everyone would be sleeping at this time of an hour. Another basket. I woke up at four, jogged down the lane and now I'm with my basketball. I like to play. It just keeps me going on and keeps my mind fresh. Morning is a very important time for me. A clean swipe.

Today Ashley has to come. I wonder at the attachment of Meghan and Ashley. My sister is happier than me. She isn't awake now, but will be soon, at 7 maybe. Then she'll keep on nagging and wondering how to pass the time. I know this very well. It happens every time.

I kept my ball back in the storeroom and walked towards the kitchen. I opened the fridge, pulled out an orange drink, poured it in a glass and drank it all in one go. Then I searched for some eatable thing. I prefer eating canned or packed foods because I'm a really bad cook. Now I don't even try to make something as a meal. I have totally given up. So I took out a slice of cheese, defrosted two small slices of bacon, chopped the lettuce and cucumber and stuffed it all in between two loaves of bread.

I started eating it as if I had been on a hunger strike for two whole days. I glanced at the cuckoo clock. It was my Mom's favourite clock. Half past eight. I stopped for a moment, thinking what I should do, when suddenly I realized how delicious my sandwich was. Yum! I loved it. I wanted to go make another one but I thought of waking up Meghan first and getting dressed before making something so delicious.

I got out of the shower and put on a grey T-shirt and black jeans. Meghan had already got up so I went towards the drawing room. When Meghan came down I asked her smilingly, "Would you like to have a sandwich which the greatest chef in the world made?"

"Sure." she smiled back.

She sat at the platform and I went inside the kitchen. I opened the fridge and tried to remember what all I had put in. I took out the ingredients and began chopping and putting them inside the loaves of bread. I presented it before Meghan who delightedly grabbed it and took a huge bite out of it- though it wasn't so huge because her mouth isn't that big.

She chewed it on for a few seconds trying to decide it's taste. She immediately ran towards the bin and vomited it all. I was horror struck. I mean, I'm not that bad at cooking that my sister vomits all my hard work. I know I don't cook great but it's never so bad, and I wonder if Meghan was fine.

When I ate it, it was so delicious. Maybe our tastes don't match but she loves bacon. Meghan ran towards the fridge and gulped down water.

"What's wrong?" I blurted out.

She showed her index finger to me, while drinking water, to make me wait for a minute.

"What did you make?" she asked as soon as she was back to normal.

"A sandwich!" I replied, "Was it that bad?"

"That bad!! It was bad... Very bad." She was angry.

"What did you put in it?" she asked again.

"Just some bacon, lettuce and cucumber. I don't know, but when I made it for myself it was delicious."

"It tasted bitter and bad and unforgettable."

"Okay, okay! Let me have a look." I opened it up and saw that instead of the cucumber I had sliced up bitter gourd, that's why it tasted horrible.

"Uh... Y-you eat something that's i-in the fridge. A-and, uh, if you need something else j-just tell me." I blurted out and ran upstairs.

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A/N Hey everyone! Long time no see!
(Not so long though)...

So how was it.. I really want to know... Because I'm not sure if you'd like it or not...

This chapter tells us about Ashley and Bryan's relationship together, why Bryan loves her so much and most importantly the understanding...

I hope it didn't bore you though... I had to think a lot to write this one... 😅

Please vote, comment and share..!!

Till then adios, amigos..!!

PS- Dedication to the one who always leaves me in suspense whenever I ask him about his views on the chapter and I have to wait for 24hrs to know it... And he always comes up with my grammatical errors with good reviews... So thank you @shubhang :) :)

Love,
Anshara. ❤