Silver lining [BOOK 2] | ✓

|21| Nora's insecurities

I wanted to go to my parents anniversary very much, to be honest. It wasn't very frequent I went to family gatherings or social conventions where people actually sat down together to have meals and chat (judge) among themselves.

I was mostly ordered to stay in my room and do my work or behave with a set of rules and regulations plastered against my head since the day I decided I had enough of my mother's womb. I followed their rules till I was old enough to understand and rebel against their disguised dictatorship.

Again, they were not to blame too much. I once called one of my aunts fattie clown even though I was a junior then. I had face planted my cousin Matt's face against the cake because he pulled my hair in seventh grade. I mixed chilli powder in the soup when I felt humiliated after mom scolded me once in front of the guests. There was too much chaos after that.

Yes, I might be called evil by some.

I couldn't deny the fact that they let me study. Granted, they tried to marry me off but they had always paid for my expenses and sent me to one of the best universities in the world. They even called me to their celebration this time. I was quite surprised and happy when they called me.

Whether it was for their own good or mine, I didn't care. They had done it for me and for that, I was grateful. I knew we all had a short time to live and I never believed in holding grudges unless something extreme happened which didn't.

And that was the thing about family. No matter how much I hated them, I would still have their backs and I knew if I was in serious trouble, they would have mine too.

"You shouldn't smoke," A voice rang out.

Oh great. Finally, he speaks. These last few days were a bit tensed. We spoke normally and even made jokes like we usually did but I knew there was an undercurrent of awkwardness from his side. He didn't come to my room as frequently as he did before, only when Kyle video called us or he had some official news to share from college if I didn't know already. After dinner times, his mother and us often played cards, watched a movie or simply chatted about life but whenever it was the two of us, Derek seemed to have gone back to his "Thinker" mode. So, seeing him now in my room alone with no Kyle or Aunt May was a change in scene.

I turned back, "And you shouldn't enter without knocking."

Derek smiled and came to stand beside me, "It's harmful for your health, Nora."

"And overthinking too," I replied, deliberately blowing smoke out in loud puffs. He grimaced and stepped back, trying to get rid of the smoke by waving his hands.

"Stop doing that. I am saying this for your own good. How many do you have per day?" He coughed.

"Just one or two," I shrugged.

"Oh. Reduce that to zer-"

"Packets," I joked. Of course the dumbass took that seriously.

"Nora!" Derek almost gasped, "You are going to kill yourself someday!"

He was so adorable. Even more than the huge teddy bear I had when I was five years old.

"I was joking. But in my defense, I haven't been smoking much after I have arrived here. Maybe two or four. I felt like lighting one today-"

"Absolutely not. New rule: No smoking at my place," He said firmly.

"Fine. I will go out and smoke then," I smirked.

He sighed, "Nora. Please. You are old enough to understand what's good for you."

"Shut up. What are you here for?" I asked curiously.