Ms. Alone and Mr. Lonely

three

(unedited)

"And I don't really care if nobody else believes,
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me."
—Fight Song, Rachel Platten

     *~*

     A week later...

     "Bye, Luke. Have fun at work." Justine took off her seatbelt which constricted her from the last fifteen minutes as she gave her big brother a bear hug. Luke responded with the same intensity but with a slight scowl on his features.

     "Don't even mention about it," he patted her back as she fought the urge to laugh at his brother's change of mood. With a thud of the door, the car drove off leaving Justine alone.

     It was still six-fifteen in the morning, too early for Justine's liking to be in school but she had plans to accomplish this day. First, to deliver Mrs. Caroline's order—which was half a dozen of carrot cake cupcakes; and second, to head to the library to study for her basic calculus quiz. She had spent all night baking the cupcakes (and probably dozens of cookies for her cookie jar) that she didn't realize it was already past almost midnight when she had finished. Baking was really a time-killer and stress relieving for her but the dishes that come after always puts her in a sour mood.

     She had loved baking ever since she was thirteen, mainly because of Youtube. It fascinated her how certain raw ingredients could create a mouthwatering and hearty delicacy. Plus, homemade was always better. When she turned sixteen, Luke had gifted her an oven which she didn't even ask and was utmost grateful for it. First, she made baking as a hobby, to cook meals for the family when she had the free time to do so, and to cater her cravings but now, it additionally became a small business to her. She was really thankful that she was able to earn a bit from what she loved to do—atleast she wouldn't ask too much from her father.

     Slowly and silently creeping up to the teacher's faculty room as she gripped carefully on the paper bag which contained the box of sweets, she knocked three times and opened the door gradually until Mrs. Caroline's slightly wrinkled face came into view. She smiled as she saw her favorite teacher wrote something on her planner—probably her lesson plan for this day. The fifty year old woman's face brightened up once she discerned the innocent blonde's figure infront of her desk. Justine gingerly took out the box from the bag.

"My, oh my, your cupcakes never fail to surprise me," the middle-aged woman exclaimed. "Thank you so much, dear." She fished out dollars from her wallet but Justine held out a hand to stop her.

"For now, you don't have to," she smiled. "and here," she took out another box which consisted of matcha cookies. "I know it's your husband's birthday today, and you mentioned quite a few times that he loved the flavor of green tea. I hope he would like this one."

"Justine, this is too much, but thank you. He would definitely love this." She rose and hugged the teenager with a warm hug. Justine's eyes lightly glistened as she returned the heartwhelming affection. Mrs. Caroline was the second mom in her life; when she was too timid to share her anxiety and personal problems to her friends, she would head to her and learn a thing or two from her motivational words and life advices. If possible, she was her psychologist.

"You're welcome."

Before Justine left for the library, they had a small catching-up chat. Mrs. Caroline asked of how her family was recently doing and she answered her in all honesty: still messed up as ever. The wise woman comforted her with charitable and inspiring words that unfailingly lifted up her spirits. Justine countered her of what her plans were later for her husband's birthday, and the woman face shimmered in joy and happily answered that they were gonna have a nice dinner later at a Korean restaurant.