Faux Bastard

Chapter 14

I woke up so early that the sun hasn't even risen. I lay in bed for a while, my eyes taking in my surroundings, my head throbbing dully. Although I was exhausted, I had trouble sleeping last night because my thoughts had been keeping me up. That was probably why I feel so sore all over. 

A clattering came from the kitchen – the sound of pots being placed into the cupboards made me bolt upright. I slip out of bed and follow the noise outside and stop right in the doorway. The rich fragrance of coffee greets me first. I saw my father's dark hair facing me as he grabs two empty mugs from the cabinet. Turning around, his bleary-eyes meets mine for a split second before placing the mugs on the table. I press myself against the wall, not knowing whether to approach him or to walk back to my room.

"I made coffee," he finally says and fills both mugs with coffee. In my normal days, I would usually make my own coffee every morning. Usually because he's either at work down at the station or he just got home and is already on his bed. 

A moment of silence followed before he speaks again. "Do you have to go to campus today?" He ask and I nod my head. He sighs softly before turning around again and placing a plate of scrambled eggs and toasts in front of me. The word thank you was about to slip off my mouth but I press my lips together, deciding against it.

I lower my eyes, not wanting to see the look on his face. 

"I'll leave you to it then. I'll be in my room if you need anything." With that, he disappears out of my sight. 

I let out a sigh, propping my elbow up and resting my head on the palm. I know I should cut him some slack, it feels wrong but he's been doing nothing but giving me hard times most of the time. After that one time when I visited him, he's been avoiding me more. I have never feel so hurt by my own father and what I did today was nothing compared to what he has put me through over the years. 

When I enter the kitchen an hour later, dad is sitting on one of the chairs, slumped, looking at nothing in particular. Once he saw me, he quickly straighten up.

"I'll drive you to campus, it's safer than walking around alone." He got up, gather his car keys and walk straight to the doorway, not giving me a chance to protest or whatnot. 

I hesitate for a while before walking behind him and into the car. Dad's posture grew tense as he pull out of the driveway. Finally he spoke.

"Do you need anything else? What time do you finish?"

"It's okay. Nadine is picking me up," I lied, keeping my sentence short and straight-forward.

I saw his expression grow tight from the corner of my eyes, and I decided to look out the window so I don't have to say another word. For most people, this would have been pathetic. But for me it's life. Not everyone has a good relationship with their father, especially after what we have been through together. Maybe we're both too stubborn to fix it, maybe we feel like it's better off this way. I tried, a shitload of times to fix our relationship, only to be push further by him. I wasn't the type that would usually give up this easily but I don't have the energy to fix a broken man.

We stopped in the already crowded parking lot beside the grey building that has the word Tulane next to it. A knock on the window made my heart jump straight into my throat. Nadine eagerly opens the door, pulling me out into hers. She bend down and greeted my dad a quick hello before he drove off. 

Prof Fran entered the room exactly after the bell rang with a few late students scurried in behind him and everyone settled to their seats within seconds. He turned his attention to the books that has been set down on his desk briefly before looking back on us. He clears his throat and everyone's focus turn to him. "Conjecture and Refutation."