The Ties that Binds Us

Chapter 10 "The Next Morning"

EDITED!!

I woke up next morning to the intense light that was shining on my face coming from the opened window of my room. Stretching widely across my bed, I grunted that I had to wake up. When I looked at the clock hanging on my lavender wall, I saw that it was already eleven in the morning. Wow. Usually I woke up earlier than this.

Once I’ve entirely woken myself up, I head downstairs to the kitchen to have some breakfast. The scent of freshly baked bread and butter filled the entire house. When I was going down the stairs, I saw Luke and Sam watching some football game on the flat screen. I think it was Spain and Netherlands who was playing. They were shouting and cursing, angry at some player's stupid move apparently. 

"Oh hey Syd! Good morning. How was your sleep?" Sam beamed at me as I made my way to the breakfast table. I grabbed some French toast that my father made and some oatmeal and strawberries to go along with it. There was already readymade coffee in the coffee maker so I poured myself a cup of coffee.

"Good, thanks. You two already had breakfast? Where’s papa and abuela?" 

"They went out to buy some groceries for our lunch." 

"Oh." Taking with me my breakfast, I sat down on the couch beside the one that Luke and Sam were sitting on. I placed my cup of coffee on the coffee table in front, ate my breakfast and watched them with fascination. I smiled at their juvenile behavior while watching the football game. The memory of the four us, Tristan, Sam, Luke and I, were all here in Madrid having a vacation from school. The three boys really bonded well over beer and football games and even the occasional basketball game. They were almost like brothers. Sam and Luke would bond over girls, eyeing prospects being each other's wingman and well, Tristan will be left with me of course. 

Just a few moments after I finished my breakfast and I heard papa and abuela arriving. Jumping out from the couch, I ran towards my papa who was carrying four bags of groceries in his hands.

"Papa!" Jumping into his arms, I felt like I was a little girl again. All the stress of being a grown up went away once I was in the arms of my father.

"Mi unica hija! I missed you so." He buried his nose in my hair and kissed me. 

"Let me get that." Luke walked towards us and grabbed the bags on floor and carried it towards the kitchen. 

"Abuela!" I turned my attention to my grandmother and she pulled me into her arms to give me a tight hug.

"Querida nina! Good to see you again." 

"Good to see you too abuela.". 

Luke was already unpacking the groceries on the breakfast table. I walked towards him and decided to help him unpack. Papa sat down on the couch beside Sam who was standing up and cursing once more at the “stupid” player. Abuela on the other was nowhere to be seen.

As I took another glance at papa and Sam, Sam had his head turned towards our direction behind the breakfast table. He was tugging on our father’s sleeves like a small child trying to get his attention. With his lips, he pointed at us and papa turned his head to look at us. As if they talked about it, they smiled at us in unison and began whispering something at each other. What are they talking about? Sam winked at me all of a sudden and then I knew what they were talking and smiling about. They were talking about us.

"Sam, come and help me with the barbeque." Luke called on Sam and he followed Luke towards the backyard mumbling something about how stupid the game was and how the players were all being stupid. Once I’ve finished unpacking the groceries, I sat down beside papa who was still watching the game. He opened his arms for me signaling me to come and sit close beside him.