The Star The Sunflower Faced

chapter two

homesickness

the sickness of yearning to grasp back onto something that you've once lost.

"I know where you were last night."

Dean, my brother whom I hate very much sometimes, leans on my doorway, his pale arms crossed and staring at me with his sly chocolate eyes filled with vengeance that are curtained by freshly washed thin brown bangs. He really doesn't look like me. Not to brag, but I'm ten times more attractive. (Here is where you note my sarcasm. He's the "Visual Star" of the school and his cocky tail knows it.)

"No, you don't." I swiftly hid my camera under my white pillow, a secret never meant to be seen.

"Oh come on, we both know that you sneaked out of the house at twelve a.m. It wouldn't take a minute before  Dad finds out." I really hate his voice, so cacophonous like how a fork would be scratching its pricks on white porcelain.

"How did you even know I snuck out?"

"Your bedroom is next to mine, dingus. You were so loud." Not going to lie, he looked more tired today than yesterday.

"I swear," I mumble as I puff out a heave of annoyance, choosing not to throw an anger bomb at him. "What will it take to shut you up?"

"Come with me to the convenient store, get me two bars of chocolate and your so-called secret will be kept."

I already predicted that he would blackmail me or even make me a bribe, but something about his deal makes me skeptical without knowing it.

"You do know that it isn't a secret anymore since you know it?"

He laughs and I just glare at him, bemused at his random snicker. I was as confused as youth.

His mouth finally shuts up his aggravating giggles."Hey, do you want me to go run to Dad or zip my lips with two chocolate bars?"

"But why two? I only ate one!"

"It's a bribe. Do it or don't."

I sigh dramatically, dragging my wallet into my palms and slide my arms smooth as silk into my black coat. "Go get your coat."

"Okay, sister." He emphasizes the last word in a mocking voice.

"Dean."I scold as he calls me that stupid nickname. I shouldn't have invited him to watch that blood-curdling movie. Ever since I watched a horror movie around him, he saw and heard my terrified curses that spilled from my throat. To be honest, I think he couldn't even hear the subtitles.

We step outside the door and walk without words. All heard were the autumn's breath and the rustles of the tree's fur.

As the glacial wind begins to envelop me in its airy ice like a creamy ribbon tied securely around a meaningful box of lovely letters and darling roses, I felt a little less homesick as I remember the night I held Gray's promises within my now shivering heart. When he sang a melancholic song under the green of the sleepy sunflowers and the lively infinite space painted with clouds of blue and white. It felt so surreal but it also felt like it was supposed to happen.

When we stared up at the stars and the stars gazed down on us, I felt the first of being in love.

Suddenly, a painful squeeze on my arm pinched me out of my daydream filled to the brink with fate."Earth to Asther?"

He pulls the green and orange striped glass door and I slap his arm. "Don't do that, it hurts!"

"Just get in, my arm is going numb."