The Colours We Give | On hold

| 21 |

tassel

"ARE THESE GOOD?" I shout to Dad, picking up a bag of not so shiny apples. My parents say that if they're not very shiny, they're less likely to have a wax coating on them.

Dad's searching for a good pack of garlic. Without even looking, he answers, "It's perfect!" 

And without rechecking with him, I dump it into our trolley and take it to his side. 

Dad finishes picking out some more vegetables. He segregates them into bags and I drive the trolley to the cashier. As he does his work, I slowly head over to the confectionery section. The smell of fresh bread here is especially inviting. When I glide my eyes through all the different kinds of breads and pastries, I can't help but stop them at the red velvet cake. I like red velvet cake. And this one looks amazing.

Dad sees me ogling at the pastry. "Which one?" he asks.

I smile and answer, "Red Velvet."

He gives me some money, and I pay it to the cashier at the confectionery. Then he hands me a piece along with the change. "Thank you," I beam and bow. He smiles broadly and waves at me as I take the cake to Dad to give him the first bite. Dad refuses saying he isn't hungry, but I force it into him anyway. He gives his nod of approval. I smile and take a bite, and it makes my smile bigger. It's perfectly soft and firm.

The car ride home is funnier than usual. Dad requests me to play some of Elvis Presley's songs on his phone, and he sings along with them, either slower or faster than the actual pace. To add into it, he's literally belting out the lyrics in notes that don't exist. He then belts out a really high note and cracks his voice, and my stomach starts to hurt from all the laughter.

When we get out of the parked car to go to our apartment, Dad begins to quieten. It's always like this. He starts to dread things when we get home. When I was small, this behaviour of his made me imagine dark clouds around our home. In fact, after watching a lot of anime, I still do.

I hate it when he acts like that. Sometimes it makes me so annoyed, my whole body itches.

Mom opens the door with a smile. Dad and I enter, dropping the grocery down to remove our shoes. Mom helps us by taking them to the kitchen. "We'll order in tonight," she announces, coming back. 

"Yes!" I cheer. "Thai?"

Mom nods, making me cheer once more. My parents look at me and laugh.

Dinner's good. It's been long since I've had some quality Pad Thai noodles, and it instantly uplifts my mood. Mom and Dad don't fight for the second dinner in a row. When nothing happens thirty minutes later, I decide it's a good time for me to retire to my room and read Free Tickets to Water Hill.

The author of that story sure knows how to make readers agitated. All the recent chapters have been ending at cliffhangers, and major ones at that. I'm just happy with the fact that unlike a lot of other writers on Inkpad, her updates are quite regular.

I begin reading it. This chapter feels especially fast-paced, but it's still easy to go through. And it's satisfying too, because for once, Nancy, Pabi and Gogi actually get a glimpse of Water Hill.

The chapter ends and so does my will to continue my unfinished assignments. I put them in my bag and leave it for doing it in school. Kim, Arashi and Nash are going to copy it from me anyway, so I'd rather complete it while they do so.

I check the messages from Arohi and reply to them, logging off after.

Then I sit on my bed, blinking.