Summer ✓ p.jm

Chapter 1 : Lover Liar

"I don't want to see both of you holding out your phones, unpack your stuff first." My mother warned us. It's nothing to me really, I usually follow them. On the contrary, my younger sister Serene is the total opposite.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Serene mumbled under her breath as she slipped her phone back inside her pocket and forcefully grabbed her luggage.

My family loves traveling, we do it often, especially now that it is our summer break.

We just arrived home from Santa Monica. It was pretty fun, our whole clan was there. We stayed there for two weeks, I thought it was going to bore me out, but I did enjoy it.

I brought my luggage upstairs in my room and remove the clothes that I haven't used from the trip.

I'm already getting lazy when I heard the door creaked. "Selestina." My sister spoke.

"What do you need? And stop calling me that." I prefer being called as Elise, I find my real name weird.

I continued folding my clothes and placing them inside my wardrobe.

"Have you heard about the new neighbor?" She whispered as she walks slowly towards me. I've heard that the Johnson's, our old neighbor is selling their house.

I didn't imagine it would be sold as soon as possible.

"Already?" Is all I managed to say. I don't have the energy for gossips right now, and my sister is a huge fan of it.

"Yeah, I heard that a handsome guy is settling in there." She sat on my bed as she waits for my response.

"Living alone?"

"Maybe, the house is still under renovation though." She shrugs. "By the way, how are things between you and Ryan?" I sighed when I heard the name of my boyfriend.

I don't want to tell her that I'm already getting tired of our relationship. It's not that he's a bad guy, he's clingy. Something that most girls would like. He's nice, a gentleman, and he takes care of me. We also share the same hobbies and interests. He's too perfect. That makes me a lot more confused. I do love him, but I feel that there's something wrong and I don't know what that is. "We're good." Instead of going into details, I chose to tell her the easier way.

"Is that all you're here for? If it is, can you please get out?" I do not allow my siblings inside my room, because I know they'll only make a mess.

I just went easy on Serene because I thought she was going to say something important, and I don't feel to argue right now.

"Okay then." She stands up. "Oh, and mother said dinner's up." She finally left with that, and I can't help but bury my face inside my hands.

A few minutes passed and I heard my phone ringing. I took a deep breath before answering it.

"Hey..."

"Hey babe, you sounded a little off, is something bothering you?" Ryan asked through the phone.

"Oh, no. I guess I'm just tired."

"Okay, I hope you're being honest." He laughed, trying to make our conversation brighter.

"I am always." I lied forcing a small laugh.

I remember when I would lie to him that I'm feeling sick so that I can focus on rewatching the Harry Potter series, he insisted to come over but I succeeded in convincing him that I'm okay. There were also times that I would intentionally sound sleepy and fake a yawn while talking to him on the phone, and later on, I'll pretend that I'm already sleeping, leaving my phone on call and I can hear him calling my name thinking that I'm already asleep, he would tell me goodnight's and stuff while thinking that I'm already in dreamland and eventually he would hang up. But the truth is I was just reading books in silence. I also lied about sleeping or being busy when I miss his calls and messages sometimes.

Yeah, I'm really honest, you could tell that.

"How's the entire trip?"

"It was fun. I enjoyed it, we ate, talked, and swam... a lot. But the car ride sucks." I attempted to sound merry.

"That's good to hear. What time have you arrived? Did you already had your dinner?" He curiously asked.

"Around seven and yes I already did." I briefly answered.

"Oh good. You sound tired, I guess you should rest first, the ride must've worn you out." He suggested and I can't help but heave a sigh of relief.

"I guess it did." I awkwardly laugh as I open a drawer and place the accessories I wore.

"Rest well, I love you and goodnight."

"Goodnight... I love you too." The words came out of my mouth involuntarily. He then ended the call.

I feel guilty about him, there's no way in hell that I'm going to break up with him just because I feel that there's something wrong, I wouldn't dare to break his heart.

He just loves me so much.

I quickly finished my work and head down for dinner.

=====

The next day I woke up a little late, it's almost lunchtime.

I found myself wondering around the kitchen looking for some bread to eat.

A sticky note on the refrigerator caught my attention and it was from my parents, saying they'll be back around nine in the evening, asking me to take charge while they're gone.

Instead of finding a nonexistent bread inside our kitchen, I decided to just make a coffee.

After I operated the coffee maker, a pair of arms snaked around my stomach from behind.

I instantly knew that scent.

It's Ryan.