Bi-stressed

CHAPTER 23

Whole morning is spent in my blanket swirling around in bed and the rest of the day is spent in watching television and talking to Zac.

I messaged Luna in the morning but there's no reply from her yet. She uses her mom's phone and she's prolly at work.

After lazing around in bed, I finally decide to go to Halsey's house. It's just a walking distance from here anyway.
I'm dressed in pajamas and a T-shirt. I put a sweater over and head to Aunt Steph's house. It's December but still not that cold.

From a distance I can see the church lights sparkling. Christmas is the most wonderful and my favorite time of the year. The lights and decorations are incredibly splendid. The smell of Christmas sweets filled the lane as I walk past. As I enter in, the house is filled with the smell of rum. The sweet smell of baked cakes enter into my nostrils. I head directly towards the kitchen. There are 2 date nut loaf cakes, 4 fruitcakes and 4 baath cakes lying on the counter. Baath cake is a Goan traditional cake and being a Goan it is a tradition to bake it once every year at Christmas.

I hate that cake.

Dried fruits were soaked in rum since last week. Now it's being added to the dough which is prepared by sugar. Now it's being caramelized by boiling in water. I insert the butter paper in two baking pans. The dough is put in the oven and left for at least 60 minutes.

I go help, putting up the Christmas tree.

My phone is vibrating away and as I go to check there's a knock on the door.

Fuck.

It's Zac.

Holy crap.

I've forgotten to log out from my fake account. Shit.

Shit.

My cheeks are flushed red with guilt. I unlock the door for him and give him a hug trying to hide my reddened face.
I head hold of my phone and run into the bathroom, locking the door. I unlock my phone and the loads of messages from Luna appear in the notification bar.

*"I'm sorry, the phone was with my mum."*

*"Where are you bb?"*

*"Please talk to me."*

*"I miss you."*

*"Lexi"*

*"Lexii"*

*"Lexiii"*

*"Zac is here. Please don't message now. I'll speak to you in the night."* I promise her.

*"Okay."*

*"I hope you understand."* I text her.

*"Yes I do."* She replies back with a purple heart emoji.

I log out.

"Phew." I sigh.

I'm extricated.

I throw myself on the sofa beside Zac.

"Where did you disappear?" Zac asks me.

"Nowhere."

"Nowhere?"

"Bathroom." I giggle.

The last rum cake is taken out of the the oven and the delicious smell makes my mouth water. The cakes are wrapped in plastic and a sheet of aluminum foil is wrapped over it to keep  it preserved until Christmas day itself.

The sweet smell of bakes cakes still hung the air of the cozy kitchen and I'm loving it.

Is today a good chance to tell Zac about Luna?

Yes.

No.

He's in a good mood and I don't want to ruin it today. Maybe tomorrow.

We decorate the tree and the balcony with lights. Time flies by and soon it's night.

I wish I could decorate my own house. My dad and I used to put up the tree every year until he passed away.
The last time I put up the tree with him was when I was only 8. The following year, he was out of the city. I couldn't spend Christmas with him that year and finally when he was back I thought we could spend Christmas together this year but he passed away earlier that year in October. It's become 4 years for him now.

I miss him.

I miss him so bad especially at this time of the year.

We didn't have enough years together.

Only 10.

That wasn't enough.