The extra-ordinary life

Chapter 13

The Ray family house was nothing fancy. But sometimes the most humble things have the superpower to make you feel extra-ordinary. Yes, no matter how un-posh her house was, it was still able to make Pete pick up it's comfy vibes.

The presence of a motherly figure, his sister and well.. the daughter of the motherly figure made Pete feel warm from inside.

Currently, Pete was blowing into the balloons while the two young ladies were decorating the room neatly. Earlier in the afternoon, Angelina invited each of her mother's friends over to her birthday celebration.

Two hours later...

The room was filled with a happy " Happy birthday to you...." song, along with the sound of people cheering and clapping.

Angelina finally felt that she had redeemed herself to some extent as a daughter after seeing her mother's beaming face.

"We did well," Pete said to the ladies.

Mrs. Ray called Angelina and her party over and introduced them to her friends.

" Do you have a girlfriend?" asked one of Mrs. Ray's friends to Pete.

Had it been any other time, Angelina would have the urge to roll her eyes upon listening the question. "And, we are back to the topic again. Don't they have anything better to ask?" Angelina always had this question in her mind. But today she felt a little curious herself.

" I do have someone I like," Pete replied politely with a gentle smile on his face.

Angelina's shoulders drooped. She felt almost as if a heavy weight was sitting immobile on her heart. Her eyes were tingling. She didn't know what to do. She had absolutely no idea why she was feeling so terrible.

The party was over by 11 pm. Mrs. Ray let Angelina and Sam sleep in the same room, while Pete got the other unoccupied one.

It was a little after 1 am when Angelina heard Sam snoring. She was relieved that she finally could leave the bed. Legends say, not even a nuclear explosion could wake Sam up once she was asleep.

Angelina was a deep sleeper in general. But today she couldn't fall asleep. No matter how much she tried. So she finally took a blanket and stepped out of her house.

She walked out of the gate when she heard "Couldn't sleep either?" in a deep baritone.

She turned and saw it was Pete. He was leaning by the wall holding an electric cigarette.

"Yes" Angelina replied.

"Me neither. Let's take a stroll at the beach."

"Not a bad idea!" Beach was Angelina's favourite go to place. She immediately agreed to his proposal.

It took them 7 mins to reach the beach. They were walking silently side by side with their hands occasionally brushing against each other. None of them tried to avoid it and no one showed any reaction to it.

"Last time when I visited any sea beach, I still had all my milk teeth." Pete sounded lonely.

"Why did you not visit beaches after that? Come on, you can't be so busy at that age. Right?"

"My dad met my mom for the first time in a sea beach and they also held their marriage ceremony on the same beach. After her death, he avoided beaches at all costs. I, too, have many happy memories with my parents in beaches. Now that both of my parents are gone, I didn't have the courage to go back near seas."

"I am so sorry. I didn't know that or I wouldn't have joked."

"It's ok. I guess, I can't always run away from everything."

They sat on the sand. The sea looked magical in the moonlight. Angelina could see Pete's face but the moonshine was not enough to figure out his expressions. His figure looked melancholic.

The next moment Pete was covered by a warm blanket. Sitting under the same blanket, no one spoke. Sometimes, silence was so precious. You don't have to always show your empathy verbally. You just have to be there, physically and emotionally present with the person who needs it badly.

Pete wrapped his arm around her and whispered, "This is the most calming and beautiful night I ever witnessed."

Angelina looked at him. He was looking at the moon. "Thank you. Thank you for being there withe tonight" Pete's voice cracked.

She patted his back gently while he was shedding silent tears.

"I must look like a fool to you." Pete spoke after a very long time, breaking the silence.

"I see no reason to think like that"

"Man are not supposed to cry."

"Are you a man? Whoa! I couldn't tell that!" she joked.

Pete suddenly grabbed the back of her head with his broad palm and brought his face so close to hers that she could literally feel his warm breath on her face. Her heart raced frantically. He spoke in a low seductive voice when she tried looking away, "How am I not a man?"

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Bonus

Pete: " I do have someone I like."

Angelina: "........" I don't have any hope left.

Pete: oh no! The person I like looks sad.