WMMAP - [S1] Shelter You - (愛)してる

Chapter 17: Instinct

Athanasia drowsily grabbed her phone and swiped up without looking at the number. "...Hello?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes while waiting for the other line to say something.

"...I left my car key outside your house. Take it to scho—" The moment she recognized the voice, she hung up and tossed her phone away onto her bed. 

"You are not even here last year anyway." 

She sat up and hugged her knee, watching the phone vibrate. It rang several times. But she did not attempt to touch it nor turn the phone to silent mode. 

She huffed air in annoyance before getting up from her bed and heading to the restroom, getting ready for school. The ringtone did not cease even though she was almost done dressing up. But it was getting annoying. Feeling slightly pissed off, she went toward her bed and swiped her screen up.

"STOP CALLING ME! FOCUS ON YOUR GODDAMN JOB!"

"...I am doing my job just fine, Athanasia. But I thought you would appreciate it if I call you more often." A voice that showed indifferent emotion, yet bathed in warmth reverberated through the other line.

"D—Dad?"

"How is everything over there?"

"Everything is fine, Dad."

"It did not sound quite fine a moment ago. What was bothering you?"

"It's nothing. Really. I'm just not a morning person."

"I see."

"What is it, Dad?"

"Athanasia. Congratulation on your birthday." Claude said plainly. But Athanasia understood him too well. She giggled as she walked downstairs. "I missed you too." 

"What do you want this year?"

"Anything will do. As long as it's from you. But just call me more frequently like this is enough for me."

"You could have asked for anything in the world, yet you decided to go with a phone call with me?"

"Little things matter, Dad. Especially from you."

"I have to go back to work now. I do not want to... Not doing my job right. "

"Please stop, Dad. It's not for you."

"Then who was it for?" She swallowed thickly. "Athanasia."

"It... It's no one."

"I told you—"

"Yes, I know Dad. You tell me this all the time. Especially on my birthday. No Dating. I got it."

"Good. You still remember."

"It's not like I have anyone in mind..." A guy with a midnight hair color with red ruby orbs suddenly appeared in her vision. Athanasia shook her head, trying to cleanse his face off her head.

"If I find out, I will make sure that guy will never be able to walk again." Claude threatened.

"DAD! DON'T BE SO MEAN!"

"...Who is it? Tell me who that boy is."

"I HAVE NO ONE!"

"I do not believe such nonsense."

"BYE, DAD! LOVE YOU!"

Athanasia hung up the phone and sighed. She was greeted with flooded messages and miscalls when she looked at her screen again.

From Wolfie: [The car key is outside. I put it in the mailbox.]

From Wolfie: [I'm so sorry.]