1| Today Tonight Tomorrow

08| fika

08

fika

a moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life

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Happy Steps Music by Cafe Music BGM channel

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I still couldn't believe what joke the universe pulled on us. It was a week of multiple failed attempts of hiding and utter embarrassments. It was uncountable how much I made myself a joke in front of Brayden. First, I puked all over him one morning...

*Throwback

I woke up startle caused by one of my nightmares again. I was sweating from head to toe. I felt lightheaded and had a mild urge to vomit.

"Why do this keep happening?" I asked myself as I held my head.

Coincidentally, I heard a knock on the door. Thinking it maybe just be Audrey, I opened the door immediately.

"Audrey, I--" I started before I realized It was not Audrey who was standing in front of me.

"Uhh... Hey." Brayden awkwardly said as he scratched his head.

"Uhmmm... Hey. Can I help you with something?" I asked "seriously", hiding my panic state under my poker face.

"Can we talk?" He asked.

I stared at him for a moment, staring unbelievably at him. Was he for real? The last time we talked was the time I rejected him.

"Talk?" I replied a question at him. Too shocked to say more.

"Yeah..."

Before I could even give myself a redemption for last time, I messed up my chance before it happened. I spilled my guts out at him and fainted.

*End of throwback

It was so embarrassing that I decided not to eat breakfast at the dining area anymore. Though, my bad luck did not stop there. I even stormed-in his room one under-age drunken night.

*Throwback (Disclaimer: Don't do underage drinking, kids! That's bad)

It had been just been two weeks, but it felt as if time had passed years later. I was so stressed from the pressure of the upcoming exams and the presence of Brayden. It wasn't because I like him, because I don't and never would have such feelings, but because of the guilt that kept me grounded in my guts.

"I need a drink." I said as I groaned in frustration and annoyance.

Quickly, I sneaked out of my room towards the wine cellar where I thought I was alone. Surprisingly, I found Law, our twenty-five-year-old butler, peeping on my uncle's drinks.

"Give me five reasons not to tell Uncle Philip you've been drinking up his stuffs here?" I threatened him, coming out of the shadows and shocking him. To make matters worse for our dear butler, he broke a glass of my Uncle's favorite.

"Give me another two for that." I continued as I did the akimbo and smirked.

Law was pale as white as he stared at the mess he did on the floor. He was clearly hyperventilating and on the verge of fainting.

"Look, Irene, let's just call this a night and forget about this."

"Uhmmm... How about no? There's this thing we call, "Give and take". So, how much do you pay me to shut my mouth?" I challenged him as I crossed my arms.

A moment of silence covered upon us and Law was thinking hard of what could please me.

"s-"

"Don't even finish that or I'll really let Uncle fire you."

He begun brainstorming again and I swore to God It was a funny sight to see him pacing back and forth.

"Okay. Fine. You call this a night. I drink here. You go and I swear if you tell anyone about my business here, I will make sure you won't ever see the sunshine again." I offered, which he immediately agreed and left.

"Oki. Let's get this started!"

**

I opened my eyes to a morning of disgrace. I wasn't either in my room nor the cellar, but in Brayden's room. He was half- naked in the couch as I slept on his bed. I almost had the itch to scream.

I slowly tiptoed towards the door, careful not to wake the boy across the room. I had caused too much of embarrassment already. I couldn't handle another one.

After a second or so, I finally reached the door and quickly went out. Not caring if there was someone outside or what could possibly happen.

I may had successfully come out of the room alive, but I did not escape the interrogation of Uncle Philip, Audrey and even Law.

*End of Throwback

I couldn't believe I was still alive and still breathing after all the miseries I went through. I mean, I kept holding my breath for God knows how long every time the world kept placing me on this situation. Though, fate still had not enough.

As I was reading in the library, Uncle Philip went in with an excited expression on his face. He was with Brayden and they both approached me.

"Hey, Kiddo! I see you are reading Belzhar, again." Uncle Philip greeted as he sat at the couch across where I was sitting, together with Brayden.

"Yeah... Can't get enough with how much the story made me cry the first time I read it." I said as I put the book aside and faced them.

"So, what's up?" I asked.

Uncle and Brayden faced each other. You could clearly see how happy Uncle was and how Brayden was trying to be.

"You're going back to school!" Uncle exclaimed

No one could explain how much happy I was to hear the good news. Though, in every good news, there will always be a bad news.

"... And Brayden's coming with you."

Was it too late to back out?

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