Through the Dark

Chapter 16

I was relieved when I got home knowing that the weekends had arrived. Two days of rest before beginning the same process all over again. I always got excited for the weekend. That particular time, my excitement was more because I was utterly exhausted on the account of the long hours of basketball that we had to play every morning before school began. Not to mention the tedious classes that had to be endured with equal energy if not more.

Livia had a day off from work on Friday and she had made dinner. The three of us Livia, Jason and I had dinner together at the dining table which was rare. Livia, being a doctor, had to work at odd times. Thus, her absence was frequent and when she was not home Jason and I never ate together because we were not that courteous towards each other. Jason minded his own business while I minded mine.

After dinner I cleared the table while Livia ordered Jason to clean the utensils and to put them in place.

I went to my room and opened my books to commence with the strenuous work of studying. I was in need of sleep but also had to get my work done. Since the past few days I have not been diligent with my studies at home or at school. Consequently, I found everything more and more abstruse.

"I have to finish three of topics of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics by tonight," I thought to myself and sat myself down on the chair with great determination. I had initiated with Physics and did it within the allotted time. After that I did half of the Chemistry assignment before shifting to the most dreaded one; Mathematics. Mathematics was hard, especially in the higher levels where the only thing constant was the letter 'x' in algebra.

After striving for hours I still could not finish half of it. It was not that I could not do any of it at all. I managed to do the sums but those were hard and I took more time than I was supposed to.  If I persisted the way I was going then I would certainly not do well. I would pass, but not with good grades.

As I checked the time I saw that it was already midnight. I was a night owl and preferred staying up late than waking up early in the morning. It was a miracle that Livia did not mind me getting up early because if that was the case, I would have struggled to adjust. The next day was Saturday for which I did not have to worry about waking up early and going to bed late. However, I needed a booster and it was time for a cup of coffee.

I went downstairs as quietly as possible because Livia was sleeping and I did not want to disturb her. Upon emerging the kitchen, I made myself a cup of mocha which I kept it on the table before going towards the fridge and getting out a piece of chocolate. I turned, expecting to see my cup of coffee on the table. But instead there was nothing. 

"How on Earth is that possible?" I thought to myself because I clearly remembered that I kept the mocha on the table.

Just then I saw a huge shadow against the light and Jason appeared wearing a tee-shirt and shorts.
"What the fuck!" I exclaimed.
"Don't shout mom's sleeping," Jason said blandly, leaning against the table.
"You scared me," I replied. I could still feel my heartbeat which had proliferated. I was all alone in the room and all of a sudden the huge muscular figure of Jason appeared in front of me, completely taking me by surprise.

"Hey, I made that for me," I snapped seeing Jason slurping the mocha I made.
"I know," Jason said not giving any heed to it.
"Can you be more annoying?" I mumbled to myself.

I began making it all over again. Regardless, instead of focusing on making it my mind was focused on Jason who had pulled the chair to sit by the table. Neither Jason nor I said anything and we remained in the quietude. 

As the making of the mocha was done I turned to see that Jason was scrutinizing me like a hawk.
"What?" I inquired.
"You don't look crazy from the outside but the way you talk to yourself is a sign of craziness," Jason said causing me to chuckle.

I pulled a chair on the opposite side of the table and sat facing him. Initially, I was not planning to do that but Jason sort of began to talk with me and if I left, it would be unmannerly and presumptuous. 

"What makes you think I talk to myself?" I asked sipping in the mouthwatering drink.
"Vianna your room is right beside mine. I can hear you talking to yourself in there," Jason stated.

"I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested," I said smiling. Jason began to laugh at my reference to 'The Big Bang Theory'. I knew he had got it because he had recently watched the show on Netflix.

"You should laugh more you know. It suits you better," I stated truthfully. It was probably the first time I was seeing Jason laugh since I had known him.
"Come on Vianna it's no time to flirt," he said but I noticed the smile that had formed on his lips for a split second.
"I'm just talking, not flirting," I replied while smiling innocently.
"Seems like you are," Jason added boldly. 
"It's not my fault that what I said came out smoother than the cream cheese spread," I said hearing which Jason chuckled.

"On a serious note. I heard you struggling over Mathematics," Jason conveyed. 
"Yeah I was getting frustrated over the sums I could not do. I talked with myself because it helped me to keep myself motivated," I stated before I took a bite of the dark chocolate.

"If you want I can help you with it," he added hearing which I was utterly shocked and almost choked on the chocolate that I was having.

"And why would you do that?" I interrogated.
"Because I can," he mentioned with confidence.
"Okay Mr. Carter enough with the flexing," I teased him.

"I'm serious," Jason said.
"Okay," I simply stated.
"Okay as in you are okay with me wanting to help you?"
"Yeah. At the rate I'm going it won't take long for me to fail," I sighed.

"That did not take much convincing," Jason said thoroughly amazed.
"You are offering to help me with something I'm struggling with. Why would I deny such a great opportunity?" I pointed out.

"I don't know maybe because you may not be comfortable with it as you are weak at it?" Jason tried to make up something.
"What am I? 12? Why would I not be comfortable with it?" I laughed.

"Fine. It's a deal but only on one condition."
"What is thy condition majesty?" I said jokingly resulting us both to chuckle.

"That you make me one of this everyday," Jason said amidst his laughter and pointed to his cup of coffee. He looked so care free at that time that it almost felt as if he was a different Jason. First of all, he was laughing which made wrinkles appear on the skin around his blue eyes.

"It's a done deal," I replied while smiling.

"So when do you want to start?" I asked Jason.
"Will see tomorrow. For now I'm going to go to my solitary and finish the net season of Big Bang Theory," Jason said and walked off to his room. 

It was the first time that Jason and I had a proper conversation without me being completely annoyed by his obnoxious attitude which he was famous for. He was probably too drowsy to even comprehend that he was talking with me let alone the fact that he just offered to help. For one, I thought I was not exactly his priority. Regardless what I thought, at least I knew that my Mathematics would be in better hands.

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Happy New Year. Let us hope and pray that 2021 is a better than what we endured in the previous one. 
xoxo