Chapter 6 #2
I had homework waiting for me, so I retreated to my room.
Strangely, I felt lost; I had to Google explanations because I hadn't taken any notes during classes.
I realized I should stay on top of things this year because there would be important exams coming up in June and July.
I wasn't interested in going to university, but I couldn't share that with my parents just yet.
Deep down, I dreamed of moving to Milan, starting fresh, and embracing adulthood. Or maybe, if I'm honest, I just wanted to escape this small town filled with nosy people.
I placed the lasagna in the oven, and I couldn't help but remember the way my mom carefully crafted each layer. She had a genuine passion for cooking—a passion I never quite shared. My culinary skills were limited, but at least I could manage to pop something in the oven.
I lingered in the kitchen, determined to prevent any mishaps. Setting the table, I tried to mimic the way my mom used to do it. The aroma of the lasagna began to waft through the house, confirming that I hadn't ruined it…yet. My phone vibrated again; it was Jessica:
“Hey, next Saturday! You and Em at our café at 4 PM.”
It seemed she hadn't heard the latest. Given the difficulty of updating everyone, I decided to call her instead.
“Hey, I saw your text.”
“Hi! Please tell me you'll be there. I want to introduce you to this guy I'm seeing.”
“The problem is, Em and I haven't been on speaking terms.”
“What happened?”
“Oh, you know how high school drama goes. It's complicated.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Okay, but maybe you could come alone?”
“You know what? I think I can bring Marco along for that double date you've been dreaming about.”
“So, you're back together?”
“Sort of.”
“Yay!”
“You're going to make me deaf—stop squealing!”
“You two are meant for each other.”
“I suppose.”
“Alright, Saturday at 4 PM. Don't be late.”
“I'll be on time. Bye!”
I heard my dad pull into the driveway in his gleaming red Mercedes GLE 350, a car he'd cherished since last year like it was his own child. I dashed outside to help him with the groceries as he opened the trunk.
“Let me give you a hand!” I said, reaching for a couple of bags.
“Oh, that's all right, sweetie,” he replied, not wanting me to lift anything too heavy. “Is that lasagna I smell?” he asked, raising an eyebrow while placing bags on the counter.
“Yes! I found one in the freezer and thought a home-cooked meal was better than takeout.” He stepped closer and kissed my forehead. “Go take a shower; I'll handle the groceries,” I said with a smile.
“Are you sure?” he asked, looking surprised.
“Absolutely.”
“Alright, then. I'll be quick.”
Typically, it was my mom who managed everything. She always asked me to relish my free time while I could because once I was living on my own—or with a husband—I'd have to juggle everything like she did. Yet, here she was, prioritizing her career over our family.
Dinner went on for a while, but it was truly enjoyable.
I tried my best to be good company for him.
Sure, we skipped the topic of Mom, but I didn't want him to feel isolated.
We reminisced about the memories we shared—our travels and adventures together, our winter snowball fights, and making snow angels.
I could see the spark in his eyes as he spoke about the moments that meant the most to him; he genuinely cherished our family, this house, and even this town—they were everything he needed for happiness.
I recalled how, on his birthdays, he always let me blow out the candles for him. One year, I asked, “Don't you want to make a wish?” He replied, “I already have everything I need.”
I hoped that one day I would have that same look in my eyes, that same glow of contentment.
I wished to discover my own happy place.
Yet, in this specific moment, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the joy I had been yearning for.
We continued our conversation late into the night, and he insisted on washing the dishes afterward.
I spent Sunday at home, mostly doing nothing.
The next few days were challenging. Emily avoided me entirely; whenever she had the chance, she would take a different bus.
I felt utterly alone, with no way to change the situation.
I didn't even know if the recording existed, and there was no way to retrieve it.
The only bright spot in this chaos was Marco, but our interactions were mostly physical, lacking any meaningful conversation. I didn't mind too much, though; he seemed to want to make me happy, so I wondered if I should be content with that.
My mom returned for only one evening but left again in the morning, and she still hadn't come back. It was Saturday, a short day that ended at noon.
After a refreshing shower and washing my hair, I had about an hour to prepare. We had also planned to go to the movies, and since I hadn't been out in weeks, I was genuinely looking forward to it.
Just as I almost finished getting dressed, Marco was waiting downstairs. I hurried to open the door and wrapped my arms around him tightly. He looked remarkable in his light jeans and electric blue hoodie, which complemented his dark, flowing hair perfectly.
“You really need to get a haircut!” I said as I walked back upstairs to finish dressing, and he followed closely behind.
“I told you when I was going to do that,” he replied.
“Yes, I remember. I just hoped you might reconsider.”
“Is your dad around?” he asked.
“Nope.” I turned to gauge his reaction, and he stepped closer, lifting me off the ground so I could wrap my legs around him.
“What are you doing? We're going to be late!” I teased as he gently laid me on the bed, positioning himself over me.
“I don't care,” he whispered in my ear, planting soft kisses along my neck and lips. His hands roamed my body with an intensity that made me gasp. Suddenly, he pulled away. “Now it's my turn to tease,” he said with a mischievous grin.
“Seriously?” I laughed, playfully throwing a pillow at him in surprise.
“Come on, let's go! We really will be late,” he said, clearly amused, as he stepped out of my room. I quickly fixed my hair and grabbed a coat.
Autumn had arrived, and the streets were blanketed in vibrant, colorful leaves. The mountains looked like they had been painted in shades of yellow, green, red, orange, and brown—an absolutely breathtaking sight.
We arrived ten minutes late and spotted Jessica standing by herself, her eyes scanning the area as if searching for us. As I exited the car and made my way toward her, I offered a wave and a smile. However, her expression was one of concern.
“Hey, sorry for the delay,” I said, feeling a pang of guilt since I was always punctual.
“Hi, it's no problem…” she replied, though her gaze continued to search around.
“Where's your mysterious date?” I inquired just as Marco approached, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“He seems to be running late… Oh, wait, there he is!” Jessica exclaimed, her excitement palpable. When I turned to look, I felt my heart drop, and my mouth fell open in shock.
“Luna, Marco, this is Zane,” she introduced. Marco quickly extended his hand in greeting.
“Nice to meet you both,” Zane said, casting me a brief glance. Jessica caught the look on my face but chose not to comment. I wondered if I should tell her. Why hadn't Zane mentioned that he knew me?
“Actually, we know each other from school,” I said, meeting Zane’s eyes. His expression shifted to one of surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to say that.
“Oh, really? That's great!” Jessica chirped, completely unaware of the underlying tension. Marco shot me a quizzical look.
We opted to sit inside the café to escape the chilly wind. The waitress approached us almost immediately.
“Good afternoon! What can I get for you today?” she asked cheerfully.
“I'll have hot tea, any kind is fine,” Jessica said.
“Same for me,” Marco replied. The waitress then turned her attention to me, but I found myself at a loss for words. She then looked to Zane, who seemed uncertain. “Are you alright?” Marco leaned in to whisper in my ear. I nodded in response.
“I'll have hot chocolate,” I managed to say, forcing a smile.
“Me too,” Zane added, glancing my way. This was incredibly awkward. I wondered if I should pull Jessica aside for a private conversation.
“So, how did you two meet?” Marco asked, shifting his gaze between Zane and Jessica, who sat across from us. Jessica looked to Zane, perhaps waiting for him to share the story, but when he remained silent, she took the lead.
“Well, it was at a party Emily and I attended. You two were otherwise occupied,” she said with a smile. “I lost Emily, and this guy came to my rescue,” she continued, her eyes fixed on Zane.
Oh no, please don't tell me she did what I think she did. I realized I had to talk to her, but I couldn't do it here…