I cup my hand beneath the tap and let the water pour on my hand. I raised my head to look at the mirror in front of me. I sighed and poured the water on my face again. I picked up a towel and stroll out of the bathroom.
I'm completely lost. I do have not an absolute idea of what to do. I have this feeling in my left chest that I should call her. But deep inside, beneath this feeling, something tells me she wouldn't want to be together anymore. I mean, I fucked up.
I slowly pushed open the door to my room and stepped inside. The first time I saw tears in her eyes was when she saw Agathe and me on the roof. But it was nothing compared to the moment she left.
I threw myself on the bed and picked up the book. I flipped to the page I left off and continued reading.
How you love my family, even though they are crazy.
You met my mom when she helped us to our date. And according to you, she was nice and lovely.
Her mom is the nicest person I've ever met. Karen claimed she was strict and not nice. But I'm sure a strict mother won't let her child out with a guy that knocked on the door, asking for the daughter.
We've gone over this a lot of times with her after that day.
"Please, this woman you're calling nice, locked me in my room for the entire weekend because I snuck out to a party at midnight. I only got food in my room," said Karen, on one of our dates.
"Did you hear yourself? You snuck out. Midnight. I'd lock you in your room for a week," I replied.
She laughed, and playfully punched me on my shoulder. "You are so dumb."
Walking down memory lane left me smiling sheepishly. I didn't even realize that I had been smiling the entire time. "Blurr, erk," I mumbled and turned back to the book.
A few weeks after our first official date, I was out in the kitchen, just trying to have breakfast, like a normal girl. It was happening just as I had hoped it will, but my mom and aunt who came over to visit walked into the kitchen.
They sat and joined me at the table. I thought they were weirdly too silent, because my aunt for one, was talkative. Little did I know they were scheming something. Just as I was a few spoons from finishing my food, my aunt broke the silence.
"Karen darling, how are you this morning?" Aunt Lara asked. I was surprised, because since when did this start?
I looked at my mom and she raised her brow. I looked back at aunt Lara and answered.
"Your mom told me about your golden boy, how are things between you two lately?" She queried.
I screamed in my head when she asked the question. I never thought mom will talk to others about me. I choked. And she wasn't bending. She asked the question again, but this time mentioning your name.
I answered, saying you were alright, and things were fine between us. I didn't want to talk about that with my mom and aunt, why would I? I turned to leave but she called again.
"Hey Karen, I'm not done. We are still talking."
I dragged myself back to my chair, and she continued. My cousin, Jacob, who you already know to be someone you don't want nearby. He walked in and also took a seat. And then she continued.
"How about you invite him, I want to meet him, right?" She looked at my mom, and she nodded agreeably.
"I also want to meet this boy. The guy that Karen likes," Jacob said, peeling my skin with his eyes.
No one knows about this, but Jacob has ever asked me out, but I said no.
God, I don't like that guy. Absolutely annoying. If I knew that, I would have punched him in the face. Even though that will leave a bad impression on her parents. He does have a punchable face though.
I turned to my mom, but she only smiled and nodded. "Bring him over tonight for dinner. Even your dad wants to meet him," she stated.
"You told dad?" I yelled but held back. I had always been nervous around my father. But now I have to meet him, with a boy? You must know how intense that was.
Wow, I… I don't know if I should be sad or glad that her entire family knows about me. Especially now that we broke up. Did she tell them about it? Were they mad at me? My heartbeat sped up a little bit. I pulled the collar of my shirt as the room became hot.
As they kept on being persistent, I had no choice but to do as they asked. Bring you over for a dinner.
It was on a Saturday, and my parents and Abigail weren't home, so I headed over to her place for dinner.
I still remembered how the entire dinner went. From the get-go to the finish, I remember it all. And in case you've forgotten, let's take a walk down memory lane.
Forget? How can forget any moment with you, Karen? How can I, when it all happens as if the moment were etched in my head? There's no way I'd forget any moment with you.
You rang the bell your usual way, thrice.
RING! RING! RING!
Just hearing the bell I knew it was you. My cousin, Jacob was the one who opened the door for you. I was watching from a distance, and I could see him looking you up and down.
"You must be Cole, the Anderson that likes my sister, your looks are nothing as she described. And I mean, you are far worse," he uttered.
I'm sure he was expecting you to lash back at him, but you only shoot him one of your smiles. Which made me smile too, and I'm smiling right now too.
I am too Karen.
He crooked his brows as he realized you weren't mad. "So can I come in?" You asked.
He was about to hit you with another question when mom ordered him to let you through.
"Let the gentleman in Jacob," she said.
He reluctantly moved to the side, letting you pass. You then walked up to my mom and… hugged her. You hugged my mom. Not only my aunt and I, but even mom was also visibly shocked. I don't know if that's a new strategy guy developed to win over the mother, because it worked. From that moment, till that day, my mom always asks about you.
"How is Cole?"
"What about Cole?"
"Are you going out with Cole today?"
"I don't mind if you come home late."
I got tired of the questions, but couldn't do anything about it. We sat around the table, and my mom served her favorite rice and chicken. I don't care what you say, my mom is a damn awesome cook.
I let out a breaking chuckle.
"Feel free to ask for anything darling," mom stated.
Dad wasn't at the dinner, you wouldn't believe how glad I was that he couldn't make it. You would have been bombarded with annoying questions that'll probably make you lose interest in me.
Oh, Karen, I doubt anything your family says or does, will make me not want to be with you.
After mom and I served the food, you waited until they had started eating before you dug in. Aunt Lara was sitting opposite of you, mom next to you, Jacob, next to aunt Lara, while I sat at the far end of the table. You leaned forward and smiled at aunt Lara.
"Sorry, but I don't think I've seen you here before," you questioned.
She narrowed her eyes at you, then smiled "Oh, I'm the aunt, just call me Lara, and this is my son Jacob," she revealed.
You smiled again and turned back to your food. After a while, Jacob spoke. "Cole is it? Have you had a girlfriend before?"
I almost choked on the water I was drinking. I looked up at Jacob, but he only looked at me with an unreadable expression.
You smiled again, glanced at me then faced Jacob. "If you count elementary…" he stopped for a second. "It'll still be no, Karen is my first,"
I was glad, happy, that I was your only girlfriend. When you started speaking, I thought you had a lot before me. But I felt relief when you mentioned that I was the only one.
From the moment Jacob and I met, I knew he was going to make sure I fumbled and leave a bad impression.
Jacob shrank back in his seat, and stuff a spoon of his food into his mouth. But I knew he wasn't going to back down just yet.
My mom and aunt kept asking questions about you, your studies, and your parents. And, I just love the way you gave them a befitting answer. You looked so cool the way you sat there. Everything was going fine until Jacob struck again.
"What made you attracted to Karen, Cole?" He probed.
I could tell you were surprised at his question because you froze for a moment.
"Jacob, enough with the questions," I fumed.
"But we all are curious," aunt Lara supported. She turned to my mom and raised her brows. "Right sis?"
End of chapter.
