"Good morning mama." I just got up, rubbing my eyes as I let out a yawn.
"You just woke up? Don't you have a class today?" My mother asked, as she prepared our breakfast.
"It's Sunday isn't it?" I asked as I sat, grabbing my spoon.
"Sunday was yesterday?--" the way she looked at me as she paused. I knew right there and then that I'm in trouble. I ran back to my room, grabbed my towel and rushed towards the bathroom. And behold, my sister got in first.
"I'm still next Nyx, I've been waiting for Xanayah to finish her bath." My brother, Xavier, with a towel on his shoulder, blocked my way to the door.
"Hey! You weren't here when I got here. You just got out of your room."
"Oh no sister, I've been waiting here since earlier. I just returned to my room to get something." He showed his shaver and grinned.
"Not fair! I'm going to be late for school."
"Not my fault! You woke up late and that's on you. Now go ahead and line up." I ran down the stairs furiously, heading towards the garden where a faucet can be used. I took my bath there in a rush and got back inside the house. Dripping wet clothes, towel just being held, I sneaked inside, dodging my mother's sight. I ran upstairs, straight to my room I go, and yet, even before I could open the door, there she was, furious as can be.
"NYX! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
"Mama, I'm late for school, so I took my bath in the garden."
"Then you should've dried yourself up first before coming inside the house!". I escaped to my room even before she could nag me more. I got out of my wet clothes and dried myself up with the towel. Put on my school uniform and dashed out the house. I didn't have time to eat my breakfast.
I waited for the bus, checked the time and started to be restless. My class starts at 8 and I'm still waiting for that bus. A few minutes later, someone I knew saw me. He stopped in front me and removed his helmet.
"Nyx."
"N-Nathan, Hi." I stuttered at the sight of him.
"Wanna ride on my bike? We're going the same way, so I can just drop you off." He offered me his extra helmet and with no hesitation, I wore it.
"Thanks a lot. You're a life saver. " I hopped on his bike and wrapped my arms around his waist. I saw a faint smile on his face, and that made me flustered. The ride was smooth, and it didn't took long for me to arrive at school.
"Thanks for the ride." I gave his helmet back, smiled at him, and turned around-- but he caught my hand.
"Nyx, are you free on the weekend?"
"Y-yeah, why?"
"Good, I'll pick you up at the bus stop, same time." He let go of my hand, leaving with a big smile on his face. I felt my face burning, my heart racing. My happiness was cut short when the school bell rang. I ran as fast as I could and headed to my classroom. Everyone's already seated and our advisor was inside distributing the exam papers.
"Right, it's exam day. How could I forgot?" I said to myself. I sat down on my chair, received the exam papers and answered them. The room was filled in silence as everyone's doing their best to answer everything. Once finished, I put my pen down and handed over my exam papers. Being late, yet I was the first one to hand it over. I grabbed my bag and went out the room towards the canteen. There I had breakfast and hanged out for a bit while waiting for the time. I still have afternoon classes, but my morning schedule was already vacant. I went to the library and took a nap.
"Nyx, Nyx, wake up." whispers and gentle shakes woke me up. I looked up and saw my bestfriend Samantha.
"Hey, what time is it?" I asked in a low voice as I stretched out my arms.
"It's 20 minutes past 11. Our afternoon class starts at 1:30. Wanna go somewhere to kill time?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"There's a newly opened music store just a few minutes away from here." She smiled brightly as she excitedly talked about the store.
"I never thought you're into musical instruments." I teased.
"I'm really not, but the owner of the store is so handsome. It's not only me that's been going there just to see him."
" Wow, really Samantha? Seems like his really handsome for you to fan over him." I got curious as she's known as the school belle. Her standards for a man is definitely high.
Samantha is beautiful, came from a well off family, and an only child. So she's spoiled but not a brat. She reached out to me first, despite our differences. I'm not beautiful, I can say I'm just average. She's charming and talks sweetly, while I'm grumpy and tomboyish. There's also a time when our schoolmates asked if we're in a relationship. I just laughed it off. She lead me to the store, I followed as I was curious too.
"Nyx, that's the store." She pointed at a newly built store. It opened not too long ago. I could still see the promotions and ribbons on the door. We head in and looked around. Her stare was glued to someone tall, slender and of course, handsome. My curiosity died down the moment I knew who she was referring to. It was Nathan. My long time crush, my older brother's bestfriend. I scanned the entire store, looking for my brother.
"Nyx!" Nathan found me instead. He headed towards where I am to greet. Samantha, bewildered, nudged me.
"You know him?" She whispered covering her mouth as she saw Nathan coming our way.
"Ahmm, yeah. So he's the guy you're talking about?" I scoffed at her, feigning disinterest.
"You should introduce me to him Nyx. I'm your bestfriend remember?" She begged with that puppy look on her eyes.
"I will, so don't make it too obvious that you're interested in him." Nathan got closed to us, with a bright smile he always wore.
"Nyx, glad you came to check on our store. Your brother's out of the moment, buying drinks for the guests." He pointed towards a group of ladies, sitting near the counter.
"Who are they?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow.
"They're co-owners. Me, your brother and the 2 ladies there from the group."
"Ehemmm." Samantha cleared her throat, and signalled me to introduce her.
"By the way, this is my bestfriend Samantha." Nathan offered his hand and replied.
"Nice to meet you Samantha, I'm Nathan. I didn't know you two are bestfriends. She's been coming here since the very first day we opened." Samantha took his hand and shriek a little.
"Oh really? So she's a regular?" I asked teasingly and looked at her embarrassed face.
"What can I help you with? I know you're not into the instruments Nyx. Helping your friend?." He asked as he looked at Samantha's sweet smile.
"Yeah, yeah, if you can assist her that would be great."
Nathan lead her to the newest products at the store. I was left alone, so I decided to check out their products anyways.
The two if them clicked right of the bat. Looking at them, my heart ached. But I decided to keep it to myself. When Samantha finished her purchase, we head back to school. She bought guitar strings. I knew she couldn't play the guitar, she's like buying her idol's merchandise at that moment.
"Nyx, tell more about Nathan. What does he like? What's his type? Has he been at your house?" Samantha, like an engine in full throttle.
"Calm down girl. I'm not running anywhere, so keep the questions down." I felt irritated by being bombarded with question I don't want to answer. Yet I must, she's my bestfriend, and it's not like Nathan's mine to keep.
"What does he like?-------" I answered each of her questions until she's satisfied. Her eyes glimmered, as if she found her soulmate.
"We'll be hanging out by the weekend. Wanna come?" I asked half heartedly, hoping she would be saying no.
"This weekend? How unlucky." She pouted.
"Got other plans?" I smiled as I asked her. She thought I was just teasing her. But deep inside I was really glad that she's busy.
"Yeah, it's my father's company banquet. We have to be there.
"Oh dang! How unfortunate. You and Nathan can get to know each other more, but given the situation, family comes first. " I patted her back gently.
"Right? It's like fate is keeping him away from me." Samantha laughed it out, and we started chuckling on the silliest things we could say.
Days went by so quickly, and it's the weekend. This time, I got up earlier than the usual and dressed up more too. I put on my lip bum and head downstairs. My older brother saw me, as he was tuning his guitar.
"Where are you going all dressed up?"
"It's none of your business." I said dismissively. I reached out for the door, but when I opened it, standing there was Nathan. I smiled brightly and my heart skipped a beat as I looked at him. But then----
"Hi!" Samantha jumped out behind Nathan. Hugging me like her presence was a surprise. And it did caught me by surprise. I tried to play it cool and hid the disappointment that I felt.
"Y-You're here! Yay! You made it." I hugged her back and masked my heart's real feelings.
"You look wonderful today Nyx." Nathan said, with his eyes so charming it could make you lose your strength.
"Thanks Nathan----" I wasn't able to finish what I'm about to say, as my brother covered my face with his hand and pushed me back inside.
"Stop saying that dude, or she'll think it's true." I bit his hand and he grunted in pain.
"Xavier, you're an idiot!" I grabbed Samantha's hand and lead her inside the house.
"You should've let me finish what I'm supposed to say to you a while ago. I was about to tell you that Nathan's coming."
"What? Then you knew I was meeting Nathan."
"Yeah, and I told him to just hang out here instead. That way I can protect my bestfriend from you." He laughed as he saw my furious face.
"Xavier you're mean!" I threw the slipper I found on the living room. Like a pro at throwing, it hit him on the head. Samantha and Nathan just laughed at the mess we're making. All of us laughed along.
We hanged out all day, laughing, singing, joking and even playing the instruments my brother had. Samantha and I watched, as Nathan strummed the guitar. I could see his veins pop out with every strum. He's so into it, that sweat doesn't bother him. He's an artwork displayed to fill the eyes. An eye candy. Samantha stood up immediately as the song they played finished. She wiped off Nathan's sweat and offered him water. My heart, once again--ached. They're like a perfectly painted portrait of love and servitude. They looked good together. That realization gave me goosebumps. I'm jealous. But it's something I couldn't show. I told myself not to interfere, if ever something sparked between them. My brother noticed my silence, to break the ice, he threw me a towel. I wondered what it's for. He tilted his head, and pointed at Nathan. I just smiled and shook my head.
"Well then, anyone hungry?" My brother asked while putting down his guitar.
"I am. Should we just order and have it delivered or pick it up----"
"Buy it for us, you brought your bike right?" My brother interrupted Nathan.
"Yeah, who's coming?" Nathan asked.
"Take Nyx with you, she knows my usual order. And she knows yours too right?" He asked Samantha who was about to volunteer herself.
"Y-Yes, she knows my preferences." Samantha replied in disappointment. With the opportunity given by my brother, I didn't even waste a second and agreed.
Nathan and I went to my brother's favorite fast-food and ordered his favorite food. I even added a dessert he liked and it's on me. A token of gratitude or a bribe for a next time. I was happy, I'd get a chance to be with Nathan alone. Even just for a moment. Upon going back, I wrapped my arms around his waist tightly, wishing the moment would last forever. But nothing last forever. All moments are fleeting.
"We're back guys. Let's eat up." The ever energetic Nathan put all the bought food on the table. Xavier and I prepared the utensils. We all sat down and started eating. The table was full of boisterous laugh. There was never a dull moment during dinner. After filling our bellies, Xavier volunteered on washing the dishes and told us to go back to the living room. There, the three of us talked and talked. It was only interrupted when Samantha's phone rang. It was her mother calling. She answered it, and had a brief conversation with her mother. Her eyes saddened, and I offered her comfort.
"I have to go home now, I didn't go to the banquet and put on a strike just to be here. Mother called that father's worried about me."
"Oh Samantha, you did that just to hang out with Nathan?" I gasped, holding my voice down.
"Shhh-- I asked for their permission of course. They didn't allow me so, I didn't eat dinner last night. I know they can't take it so they agreed. I've already caused them trouble so I have to go home now."
"You should, and be a good daughter, apologize to them."
"It's not like you apologize to your parents too when you cause trouble." She laughed.
"You and I are different, I'm born tough and you're a baby to them. So don't get me mixed up with your standard of family." We laughed out loud, and soon she informed my brother that she's going home. Nathan also checked the time, told us he's going home too. He offered Samantha a ride and she agreed. Both of them walked out of the house, and we watched as they drove away.
Later that night, I received a text from Samantha. Her message was so long but it got me hooked with its content. Among the character and squeaks she expressed on her text, these three words broke my heart.
"HE KISSED ME."