Ida's POV

"Burrito & Crispy Taco, please."

"Chicken or beef?"

"Beef"

I hadn't had beef for so long. And tacos are the best.

I found out about the existence of something called a 'taco' when I played the game' Plants vs. Zombies.' Crazy Dave loved tacos too. We got something in common other than beating Zombies up.

High five.

I never seem to have an interest in any other game other than 'Plant vs. Zombies.' Everything seems so dull in front of it.

I tried new games too, but they pissed me off because they were so annoying. One extra tap, and you die. One less tap, and you die. Ugh. If I ever see the creator of those apps, I'll be Mr. Wilson for a day.

"You know any good apps?"

"For?" Ethan was sitting opposite to me. His structure was carefully traced by the sunlight penetrating from the glass behind him.

His hair looked lighter, and his eyes were dark brown, one of the things you can miss because of its closeness to black. But I didn't miss it.

"games," I replied.

"Hmm," he hummed.

"What type?"

"Let's see... a type which won't annoy you to the core."

"Go for... 'Minecraft' or 'Fortnite' "

"Ew, never suggest anyone with Fortnite, it can make a person crazy and violent I heard." I grossed out.

"depends"

"you play it?" Honestly, just curious.

"Sometimes with my buddies," taking a bite from the fries he ordered.

"I see."

I shifted to look behind Ethan at the passing cars with my eyes nearly shut because of the sun; all the colors looked even brighter in the afternoon, making me want to look more.

It was peaceful.

There were hardly a few people around us.

Just silence in the room accompanied by the occasional clatter of dishes.

The food I had ordered announced its arrival on our table with its delicious odor.

It was freshly made, I think.

"What are you planning to do this Friday?"

My eyes shifted to Ethan's "Accompany my family on the dinner table."

"Angel told that its birthday, though."

"Umm-hmm," I took a giant bite, "it e-s, so a din-ner."

I elegantly tapped my mouth with a tissue, to show that I have my table manners even though having a voracious appetite.

"You left a spot on the side," he states, hands pointing towards my left cheek.

I dabbed the tissue in the spot where I assumed to have left out.

"May I," he was smiling.

His smile was charming that I was hypnotized. It always seemed to do that to me every time, make me do things without thinking. I wonder if I would just as merely allow him to stab me.

Will you?

I nodded at Ethan to allow him to do so.

he gently rubbed his thumb on the tip of my lips to remove the sauce

Holy moly
Did he just lick it!
That is like an...

Stop. Just stop it. I can't, and I won't.

×××

"Mom, I'm home" I announced my arrival "is he back?"

"Honey, welcome home. Come here for a moment I have something to tell you."

I sat on the chair beside the front door and bent to remove my shoes.

My legs are stinking damn!
Should have worn my socks.

I tossed my shoes aside, and with the regret of not wearing my socks today, I entered the bedroom.

He's not here.

"Honey, sit here," she patted on the empty seat next to her.

I realized that she always wore the same clothes—a simple dress with a sashay lace at the border.

I should buy her some when I go out this weekend, won't get much time next week.

"Yes, mom, what's the matter?"

"You're Father has got some unexpected meetings he has to attend this weekend, honey. He won't be back until the coming Wednesday." She patted on my back to comfort me.

"So, he won't be here for my birthday?"

"Sorry, sweetheart."

Her eyes were dull. She felt terrible for me. But on the contrary, I felt relieved that he won't be here to ruin my day.
It's awful to feel that way, but I can't help it. Sometimes I hoped he just died. My mom keeps sympathy for a man like him, says that he has been through so much. She feels sympathy, but I feel rather suspicious of everything in his life. Even the business he claims to own in the next town.

Is he worthy of my Mother and me?

I don't know.

"The guest won't be here, either?" I asked.

"No, honey."

"Mom --" I think I know what I can do

"Can I go out with Engine and a few of my other friends on Friday?"

"... yes." She took a while before answering.

"Okay then, Mom, it's decided." I got up from the seat and grabbed my bag before it fell off of my lap.

That's just great. I am going to have fun this Friday. I bit my lower lip to stop smiling, or it would seem like I was completely unaffected by the fact that my father is not going to be there.

Anyways who cares about him? He did the same thing last year. We were waiting for him to come home, but he never did. And the next day he phoned to tell me that he could not arrive because of some urgent matter to be attended to in the shop.

It's always something related to the shop. These excuses have gotten old now.

Maybe he just does not wanna be there on my birthday.

And I don't care

I'll be with Engine, Ethan and Aiden ---
Ohh, my mom knows Aiden huh?

"Hey mom," I peeped into the bedroom "How do you know Aiden and his mother?"

"Oh, that boy I talked to over the phone. I met them a few years back during Christmas. She's a nice lady, the Mother. She brings over fresh homemade food sometimes for us. You never noticed all the good cooking we got home at times?"

"No mom, I like yours better."

It's true.

My Mother's cooking IS rocket science. I tried making one of her recipes, but it ended up tasting completely different.
If someone told me that they could beat my Mother at it, come on suckers. You'll be on your feet even before she's done.

×××

The bell was loud and clear, interrupting the lecturer.

That is the best part of them. When times up, it's up.

Stop speaking gibberish and let those poor souls go.

I smirked at the thought of the bell. It had all the power to overpower those chaotic noises. It knew when to be heard and when to stay quiet. It identified the rules and followed them. Obedient.

Oh, hey lady looks forward, it's Engine.

Engine was walking in my direction, but she had no idea about my presence.

What are they talking about?

She was all secretive with Aiden. Her eyes traveled around the room, here and there, while talking to him.

I leaned against a locker, waiting for them to notice me.

What is this...
I can see stars during the daytime now.

I winced. I could feel pain on my nose and cheeks at the sudden impact of a slap on my face.

"What the hell, man ?!" I screamed at the psycho who opened the locker with full force, which made the door slap my face head-on.

My nose damn it!

There was blood on my fingers as I touched my upper lips.

"Sorry, dude, I didn't see you there. Blame these guys." a pig-headed person pointed towards the other guys who were following him. "They were threatening me to drop from the team," he emphasized the team as if it was his life.

Sorry dude, but my nose is more important to me! You have to pay for the bills if any shit happens to it.

"Ugh! Just stay away from me. pig head!"

I walked away from the scene where I allowed a pig to slap me, it had caught some attention and attention, and I don't go together.

You mean the locker door.

Same thing.

"Angelin," I waved my hand to Engine and Aiden, who were already on their way towards me, "I have some good news for you."

"Your nose is still bleeding Ida!" she exclaimed

I wiped my nose

"It's fine it will stop,"

"It's leaking again,"

I wiped again

"Again."

I wiped again.

"Aga-"

"Okay, okay. I got it. I'll go to the first aid room. But first I have to tell you--"

"Talk later Ida; you need to go now." Aiden frowned with order indicated in his voice the now-or-don't-tell-me way.

"Fine, I am going. But-"

"NOW!" Both of them took control.
Engine grabbed my hand, pulling me to the First aid room, and Aiden pushed me further by placing his hand on the small of my back.

I sighed.

Luckily it was nothing serious. All it took was some ice to stop the bleeding.
Engine had messaged Ethan that we were in the First Aid room, and in not more than a minute, there was a sharp knock on the door. The entry of a large, tall, and muscular body caught everyone's attention. I think I even saw the nurse eyeing at Ethan for a few seconds.

Damn, he's the center of attention.

I stopped applying the ice pack and looked at him.

He looks sexy

"What are you doing?" Ethan took my hand which was holding the ice pack on my lap and placed it on my nose, "Don't stop applying the ice pack, it's still bleeding." A dangerous smirk spread across his face, and I realized that my nose was bleeding again due to the heat emitted from his body.

Engine's so lucky.

Yes, Engine...

I lowered my head. There was an ache in my heart.

Why did he stop talking to me...?

"Angelin, let's go." Aiden headed out with Angelin, leaving me alone with Ethan. But we did not talk because of the strange eyes around us. No, it was not the walls that had eyes and ears, but the nurse kept taking sneaky peeks at Ethan now and then first at his face, then his chest and then...

I looked at Ethan to start a telepathic communication; it's kind of our thing since childhood.

Do something she is all hallelujah over you. I widen my eyes.

I know I am so handsome.

Yes, yes! You are. That's a curse.

You do something about her.

She's in mating season man. Never approach a woman during this time. I vigorously move my eyebrows around.

What happens if I do?

Have a wild guess.

I giggled at the images of Ethan and the nurse popping in my head. We had been giggling, and moving are brows here and there while talking... telepathically, and the nurse kept looking at us. First me, then him, first me then him until she finally thought that she was done with us and left the room.

Silence

Silence

Silence

We broke down into laughter, "She must have thought we have gone crazy?!"

"We are, aren't we?"

"Okay big boy, I think we are done here. I have to find Engine."

"Already?"

For a split second, I think I saw Ethan's lips part to say something more. But that was left unsaid; his charming smile was back on, "Let's go."

______________________

A/N

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