"... Ena please open the door ..."
"... Ena ??..."
"... Ena ??..."
"... Ena, did you fall asleep ?..."
"... Ena ??..."

"Ena?"

I gasped and sat upright. 

"Breakfast is ready", I looked on my right and saw Elen standing there all fresh and her hair nicely tied in a bun.

"I saw a weird dream"

"Uh-huh, what was it about? If it was about you and Jacky together, then it's weird"

"Nope, wrong guess. It was about Dylan saying something to me and me blushing. I can't remember what he said," I said, scratching my head.

"No!? Think hard. Something must've happened between you two"

"Oh my God... Why are you so persuasive? Okay, don't give me that look. Lemme think. So I don't know when or how I slept last night but all I know is that this dream came up "

"Of Dylan?"

"Yeah of him. And then..."

"Then what?"

"What the hell! I can't remember anything"

"Make your mind try hard, honey"

"I'm going for breakfast"

"Huff... okay c'mon," Elen said dragging me up from the bed.

***

Just when I opened the main door, a yellow cab stopped by.

"Mama!" I ran and hugged her tightly.  

"My strawberry, my lemon" 

Why does mama call me by fruity names?

"Aunt Kate, wow, what a pleasant surprise," exclaimed Ivan.

"Hi-" Elen made a don't know what to say face, "I'm gonna go, I've groceries to do"

Elen went out, hugging me goodbye. 

"Mama? How did you come here?"

"I was sick of living alone, you know there is no one and then there is you here so I just thought how about to live with my daughter for some time" 

"Mom... I missed you," I said, hugging her tight. 

"I missed you too, honey," she looks pale and thin.

It's Sunday and tomorrow's school. 

"Ivan, did you prepare the Biology test tomorrow?"

"What? How many times should I tell you... I TAKE COMPUTERS"

"Oh, so you take computers?"

She shook her head and sighed. 

"Mom, why are you in the kitchen? You covered an interminable journey you should rest"

"Nah, my pumpkin, I'll make the food today."

I tried to drag her out of the kitchen, but she remained there and finally convinced me to let her cook today. I told her I'm going over to my neighbour to prepare for my Biology test. I went up to my room and tied my hair in a sleek ponytail and wore my culotte pants. Grabbing my biology MCQs book, I rushed over to Dylan's. Her sister opened the door. 

"Hi, Rachel. Is Dylan home?" 

"Yeah, he is upstairs. The black room on the left," she opened the door enough for me to come in. I nervously went upstairs and knocked at the door. 

"Who is it," he retorted.

Uh-oh!

I hesitated and said, "It's me" I guessed he recognised my voice because I heard approaching footsteps and the door clicked open. Why the hell did he sound angry? 

"I'm sorry for speaking rudely," he paused then said, "Come on in". He plastered a smile on his face. The room's different. It's not his room. Inside its warm and cosy, a perfect place anyone would love to sit and have tea. There's nothing much in the room: a table, a chair and a bookshelf. Yellow-orange fairy lights hang low on the walls, making our faces look dull and yellowish and making our dull grey shadows dance on the walls.  

"So, is it your study?"

He ran his fingers through his hair, which were a perfect mess. "Yeah, you can say that"

"...Do you remember what I said that night?..."

Oops!

I didn't. I need to know, but how?

"...No..."

"Ena," he said, his eyes looking blue with golden tints because of the lights, "I was going somewhere, can I catch up with you later?"

"Oh... Oh yeah, sure"

Hearing this, he left, leaving me with the twinkling lights alone. 

***

I went back home. "Honey, you came early."

"Yeah, Dylan was going somewhere"

"Your test honey... You should go prepare for it alone then."

"Ughh, how can I do it without company"

"Test! Now!"

My shoulders slouched as I went upstairs to prepare for the test alone. Music. I needed music. The essence of my life. Popping headphones in my ears I opened my Bio book. 'HORMONES' said the bold letters of my textbook. I read the unending information written in the book. As I finished reading insulin Ivan came to my room.

"What you doin hun"

"You know what Insulin does?", I asked her teasingly.

Ivan hates biology!

"Honey... I don't wanna hear the shit in our kidneys. Tell me if you wanna go out"

"You go." I sighed, "I still have the chapter left"

"Bye then", she slammed the door behind her. I lied down looking up my round ceiling. The dull yellow lights. The spinning room...

I never has such a cosy night and such a horrible morning...

"Ena dear, wakeup melon, its time for school"

"School", I spoke drowsily, " School, shit school. My test. I haven't prepared for my test." I looked at my mom horrified.

"I thought you did it last night"

"Yeah but fuck I slept in between"

"Language"

***

I went to school cursing myself. Mister Ray distributed the sheets.

"30 minutes is all you have. You may start"

'...Shit I don't know anything!..'

'...You didn't study?...'

I looked 2 rows back. Dylan staring at me waiting for me to answer his question. I hesitated to think anything right now but then...

'... I did half the chapter but I fell asleep. I wanted to prepare with you but you were busy yesterday...'

'... Really? I'm sorry I didn't knew you came for that... But I can tell you the answers if you want ...'

I looked back again. He smiled. Oh that wonderful smile.

'... First is A and second one's D ...'

I scribbled the answers as I catched up with him and before long I was done.

'... I can't thank you enough Dylan. I so owe you ...'

'... No problem. Next time you come don't hesitate and just tell what you are here for ...'

This was the third time I looked back, at him. Those eyes.

"Heads straight!"

I sighed in relief.