While Micah was chopping some red onions and celery, his mind wasn't on the food he was preparing, but what he had to do after he was done. Finding a date for that picture might lead to opening up old wounds and going down the forbidden part of memory lane, the part he had buried deep within himself.

He sighed deeply and continued cutting the vegetables. Once they were done, he added them into the pot of marinated chicken, along with cubanelle peppers, tomatoes, and olives. He placed the cover above it and let it simmer while gradually adding a tablespoon of water.

He sighed again as he watched the pot slowly boil. Carlos noticed this and went to check up on him.

"Hey Micah, are you alright?" He asked and stood beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said quietly.

"Are you sure? You don't seem like yourself."

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Carlos was still concerned so he opened the pot, letting the steamy, heavenly smell flow up his nose.

"This smells really good Micah, keep it up," he said, patting his back.

"Thanks." The compliment made him smile, sometimes he wished Carlos was his father instead of Aidan, he was less harsh and much more encouraging.

His mood started to lighten up and then he started preparing the tomato sauce and then also added it to the pot.

Once the dish was ready, he poured the braised chicken onto some rice. Despite his father hardly saying anything nice about it, he always loved seeing the result of his cooking.

Once his shift was over, he got picked up by Anthony and then he went home.

When they got back, he went to his room and got out his MacBook Pro. He let out a sigh as he opened it up. Instead of resting, he had to search up Electra's social media in hopes to find a timestamp for that wretched photo that should've been erased from existence.

He started getting all the social media sites up, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He searched her name but multiple results came up which just made it more tiring and tedious.

"Come on Electra, where are you?" He said to himself.

He got out his phone and it unlocked with his face. He then went onto his accounts to see if he can find any accounts that he blocked following their breakup.

He managed to one a few but it looks like they haven't been used. Still, he typed in similar usernames until he got a result that seemed legit.

He was about to scroll through the feed when he heard his name being called.

"Micah!" His father bellowed out from the hallway.

"Urgh what is it now..." he groaned in frustration. His body sank into his bed as he didn't feel like talking to his father at the moment.

"Micah!" Aidan yelled even louder.

"Yes, dad?" He finally replied.

His father suddenly burst into his room, with his large posture filling the whole space. He glared at Micah from the doorway.

"There you are," he said and closed the door.

"When did you get back?" Aidan asked as he approached his son.

"Not too long ago..."

"Oh okay, how is Carlos doing?"

"Good," Micah shifted uncomfortably during this small talk. He had a feeling that his father didn't come in here because he was interested in his day, but because of something else.

"Anyway, what was all that commotion last night?"

Micah sighed. Even though he knew his father was unchangeable, he still had a tiny bit of hope that he would ask him how he was getting alongq at work, but nope, it was going to be about the argument with his brother.

"Mason was just getting on my nerves," he simply replied.

"Are you sure it wasn't you who made him upset first?"

Micah looked at him with disbelief. His dad thought Mason was so perfect and so golden that there is nothing wrong he can do, and somehow it was always his or anyone else's fault whenever something bad happened.

"No dad, he upset me first and wouldn't leave me alone."

"I see... was it about your ex Electra? Because I heard her name mentioned."

"Yes dad, it was about her," he exasperated out and his head hit his pillow. He was desperate for the conversation to be over and for him to be left alone.

"Micah why can't you just leave your brother alone and let bygones be bygones."

"I have...he's the one that brought it up and wouldn't stop asking about it."

Micah thought it was getting pointless trying to reason with his father. No matter what he said, he'll always try to put Mason in the good light, it's what he's always done.

"It doesn't matter, you shouldn't be speaking so disrespectfully towards him," his voice slightly rose as he wagged his finger at Micah as if he was a little kid.

"Why should I show him any respect? When he never even think to consider how I feel," he said.

"Because he's your older brother Micah! Maybe if you acted more kindly towards him, then he would do the same!"

Acted more kindly? That's the last thing Micah would want to do. There was no point being respectful to Mason when he wouldn't even show an ounce of respect towards him, not when they were younger, and definitely not now.

Aidan sighed because he could see no point trying to reason with Micah anymore. Sometimes, he couldn't understand how Micah could look so much like him, yet, act the very opposite.

"I've had enough of you today, there's no point in talking about this anymore because you're just too stubborn," he said as he started walking out.

"I wonder where I got it from," Micah mumbled as his door slammed. He was relieved that his father had finally left him in peace, but now he didn't feel like searching through Electra's social media anymore so he put his laptop down and went downstairs for a snack.

****

When it was nighttime, Micah went up to the top floor which had no roof and a seating area with a fireplace. He sat down and looked up towards the stars.

It was a beautiful, clear night. A cool breeze passed by him which made him forget about the earlier argument with his dad.

The stars were looking really bright and he thought about sharing this moment with Mariana, so he got out his phone and sent her a text.

Micah: Hey, do you want to go stargazing somewhere?

MariBaby💕: Hey! Yeah sure I'll love too☺️☺️Are you picking going to pick me up now?

Micah: Yeah I'll be at your house in 30 mins😇❤️

MariBaby💕: Okay 😁❤️❤️

He put his phone back in his pocket and went down the steps to his bedroom to change.