Fri. Nov 8th, 2024

BY RUTHIE LEE

 

EPISODE 8

 

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Neil and i walked out of the huge restaurant and he led me to the car, I got the door myself and got in, while he got in the car too.

 

The drive home was quiet, we both didn’t say much and I was kind of sleepy too.

 

The date night was cool, I honestly enjoyed it.

 

 

Neil pulled over in front of my house and I could see the lights from my kitchen window on.

 

We both walked out of the car and he smiled at me.

 

“Hope you had a wonderful night?” Neil started.

 

“Yeah I had a great night” I said sincerely.

 

“Okay so… Goodnight?” Neil smiled.

 

“Yeah goodnight” I replied

 

I wanted to go inside cause I was freezing but Neil called me back.

 

“Yes?” I replied politely.

 

“Yeah so,” he begun and starts to rub his neck nervously. “On Monday, so on Monday is my graduation and we get to invite friends and family, and honestly, you’re the only friend I’ve got!” he said.

 

“For real?” I scoffed.

 

“Yep.!” He said and I sighed. “Okay fine, I’ll be at your graduation but you’ll be the one picking me up” I tell him.

 

“Of course, if I don’t, who will then?” he laughed.

 

“Okay then Neil, I’ll see you on Monday?” I smiled and he nodded.

 

“Thank you for tonight Elsa, good night and also have a wonderful night” He said and with one brief hug, his legs walked to this car and with one last smile and wave, he got into his car and drove away.

 

I covered my freezing body with my skinny hands, not like it covered anything though, and ran into the house.

 

My house was warm as always and the sweet smell of turkey filled the whole place.

 

“Elsa is that you?” My mom asked as she heard the door close.

 

“Yes it’s me!” I yelled.

 

“Youre just in time for our late dinner.” my mom said coming out of the kitchen.

 

My mom paused seeing my outfit.

 

“Oh no, it’s okay I’m already full.” I said.

 

“Did you go teaching, dressed like that?” she asked.

 

I glanced down at my dress. “What? No am I crazy? I went on a date.” I said walking towards the couch and resting my butt down.

 

“A date?” my mom’s voice was as curious as it was excited.

 

“Yeah, with Neil!” I said.

 

She knows Neil.

 

“Neil? Neil? Who’s Neil?”

 

“Neil? The guy you once called a very simple minded guy, who came home with me on time from school!” I recalled her memory and She gasped.

 

 

“Oh you mean that Neil? Oh wow.! It’s been ages, so you’ve been in touch with him?” my mom asked.

 

“No not really, I met him the night before yesterday, coincidently at the bus stop. We were both surprised seeing each other” I explained and my mom smiled.

 

“You guys met the day before yesterday, and he already asked you out on a dinner date?” my

 

mom sounded weird which made me laugh.

 

“Yeah? What’s wrong with dinner dates?”

 

“Nothing, I mean so quickly, don’t you think he likes you or something!” my mom smirked. “I don’t know mom” I stood up. “I’ll be in my room, it’s been one stressful day.” “Okay good night sweetie.” my mom said behind me and I nodded.

 

.

 

I brought my phone out from my bag and dropped my bag on the floor beside my bed.

 

I checked for any missed calls or messages but none. So I just dropped my phone.

 

I got up from my bed and removed the skimpy dress from my body.

 

I felt like I could breathe again, immediately the dress was off my body.

 

I made it to shower and spent almost an hour under the hot runny water…

 

**

 

That night as I tucked myself under my blanket, my head buried in the pillow, my phone brought a message tone and I looked at the screen to see a goodnight message from Neil. I smiled and texted him back before falling asleep.

 

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‘The sun is surprisingly hot today’, I thought as I came down from my bed to check the time. I gasped when I saw it was 1:3pm, wow did I really sleep that late? Was I really that stressed out yesterday?.

 

I breathed out a sigh of relief when I figured out I won’t be going to work today, but sighed when I remembered my jacket, I have to go get it.

 

That afternoon I ate the applejack cereal as brunch and after taking my bath and watching a little bit of modern television, I left the house and made my journey to the Huggins residence. *.

 

Thankfully the road was free Today, the bus wasn’t full and I made it in the Huggins residence in no time.

 

Mrs Huggins gasped seeing me walk into her living room.

 

“No, you can’t work extra time. You get to work on weekdays, I don’t want you to get stressed out” Mrs Huggins said.

 

“Uh no, I’m actually here for something else.” I tell her.

 

“Oh really?” she giggled.

 

“Yeah” I replied. “I left my jacket here yesterday and I came to pick it up” I expound and she nodded. “Right Jason told me about that, anyways you can go get it, Jason kept it waiting for you, he’s in his room” Mrs Huggins said and I nodded and made my way to Jason’s room.

 

I knocked on the big wooden door that leads to Jason’s room and I heard his voice saying.

 

“Come in, it’s open.” from the inside.

 

I pushed the door opened and walked in, he was on his bed with a boy beside him with curly

 

hair, they were both playing with their phones they didn’t even bother to look at whoever walked

 

in until I said

 

“Hey Jason!”

 

Jason and his friend looked up immediately.

 

“Elsa! Wow can’t believe you’re here. Your jacket is over there, you can take it and leave, you’re welcome” Jason rushed his words and turned back to his phone. “Dude.” his friend nudged him.

 

I made it to his study desk and grabbed the jacket from the chair.

 

I made it to the door but was stopped my Mrs Huggins who just walked inside.

 

“Oh, I was about to leave!” I smiled at her.

 

“But you just got here, why won’t you just stay for tea!” she offered.

 

“No it’s okay!” I smiled about to walk pass her but she placed both hands on my shoulder and let out a friendly smile. “Please, you should know I don’t treat my guest in that harsh way and you’re more than a guest, you’re Jason’s private tutor for God’s sake.” Mrs Huggins said.

 

“She’s the tutor?” I heard Jason’s friend whispered to him.

 

“Okay then fine, but just tea, I have to go!” I smiled.

 

“Now that’s the spirit!” Mrs Huggins said and led me out of Jason’s room and downstairs to the kitchen.

 

And my jaw almost dropped.

 

This shouldn’t be just a kitchen, I couldn’t even describe what I was looking at, every stove, oven microwave, fridge, felt like another Level of technology, it was advanced and the kitchen island was to die for.

 

Mrs Huggins starts to brew tea on the counter and I just stood still with my jacket and bag on my body and watched her.

 

Each time she glanced at me, she throws me this heartwarming smile and I just nod lightly.

 

And then she started a conversation.

 

“So I heard you went on a date yesterday!”

 

Okay that is kind of awkward to start a conversation.

 

“Uhm…Yeah!” i replied.

 

“Wow okay, I didn’t mean to pry, but I didn’t see you when you left yesterday and Jason said you left in a hurry cause you had a date.” Mrs Huggins beamed. Of course Jason!

 

“Yep that is correct!” I nodded.

 

“Oh okay, so you heard about Jason’s birthday party right?” Mrs Huggins asked and I nodded.

 

“Well his dad will be flying back tomorrow just for his birthday!”.

 

I don’t understand why she’s telling me all this. But I’m listening, maybe she doesn’t want me to be bored watching her brew tea I’m not really in a mood to drink.

 

“Looks like his birthday will be the talk of town,” I joked.

 

 

“Not really, just a few of his friends and family members that’s all, we don’t like calling for attention” Mrs Huggins smiled.

 

Her smile is really beautiful and you gst used to it quickly.

 

“Oh okay!” I nodded.

 

“So you’re coming right?” she smiled.

 

I nodded. “Yeah of course, Jason told me about it, it’s on Tuesday right?”.

 

“Tuesday?” I heard Jason’s voice behind me and I turned to see him walking into the kitchen and heading for the fridge.

 

“No silly” Mrs Huggins laughed.

 

“My birthday is on Monday, wow! Do you have bad memory?” Jason teased.

 

“Jason watch your tongue!” his mother threatened.

 

“Anytime he says something like this next time, make sure to reprimand him!” Mrs Huggins huffed.

 

“Mom you have no idea, how much more of reprimands I get in my room upstairs, I even got slapped in the head one time!” Jason said as he pulled out an apple canned drink from the fridge.

 

Mrs Huggins laughed. “Looks like miss Elsa, is not an easy person to deal with!” “She’s not, and she’s rude!” Jason said to his mom.

 

“Anyways my birthday is on Monday, you can come if you want to and you can rest your butt

 

home if you don’t want to.” Jason remarked.

 

I rolled my eyes, and then paused.

 

“On Monday?” I repeated.

 

“Yeah I told you about it, what the hell? Did you forget already do you suffer from anterograde amnesia”. Jason tried to joke but got a glare from him mom. “Is anything wrong?” Mrs Huggins asked.

 

Neil invited me to his graduation ceremony on Monday “On Monday… Uh I have a place I have to go.” I said. “On Monday? Where?” she asked.

 

It’s rude to tell Mrs Huggins this but she’s obviously prying in my business.

 

“I have a graduation ceremony to attend.” I tell her with a sigh.

 

“Your graduation?” she asked.

 

“No a friend of mine, he’s graduating from college and I have to be there.” I said. “Oh okay”

 

“Is it the guy you went out on a date with?” Jason asked.

 

“And I don’t see why I should answer that.” I glared at him.

 

“Well that proves your answer to be yes.!” Jason said. “Anyways mom just let her go to her boyfriend’s party, it’s like she’ll be doing anything for us here.” Jason added before leaving the kitchen.

 

“Don’t mind his words.” Mrs Huggins pleaded.

 

“Yeah I know” I shrugged.

 

“I understand if you can’t make it here on Monday, but I really wanted you to be here.” Mrs Huggins sighed.

 

Why? What does she want to do with me?

 

 

I finally had the tea with Mrs. Huggins like she wished for earlier and I found my way home.

 

In the bus I couldn’t help but think, Jason’s birthday or Neil’s graduation ceremony.

 

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BY RUTHIE LEE

 

AGE DOESN’T

 

MATTER ♥

 

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