FAWN 🍂 23
 
   (Day 20, Tuesday)
   I slept so well last night. I'm quite glad I slept next to Mom last night because I felt better after opening up to her, and I didn't realize I fell asleep in her bed.
 
   I was a daddy's girl, but not everything is permanent. After my biological Dad cheated on Mom, I became closer to her, and I genuinely tell her things, but not everything. There are things you have to keep secret from yourself.
 
   I wake up at exactly 5:00 am and start making breakfast. When I hear footsteps behind me, I look back and find my Mom entering the kitchen.
 
   "You're up early this morning, honey," she says, smiling. 
   I hug her. "Morning Ma," I say, then I pull away and stroke her stomach. "Morning baby."
 
   "What are you cooking?" she asks. I step aside as Mom goes to see what I'm cooking. "Hmm, it smells nice."
 
   "I'm cooking something healthy for you and the baby," I say proudly. She's seven months pregnant, and I don't have any hate for the baby she's carrying. "I've already made some food for you on the table, Ma. It's for you and this one, and I'm currently cooking something else. Have some breakfast, and I'll finish what I'm making before I wake Arlo."
 
   "Be careful, you might get burned," she says. I smile and nod and then return my attention to my cooking. I hear my Mom's footsteps leaving the kitchen.
 
   After cooking and putting a new dish on the dining table, I go to Arlo's room and wake him by tickling him on the sides. "Wake up, sleepyhead, you're going to be late for school." He tries to avoid me while I tickle him.
 
   "Stop it! It tickles!" I laugh when I manage to tickle him. "Sister, stop!" He rolls over to the other side of his bed and falls to the floor with a loud thud. I laugh hard while he groans, standing on his feet and glaring at me, his own older sister. "Stop laughing!" he grabs a pillow and throws it towards me, hitting me in the face. "I hate you!" Then he storms into the bathroom and slams the door.
 
   I can't stop smiling. "I hate you too, baby boy!" I miss teasing Arlo and being mean to him...sometimes.
 
   "Whatever!" I hear him yell back from inside the bathroom before I leave his room, still smiling.
 
   I go to my room and change into my school uniform. First, I put on black tights, followed by a white button-down shirt with a collar and a blue and white striped tie. Next is the navy blue pleated skirt that is knee-length and has a high waist, it has pockets too. The pleats are evenly spaced, which I love because it gives the skirt a classic, elegant look. Then I put on the navy blue blazer, which has a notched lapel, two button closures, and an emblem on the left side of the chest area. A gold shield with a red gem in the center. The shield is surrounded by a gold laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and achievement. Inside the shield is a stylized 'M' with a crown above it. The 'M' stands for Montreal International Private School. Lastly, I put on black leather combat boots that are usually lace-up and have a chunky heel.
 
   Once I'm done tying my hair into a ponytail, I leave the room and immediately head to the dining room, where I find Arlo eating breakfast with Mom. He's already in his uniform too. Arlo is thirteen now and attends public school. He said he didn't want to go to private school, so Mom and I let him attend public school.
 
   I eat with them at the dining table. Before I drive Arlo to school, which he can't say no to, even though he's told me several times not to, but as an older sister, I get my way. I smile when some of his classmates greet me outside the school gate when they see me with Arlo. When I say goodbye, I immediately hail a tricycle to take me to school.
 
   As soon as I step foot in the front door of our classroom, Zevadiah, as usual, greets me with a warm hug.
 
   "Morning, Liebsti." I hate thinking that one day I'll walk into the room and Zevadiah won't be there to hug me. That the day will come when he leaves me. That he will return to his original timeline and I'll be left alone, having gotten used to his presence. That would be a tragic moment, and to be honest, it scares me.
 
   I don't want him to go back. I want him to stay. I need him. So, without hesitation, I hug him back and bury my face in his neck. "I don't want you to leave me," I whisper, just loud enough for him to hear.
 
   His hug tightens around me. "I know," he says.
 
It feels like my heart is slowly ripping apart. When the teacher comes, we both take our seats.
 
   "De Los Santos, I've already put you in a group with Rizal for this year's research, so I expect no more misunderstandings with your new group for this practical research I've assigned you," Mrs. Mendez says, looking directly into my eyes.
 
   "Yes, Mrs. Mendez," I nod faintly.
 
   "I don't want the same thing to happen during my class as last time," she says. I nod because I don't want that either.
 
   When Mrs. Mendez's lecture begins, I focus my attention on her class, then she proceeds to give us a long quiz. The whole morning class went pretty well, aside from the quizzes, nothing else happened. When lunch comes, Felly drags me out of the room to have a lunch date with me.
 
   "Dhai, I'm going to sleep at your place tonight, like I told you yesterday," I remember that she told me.
 
   "Where are you going to sleep? It's only a single bed in my room."
 
   "Nah, don't worry, I have a sleeping bag with me."
 
   "Girl scout yarn, dhai?" I jokingly ask, laughing. She's already packed and well-prepared for tonight.
 
   She chuckles, "I always plan ahead, and besides, I miss sleeping in the same room as you. I miss those times when we hung out late at night with Bella and Reese," I smile as I remember those days when the four of us would be in the same room every night, watching movies until we fell asleep.
 
   "I miss those two," I say, referring to Bella and Reese, our childhood friends. People said that the four of us were inseparable, but Bella's family migrated to Estonia, and Reese's family migrated to New Caledonia in the same year. Felly and I were left behind.
   "Yeah, I miss them too. We lost contact after they migrated, and that really sucks. I can't even find them on social media either, which is odd," I nod faintly at Felly's comment. I even tried to find those two on social media, but it seems they're not into it.
 
   We enter the cafeteria and immediately order food. Then we sit at our usual table. Felly and I talk while eating about what we should watch later tonight.
 
   "Miss Hoffman," Felly and I both look up at the speaker. The guard and Lucas stand beside him. "Mr. Hoffman needs to have a word with you."
 
   "Alright. Just give us ten minutes," Felly says. The guard nods and leaves us.
 
   "What are you doing here, Lucas?" Lucas looks at me instead of his sister, who asked the question.
 
   "I spoke to Mr. Kusnetzov yesterday, Fawn. I told him everything, including what happened that night. He wants you to stay at his house for your safety," I feel like a bucket of cold water has been poured over me.
 
   "Lucas," Felly stands while I remain seated. "You shouldn't interfere in Fawn's life like this."
 
   I give Lucas a sharp look before standing and confronting him. "Kusnetzov isn't my last name, Lucas. I stripped off that name a long time ago," I say.
 
   "He's your biological dad. He wants you safe. You're his daughter after all," he says, and I laugh bitterly.
 
   "Too bad, I don't need his protection. And Lucas, please mind your own problems and stop interfering in someone else's life." I'm about to pass by him when he grabs my wrist, stopping me.
 
   "You may have changed your last name to 'De Los Santos,' but the Kusnetzov blood still flows in your veins, Fawn. He's still your dad, and you're his daughter," he says.
 
   "Lucas, stop this already. You're causing a scene," I hear Felly say.
 
   I angrily shake off his grip on my wrist and look him in the eye. "Thanks for his sperm. I have the blood of a cheater," I say.
 
   I hear gasps around me. I'm sure many people heard what I said. Kusnetzov stopped being my dad after he cheated on my Mom and married his mistress.
 
   I'm scared of commitment because what if I become like him? What if I cheat? I don't want to be like him one day. That's why I loathe him.
 
   I have the blood of a cheater.