Carissa stirred on her bed, rubbing her eyes as the rays of sunshine peeked into her room.
She groaned grumpily as she picked up a pillow and placed over her head.
Sounds were coming from the living room, and it caused her to finally sit up, with a massive frown on her face.
“What’s the noise for?” She asked herself as she glanced at the clock.
It was 9:am and the first time in a while she woke up so late.
“Oh God!” She yelped as she jerked up and rushed into the bathroom.
She had stayed up to the early hours of the morning because of how much she got engrossed with writing in her journal.
Staring at the mirror in the bathroom, she couldn’t help but observe how miserable she looked. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was disheveled.
Now, she really looked sick.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she strolled back to her room, where she wore a robe and made to head down the stairs.
Just then, something struck her and abruptly, she swirled around and stared at the window.
Carissa gulped down hard as she took slow and wobbly steps towards the window.
She opened it and closed her eyes to take in the freshness that came with the wind.
And then, her eyes darted to the floor where she found a paper laying on the ground.
She knew who it had come from, and this caused her heart to beat in anxiety.
She jumped out of the window to pick it up and just as she jumped back to her room, she met the questioning gaze on her mother’s face.
“Mum! You scared me”, Carissa said as she swiftly hid the paper behind her back.
“How are you, my dear?” Mrs. Williams said lovingly as she pulled Carissa into a warm hug.
“I’m doing great”, Carissa replied, trying so hard to appear firm and stable.
“Guess who paid you a morning visit?” Mrs. Williams asked with a wide smile on her face.
For a minute, Carissa wished that it would be Stan, but she sighed when she knew that it wasn’t possible.
“Ethan?” Carissa asked in a bored tone while she watched her mother, who squealed in excitement.
“You are correct, my dear! I see the glitters in your eyes, and I’m glad you were expecting him as well. Don’t keep your man waiting”, Mrs Williams giggled and walked away.
“My man?” Carissa scoffed as she sat on the bed and glared the note.
“I love you Carissa”, the note said and for a minute, it seemed as though she was unable to breathe.
Her stomach churned as it felt as though something which was dead in her life has just come alive.
“I love you too”, she whispered to herself as she quickly tore the paper and disposed them in the trash.
She took in a deep breath as she prepared herself to meet Ethan, who was currently in the living room.
Just as she approached them, she observed how loud and lively the house could become once Ethan came around.
“Hi Ethan”, she said aloud as Ethan looked at her immediately.
***
Stan yelled for the hundredth time since he entered the bathroom. He couldn’t keep mute because his heart was on fire.
The only thing that rang in his head was how Carissa had ignored him last night.
It pierced his heart deeply that all he wanted to do was disappear and never return.
“Hey baby!” He heard Kiara’s loud voice.
“What the hell!” He muttered as he turned back in shock.
He was clad in only a towel and didn’t realize that she was waiting for him in the living room.
“What are you doing here?” He asked with a massive frown on his face as he walked back to his room.
After some minutes, he came out again, clad in a gray pants and black sweatshirts.
He heard some sounds in the kitchen and quickly made his way there, with his fists clenched in anger.
“Kiara!” Stan bellowed angrily as he saw her preparing scrambled eggs that had gotten burnt.
“Can you turn off the cooker?” Stan asked, but trudged further when he didn’t see her making any effort to do as he had said.
“I’m only trying to prepare some breakfast for you”, Kiara said as she turned to face the pan at her front.
“Burnt scrambled eggs? Is that it?” Stan asked with displeasure as he picked up the pan and poured the contents in a trash can.
“Stan?” Kiara screamed aloud and sauntered behind Stan, who made his way to the living room.
“I was only trying to cook for you!” Kiara said as she gulped down hard, feeling extremely hurt that he had dropped what she was preparing into the trash.
“I would rather not eat anything you prepare! Can you understand that?” Stan yelled in frustration, digging his hands into his disheveled hair.
“But I am entitled to cook for you, am I not?” Kiara asked in a voice that sounded like a whisper, causing Stan to sigh in defeat.
“I know that, but can you go already? I want to be alone today”, Stan said as he placed his hands on Kiara’s shoulders.
“Why? Did anything happen?” She asked with a misty eye.
Stan sighed as he gulped down hard, losing track of what to utter at the moment.
“Nothing happened. It’s only the mood for now”, Stan replied as he lowered his eyes to the floor.
He knew that he was only saying that to push her aside at the moment. He wanted to be away from her until he gets a grab of himself.
“Until when?” Kiara asked as she picked up her bag and gave Stan a fierce gaze.
“I have no idea, Kiara”, Stan said, with his eyes lowered to the floor.
“I hope my father does not realize that something like this happened today”, Kiara said and hurriedly stomped out of the house.
“Shit!” Stan said aloud as he hit his legs on the ground in anger.
He clenched his fist as veins made its way to his skin.
Presently, his mind was channeled towards Carissa and Kiara was only a distraction.
However, if he didn’t want any troubles, he had to be soft with Kiara.
At this, he picked up his phone and dialed her number.
“You should come back. We should have breakfast together”, Stan said on the call with a sullen look.