Chapter 19
BORA
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Lucan’s car rolls to a stop in front of my house. I open the door, not waiting for the driver to even say anything. I step out and slam it shut behind me.
“Deborah.”
His voice pulls me back.
He leans just a little through the rolled–down window, resting on his arm like he’s enjoying this.
“See you tomorrow… girlfriend.”
I ignore him and walk into the house. The moment the door closes behind me, the silence hits.
“You are back home really early,” Mom looks at me.
Why is she home?
She’s usually not home by this time.
But lately, she’s been. Proof that the clinic business isn’t doing so well. I’d rather she opens a shop for foodstuffs than the clinic. But of course, professionalism.
Wearing scrubs and stethoscopes gives her what she looks for, but right now, we are in a pack where there are no wars. And werewolves heal.
“Did Lucan drop you off?” She asks.
“Yes. Even though I didn’t ask,” I reply.
She cocks her head, “He’s trying to be nice to you as family friends.”
I scoff. “Do you really think Lucan sees me as a ‘family friend“?”
She blanks up, “Then, little sister?”
“Mom.” The word comes out stressed and she smiles,
“Well,, except you guys are mates. Which you wouldn’t know yet. Till then, I guess you are just family friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”
He definitely doesn’t see me as a family friend.
And I’m already in something more.
She should have said this a long time ago, then I will do everything in my power, nit to disobey her. But now, it’s already out of my hands.
7:36 Tue, Sep 16
Chapter 19
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Her tone suggest that she would like Lucan. It’s up to me to do everything to make her hate him. So she doesn’t fantasize about a perfect mate.
“Why do you smell like soup? Tomatoes.”
“Someone emptied lunch on me. Mistakenly,” I mutter.
It is a lie.
I was bullied.
By a family friend.
She stares at me, “I just hope you are not in trouble at school.”
“I’m not a trouble maker.” I say.
“I know that, Bora. That makes it easy to get to you. You need to be posh, professional and serious. So they know that they can’t mess with you. That’s why I said cut your hair-”
“Mom. Please.” I cut her off. “Not today.”
She shakes her head resignatedly, “Fine. Change and let’s
prepare for
for your
father’s memorial.”
My head snaps to the side as I glance at the dining table, “What memorial?”
“Your dad’s.”
“Why…why are we…holding a memorial for him?”
“We do it every year, duh.”
“But I tell you I don’t want it.” I snap, “Dad is not dead.”
“When did you ever say that?”
“I say it every year..but you don’t listen!”
“We are doing this to honour him. You think it’s just for fun?” She snaps back at me.
I sigh, feeling a blooming headache at the back of my head, “Why are you doing this, mom?”
“Because he’s dead.” She turns and walks into the dining room, “Whether you like it or not,” She pauses and takes a deep breath, “Jaren is not coming back.”
I grit my teeth. “He is.”
What is wrong with mom?
Dad is just missing. Not proven dead. None of his things were given to us as a proof that he died. He was just… just never found. So why is she acting this way?
Je, Sep 16
Chapter 19
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Mom doesn’t reply. Just turns to stare at me the way she always does, like I’m being unreasonable. Dramatic. Inconvenient. Unprofessional.
I walk up the stairs without another word.
In my room, I pull on the thickest sweater I own as I throw my bag to the bed. The sweater too warm for the weather, but I don’t care. I grab my umbrella, ignore the clean black dress lying on the bed, and walk out of the house.
It’s the first time I’ve ever stepped out like this.
“Deborah!” My mom calls but I don’t respond as I walk out of the gate.
“Come back home in time for it.”
Same topic. Every year.
She never listens to me.
Next year, she would repeat the same thing.
‘When did you ever say you didn’t want it?‘
All I want, is just one more year.
Or even a month or a week….to find dad.
If she could just try again and not give up. That’s it. That’s all I want.
But mom is not ready to try.
Students walk past me, staring at me. I know they recognize me as the cafeteria lunch girl and I know I still smell like ‘tomatoes.’
A senior in her final year of highschool being bullied.
Pathetic.
Caused by a particular ‘family friend‘.
I don’t want to think about Lucan. But I couldn’t help the fact that he pops into my thoughts.
I wonder why he rushed into the cafeteria to pull me out that way. I wonder why I saw something like worry on his face. When he shouldn’t even be feeling that.
I mean, he put me in the predicament himself.
Did he regret it at that time?
Regret?
7:36 Tue, Sep 16
Chapter 19
No. That isn’t Lucan forte.
:
I think his specialty is doing things he makes sure he wouldn’t regret.
I don’t really care.
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“Bora.” I hear Sapphire’s voice and I turn, to see her walking with Zara and her black and white haired twin brother.
I don’t remember the name Zara called him.
Heart?
Hara?
They walk towards me.
“You are supposed to be ‘in‘ your house, considering the fact that Lucan dropped you off. Or did he drop you on the road?” Zara places her hands in her red sweater as she said jestfully.
“In your dreams,” I scoff. If Lucan drops me on the road, I would prefer it.
“Is something going on between you guys?”
Something?
Like what?
Like be my girlfriend and I’ll protect you from bullies I brought?
Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend as long as they leave me alone stuffs?
Yes.
Something is definitely going on.
I clear my throat, “No. Why do you ask?”
Another lie.
Been lying too much these days. I feel bad.
“Better. I can’t imagine handsome have something going on with anyone. Male or female.”
“Did you have to add the last part?” I glare at her.
“What?” She shrugs.
“So where are you off to?” Sapphire asks.
“Anywhere but home.” I mutter.
7:36 Tue, Sep 16
Chapter 19
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55 vouchers
I don’t have anywhere to go. Thinking about it, I have only been to school, my house and Lucan’s house.
That’s it.
“18 yet? We can go to clubs.” Zara asks jiggly.
“Eew. No.”
I hate places like clubs. Loudy and what more? Sinful? Yes. Definitely.
“Oh well,” she rolls her eyes. “You can come to my house. There are many things you can do there.”
“No.” Black and white spoke. For the first time. Since this conversation started.
“Our place is messy, you can come some other time.”
He doesn’t….look friendly. It will really be hard to get into his private space.
“Our house is not –”
He shuts Zara up with a glare.
Ok. I get it. Their house is off limits. I wouldn’t want someone coming into my home unannounced either.
The silence thickens as everyone
tries to process their thoughts.
“Then,” Sapphire speaks, “Do you want to come to the pack house?”
She smiles. I don’t know if it’s out of shyness or embarrassment, but it is awkward.
“I live there.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
