Kathrina POV On Tuesday,at the cafeteria, I and Lita were talking as we had our lunch. "You know it's going to be hard?" Lita said, taking the last bite of her cheeseburger. "What?" She lifted her gloomy face and met my oblivious gaze. "The exams," she said and smiled. "Oh." "It's next two weeks, after spring break, forgotten?" "Oh? No," I said and chuckled. "You don't look troubled by it like me," she said and I shrugged. "Why?" I shook my head. "Are you a genius?" She asked sagaciously, making me lift my brows. "You know I'm not so intellectual." "Yes, I do. But your vague and calm attitude towards the upcoming final exams wants to make me believe you are an einstein." "I'm average. So why should I worry so much? I shouldn't start worrying myself about our exams now." "O,yes. Sure. You're only worried about your absent supposed-preoccupied boyfriend, Hayden," Lita teased and giggled. Seeing my expression turned grim, she stopped. "Um, I. Am. Sorry," she said and fa
Kathrina POVI quickly freshened up and went to my mom's cafe and helped her to take care of some customers.After most customers left and there were only a few in the cafe, I walked up to my mom behind the counter."How did you know Mrs Miranda?" I asked her."It's been a few months," she said without looking up at me."Huh.""She's been a regular customer of mine. She comes here sometimes to patronize me," she said and glanced up at me."She's so friendly," she added, smiling."Okay.""How did you get to know her?""I helped her a few days ago. Her car broke down and I assisted her in taking some of her shopping bags to her house.""That's thoughtful of you," my mom said without smiling, making me frown."I know.""She's a lonely woman," my mom said as I turned to leave. I whirled to meet her pitiful gaze."What?""That's what she told me a week ago when she dropped by," my mom paused. "She always has this strange gloom most times she comes here. I think she's in grief.""I never no
Kathrina POV"What? Tell me it's a big fat lie, Kathy?" Lita requested the next day after I told her that Rylan was Mrs Miranda's son.She had stopped cleaning the table the moment I told her and flicked her gaze to me."It's quite unfortunate?" I asked her, sitting upright on the sofa."Exactly," she said, tossing the rag on the table and sitting on the couch facing me."She's such an ah-dorable woman and the heavens dimmed it fit to bless her with a son like Rylan?""Stop asking me questions which I have got no answer to.""Well it's a rhetorical question. You didn't notice since you suck in figures of speech," she joked and chuckled, holding back herself from laughing. She stared at me greatly surprised."Look, I was awestruck as you now when I saw Rylan's picture in her home. The worst that happened at that moment was when he walked in.""So you left?" She arched a brow."Exactly. Should I have stayed back?"She shook her head."Nah. But…you know what I'm thinking?"I raised my bro
Kathrina POV"Do you hate my son, Rylan?" Mrs Miranda asked the second time, jolting me from my oblivious loss in thoughts.I forced a smile and nodded."I sincerely don't like him. We both are not on good terms actually," I grabbed the courage to say.She nodded and sipped from her mug."Why don't you like him?" She asked."Did he perhaps…hurt you in any way?""Umm…he," I paused and stared at her as I drummed my fingers gently on the table."It's fine if you don't want to tell me," she paused and sighed."I knew my son was likely to change after the fatality. But, I know he must have hurt you so badly to merit your hatred for him.""Sorry? What…fatality?" I asked and bit the down of my lips, staring at her intensely with raw curiosity."The death of Joe had brought great unimaginable misery in Rylan's life.""J…joe?" My mind flashed back to the picture of the other boy I had seen yesterday and my eyes windened."Joe is…is your….""Yes. Joe is my youngest son. He's dead." My jaw dropp
Kathrina POV I had to walk down to Rylan's house for ten minutes.I walked up to the door and pressed the doorbell button two times before Mrs Miranda opened the door."Good morning," I said."Good morning, how're you doing?""I'm fine." "Come in," she said, moving aside. I walked in and she closed the door behind.We sat down in the living room and she said."I'm a bit surprised to see you this morning.""Well, my mom said I should bring this over." I stretched out the bag."It's healing cabbage soup. She was worried after you left yesterday. She thought you might have caught a cold so asked me to bring this to you.""That's so thoughtful of her. I really was craving for soup this morning." She took the bag, peeped inside and grinned at me.We heard a creak and shifted our gaze down to the hall by the kitchen.Rylan emerged and glanced at me. I stared at him as he walked into the kitchen showing indifference to my presence."So, would you like to have breakfast with me?" Mrs Mirand
Kathrina POVOn Monday afternoon, I and Lita were rocking on the porch swing of her house when I told her about Rylan's loss some months back."That's…so unfortunate," Lita said, taking a handful of chips from the packet laying in between us on the swing." But, you think that drove me to turn into an asshole?" I asked her, taking a sip from my cartoon of strawberry juice."You know…I told you Rylan was never a bad guy from the beginning." Lita sighed. "He just happened to change after his return; being a bully like Hayden…" she paused as I flicked a sharp glance at her."Ugh, I mean like Hayden was, you know," she rephrased. "Lita, honestly, ever since I learnt about his brother's death, I've been feeling guilty and…bad."Lita darted her eyes from the lawn to me."Why is that so?""I think I and Rylan share something in common.""You both lost someone dear to your hearts?" She asked with an arched brow.I nodded."I guess Rylan's brother was dear to him. And the pain of his death ma
Kathrina POVFew days later, I was at the backyard of the house, talking to Hayden on the phone when Monna walked up to me from the kitchen door leading to the back porch."Someone wants to see you, Katherina. She's waiting at the front porch," Monna informed. I nodded and she left"I will talk to you later, Hayden," I said and hung up, tucking my phone into the back of my pocket, I tucked my hair behind my left ear and started walking to the front porch.Mrs Miranda was on the porch, her back facing me when I walked up to the steps."Mrs Miranda?" She spun and smiled."Hey, Kathrina," she waved at me as I stepped on the top stairs."What are you doing here, ma'am?" I asked."Actually, I came over here to see you. I want to talk to you."I nodded. "Let's go in…""No. Is it okay if we just talk out here?" She asked."All fine," I said. I motioned at the table and we sat on the bench behind the table."I wouldn't like t9 bear around the bush, but," she paused, staring at me like she was
Kathrina POV You want to die?" He snapped at me, waking me up from my trance."W..w…what, hm?" I stuttered. His face didn't ease. No, I don't know why I'm feeling strange about him. But, I've gotta shake this dreadful feeling.'Fear Is the beginning of failure' my dad mostimes told me when I was a kid. I've never feared Rylan like this since I encountered him and I don't start shuddering. I'm Kathrina. And I fear no one.I jerked my arm off his grasp and took a few steps backward, staring at him."Look I want to talk to you," I said, trying not to get intimidated by his stern expression and piercing grayish-green eyes.He didn't utter a word but folded his arms."I know you must be going through a lot and," I paused as he squinted. Obviously, he wasn't trying to understand what I'm saying."And I would want us to be f…" the bell rang, interrupting me."Actually, I…""Aren't you going in for your second exam subject now?" He asked and I shrugged."You know what, get lost," he said an