CHAPTER 9

 “YOU are such a piggy-rabbit, do you know that?”

Suddenly reminded her of the past that she rather wishes that she didn’t. Cath open her eyes as she felt a slight pang of pain in her head. 

“Where---”

Cutting herself, her vision slowly made the layout of the room. She sighs deeply as she realizes that she is already in her bed and old room way back when she is still living in the place. 

“Can I make you stay here for good?”

Somewhat slap with the thought that she is in the hang of believing that it all happened or not. She immediately shakes those thoughts away as she might be just hallucinating it out of drunkenness, yet. 

 “How did I end up here?”

 Electrified for a second as she jumps right out of the bed and looks all over under the mattress for any trace of a nightmare that might just happen last night. Considering that there is only one person she’s been with. 

“Wait a minute?”

As she thought to herself. Now sitting properly on top of her bed thinking logically about what happened. 

 "Just think about it and all with the reasonable reasons Catherine.” She scolds herself and is convincing. “He can’t do it. Of course, he couldn’t, and for all the hell of a reason that this is still your house. And for all your stepfather, your stepbrother, and younger brother are surely here in that time, right?”

Calculating those facts and counting reasons that could make her worse fear of an impossible thing happening. She looks for any trace and once more under the covers of her bed, making sure not for once, not even twice, but thrice that everything is all according to the right side that she thinks of it.

“All clear.”

Convinced and enough. She immediately looks at her phone that almost got her eyeballs out for oversleeping and the first after years since she took her passion and career a few years back now. 

“Catherine.”

Scolding herself for being a bit unreasonable these past few hours ever since she bumps into Sam. She hurriedly fixes herself in the mirror which is low and beholds is a typical result of a drunken mess. 

“Perfect, just perfect.”

With her things that are still in place and exactly the day that she left the house and run away from all the troubles that eventually is the same reason, but a bit that pulled her back. The nostalgia of both sadness and happiness crosses her mind. Swallowing everything for now as it is not her main concern. She found herself already pack out and all tidy in the closet from her suitcase. Already knew who did it as there is only one person who never fails to reach out to her, yet she always closes the door before the person could ever enter.

“Focus Cath. It’s not your past issues that are the reason why you are here.”

Reminding herself, she quickly tidies herself up and freshens up to meet everyone will full confidence that the person that she didn’t want and was ready to see is already not home. Knowing the nature of its job and being the forever absent mother to her.  

“Well then. This is the start.”

As she conditions herself and somehow burry the shame and fault that just happened yesterday. All for the sake of her job, right?

“Right!”

Just then, the scent of her favorite chocolate chip cookies drew her attention, out from her room and downstairs. Smelling the mixed scent of the fresh air, pine trees, and the sweet singing voices of the birds outside. She sure misses the comfort that her hometown brings. 

“And who’s in the kitchen?”

Knew it as there is only one person who can make her perfect comfort food. She is immediately greeted by the smile and open arms of her beloved stepfather. 

“Why don’t you give your old man a big hug.”

Missing that big voice of his, she runs and gave him her bunny-like hug that he nickname. 

“I wanted to say that I am disappointed, but you for all knew that I could not do it for the only princess of this family. But still, you should have informed us that you will be coming home.”

  Somehow scolding her, she pouted like the teenage girl that she used to be. 

 “Well, it was urgent. I do not have the time to call and inform you.”

She lied, just reasoning. But her stepfather knew it as he knew her well and more than her real parents could. 

“Very well. I will not pry into it more, it’s your life, your plans, your decision.”

Independent and freedom. The things that she learns from him and the two things which make him the most special parent and father she could ever have. His open-mindedness and understanding make them who they are now. His three children of his are successful in the path and careers that they have chosen. 

“I knew that you understand.”

She compliments and immediately much on the cookies that never fail to make her smile. 

“How long are you going to stay here?”

“Maybe one month, but not longer than four---”

“I mean to stay in here, Cath.”

Cut and taken aback by the real question that he wanted her to answer. She took a deep sigh, as she stops eating and force a smile on her face, and honestly replied. 

“The same, since she already tied everything in my room.”

Somehow giving up, as her stepfather wanted her to stay for the real and deep reason that he still hopes that her relationship with her mother will be fixed. Taking this opportunity to do so. 

“I am not forcing you or anything, nor she will. That’s why she went to work earlier today, knowing that you are not ready to see her even though you decided to stay here.”

He explains that makes her a bit uncomfortable, especially since they are starting to deeply talk about her mother that she doesn’t even know if she will be able to face. 

“Hide and seek, that’s your both games ever since then. But sooner or later you two needed to talk, Cath.”

Gave her a cup of hot chocolate with a bit of the hangover remedy that he used to give her in the past. She just weakly nods and smiles as she is somehow obliged to do so. 

“By the way, Brian left you with this note, and your younger brother, well you will just see.”

Changing the topic and the turning awkward atmosphere. She took note that her older stepbrother left her while shaking her head just thinking about her naughty younger brother. That by now is somewhere trapped in a luxurious hotel just to run away from his fans. All with the probable fact that it escapes from the clutches and watchful eyes of his manager just to fly back home knowing that she will be here. 

“And that’s my cue.”

Folding the note and stashed it in the back pocket of her jeans. She heads on her way as her father reminded her. 

 “Take care, do not go home drunk once more with Mr. Lawrence carrying you to your bed.”

Almost stumbling face flat on the floor, her stepfather knows how to get her. While casually addressing just what happened last night that she is trying to avoid. She laughs in a silly way trying to shove it all off her sleeves. 

“I will not. I promise!”

“Remember, I am not the type who is prying about your business.”

Closing the door behind as she hurriedly runs away like a cat who is caught in a trap. He shakes his head and all smiles while whispering at the very end. 

 “Will they be ended up together this time around?”