Chapter 2.1

I WOKE UP FEELING groggy so I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to ease the unwanted feeling before getting up. After taking up a couple of minutes, I pulled myself up, pressing the sides of my head and went straight out of my room.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Kayle greeted me once I entered the living room.

"Good morning, Kay," I replied, smiling.

"Coffee?" She sweetly asked and I nodded, "okay, I'll make you one!" She stood up, holding her mug of coffee and went straight to the kitchen.

I on the other hand went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. I pulled my hair into a messy bun before starting to brush my teeth. Looking at the mirror, I noticed dark circles around my eyes and small pimples popped on my forehead. Why do I have these on my face? I slept early last night. I mentally asked myself but shrugged it off anyway.

After brushing my teeth, I started washing my face with a facial foam. I massaged my face a little and after a moment, I rinsed it off with water and dried my face with the clean towel neatly folded on the towel rack.

I went outside and walked towards the kitchen finding Kayle who's now stirring the coffee she made for me.

"Thank you, Kay. You're the best coffee maker, ever!" I told her as soon as I reached the kitchen island where she put the mug of coffee, "No biggie," she said, winking at me.

I lift the mug up and walked towards the table where Kayle was sitting. I then sat on the chair, in front of her.

"Bread?" She pushed the plate of bread towards me and I smiled before getting one.

"Where's Jess and Chandie? Still asleep?" I asked without looking at her because I was spreading peanut butter on my loaf.

"Yea. It's just 6 in the morning, for sure they slept late," she said while munching.

"Why did you wake up early?" I asked, this time looking at her.

"I'll meet with my mom later. She wants to see me," she explained.

"Oh, say hi to Tita Lou for me," I said, smiling before taking a bite.

"No problemo, amiga," she said, before eating her bread.

I sipped a little on my coffee and stared at the window. The sun was starting to rise and the flowers outside were blooming like Autumn was over. It was indeed a fine beautiful morning.

"How's your heart?" I was back from my deep thought when Kayle asked me. I blinked before answering, "my heart's stable. However, it needs more anesthesia to relieve the pain," I said, chuckling.

"We, the nurses will help you recover from the pain. But you are your own doctor, you have to help yourself as well," she smiled.

She reached for my arm and squeezed it.

"I'm a good doctor," I smiled once again and she smiled back, "Of course, you are,"she answered.

"But IRL, med is not my field," I laughed, "IKR. Because you're a social scientist. You love humans and their behaviors so much," she laughed back and all I could do was shrug and laugh.

"What time will you meet your mom?" I asked, shifting the topic.

"Maybe 9? I will clean my room first before going out," she replied while munching.

I,on the other hand, nodded while sipping my coffee.

"How about you, any plans for today?" She asked, holding her mug up.

"Nah, I will just laze around and read maybe," I answered, now biting the left piece of bread I was eating.

"You wanna go out? Let's hang out after I meet my mom," she suggested.

"Nah, I don't feel like going out. I feel so tired," I refused.

She glared at me while sipping on her coffee.

"What?" I asked, laughing at her.

"Fawnie, you're just sad! You're not yet dead, could you do yourself a favor? Go out and have fun to at least forget about Charlie and cover the pain you're feeling even just for a while," she angrily yet quietly said.

"Kay, I'm alright, okay? I just need time for myself. I need this." I said, laughing a little.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay, it's your decision, after all," she said, defeated.

"Don't worry, we'll hang out next week," I said, winking at her. "Dude, we all know that next week, we'll surely be very busy. As soon as the long weekend's over, our instructors will then again bombard us with requirements," she said, rolling her eyes once more. "I know, I know but we have the whole weekend next week," I said, trying to convince her. "Oh, how I wish we won't be spending our weekend doing requirements once again. Also, in case you're missing, you have org stuff, so you'll probably spending your next weekend with your org shit," she said, sighing.

"Okay, okay. I'll go out with you all when I'm feeling fine, okay? Not just today," I said with the sweetest voice I could ever sound to convince her. "I know. And it's okay, I understand. Besides, I realized school and org stuff will take your mind away from Charlie," she pouts but smiled anyway.

"Your coffee's getting cold," I teased, "Yours too," she answered.

And we laughed while finishing our mugs.

"What's with the commotion?" We looked at the person who spoke and learned that it was Jessica. "Good morning, Ms. Chen," I smiled and she smiled back. "Coffee?" Kayle offered and Jess walked towards us while nodding.

Kayle stood up and was about to make coffee for Jess but she stopped when Jess told her that she'll make her own. Kayle shrugged and returned to her seat.

"How's sleep, girls?" Jess asked without looking at us. "Sleep's good. Had an exciting dream," Kayle giggled and I shook my head, laughing because of her giddiness.

"Really? What did you dream about?" Jess asked while putting a spoon of sugar on her mug.

"Let me guess, you dreamed of Otis making out with you, aight?" We all looked at Chandler who was laughing and thus, we laughed as well. "You're such a perv, Chandie," Kayle defended.

Chandler walked towards us and sat beside me, "good morning, ladies," she said while stretching and we greeted her back.

"How about coffee, Chandie?" Jess asked her but she refused, "bread will do, thanks," she replied.

Jess walked coming back to the table while holding her mug with her two hands. She's absorbing the heat of the coffee, I guess.

"So what did you dreamed about?" Jess repeated her question.

Kayle sighed, leaning her back on the chair. "I was kissing an unknown guy," she said while smiling like an idiot and then she flashed a daydreaming face. "I knew it! You're making out with someone. Why, you miss sex?" Chandie asked, laughing.

We laughed as well but I pinched her waist.

"Why?" She asked, laughing. "You're such a hoe!" I said, laughing my ass off. "IKR!" She flipped her hair and laughed.

We call names one another but we don't mean those in its real meaning. We are used to this name-calling and we're good as long as it's not below the belt and as long as we're in an appropriate context.

"I don't miss sex, okay?" Kayle answered Chandler's query, laughing her ass off. "Then what?" Chandler dug more. "IDK, maybe I'm just missing my boyfriend," Kayle answered, shrugging with a playful smile on her face.

"But in your dream, you're kissing an unknown guy. So is it a sign that you're needing a new boyfriend?" Chandler asked, laughing at her.

Kayle pouts and start throwing daggers at Chandler. Jess and I laughed because of her expression then Chandler laughed harder. "Chandie! Your mind's so shitty, you know that?" Kayle rolled her eyes but laughed anyway. "I know and I'm just kidding. Look, we don't know what's the meaning of your dream but go and call your boyfriend, tell him you miss him," Chandler advised.

"Did that already," Kayle said, winking.

I snapped my fingers in front of them like saying as expected! And then, they laughed.

"So what's your plan today, girls?" Jess asked, sipping her coffee. "I'll go out to meet my mom," Kayle answered, slouching on her seat.

Jess nods then turned her gaze at me. "I'll travel the house," I said, shrugging.

"As expected. Because you're sad and broken hearted," Chandler chuckled and I just rolled my eyes at her.

"How about you, Chandie?" Jess asked her. "I'll meet my group mates for a science project." We all nod at her and it was my turn to ask Jess, "how about you?"

"It's my grandma's death anniversary," She heaved a sigh.

We all looked at her with sympathy and reach to squeeze her hand.

"And I have to go home," She said, forcing a smile. "Are you gonna be okay?" I asked, concerned. "I'll be fine. All I just have to do is mourn with them, right?" She said, sighing and once again forced a smile.

"You'll be fine, Jess," Chandler reached for her hand once again and squeezed it.

"So when will you come back?" Kayle asked her. "Tomorrow. I'll spend one night at home," she smiled and we smiled back at her. "I'll get pizza tomorrow!" I said and fortunately, the mood lifted up a bit.

"Okay, then! Let's get moving. Let's be productive!" Kayle cheered up.

"Be productive," Chandler repeated, emphasizing the phrase and pointing her head at me.

I just laughed at them and shook my head. "Go ahead, do your things and I'll wash the dishes," I said, standing up. "Aye, aye broken hearted wench!" They said in unison making me throw daggers at them. "Whatever, losers," I laughed and they all walked out the kitchen afterwards.

I gathered the used mugs, plates, and spoons before putting them into the sink. I wiped the table and arranged the chairs. Once I cleaned the table, I went back to the sink and started washing the dishes.

After soaping the dishes, I rinsed those with water and dried them with a clean white cloth afterwards. And before leaving the kitchen, I arranged those first in their respective places.

I dried my hands as well before going to my room to fix my things.