Nikolai

22

Kiara POV

A heavy sign leaves my body as I walk into the house. I see Elora aunty looking at her laptop.

"Good evening," I say wandering over to where she sat.

"Good evening, honey," she said with a smile on her face.

Xahria has to attend her dance classes. Aubree dropped me home and went to hers.

I take the seat beside her, peak in to see that she is working.

"Rough day?" Elora aunty asked me while seeing my sullen face.

"Yeah, aunty, not a good day. Can I please have a hot coffee?" I ask her softly.

"Sure honey, just take a rest. I will get your coffee," she said and walked away into her massive kitchen. I leaned back in my seat cupping my chin on my palm.

My day was bad because of a lack of sleep. I didn't sleep the whole night. I couldn't concentrate on my classes.

I never experienced such kinds of things until now and everything is very new. I left the uni early today, I don't want to attend another class.

Thankfully Elora aunty is home today. She walked out with two cups in her hands.

She handed me one "Thank you."

"Did you eat your lunch?" she asked sitting beside me.

"Nope."

"Should I make you a sandwich," she asked gently placing her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm not hungry, aunty. Thank you for asking," I replied taking a sip of the hot liquid.

"Kiara if you have any problem, come and share with us. You aren't eating properly these days. Is something bothering you?" She questioned, concern lazed in her voice.

"No aunty, everything is good. It's just that I'm not hungry right now," I said not meeting her eyes.

She stayed quiet before saying "If something is eating you up from the inside, why you would be hungry. Sort it off before it hits you hard. Talk to one of the kids. They might help you with your problem," she said.

I looked at her as she gave me a warm smile before picking her laptop.

"Take your time and don't think much about it. I will be in my room, if you need me just come to me," she said before leaving the area.

Her words hit me like a truck. They are true, if something is eating you from inside you wouldn't feel hungry.

Even if I want to talk with anyone I couldn't. It will take some time for Xahria to come home because of her dance classes.

Aubree isn't home yet, she is out with a friend. They will be hanging out with me when they are home.

I finish the coffee, wander into the kitchen. Wash the cup, put it back in its place and go back to the dining area.

I pick my things then go upstairs to my room. I feel sleepy and there is this unknown tiredness.

"Just sleep and forget about everything," I tell myself closing the door.

I place the bag down on the floor wander towards the bed. I fall flat on my stomach pulling the blanket higher.

After a few minutes, I was out like a feather. I didn't know how long I slept.

I woke up with a groan when I felt a heavyweight on my back. I woke up, turned my head sleepily to see Xahria.

"Hi, sleepyhead. Time to get up," she said waving her hand at me.

"What!" I yelled while she laughed.

"Wake up! You weren't waking up when I called you so I decided to sit," she explained.

I gave her a bemused look before pushing her off.

I groaned turning and changing my sleeping position as I feel the cramps.

"Get up," she said pulling the blanket off me.

"Hmm." I get up from my sleeping position. A yawn leaves my mouth as I look at her.

"Wanna go out?" She asked placing her hands on her hips as she looks at me.

"Yes, just give me ten minutes," I told her.

"Take your time, we will go when you are ready," she replied.

I nodded my head getting up from the bed and walking into the bathroom.

I used it before pulling my hair into a messy bun.

I wander back to the room to change my clothes. I dress up in a pair of shorts and a cropped hoodie.

"How does this look?" I ask Xahria who is sitting on the bed going through the book I was reading.

She looked up checked me out, "you look beautiful," she complimented.

"Thank you."

Xahria is also wearing a sweatshirt and shorts.

"Is Aubree joining us?" I asked her picking my phone and bag.

"Nope, she is out with Rowen. They are spending the day out," she answered.

"Rowen is here?" I asked surprised. We start walking out of my room.

"They both fought about something. Rowen came over to talk to her. Aubree was pretty angry with him, they were fighting when I met them," she said pushing her phone inside.

"Fighting?"

"Yup, when they do it's better if we leave them alone. They will sort it off, like today. They sorted off and now they are enjoying their day out."

"Good."

We go downstairs, I see Xavier uncle making a joke as Elora laughed.

"Hey dad," Xahria said.

"Hi uncle," I said.

"Hey girls, you two are going somewhere?" Uncle asked.

"Yeah, we are going out to hang out," Xahria replied hugging uncle.

"That's good, you should breathe the outside air. Have a nice time," aunty said patting my hand.

I smile at her nodding my head. "Yup, see you two later," Xahria said.

"Okay."

"Drive safe," the uncle said.

"Noted."

Xahria and I started walking out. "We will use mum's car. I want to drive hers," Xahria said.

We walk towards where the car is parked. "What about keys?" I ask her.

"I already asked her keys," she replied.

"Good." She unlocks the car, I get inside with her going to the driver's side.

I put on the seatbelt, "what about Ezarah? Will, she joins us?"

"Nah, I think she is having her exams right now. She won't be meeting us," she replied accelerating the car.

"Oh okay."

I lean back in the seat as I watch the outside scenario.

"Let's grab something before we go somewhere. I want to have something to eat," she said.

"Okay, we will grab something."

"McDonald's or Burger King?" Xahria questioned.

"McDonald's," I reply.

"McDonald's then."

We drove while listening to Selena Gomez's good for you. The sky is dark even though it's only seven in the evening.

"You wanna eat there or you wanna eat in the car?"

"Anything is fine with me."

"Let's not dirty the car, I know I will throw the crumbs. Let's eat at the place and then go somewhere calm," Xahria said halting the car as the signal turned red.

"Okay, I don't have any problem."

We stay quiet just basking in the silence as Xahria drives to the destination.

We reached the destination, Xahria parked her car in the parking lot. I unbuckle my seatbelt and step out of the car.

"Let's go," Xahria said once she locked her car.

We both walked inside, Xahria smiled at a few people whom she knew from college.

"Why there are many of them," she whispered.

"You know all of them?" I ask her.

"Yeah, a few of them are in my class and others I know from the college clubs," she said.

"What you will have?"

"I will have the combo," I reply looking at the menu.

"Hmm, can we have three combos please," Xahria told the person.

"Yes ma'am, is that all?"

"Yes."

"It will take around twenty minutes," the man said handing the bill.

We paid and waited for our food to come. Once they gave our tray full of food, we walked off to an empty table.

"It's full, someone's party is happening in the city and the place is full," Xahria said.

I unwrap my sandwich and start eating, Xahria does the same. I look around, a lot of chattering is going on.

"What's going on?" Xahria asked. I look at her.

"Hmm?"

"What happened between my brother and you? Did something happen?" She asked.

"We aren't talking," I replied. I plopped a curvy fry into my mouth.

"Seriously? From when?" She asked placing her burger down.

"Two weeks, he is ignoring me and I'm ignoring him."

She raised her brow in surprise hearing that. I nodded my head and she nodded back.

"Ignoring? What's new, what exactly happened? Something big?" She asked.

"Yes," I reply taking a bite of my burger.

"Spill the beans girl!"

I take a deep breath, look at the other side before looking back at her.

"A few days ago after returning from Spain..." I start saying.

"Yeah? I'm listening," she said.

"After returning from Spain, Nico proposed me one night," I finish the sentence.

"The f**k! So much have happened and we didn't know a word. Anyway what was your answer," she asked in her curious tone.

"I told him it's ridiculous," I say and she laughed nodding her head.

"I mean it's not exactly ridiculous, it wasn't too long that I met him. We started hanging out a few days ago and I think it was too fast to propose. We cannot just say that it's love just by hanging out," I tell her.

I shrugged my shoulders while she let out a laugh. People started looking at our table.

"What are you doing? Stop laughing," I said slapping her hand.

"Nah, it's just funny and I can't stop laughing imagining Nico's face in my mind," she said.

"Funny? Why is it so funny?" I ask her.

"Nico never proposed someone before, Xaiden did but not Nico. I never thought he would be rejected and I just can't stop imagining his face."

"He never proposed someone?"

"Yup, he had crushes but I never heard or saw him proposing them," she answered as I take a sip of my cold drink.

I smiled listening to her words. "That's nice."

"Ohoh..."

"Now you are sad and confused because he is ignoring and being with Florence? Am I right?" she asked.

"Nope." My voice was barely a whisper.

"You are. I don't have any right to say anything to you but you should know," she said.

I stay quiet eating my food as thoughts run in my mind.

"To be honest, I don't know what to say. It feels like we are rushing things and at the same time, I don't like the distance or space between us. Without us knowing we developed this bond but I don't want to give it a name," I said taking a bite of my burger.

"Hmm, see so far I never saw my brother getting touchy or being close with anyone other than us. I mean he is a friendly person but he keeps women an arm away. I never saw him being mischievous or tease someone. It's really surprising for us all to see him acting all playful with you," she said. Her eyes held the truthfulness.

"Kiara I don't wanna say that you should accept his proposal. I'm just saying that he is being truthful about his feelings. It's your choice if you want to accept him or not. And it was his choice that he chose to confess his feelings," she explained.

"There is nothing wrong in confessing your feelings for the person you like. It doesn't matter how many days you spend together or how long you have known the other person. It's the genuine feeling that you get when you are connected. It can happen in a day too."

"Yes."

I nod my head, we both become silent. I'm busy with my thoughts. She finishes her food and I do the same.

"What should I do now?" I asked her.

"I don't know if you need time to tell him. If you want to be with him take a step. It's your love story so I shouldn't give you advice. If you take advice from people; they aren't always correct. It's better to ask yourself about what you want or needs now."

I nodded my head because her words are true. Few boys tried to join our table but Xahria told them to go to another table.

"Wanna go home or go on a long drive?" She asked me when we are done with the food.

"Yup."

We didn't wanna go home so we went for a long drive. It's good to have friends. People don't know anything about Xahria and others. To me, they are the sweetest and the most humble people I have ever met.

Mainly Xahria, she may not talk much and stay quiet but she is the most understanding person ever.

"I will take you to a new place," Xahria said taking a right turn.

"New place?"

"Yes, it's near our high school. We never got the chance to take you there. I will take you there, you will feel happy," she said.

"Okay."

I lean back comfortably, look outside the window with a soft smile playing on my face.