Two Steps Behind

CHAPTER 3

"Blythe, wake up!" I groaned when I heard Lexie's morning shouts. As usual, that was her routine of waking me up. 

Lexie is our housekeeper. She was with me for more than three years and we are almost at the same age. She is tall, thin and has a fair skin tone. People even thought us to be sisters when we are together. 

I pulled my blanket upwards to cover my entire body. With a drowsy feeling, I reached my pillow on my side then placed it on my ear to avoid hearing Lexie. 

"Blythe! It's Monday and you have your class!" 

Whatever. I am not excited to enter my class today either. I am still tired of what we did yesterday. 

After meeting Khassie in the mall, we decided to watch a movie in the cinema. The show was in the romance genre which was our topic when we ate our lunch in a fine dining restaurant. None of us has a boyfriend so all we have to do is to fantasize that we are the female lead. 

We went shopping afterwards and went to a salon for relaxation… using my money. I have lots of dollars in my bank account but I don't know how to spend all of those. I have everything that I need and want so I have to spend it on other things. 

Yes, I have all that not everyone has but the sad thing there is I lack the love and attention that money couldn't buy. 

"Blythe, don't push me to drag you in the bathroom," she warned. I groaned before answering her. 

"Five minutes, Lex. Five minutes," I replied, still in close eyes. She grabbed my blanket and jumped on my bed up and down to annoy me. This is us, every morning. 

"No more extra five minutes, Blythe. I already told you last night to sleep early and you didn't listen," she huffed. Just a bit of persuasion and I would believe that this girl beside me had swallowed a megaphone or was reincarnated from being a rooster. The pillow is kinda useless as cover as she was too loud. 

"Please, Lexie." She sighed in surrender. 

"Fine. Just for you to know, your parents called last night but you are already in bed. They brought you a gift and it was delivered earlier. You can check it downstairs." My eyes grew in circles when she uttered those words. 

I immediately sat down, facing Lexie who is now grinning. "Good morning, Blythe!" she greeted me. I answered her with a smile. 

"About the gift?" I asked. 

"Ah, yes. Go downstairs. I mean, outside the house and I'll just prepare your food," she replied. I nodded at her and dashed my way in the direction she instructed to go. 

I am actually excited about the gift. At least, they still remembered giving me one. 

"Lexie! Where exactly the gift was placed?!" I shouted when I reached the doorway. I haven't seen anything here. 

"Lexie!" I yelled once again. 

Just a minute later, I heard running footsteps in my direction. 

"What's wrong?" she worriedly asked. I stared at her with a blank expression then stomped my feet. 

"I can't find it here," I replied. 

She heaved a sigh before shaking her head. "Did I tell you that it was here? You're not listening. I said outside your house, literally. Try to check on the driveway." 

I shrugged my shoulders and left without a word. Walking outside barefooted hurts my feet but it doesn't matter though. I opened the main gate of our house excitedly. I gaped when a Pink Ferrari car welcomed me. 

"Oh my gosh! Am I seeing this for real?!" I exclaimed before running to the car. 

With a smile all over my face, I extended my arms and hugged the Ferrari in front of me. This is my dream car! Goodness! 

"Oh, my Baby! I will love and take care of you, I promise!" I murmured as if the car would understand me. 

"Blythe! Come inside. Your Mom is calling!" Lexie shouted inside the house. I smiled secretly before planting a kiss on my car. 

This is my new Baby! Good thing, they bought me one because I don't want to drive my old car. It caused me trauma yesterday and I don't want to get into an accident once again. 

"I'm coming!" I yelled back on her then ran inside the house. 

As soon as I got there, she handed me the phone. 

"Good morning, Mom!" I greeted. 

"Have you eaten your breakfast already?" she asked. I shook my head as if she could see me. 

"Not yet because I checked your gift first." 

"Do you love it?" 

"Super!" I exclaimed. 

"I'm happy that you love it. I'll hang the call now and you do your thing there, okay? Goodbye, and I love you, Sweetheart!" 

"Wai–" Before I could speak up, the call had already ended. 

I exhaled heavily while giving the phone back to Lexie. 

"As usual, time is the last thing they could give to me," I commented, leading my way on the dining table. 

Bread. Bacon. Egg. Ham. Hotdog. Pancake. Oatmeal. Hot chocolate. Fruits. 

"Lex, can I have a coffee?" 

"Right away, Blythe," she responded. I rested my chin on my palm while staring the meal in front of me. 

I lost my appetite already. There are lots of food being prepared but no one would eat. What a waste. 

"Here," Lexie said as she placed the cup of coffee on the table. She sat beside me, looking at my face intently. 

"Why are you not eating something?" 

"Don't cook a lot next time, no one would eat," I answered. She shrugged her shoulders before grabbing a piece of bacon on the plate. 

"Your Mom told me to do so." I sighed then shook my head. Do they really think I can eat it all? They are just wasting. 

"Hurry up now and take a bath. You might be late for school." I took a little sip on my coffee before placing it back down. 

I shot her a tired look before resting my head on the table. "I will skip my class today. I haven't answered my assignment. My professor would kick me out for sure," I mumbled. Peachie forgot to teach me on my assignment and it's also my fault because I forgot to remind her. 

"Oh, the math?" she asked. I nodded at her. 

"Someone sent a notebook here earlier. I flipped the pages and I saw some math problems with a solution. I bet that was yours." I shifted my view on her who was nowhere to be seen around. I roamed my eyes and there I saw her walking on the kitchen island. 

I waited until she came back to my place then handed me the notes. A smile suddenly made its way to my lips when I saw the math problems on the paper. Gosh! This is such a blessing for me to be saved by my terror professor. 

"Lex, this is such a blessing!" I cheered then kissed the notebook I am holding. "I will enter my classes today, Lex!" she nodded with a smile. 

"You take a bath and finish your meal first and I will be the one to transfer that on your notebook," she offered. I shook my head before running upstairs. 

I should learn how to solve it on my own. My teacher might ask me how I got the answer and the solution. If I couldn't answer her, that would be a double embarrassment. 

When I reached my room, I hurriedly fished my original notebook in my bag. I took a glance at my glittered wall clock and sighed in relief when I realised that I have still enough time to prepare and make my assignment. Lexie woke me up very early, huh. 

My eyebrows suddenly scrunched as I flipped the pages and realised that the penmanship was different from Peachie's. I know the stroke of Peachie's written works. I am a hundred and one percent certain that it was not hers. 

"Blythe, should I arrange your things here?" Lexie croaked out. 

"Yes, please," I answered. "Lex, did you answer this?" 

She looked at me confused. "Are you kidding me?" she asked while picking up my pen on the floor. 

"I'm just confused. The penmanship is different from Peachie's." 

"You let Peachie answer your assignment? But… An unfamiliar man brought that here. Wait…" She narrowed her eyes while looking at me. "Do you Blythe Adrie have a secret admirer who is helping you out?" she continued, making me hiss. What a malicious overthinker. 

I don't think so.