Irreplaceable Mistakes

~Eight~

Zoella

   I woke up to the beautiful sounds of birds singing across my window. My nose twitched. The smell of pasta came across my nose. I couldn’t resist the smell and got up from bed to check the time. f**k, it was seven AM on dot.

  I went into the kitchen and I saw Eva. I was shocked. “How did you get in here? I remembered I locked the door.”

  “Good morning Zoe, you gave me a spear key… remember?”

   “When did I?” I asked still confused.

   “Last week.”

    “Wow, I can’t remember.” I scratched my messy hair. “Your pasta does smell nice.”

    “Ew, go brush your teeth. Your mouth stinks.” Eva said covering her noise.

     “Sorry, morning breath.”

     Few minute later, I padded into the kitchen wearing a brown wedge and yellow skirt with blue crop singlet and my hair dropped in a messy way. “I have to go.”

    “Easy there, no one is rushing you. At least eat something before you left.” Eva said.

   “I can’t, I have to be at the Gutierrez mansion before nine.”

    “Oh, okay but you must not waste my food.”

    I gave a little smile. “I will eat it when I got home in the night and I will be staying at the Gutierrez mansion from tomorrow onward. Please don’t tell Chloe about this and help me tell her that I will be coming to check on her tomorrow.”

  She looked at me and smiled back. “I will and make sure you go to church.”

      “I will.” I gave her a hug before heading outside.

***

    I got to the Gutierrez mansion before nine thirty, the door was already opened and it looks like everyone was still asleep. I went to the kitchen and put the apron on.

   So, before I left the last time, they made a menu that was glued to the kitchen door of what they will be eating every day. Different food for different days. I took a deep breath and sighed out.

   I diced two boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cooked them prior to starting with olive oil.

   I added 2 cloves garlic and ½ cup diced onion. Then I added 4 cans condensed chicken broth. I also added water. I added tomatoes, the hominy, the diced green chili peppers, I teaspoon each of cumin, lime juice and garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of chili powder.

  I brought to a boil and let simmer for 1 hour. Top with shredded Monterey jack cheese and garnish with tortilla chips, avocado slices. I served it into the serving bowls.

   Well, that was it and I’m sure the aroma will wake them up and it’s Sunday… I needed to get to church. I took the apron off and hanged it.

   If I leave just like that Zavion might get upset. I took a deep breath and exhale. I climbed the stairs and found myself knocking on someone door, I don’t know if it was Zavion’s or Ethan.

   I knocked again and this time the door opened. He tucked his head out to attend to me. It was the jacket guy, the one I met in the bus station. He is a Gutierrez? Rumor said they were only three.

   “Hey, it’s you.” He smiled and came out of his room with bare chest. That six packs were killer.

    “Hey, I didn’t know you were a Gutierrez and about your jacket.”

    “It’s okay, it’s yours now but what are you doing here?” he asked. I was about to respond when I saw someone placed his hand around my shoulder. It was Zavion, he was also without clothes. He was so close to me, I could feel his body attaching to mine.

     “She is with me.” He said and dragged me to his room.

     I looked at him. “I thought that was your room, I’m sorry about that.”

     “You’ve met him before?” he asked as he took his clothes to wear. His room was big, two times bigger than my apartment but why does this place look familiar as if I have been here before.

     “Yes, I met him yesterday… in the bus station and he gave me his jacket to cover up my transparent cloth.” I cleared my throat. “Do you by chance help me see a brown long coat? I forgot it here yesterday,”

    He opened his closet, no sign of suit or serious clothing only casuals. “This?” he lifted it up for me to see.

   I nodded my head. “Yes, thank you… by the way, the food is in the kitchen and I’m off to church.” I was about to go out but he called.

   “Zoella right?”

   I nodded.

  I thought he was gonna say something nice but he didn’t, Instead he said. “Next time you go to someone’s house, don’t forget your coat.” He left the room before me.

  I finally got down stairs and saw the remaining two sitting on the dining table. Izzy waved at me and I waved back. “I will be off to church.” I said as I took my bag.

   “You should join us Zoe.” Ethan suggested. I looked at the remaining two and Izzy nodded her head but Zavion was a trouble.

   “Zoe, nice name.” I heard the jacket guy said as he was coming down the stairs.

“Thank you.” I smiled.

  “Can’t believe you know Ian too.” Izzy said.

  “I met him yesterday.” I went to the kitchen to get the food and brought it to the table. Thank God I made more than enough unless Ian won’t see to eat.

  “Tortilla soup, yum.” Izzy smiled and served herself.

    I was still standing when Ian drew the chair for me to sit down. “Thank you.” I said and sat down.

   “Awww, someone is already falling.” Izzy teased.

   I was blushing, low-key and I was sure Zavion saw it and that got him more upset. “When are you moving in?” Zavion finally asked.

  I looked up as I swallowed what was in my mouth. “Tomorrow, I am moving in tomorrow.” I didn’t tell anyone that I have a twin sister who looks exactly like me. I mean, it’s my family business.

  “Good to hear.” He added.

   “You are moving in?” Ian asked. “I’m so happy that I will get to see your face every day and thanks for the food… it was delicious.” He got up first then Zavion left too.

    “I will be heading to church now.” I said as I went out of the house.

     “Need a ride?” I heard Zavion said as he hopped on his motorcycle.

      “Huh?" I scratched my head and gave a lazy smile. "Yes, yes I need a ride.” I couldn’t refuse because it won’t be easy for me to get a cab from there to my church. I got on the motorcycle and wore the helmet. I didn’t even wanna hold onto him but I did.

      “Hold tight, you might fall” that tick voice of his was ringing in my head then I started humming to a particular song. I didn’t know where it came from but it was really nice. I still don’t get the feeling I got earlier in Zavion’s room as if I have been there before. As if I know him, as if we have talked before.

     We finally got to the front of my church. I stopped because I needed to take my morning pills and that was chocolate. I went to the shop near by and got myself six bars of chocolate.

    “You want one?” I asked him. He looked and me.

     “You also like chocolate?” he asked as he collected it from me.

     I smiled at him and said. “It makes me happy anytime I am sad… so, it’s like a medicine I use whenever I am sad.”

     His expression changed “Why are you sad?” he asked.

     “It’s not you, I have my own personal problems.” I looked at him and now our eyes were four. “I’ve got to go, thanks for the ride.” I said as I went inside the church.

Zavion

  I saw it in her eyes, it was as if she was in pain, maybe if I had treated her nicely then I won’t be feeling guilty. She sounded like Zee, the song she was humming to, the chocolate and the quote she said about eating chocolate if she was sad. Zee said all that too.

   Why do I miss her so much? it hurt a lot. I took a deep breath and thought about it. But if she was Zee, why didn’t she remember me? or why didn’t she say anything about the mansion when she got in there?

   If she was my Zee then why didn’t she say so? Is she playing mind games or has she forgotten about me? No, she is not my Zee. I need to go home but I can’t leave her there. How will she get home? Gosh she bothers me.

   I sat on the bike for some minute and finally entered the church. I haven’t been to church in a very long time. I searched for her with my eyes and finally found her. She was focused in prayer as if she had lost something special, as if she needed something from God and haven’t gotten it. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

   Few hours later, the service was  over, it was fun… at least I learnt some songs. She didn’t know I waited for her.

   I got outside and saw her waiting for the bus, it’s not gonna be easy. “Hey.”

  She seemed shocked to see me. “You are here?” she asked as she packed her hair to ponytail.

   “Yes, I had to, I figured that you won’t see bus easily so I waited.”

   “Oh, thank you.” She said and smiled.

  It was this moment I noticed that she was really pretty, Ethan was not wrong about that. She was different, no makeup and she was still pretty. She got on the bike with me and we headed home.

   The weather was not looking funny and immediately rain started pouring, she seemed to be enjoying it and suddenly the motorcycle stopped in middle of the road. f**k!

    I got down to find service on my phone to call Ethan so he could come pick us up then I saw her shivering, she was on only crop singlet. Her arms were exposed and I on the other hand was putting on a jacket, I needed to be a gentle man so I gave her my jacket. God knows I always fall sick anytime rain fall but I needed to stay strong in front of her.

   “Are you going to be okay?” She asked me. “You don’t look good.”

   I smiled and checked the time. It was 3 in the afternoon. No cars on the road not even people. I looked around if I could find something to build us a shelter. “Worry about yourself, you decided to wear a crop singlet to church without taking a jacket or a coat?” I said angrily.

  “I’m sorry if I bothered you, I didn’t know it was gonna rain.” She was not looking good.

  I scoffed. “It’s winter period, it always rain.”

     “I’m sorry.” She apologized again.

     “Stop apologizing, you are making me worried for no reason.” Luckily for us, I saw trees and leaves on the other side of the road. I used the leaves I found to build us a lodge. Dad always says we should learn to survive without him and that is what I am doing now…surviving.