1 ONE

14•02•2019

THE cold water descends on my skin, multiplying the pimples on my flesh, which ushers a moan to my lips. I love the pour on my body, the lustrous titillation like I am in my own Canaan.

Best feeling ever-

"Haley Shawn, you've kindle my house ablaze!"

Yeah, that was my mom.

She is mortally one of the most raucous women ever, nagging perks fairness. Yeah, that's who she is.

"I'm in the shower, just gimme some sec, Mom!" I shrill back at her.

I switch off the faucet and the water stops running, I reach out for the towel, pluck and tour it around my body before stepping out of the bathroom. Soon after, I slip on my pink flipflop.

This is far better than the hostel's, where lots of people shared a bathroom. I mean both genders. I hate the horrible reality of waiting outside to be my turn while some would take it as a chance to make out. But here, I can talk about freedom plus free music. The incomprehensible serenity that invades the mind when you are the boss that is the kind of feeling I am feeling–.

The door opens and my fifteen years old sister, Harley butts in.

"Mom's calling you!"

"I know and out." I roll my eyes and walk past her.

"Arg! You don't have to be coarse every time, you know?" I turn and glare at her as she whines.

"Oh, okay, okay, I'm vacating...you can suck up your yucky room," she says, pulling her tongue out in a weird manner, I frown at her in disdain.

"Oh, oh." she slams the door behind her, snappily.

I sigh in relief-

"Besides, there is soap on your neck." her small face popped in and out with a sec. Her laughter manages to break in my room from the hallway as she storms away.

I touch my neck and feel it.

"Ah! Damnit!"

I curse under my breath as I relax on my bed. The soft bed sinks as I settle down.

"And mind your damn business!" I yell after her.

I stare at the timer on my nightstand.

"7:25 am," the time reads.

Behind the timer is a picture frame of Harley and I hugging firmly like there was no tomorrow. We took that picture like years ago. I was in sophomore and my face looked so vibrant in the picture with fat cheeks compare to my present high cheekbones.

I beam, caressing my slender and tan cheek, I miss my old chubby body, nevertheless, I adore this new me much better. I need to dress up, today is a special day... Valentine. I have been anticipating for today in the year. Jeremy and I will celebrate our three weeks anniversary and I'm ecstatic.

I breathe, shaking in excitement. Jeremy has highlighted the best and worst in me, he gave me the true interpretation of love and a relationship with his care and listening ears. He is the type of guy that wants to hear how your day went.

I simper, ruminating on how he likes to twirl my hair every time we talk, because, he thinks it long and beautiful. He won't laugh at my joke considering that it's lame, instead will draft it into his own joke and make me laugh.

I surge to my feet, carefully swabbing my hair with the towel on it. My eyes catch a sight of the journal on my white study desk which is close to my nightstand. I loosen up, relaxing my body and permitting all my veins to function properly. I exhale as I leisurely pick the journal. Lots of things run across my mind, I'm not sure if I'm ready for this. I let fall of the book allowing it to echo a resonant explosion as it smacks the marble floor. I nervously tug my wet hair behind my ear.

It's just a matter of time.

Tracy's words ring on my mind.

"I'm not ready for this," I murmur to myself.

I lick my dry lips. Jeremy is still on a trial level, I don't want to ever regret anything with him, reason that, I like him oodles.

"Now I'm running late, oops."

•••

It is always like publicizing a ninja's arrival anytime I was tardy for an occasion in my house, whenever I step out and other house members start hailing me with their eyes. I ignore the travesty stare I got from Harley. I tread to the kitchen and gawk at my cupcakes ready on the kitchen island. Custom with icing in the way I like them.

"They look honeyed, don't they?" My mom's voice whispers into my ear.

"Yes!" I cry in excitement.

Then suddenly I feel a sting on my ear-

"Ouch!" I yowl harder and louder.

"Mom!" I grapple my ear and glower at her.

"Putting food on stove while showering is highly prohibited in this house and you, Haley April Shawn, you're aware of that," she expounds with one of her hands on her hip.

"But, Mom-"

"Ha, no, no, I won't defer to that." she hikes her brow, waiting for me to say the magic word. My mom is a woman with serious disciplinary personality, zero tolerance for rubbish.

"Okay, fine, I'm sorry mom." Period. I can't believe she bit my ear. Bet this must be what Evander Holyfield felt when Mike Tyson bit his ear in boxing.

"Good...nice dress by the way." she grins, showing her dimples. My Mom is a very pretty woman, blessed with honey brown eyes like hazel which Harley and I had inherent from her.

"Thanks, Mom."

I'm wearing a short white dress with red love dots. I walk away, still holding my ear as I casually draw near the cake, gaping at me on the tiled board of the kitchen island. I row out one of the brown counter stools and sit down.

"When are you revisiting?" She inquests with her back positioned to me, as, she coddles on the stove. Her blue apron neatly tied behind her.

"Next weekend." I reply, grumbling.

The way she had designed the icing on the cake was a bait and nipped strawberry on each cake, skillfully classified them in a column. She rambles from the stove to the double oven beside the stove. She picks the oven gloves and wears it before opening the oven, brings out some freshly baked desserts and drops it carefully on the island board.

"So you're gonna see that Jeremy boy today, huh?" I ponder if I hearken to her accurately, because, my mind already lays on the Walnut zucchini muffins she just put on before me.

I look up at her as the word hit me on the appropriate part.

"What?- ain't gonna finish the cake myself," I speak with fire.

Mom does not like Jeremy, by the virtue of the innocuous butterfly tattoo on his neck. She thinks he is no good for me, that he is a guy in black.

She looks at me and holds my gaze for some moment before a smile creeps to her lips. She turns back to the stove.

I heave a sigh.

"You like that boy a lot." she states.

"I... guess." I reply to her and stare at the muffins, absolutely entrap.

Slowly, I reach out for the muffins,

"You know..." She spins to me and I quickly withdraw my hand and look elsewhere, "I really love you, Haley...I don't want you to get hurt" I nod my head acceding with each of her words.

She selects a bowl from the board, I've got no ideas what's in it.

"I know, Mom." I give her a somber look as she stares solemnly at me.

She faces the stove back and I swiftly snatch one of the muffins, hiding it behind me. It burns me.

"I'm just scared that you can go-"

"Seriously, Mom." I interject her, knowing where she's heading. She turns to me, I hop down the stool, keeping the muffin away from her. Slightly, I rest on the island.

I close my eyes and pretend to breathe, "Okay. This is it, I know where I'm heading to. So, I'm not going to end my dream with unprotected sex... Trust me, Mom." I smile at the end of my sentence.

I know my mom does not trust me when it comes to situations like this, she presumes I'm a wild girl who is not perceptive. I hope I will be able to prove her wrong one day.

***