Mud...ly in love

Celestine glared at Zachary as she’s in the middle of solving a math problem. “Hey, you’re distracting me. And of all places, you actually chose the library, only for you to sleep?”

“It’s like you’re accusing me that I only came here to sleep.”

A teasing smile was visible on her lips. Raising one of her eyebrows she said, “Why, am I wrong?”

Celestine lets out a soft laugh when he sees Zach acting like he’s hurt by what she said. He even clutches his hand on his shirt against his chest.

“Quit on your acting.”

“Am I that terrible?”

She nodded while suppressing her laughter. The librarian might kick them out for being noisy.

“At least I made you laugh.”

Celestine rolled her eyes. She re-focused her attention on the problem she’s solving.

Seeing Celestine doing her school work, Zachary went silent and stopped bothering her. He stood up and went to the bookshelf to find some books to read. Rather than distracting her, he will just accompany her.

***

Kathline made a trip to their house after her classes ended that day.

Her brother went home after months of being away because of his work. Brent Ivan Reis, Kathline’s brother and also a well-known engineer in the field.

In the meantime, Brent was with Castiel since they were doing an ongoing project. It was a new building for the hospital in the Moonves. Even though Moonves was a province and it takes hours away from the city, the healthcare has the facility and buildings in the city.

The government officials there prioritize the way their people live. Especially the healthcare programs and the agriculture where their source of income came from.

“Mom, I’m hooome~” Kathline lively greeted her mother upon entering the mansion.

Lianne made her way out of the kitchen. She’s wearing an apron and an oven mitt on her hands.

“Oh? You’re baking?” Kathline asked her mother. She doesn’t know when was the last time she ate her baked goodies.

“Yes, I bake some cookies and blueberry pie,” Lianne answered while removing the oven mittens from her hands.

The aroma of the food coming from the kitchen made her hungry. She went to the kitchen to get some cookies on the table when her mother slapped her hands.

“Keep your hands away from the cookies.”

“Ahhh! Mom” Kathline rubbed her hands. ‘That hurts mother!’

“But I will only get one bite. Please… pretty please?”

Lianne shakes her head. “No. That’s for later dessert.” She slightly pushes her daughter outside the kitchen. “Anyway, call your friends. I heard Veronica is also here. We will have a barbecue party later in the garden.”

“Tsk. Alright alright, stop pushing me, Mom. And I’m not sure if they will go later, they might have some classes in the evening.”

“I understand. But still, make sure to inform them.”

Kathline pout. She wants to eat the cookies!

She walks upstairs and heads to her room. After changing her clothes, she messages everyone, excluding Clarence, to attend the BBQ party later if they don’t have any plans for tonight.

When she finished informing them, she dozed off to sleep. Her project makes her sleep for less than four hours a day. She needs some rest today.

***

Celestine stretches her body before standing up. ‘I’m hungry…’

It was five in the afternoon when Celestine’s history class ended. She picks up her things and is ready to leave the room. Until she saw someone familiar in the last row.

“Zach?”

He looked up and saw Celestine frowning. “I didn’t know you were my classmate.” she stated.

He shrugged his shoulders, “Well… it turns out this way.”

Looking around, only the two of them were left in the room.

Zachary stood up and said, “Let’s go?”

The two of them leave the room and head towards the parking lot.

Celestine picks up her phone from her bag, only to notice Kathline’s message. The message was sent two hours ago. She was always silent on her phone that’s why she didn’t know that Kathline messages her.

Celestine touches the message icon to read the message.

[ From: Kathline

Stop by at our house, we’re having a BBQ party later. Don’t forget okay? If you don't come, Mom would definitely hit me. See you later!

PS: Zach will be your driver. ]

“Did Kathline text you any message?”

Zachary looked at her and nodded. He stopped to get his phone and click the message, then show it to Celestine.

[ From: Scary Cat

BBQ party for dinner in our house. You better pick up Celestine after class or else I will kill you!

I’m waiting. ]

“Did she really send you this?”

“Why? You don’t believe me or you don’t believe she would send a message like this?”

Celestine was speechless. No doubt they are friends. But she found her name on his contacts somewhat cute.

Scary Cat.

They start walking again. They arrived at the parking lot and stopped in front of Zachary’s car.

He opens the front passenger seat for Celestine. She didn’t say anything and quietly entered the car. Zachary enters the driver's seat and starts the engine.

He was driving for some minutes now when Celestine decided to break the silence. “About what you said about Kathline and Clarence being ex-lovers. What happened to them that they end up like that?” she’s referring to them quarreling whenever they meet.

Zachary looked at her and focused again on the road. “Actually, Veronica and I didn’t know what happened. Up until now, they were avoiding that topic. Only the two of them know it. It is just that, one day they stop seeing each other. And every time they met, they were fighting. It’s either verbal or physical fights.”

“Physical?”

“hm… although Clarence didn’t fight back. He lets Kath hit him until she’s satisfied. Eventually, we get used to their fighting routine.”

“Maybe their breakup was related to a girl since Clarence was sort of a playboy.” She awkwardly deduces. Well, it was still his friend.

“Nah, Clarence wasn’t a playboy. He became like that only a year ago and no one knows why.”

“That long? Still, you didn’t know why they broke up.”

“We tried… every time we tried to know the reason, they would start avoiding us. The longest time they didn’t talk to us was probably one month.”

Celestine could only sigh. It was more difficult than she could imagine.

***

Upon arriving at Reis Residence, Celestine heard the noise coming from the garden. Where she usually takes a walk during her stays there.

One word to describe what was happening? Chaos.

Kathline was holding a branch of a tree while chasing Clarence. Both of them looked like a mess, they were covered in mud.

Both of them hastily walked towards them, but they still kept a short distance. They didn’t notice their presence because they were busy fighting.

Clarence sat on the ground while catching his breath. He looked at Kathline who’s ready to hit him anytime.

He glared at her. “Could you please stop?”

“I will stop if you only leave right now. Whoever says you’re welcome here?” Kathline was teary-eyed. She’s brave for fighting the urge to cry in front of him again.

Once is enough. He sees her crying earlier, but that won't happen again.

“You keep on appearing in front of me. Why? Aren’t you done toying with my feelings? You still have the guts to show here!”

It was at this moment that Kathline was about to hit Clarence. But Clarence didn’t feel the pain from that hit. It never came.