Chapter 23: The return

Once we were home, I went straight to my room to organize the things I have used and brought. Being busy for a few minutes made me not think of anything else but once I have taken a bath and lied on my bed, the thoughts of him kept coming back to me.

The memories of our first meeting, his expression, the times we were together, the happy and sad memories, our conversations....his face appearing on my mind and the things he said before we departed.

And my mind continues to wonder on his image, with the way he talks, the way his eyes sparkles when he looks at me, the way his lips arched as he teases me, his eyebrows rises when he doesn't want where our conversations are going, the way he smells really good and the way his hug felt especially warm.

The thoughts of him kept churning and burning on my mind. But my thoughts were disrupted when my phone notified me of a message and it says.

'We arrived safely, how about you?' An unregistered number appeared on my phone.

'Who is this?' Eventhough I know the person who texted me, I still replied this way to tease him.

'It's Raziel. You didn't save my number?' He asked which made me think that he is probably annoyed.

'I did, I was just teasing you ' I said finally giving in and not daring to tease him more.

For the rest of the afternoon, we talked different topics ranging from our likes, dislikes, hobbies, our dreams and happenings in our life. Our conversations where interrupted when I heard a knock on my door. It was my mom.

"We are about to eat, Carmela. You have to come outside your room as we are about to have dinner. " My mom stated.

"Okay mom, I'll be there quickly. " As I heard my mom's footsteps beginning to walk away, I texted Raziel that we are about to it so I have to stop our texts.

'Raziel, I'm sorry but I'll have to stop our conversations at this time. My mom called and we are about to have dinner.' I texted him to make him understand.

'It's okay Carmela. I understand since it's the time for dinner anyway. You can just go.'

'Okay then. You have your dinner too.' I said as I am also worried that he is already hungry.

'Will do. You go now or your parents will be angry.' He said since I haven't gone to dinner yet.

'I'll go now. ' And that was the last text I have sent to him.

Going to our dining room, I was met with my mom and dad. They were both waiting for me before they begin to eat. My brother was not around because he is already in college and taking Engineering as a course.

'Wgat took you so long?' My mom asked inquisitively.

'I was just fixing the things I've brought with me, mom that's why it took a minute. ' I lied to mom with a straight face and a guilty conscience but I did it because I know they don't want me to be bothered by other things especially boys at my age.

'Its good if that's just it. ' She said with warning on her tone.

'Of course mom, what else could it be? You would have known by now if there were other things.' I said in a confident voice. I was confident she won't know about Raziel since he is far away which was the only good thing in our situation.

'Okay, stop the arguments and let's eat. Don't let the food get cold, it won't be delicious then.' My father said to appease the growing tension in our dining table.

So I just ate and enjoyed the delicious food cooked by mom. But my thoughts were not really on the food but in the future. I'm worried for when the time comes when mom knows something, it would definitely be bad for me.

And so while eating absentmindedly, my parents noticed that my attention is elsewhere that's why my parents asked worriedly "Do you have a problem at school, Carmela? You've been distracted ever since you came home. Did something bad happened while you were there?"

So I answered "No dad, I had fun in the gathering, what I'm worried about are the classes I missed at school." I lied more smoothly this time.

"Don't be worried my daughter. I know you can catch up well I'm school. Don't worry so much, okay?" My dad said with worry on his face and assurance that everything will be fine.

"Yes dad." I answered and breathed a sigh of relief for having the topic end. Finally, the dinner ended successfully with no more questions.

I went to my room and decided to read romance books. During this time, Wattpad was very prevalent and some students read it to pass the time and I am just one of those students.

Ever since I was small, it had been my hobby to read books even in my previous life. I even collected most books that I loved and had a special place in my heart. So when I wanted to be distracted, I read books to pass the time.

I was so into my reading when it was disrupted by yet again a message of Raziel.

'What are you doing right now?' He asked me, probably curious if I'm already asleep.

'I'm reading?' I replied and went back to reading while waiting for his reply.

I could almost guess what his next reply was going to be and I was right.

'What are you reading?'

So I answered,

'Im reading The Queen of Badluck in Wattpad. How about you?'

'Nothing. Just lying on my bed immersed in talking with you.'

I was not affected with his message eventhough for some it would be kinda sweet.

'You should probably find a hobby for yourself. It would be bad if you bore yourself to death.' I said. I would have liked to add an emoji but at this time, it was not yet present.

But his reply made me kinda stunned but it was also cheesy which for me who have heard this kind of lines beforeso it has no effect on me.

'Im not bored if it's you I am talking with.'

It was one of the problems I could see if I ever be with someone at this time. My mental age is much older than they are and there would be a gap between our thoughts and feelings.

If he said that text to someone else and not me, they would have had butterflies in their stomach but for me, it was kinda meehh.

Maybe if I catch feelings for him, I would have felt happy but since I just have known him for a while, I just felt a bit flattered by the attention.

I finished our conversation soon after since I have class tomorrow. And again, it begins my one sided war on feelings and nerves. I hope that the pain won't be too overwhelming for my heart, seeing Treize again after two weeks of absence. I hope that that my feelings have faded even just a little.