CHAPTER SEVEN

Kelvin's P.O.V

Using my spare key, I unlocked the door and stepped inside my house, knowing full well that Mom was still at work.

Closing the door behind me, I headed straight to my room. My bags found their place in a drawer, and I neatly arranged my shoes where they belonged after taking them off.

Unlike the typical messy stereotype, my room was impeccably organized. I was different from most guys, not a fan of untidiness. Disorder always got under my skin with everything I saw. I was a neat freak.

Shrugging off my office attire, I tossed them into the laundry basket for the dirty clothes.

Opting for comfort, I changed into a black T-shirt and blue jeans. 

Although I initially considered microwaving leftover pasta from the freezer, I changed my mind and chose to order pizza instead. 

My phone emerged from my jeans pocket, and I swiftly ordered a pepperoni pizza from a nearby restaurant.

Grabbing an orange juice from the fridge, I poured it into a glass, taking a sip to curb my hunger as I awaited the pizza's arrival.

Entering the living room, I logged into my N*****x account without hesitation. Why deprive me of my favorite show just because of some bossy executive's remarks? That show was too good to be abandoned.

The doorbell chimed with a 'Ding Dong,' indicating the arrival of the pizza delivery. I carefully set my juice down on the glass table and went to answer the door.

Standing, a young man was sporting a uniform from the pizza delivery company, a warm smile adorning his face. He held a medium-sized pizza box in a custom-made bag from the company.

"I'm Mark from the pizza delivery company. Here's your pizza," he announced, extending the box to me.

"Thanks," I acknowledged as I took the pizza from him.

He handed me a receipt to sign, and after completing the transaction, I paid him the bill along with a tip.

"Thank you for choosing our pizza company. We hope to serve you again," he said with a grin.

I nodded in response, watching him walk back to the pizza company van parked outside. Once he was out of sight, I closed the door and returned to the living room, ready to enjoy my pizza and orange juice while resuming the movie.

I engrossed myself in the film until the evening hours, knowing my mom would be returning home soon. 

As the credits rolled, I switched off the TV and began cleaning up the space that had become cluttered with pizza boxes and an orange juice spill.

Almost as if on cue, my mom entered the room after finishing her own tidying up. I greeted her and shared news of my new job, omitting the part where my rambling nearly cost me the position.

Her joy was palpable as we celebrated, complete with my mom's delectable homemade muffins, infused with the deliciousness of her secret recipe (chocolate, to be precise).

The muffins were so irresistible that I ended up requesting more, succumbing to the temptation of overindulging, even though I was already full.

Heading upstairs to my room, I shed my clothes and grabbed a towel before stepping into the bathroom for a refreshing shower.

Emerging from the shower, I donned a comfortable top and pajama pants. Taking hold of the hair dryer, I efficiently dried my hair before placing the appliance back on its designated shelf.

Flopping onto my bed, I retrieved my phone and logged into I*******m. I boasted quite a following, mainly consisting of girls.

Being handsome had its perks, yet it also came with its share of challenges. Dealing with persistent admirers like the girl I encountered at work today could be a hassle.

Nevertheless, I remained committed to maintaining my self-respect and avoided getting caught up in any romantic entanglements at the moment.

Logging out of I*******m, I fetched my headphones from the shelf and immersed myself in the song "Zero" by Chris Brown.

As I perused my photo gallery, my ex-girlfriend Ivy's picture caught my eye. 

Once upon a time, I had genuine affection for her, but her departure to be with someone like Jack, whom I deemed a jerk, proved to be her loss.

I still felt a pang when she admitted that she was initially attracted to me due to my looks and wanted to incite jealousy among her friends.

Her departure had hit me hard; I was a deeply emotional person, struggling to eat or drink in the aftermath. Thanks to my mom's wisdom, I eventually pulled myself out of that emotional slump.

"I swore off love forever... JUST KIDDING (can you imagine him acting like Anika?)"

I came across a picture of my ex and me, a snapshot of our shared moments. Though the image portrayed happiness, I promptly decided to delete it.

Suddenly, the pull of sleep began to take hold. Disentangling my headphones from my ears, I let them drop carelessly to the floor. 

Organizing them properly was beyond me in my drowsy state. I deposited my phone on the bed, surrendering to the impending slumber.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself in a picturesque garden, seated on a picnic blanket adorned with an array of delectable treats: chess, bread, sandwiches, potato fries, doughnuts, pizza, burgers, ice cream topped with caramel, and a glass of orange juice.

Puzzled by my surroundings, I heard a voice calling out, "Hi, baby, I brought you some flowers." 

My gaze lifted to encounter Sassy, the woman who hired me, holding daisies. She was stunning in her silver gown, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Aww, that's so sweet of you," I involuntarily responded.

Rising from the mat, I accepted the daisies she offered. Together, we strolled through the garden, engaged in conversation.

As we walked, butterflies fluttered around us, laughter filling the air. Sassy's joy was obvious as she leaped and the butterflies surrounded us.

Just as I leaned in to kiss her, someone shouted her name.

In an instant, I was back in my bed, confusion clouding my thoughts. I had no romantic feelings for my boss, so why on earth did I dream something like that?

With an eye roll, directed at no one in particular, I concluded that it must have been one of my friends' ways of telling me to find a girlfriend. After pondering for a bit, I drifted back into sleep.

Laura's P.O.V

Upon returning from Anika's place, I skipped the usual greetings from my family seated around the dining table.

Heading straight to my room, I locked the door, aiming to avoid any motivational discussions with my dad.

My room boasted ample space and a dominant black hue, reflecting my style. Black was my go-to, not just for my room, but for the floor, dressing table, and even the bathroom.

"Sweetie, are you alright?" My mom's voice inquired through the door.

Exasperated, I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'm perfectly fine," I replied, attempting to project normalcy.

"You're not sounding or looking alright, hon," my mom stated from the other side.

I sighed, my frustration evident. "Trust me, I'm okay," I assured her, though uncertainty lingered within me.

"You can't fool me; I'm your mother. But whatever the issue is, just let it go, okay?" she advised.

"Alright," I acquiesced, and the sound of her departing footsteps confirmed her exit.

I seethed in anger at Anika's response to my efforts. I had even taken the day off work to stand up for her, and all she did was lay blame on me for fighting her battles.

Still dressed in my work attire, I stewed on my bed when my phone began ringing. Glancing at the screen, I saw Anika's name flashing. Ignoring the first call, she rang again, but this time, I pressed the red button. Ready to turn off my phone, she called again. Wasn't she getting the hint?

Reluctantly answering, I conveyed my decision that we were no longer friends and that she shouldn't contact me anymore. I questioned if I truly meant it, given how many times I'd voiced the same sentiment.

Disrobing, I headed for a lengthy shower, changed into my nightwear, and drifted off to sleep.

In my dreams, I found myself in a serene garden, basking in its fragrant ambiance. However, my tranquility was disrupted as I spotted Anika with another person. Though their face was obscured, I could tell it was a guy, his arm wrapped around her waist. 

My heart raced as they leaned in, seemingly about to kiss.

Startled, I cried out Anika's name, abruptly waking up. 

A strange dream indeed. Who was the mysterious guy she was with? Could it be Richard? No, that didn't seem likely, considering she had broken up with him and the person in the dream stature didn't match with Richard's so it wasn't him. Who was it then?

Sighing, I settled back onto my bed, thoughts swirling in my mind.

T.B.C

Noeline.