Chapter 2

"What time is it?" I asked him.

"It's 3 pm"

I overslept, having such a weird dream kept me from my work and now I'm a little behind schedule. I quickly stood up and grabbed my notebook. "Hey, you must have fallen asleep while doing that and yet here you are, writing again. Wow, I'm amazed by your passion.”

I rolled my eyes at him. Should I tell him that bizarre dream? Well, it was just a dream but... It felt so unreal.

"I think you should eat first or better yet, fix yourself first. Your hair looks like a haystack." he joked. I touched my hair and became self-conscious. Seriously Kaia. Just because your best friends don’t mean it’s okay to let him see you look like that.

 "I uh... need to go to the bathroom." I excused myself.

I'm so stupid. I know I shouldn't be embarrassed because he'd already seen me at my worse, but I can't help it with him being a guy, much more the guy that I like. I brushed my teeth and combed my hair. As I exited out of the bathroom, I spotted him looking through my baby pictures. He’s already seen it a million times ever since he went inside my room. At first, I was a bit embarrassed because there are some humiliating pictures of me, but I couldn't stop him.

I quietly observed him as he scans through my photo album, bearing a small smile at the corner of his lips. Unknowingly, my lips curved up as well as I realized how handsome he looked in his shirt. I shook my head and made my way towards him.

"I’m done."

He looked up at me and grinned before placing the album back to my shelf. "Great! Breakfast at the waffle house? My treat."

We entered the cafe and went to greet Jenny, the lady who works there. "Good morning to my favorite customers" I grinned and took a seat. After school we usually head straight to eat at this café. Jenny, a 30-year-old woman, owns the place. She serves the best waffles in town.

"Good morning to you too Jenny, we'll have the usual."

She nodded in understanding and went to the kitchen to work on our usual dish. Xander sat in front of me, and I contemplated on whether I will tell him about my dream or not. I always tell him everything that has happened to me, and he has never judge me.

"So... the weather's good?" I said in my weak attempt to start a conversation. He raises an eyebrow, "spill." I looked at my fingers and sighed.

Here goes nothing.

"Remember my story? the one I'm currently writing?" I began, he nodded but kept silent, urging me to go on. "Well last night I dreamed about... me being inside my story." I paused for a moment as our pancakes were served. "It felt surreal Xander, I mean meeting my own characters… how cool is that?"

He looked at me and sighed, "Kaia, you're too focused on your story I mean, even in your sleep? that's too much."

"I know, but we can't control our dreams, can we?" he nodded, sadly. "Well maybe, you're just excited for that contest, so tell me. Is Alexander handsome like me?" and in a snap, the tension was gone just like that, that is one of the few things I like about him. We started eating, I playfully rolled my eyes, "Oh please, he's way more handsome than you."

He snorted, "seriously? more handsome than me?" I nodded and ate my waffles happily. He gapes at me not really understanding that I was just joking, "are you kidding me right now?" I ignored him and focused on my waffles, dang these waffles are so good.

He gave up when he realized that I wasn’t listening anymore and pouted.

Aww he's so cute when he does that.

"At least I'm the real one." he huffed. Yeah, he's right, they're not real, they're just fictional characters that I made up, but somehow, last night's dream felt so strange.

After we ate breakfast, Xander headed to his football training, and I went back to home to continue writing my story. I searched for my favorite pen, the one grandma gave me and the one that I used writing this story. It's my first time using it since she died last year.

She told me that everything I will write using that pen will come true. Well, I suppose it means my dreams will, ever since I was a child, I always wanted to become an author joining school contests instead of studying.

I write stories that sometimes my mom would scold me, but my family supports me in this. My parents gave me a big box full of beautifully designed notebooks and assorted pens. As soon as I found my pen on my bed, I immediately went to writing mode.

***

Cassiopeia was inside her room sketching as usual, drawing the things she wanted to do before she… She didn't want to think about that yet. She shook the thought away and continued what she was doing. Alexander strutted inside her room and peered over her work. "Hey Cass, why'd you call me? Need any help?"  She shook her head and gave him her work.

“You want to do all of this?”

She nodded and gave him a warm smile, “I wanted to experience all of these before I run out of time.” He didn’t say anything because there’s no point in arguing with her.

***

I was again, interrupted by someone my little sister Kayla. “Kaia! Mom called you” I glared at her, and she rolled her eyes and went through my dresser.

My sister is two years younger than me, the same auburn hair, and green eyes but other than that we’re entirely different. She’s in the popular crowd who’s bubbly and preppy. 

“Ever heard of knocking? And what are you doing in my dresser?”

She looked at me and placed a hand on her hip, “I’ve knocked a hundred times, but you’re so focused on writing that you didn’t hear it. By the way, can I borrow this dress? I’m attending a party later.” She pulls a short red dress and examines herself at the mirror.

I wore that dress once and I didn’t like it, it’s too short for my liking and clings to me like a second skin. Xander gave it to me last year as a joke knowing I hate that kind of dress. I kept it at the very back of my dresser, but my mom somehow saw it and made me wear it at a family gathering, to which Kayla complained as unfair as she wore a long one.

“You can have it; I don’t like it anyway” she squealed before taking off but then stopped.

“Mom’s calling you right now.” I furrowed my eyebrows, my mom’s what you can call a very busy person managing a small shop at the town with dad. I go downstairs and saw her at the dining table looking stressed as ever.

“Hey mom, need any help?” I asked as I approached her. I noticed she was holding some papers in her hands, I sat down and waited for her to talk. “Our shop’s not in a good condition right now and for a few months… So, I may have to cut some of yours and Kayla’s allowance.” 

I nodded in understanding; besides, I still have a few notebooks and pens to keep me sane. “It’s okay mom, I understand.”

“I’m not done yet…” she spoke sternly. I anxiously waited for her to continue, “you’re graduating in three months…” she trails off and with an apologetic look on her face she added, “I’m afraid we can’t afford sending you off to college, well except if you’d consider going to a community college; that might work, with Kayla still in high school and our daily expenses… I’m so sorry.”

I didn’t talk as I tried to comprehend what’s happening, but I gave her a soft smile, “It’s okay mom, really, I joined a contest in my dream university. If I win, I can get full scholarship and study for free.” She didn’t get it at first, but then her face broke into a smile, “let me guess, it’s a writing contest?” I grinned and hugged her, “I’m so proud of you honey.”

After our talk, I called Xander, “I knew you couldn’t get enough of me” he said cockily as he enters my room. I ignored his remarks and continued writing, he seems to notice that I’m in no mood to make jokes as he walks in front of me. “Hey what’s wrong?”

I exhaled a breath and began explaining what mom have said a while ago. He listened until I’m done, and I waited for his reaction. I sometimes wish that I’d stop telling him about my problems, because I feel like I was becoming a burden to him. I wasn’t expecting him to help or what, I just wanted to tell him because I don’t want any secrets between us. Just like how always tells me what’s happening around him.

He smiled, “okay then.” I looked at him in confusion, “okay then? that’s it?” he laughed. He’s laughing.

Why?

“Why are you laughing? This is a serious situation.”  He ignored me and laid on my bed. “Chill Kaykay, you don’t need to worry about your allowance. That’s why I’m here. You know you can always count on me.” I smiled in appreciation.

At times like this, I knew that he will always be there for me, acting like my knight in shining armor. “I could act as your boyfriend buying stuffs for you.” He joked and I rolled my eyes.

Oh, how I wish you really were my boyfriend!

He chuckles and grabs my notebook, “Let’s see how you’re doing so far.” I silently waited for his reaction or comment. I know I’m not a good writer, but I always write what I feel. I pour all my emotions in my stories whether It’s a happy or sad one. “Not so bad my little Kaykay, so far, you’re doing great!” he grinned, and I sighed in relief.

“Thanks, I thought you wouldn’t like it. Well, I’m trying my best.” After that, he left me to continue writing and again I was left with my thoughts.

***

“Do you really want to do this? It’s like I’m going to die first.” Alexander complained as the first one Cass wanted to experience is to ride the roller coaster. She just grinned at him not scared at all if anything she’s excited.  They were already at the waiting line almost near the ride.

“I don’t feel so good.”

Cass rolled her eyes, “Don’t be such a baby.” Alexander faked a gasp, “That hurts love!”  but then he smiled and hugged her. He will do anything for Cassiopeia, even if doing something he’s scared of.

It’s their turn and as soon as they’re seated safely, Alexander closed his eyes and began muttering some prayers. Cass shook her head laughing. As soon as the ride started, Alexander hugged her tightly and let out a girlish scream. After the ride, he was pale as a ghost that Cass had to hold her laughs. They sat down on a nearby bench to rest, and when Alex looked at his watch he stood up and faced Cass.

“It’s lunch time. I’ll grab some food what you want?” she began to look everywhere and pointed at a stall, “Crepes?” and she nodded.

She watched Alexander walked away to buy their food. She was glad Alexander called for her, he was the best kind of boyfriend anyone could ask for. The one who’s always there for her, who’ll do anything for her.

She smiled at the thought, but her heart ached, and her vision became blurry. Black dots started to cloud on her sight and began to black out but not before seeing her boyfriend ran towards her.

***