Chapter 4

My eyes are blurred, full of tears that I couldn’t see the person who’s coming towards us. I heard Jake arguing with someone, that voice is familiar, but my drunken mind couldn’t decipher who that person is.

I stopped crying and wiped my tears, already forgetting the reason why I was crying in the first place.  Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm breaking me out of my daze. I looked up at the person and saw Xander, with a clenched jaw, he runs his hand through his hair.

“I’m gone for thirty minutes Kaia. Thirty minutes, and I’d come back to this? What happened? Why are you crying? Did that guy hurt you?”

Dang, even though he’s angry he’s still hot.

“Kaia! Are you even listening to me? Wait… are you drunk?” I didn’t get to talk, as he argue with Jake once more, leaving me with my drunken thoughts. I felt lightheaded and my stomach started to churn. “Xander.” I called weakly, he’s still busy with Jake that he didn’t hear me.  “Xander.” I called again, a little louder this time and he looked at me in irritation because I interrupted them.

“I don’t feel so good.”

His eyes widened as I said that and began to led me towards his car, forgetting his fight with Jake. Before we got inside, thankfully, I vomited all over the bushes instead of in his car. I groaned and sat on the ground after I’ve finished.

“Ugh. I really hate drinking.”

Xander laughs at that, his irritation disappearing. “Wait till you have your hangover tomorrow.” I rolled my eyes at him and went inside the car, “Wait, I can’t send you home in your drunken state. Your mom will kill me.”

“Ha. Who’s laughing now.”  I said and sat comfortably; I’m getting really sleepy now. He called someone on his phone before going inside. “I told your mom you’ll be sleeping over at my house.” I fell asleep as he started driving, with my thoughts wondering about Jake.

***

Pounding headache. That’s how I woke up on a Saturday morning, wait, do I smell waffles? I slowly opened my eyes, but closed it again, my headache’s killing me already.

“Hey sleepyhead.”

I winced at the loudness of his voice and sat up slowly cradling my head. “Could you talk a little softer?” I muttered. His laugh filled the room as he put down the tray of food with a glass of water and some painkillers.

“Hangover. Must be pretty bad after getting drunk right?”  I glared at him and drank the water after taking the medicine. “Screw you for taking so long with your friends. What did you do? Girl hunting?”

“Nope, I just watched the boys as they tried to flirt with some girls, and you’re the one who told me to go with them. I don’t even want to go in the first place. Besides, you were the one getting drunk with a boy. Which you haven’t explain yet by the way.”

Jake!  I’m so drunk last night that I forgot about him. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him or ask for his number to thank him.

“You’re thinking about that boy are you.” He accused and I grinned. “Why, are you jealous?” he blushed and glared, “I’m not jealous, how did you even meet the guy? Spilled a drink on him?” Now it’s my turn to glare. “Oh, ha ha very funny. Do you think of me that low? And for your information, he’s the one who approached me.”

There’s an awkward silence in the room, how dare he say that to me!  I know I’m not a friendly and outgoing person, and even If I approached someone, it wouldn’t be a boy of course.

Since I have my own drawer in his room because we often have our sleepovers, I got some clothes and head towards the bathroom without looking at him. I looked in the mirror and noticed I’m wearing a shirt instead of my dress last night.

He must’ve changed it and I’m not surprised, for years of friendship, he already saw me in my undies a thousand times. After I’m done fixing up, I saw that he’s not in the room anymore, then I noticed a note on the bed, and I picked it up.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve said a while ago, I’ll make it up to you. When you’re done preparing, we can head down to the coffee shop. I’ll be waiting downstairs.”

I smile at the note, you can never stay mad at Alexander Williams. NEVER. But I can’t forgive him that easily, so I put on a poker face and head downstairs. Xander is playing with his phone as I got down, and he quickly hides it and looked at me with a sad face.

“I’m really really sorry Kaia, I shouldn’t have said that.” I couldn’t stop my laughter as I saw how sad he was, and I know he really mean it. “Alright Xander, it’s fine.” I said with a grin to show him, I’m not mad anymore. His face lights up as I said that “now come on, you still owe me a coffee.”

***

“Yeah, he came to me and we talked about he’s in the Uni. The University I’m aiming for.” I said as I tell Xander what happened with Jake last night. “So, why are you crying when I saw you?” my face reddens and pretended to look at the menu, even though I already know what I’m ordering.

“Kaia?”

“Let’s just order first please, I need my coffee now.” I whispered and he looked at me weirdly before nodding. “Okay, tell me what you want and you can sit down.” I told him mine and quickly sat down to our usual spot.

How do I explain it to him? It’s another embarrassing moment for sure. He came with our coffees and sat down in front of me. I took a sip on my macchiato and let out a contented sigh, just what I needed for this morning.

“So… you going to tell me or?”

Okay let’s get this over with.

“I regret going to that party.” I whispered and looked away in embarrassment, he didn’t say anything and so I looked at him and he just stared at me, waiting for me to continue. “I know going to that party was wrong, I should’ve sleep or watch a movie instead of going. I’m sorry, Jake didn’t do anything to me. Instead, he stayed with me the whole time.”

He understood it all and gave me a smile, “well at least you admitted it. Next time, just please listen to me.” I nodded and finished off my coffee.

We heard the bell, indicating someone had entered the café, and a group of boys went to the counter.

“They’re not from here, my friends told me last night. They’re from the Uni.” Xander said as we continue to stare at them. One of them met my gaze and my eyes widens, “Kaia!” I looked at Xander and saw his face became serious.

He walked towards our booth and faced me, “Hey Jake…” I said awkwardly. “I’m glad you still remember me considering How… drunk you were.” I lifted my cup weakly, and he just laughed as he gets it. Then, he turned to Xander, “hey man, are we okay now?” Xander smiled stiffly, “I didn’t get to say goodbye last night as you don’t look okay, and your boyfriend here rushed you out.”

Both of our faces went red, and I put some distance between us. “we’re just friends.” I told him and Xander held a poker face. “Yeah, what she said” he muttered.  Jake looked at us weirdly, not understanding us. “Anyway, my friends and I are coming back at the Uni tomorrow, you mentioned that you wanted to study there, right? Well, I can tour you around if you want.”

Xander raised his eyebrow at me, waiting for my response. “Sure! But is it okay if I bring him along?” I pointed to the man who’s now smirking, and Jake scratched the back of his head, “uh… sure, I guess. I’ll text you what time we’ll go. Can I get your number?”

He handed me his phone and I put my number in it. He said his goodbye and went back to his friends.

“You didn’t have to give your number you know.” Xander huffed and I rolled my eyes. He’s being childish again. “Nothing’s wrong with that, he’s going to tour us at the Uni. Poor guy, you kept glaring at him. He must’ve felt so uncomfortable…” He just shrugged and finished off his coffee.

“Come on now, you have a story to get back to.”

***

Music… someone’s playing Cass’s piano downstairs. Cass woke up to the song “Maybe” by Yiruma, she looked around and noticed she’s back in her room. She didn’t know what happened and how she gets back in here. The piano…

It’s still playing and by now, she already knows who that person is. She stood up carefully and swallowed hard, she must’ve fainted again and ruined whatever they are doing. When she got down the music room, she saw Alexander playing.

It was her father’s piano, but sadly he died from an accident. She didn’t get piano lessons from her dad cause she’s too focused on drawing. Apparently, she was thrilled because Alexander know how to play it.

He was the first one to use it ever since her dad had passed away. Cassiopeia got sad at first but then she realized it calms her down.

Alexander noticed her and stopped playing. “Why’d you stop?” she asked slowly but Alexander ignored it and walked towards her.

“Don’t go scaring me like that again please?” his voice begged, and Cassiopeia can’t stop the tears flow down her cheeks. It was meant to happen, her condition’s getting worse and soon enough, it’ll be their routine whenever they go out.

But all she said was “Sorry.”

Cass went to sit down and pat the seat beside her, “You know, you never get to teach me how to play the piano.” She said changing the topic.

His laugh echoes inside the music room, the heavy atmosphere vanished, and he sat down beside her, “Well miss Cassy, may I remind you that I keep offering to teach you, but you always decline claiming that playing the piano was never your type.”

She smiles as she recalls the events.

The first time he asked her, she quickly refuses as it reminds her so much of her dad. Second time, she refused again as she remembers the time when she was a little kid. Her dad tried teaching her, but she really can’t play.

She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Alexander like her dad, so she refuses every time.

“What happened to your head? I can’t believe you’re asking me to teach you.” Alexander pretended to check my head and she pushed it away laughing. “Nothing’s wrong. I guess it’s time for me to try again.” He looked at her lovingly and went to kiss her on the forehead.

“Well, I’m glad for that, let’s start?”

“This is DO” Alexander pressed a key and Cass listened intently as he finished teaching her all the notes. He let her try pressing all of them with her right hands. Then with her left hands.

“Now can you play both hands up to SOL?”

Cassiopeia put both her hands on the piano before playing slowly. Alexander grinned as he looks at her proudly. He knows that she’s trying hard to keep up with him but doesn’t say anything. He’s a little confused as to why she wanted to learn, all of a sudden, and Cassiopeia’s very determined to learn for her father and for Alexander.

She knows how Alexander wanted to teach her ever since she told him she didn’t know how, and she know that this is the right time to do it.

Besides, she knows how shaken and scared Alexander was when she fainted. This should be a distraction from that, she thought.

“That’s it for now, I know your fingers already aching. At least you know all the notes let’s try again sometime. Go ahead and freshen up, I’ll just fix you up some tea and biscuits.” Alexander told her and she nodded, thankful that they’re done for the day

She went to her room to take a bath while Alex went to the kitchen for the tea.

In the middle of her bath, someone pressed the doorbell. “Alex can you check who that is?” Alexander shouted a yes and went to the door.

When he opened it, there stood Kaia, '"Uh, hi!"

Alexander was surprised, but he opened the door wider. “Hello… Come in.” he let Kaia inside just in time for Cass to go downstairs to see who the person was, and she was confused why she was there.

“Kaia?”

she faced Cass and handed her some pastries, as she gave her a hug. 

“Hello Cass.”