All Chapters of Once Upon A Wild Summer: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

A few more days had slipped by, and just like that, it was already my second Friday here in the province.I stared at my calendar this morning, slightly dazed as the realization hit me—I’d been here for nearly two weeks already. Time was moving faster than I expected... and yet some things, some people, remained constant.Like Ivan.Still the same. Still annoyingly present. Still tossing out cryptic, smart-ass remarks like they were free samples at the grocery store. And the worst part? I was starting to get used to it.I wasn’t even surprised anymore whenever he suddenly popped up beside me like a wild mushroom after the rain. Hell, I even caught myself subconsciously waiting—anticipating—when he would suddenly appear again.And I hated it.Like, what the hell is wrong with me?I shouldn’t get used to it.Because that meant… I expected him to be there. That I noticed when he wasn’t. That something about his presence was starting to occupy space in my day-to-day.And I didn’t want th

By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted. And no, not from jogging, but from Ivan. I swear, that boy had a talent for draining my energy without even trying. Instead of the peaceful morning run I hoped for, I got a full-course meal of stress and unsolicited teasing.As soon as I walked through the door, I headed straight to the kitchen to grab some cold water. My throat was parched, and my stomach was already protesting in hunger.I found Mama busy at the stove preparing breakfast while Papa was seated at the dining table, sipping coffee and watching the morning news on TV. It was already 6:00 AM, and by the looks of it, they were both getting ready for work.And Luna? Still asleep, for sure. That girl probably passed out the second she hit the bed last night after their gig. Which—ugh—reminded me of Ivan again. That guy is unreal. I mean, they got home super late from that gig, and yet somehow, he still managed to get up early and jog like he had all the time and energy in

I moved from pot to pot, careful not to overwater—Mama always reminded me that too much water could be just as bad as too little. Every now and then, I’d gently pluck away a few dried leaves, letting the plants breathe a little easier.The rhythm of watering, the warm afternoon air, and the quiet rustling of the trees made the moment feel almost meditative. It was one of those little pockets of calm that made summer days feel endless.Just then, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.I instinctively turned my head, only to see Ivan making his way toward me.Great. Just great.My brows instantly furrowed, and I saw the faintest smirk lift the corner of his lips at my reaction, like he was already expecting it. Of course he was.“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to sound indifferent.“We’re on a break from practice,” he answered, casually eyeing the plants I was tending to. “Thought I’d step out for a bit and get some air.”I raised a brow. “And out of all the places in the

The hours passed without me noticing. I only came out of my room when I got a text from Mama saying they might be late coming home, and asking me to prepare lunch. I dragged myself out of bed and went to the kitchen. I washed the rice, and put it in the rice cooker. For the main dish, I decided on something simple—chicken curry. The smell of sautéed garlic and onion helped calm my nerves a little, grounding me. I kept myself busy, wiping counters and tidying up while the chicken simmered. Right at 12 PM, I heard the front gate open and the familiar sound of Mama and Papa chatting as they walked in. I quickly set the table, then knocked on Luna’s door to call her for lunch. We all ate together. It was quiet. Normal, at least on the outside. After lunch, I slipped back into my room right away. Luna volunteered to do the dishes since I cooked, which honestly, I was grateful for. I just wanted to crawl back under my sheets and pretend none of this week ever happened. I had no plans o

The next day arrived, warm and glowing, as if the sun itself knew it was someone's special day.It's Sunday, and that means it's finally Ivan's 18th birthday. His party wouldn't start until 3 p.m., but Luna insisted we leave by 1 p.m. because, apparently, their friends were arriving early to hang out before the actual celebration. Naturally, she didn't want to miss even a second of it. Some of their senior high classmates were invited too, so the villa was going to be packed with people their age.Honestly? I had a sinking feeling I was going to feel totally out of place there.It was pretty obvious the crowd would mostly be around Ivan and Luna's age—kids who just graduated from senior high and a few just barely in college. And then the rest? Probably adults around Mama and Papa's age. So where does that leave me? Somewhere awkwardly in between, I guess.What was I supposed to do there? Sit around and smile like some wallflower on display? Be the older sister who tried not to look