On a Monday afternoon, Crisan and Tori were having lunch at their school's garden eating lunch together. "So have you thought of what to do for the art show?", Tori asked her.
"Nope, I got nothing", Crisan sighed.
"Let's just sign up first, we still have time", Tori said.
"Yeah, you're right", Crisan responded, "I just wish I can come up something impressive".
"Don't worry, you will", Tori assured her.
"I still have a book report to finish first", Crisan said.
"Oh... did you finish the book?", Tori asked in excitement.
"Uhm... no actually and I'm not sure if I can finish tonight", Crisan said looking sheepish.
"So how will you do the book report tomorrow?", Tori asked her.
"I just have to summarize and review it", Crisan said.
"Oh...sly...", Tori impressed then they both giggled.
"Thank you, thank you very much", Crisan said in an Elvis accent and continued giggling.
"You are definitely my best friend", Tori pointed out while laughing.
"Yeah, by the way, I can't wait to see the picture of the photoshoot", Crisan said.
"Me too", Tori said, "Munro just texted me yesterday that he was still editing them".
"Oh okay", Crisan responded, "did you pay him?"
"Yep, So how far along are you with that book?" Tori asked her.
"I haven't been in the middle part yet", Crisan answered.
"Oh... no worries, take your time", Tori said to her.
Later Gage and Dave were in the computer lab, they were doing some unfinished homework. Dave then poked Gage lightly to get his attention and it did and so Gage paused from what he was doing and looked at Gage, "hey! is Courtney still mad at what I said to her last Saturday?", Dave asked him.
"She's not mad, she's just stress", Gage answered him and continue with his work.
"Oh... okay," Dave said with a guilty tone.
Gage looked at him and sighed, "the thing is, Coach told her that she won't be allowed to compete unless she improves her grade", he explained.
Dave was taken aback, "wow! that sounds bad", he responded.
"Yeah", Gage nodded.
"I'm such an idiot", Dave said feeling ashamed.
"You didn't know, but right now let's just make it a little easier for here", Gage said to him.
"You're right", Dave agreed, "let's arrange a study group in my home".
"Yeah, let's do that", Gage allowed.
"So she won't feel the pressure, we can help her when she needed it", Dave said, "I want to say tutor but I wouldn't want her mad again".
Gage nodded, "yeah, try not to piss her off again for the moment", he suggested. Suddenly, the school bell rang and they are off on their next class together, "let's go". They stood up and got out of the computer room then a few moments later, they were in their next class, Literature class, Gage was sitting on the second row and Dave was sitting behind. They were discussing something then Courtney came to class and sat next to Gage.
"Hey, Gage", Courtney greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, Court", Gage greeted her back.
"Hey, Court", Dave greeted her in a friendly yet nervous way.
"Hey", she greeted him coldly and sat down. Gage and Dave looked at each other looking perplexed. As Dave was about to talk to Courtney, their teacher came in so the class had to start.
"Okay, class, settle down", the teacher said aloud, "midterms are getting nearer and I want you to group yourselves into three and do a skit". Gage, Dave, and Courtney automatically group themselves but Courtney wasn't happy to be working Dave ever since his incident on their other project and offended Courtney. "if you have a group, one of the group members please come here and get which play you will act out for the skit".
Dave felt the tension between him and Courtney, "I'll get it", he sighed. Once he stood and walked to the teacher, Gage looked at Courtney.
"I thought we talked about this", Gage whispered to her.
"I can't help but think I will fail another subject", Courtney whispered.
"So you're gonna ignore Dave until you passed every subject your failing?", Gage asked.
"Lately, he's not helping", Courtney pointed out.
"But he's trying", Gage told her. Dave came back and he holding a booklet, Gage and Courtney stopped their conversation.
"We got Romeo and Juliet", Dave said to them and showed them the booklet, "He also said that we have to pick one scene to act on for the skit".
"Really? Romeo and Juliet", Courtney questioned him.
"I didn't pick that, it was the only thing that there's left", Dave said to her.
"Now that everyone has their assigned booklet, you can now discuss amongst yourself on how to do it", the teacher announced to them, "this project will be given thirty-five percent of your grade so impress us".
The trio faced each other, "Okay so how are we going to do this?", Courtney said to Gage and Dave, "obviously, I'll be playing Juliet".
"I'll play Romeo", Dave said to her.
"No... no...", Courtney uttered by shaking her head nervously, "Gage, why don't you do it?".
"Uhm... Dave, I'll just take this one", Gage suggested nicely to Dave.
"Fine," Dave frustratedly accepted, "I'll play Mercutio or the Priest maybe".
"It's called a Friar", Courtney corrected him.
"Right, sorry", Dave apologized, "when do you guys want to practice?".
"Maybe the study period and after swim practice", Gage suggested to them.
"Okay, but where do we rehearse this after swim practice?" Courtney asked.
"What about in my house?", Dave requested.
"I'm cool with that", Gage said to Dave, "Courtney?"
"Fine", Courtney reluctantly agreed.
"Awesome, let's start tomorrow", Gage said to them and so they both agreed.
Later in the evening, Crisan was in the dining area at the dining table working on her book report using a laptop then suddenly, her mom appeared, "Crisanta, there you are" she said to Crisan.
"Hey! mom", Crisan greeted and stopped what she was doing and hugged her.
"By the way, your brother is here", her mom said. Then a little eight-year-old kind of chubby boy with dark brown buzzed cut hair and a tan skin tone wearing a blue shirt and trekking shorts jumped up and down in the dining area in front of them. Crisan was happy to see the boy then bend down and opened her arms for him for a hug.
"Marcus!", Crisan greeted and hugged him.
"Hi! Crissy", Marcus greeted and hugged her back.
"I will prepare dinner", her mom said to them.
"Okay, so how was the trip?", Crisan asked them and sat down at the dining table again with Marcus then continue with her work while talking to them.
"It was great, catching up with my old friends in my hometown in Forthville", her mom answered.
"Cool, what about you Marcus?" Crisan asked him, "how was your weekend with your grand dad?".
"We went cycling at the park", he answered her.
"That's great, why don't we bike together someday?", Crisan asked him.
"Sure", Marcus responded to her.
"What about you, sweetie? how was your weekend alone?", her mom asked her while preparing dinner, "oh.. how was the photo shoot?".
"It went great, Tori was thinking about putting one of them in the art show", Crisan answered.
"Art show? what art show?", her mom asked.
"Oh... right, our school will be having an art show", Crisan said to her.
"That's good, will you be joining? you should join", her mom said to her.
"Yeah, Tori and I will be signing up tomorrow", Crisan replied.
"So what will you be presenting for the art show?" her mom asked again.
"I don't know yet", Crisan shrugged.
"You'll figure it out", her mom said.
"I know I will, I just can't believe Tori will submitting the one in the photoshoot with people seeing my face on it", Crisan sighed.
"It's a good thing that it's a gorgeous face", her mom teased and they both laughed.
"You know where I got it from", Crisan jested to her mom.
"So what are you working on there?", her mom asked.
"My book report", Crisan answered while typing her book report.
"Oh... you finished it", her mom said.
"Uhmm..." Crisan uttered sheepishly with a smile.
"You didn't, did you?", her mom figured.
"Nope", Crisan answered indocile.
"That's my girl", her mom said with a tease and kept cooking, "Marcus, why don't you change first before you eat?".
"Okay, mom", Marcus responded to her then he got up and walked away. Once he got out of the kitchen, Crisan watched him walked further then turned back to look at her mom.
"So how's grand dad?", Crisan asked her mom with a slight cringe.
"He's okay, but with Marcus I just wish he made more effort", her mom sighed.
"I see", Crisan responded.
"Swear to me, sweetie", her mom added, "You will find someone deserving". Crisan was taken aback from what her mom said then she remembered Gage so her head was in the cloud.
"Yeah", Crisan sighed.
The next day in Augustus High School, swim practice was about to start. Gage and Courtney and the rest of the team were on the sidelines waiting for their coach so while doing that, they chatting to one another.
"Oh...God", Courtney sighed and Gage looked at her, "I stress that even swim practice is not making me feel better".
"Just try to focus on our tournament while we're here", Gage requested.
"I just wish Dave don't mess up our Literature presentation", Courtney said and Gage exasperated in response.
"You know he is trying to help", Gage told her.
"More like sabotage", Courtney complained.
"How long are you going to be mad at him", Gage asked her.
"After I pass all my failed subjects", Courtney pointed. Coach Griffin came and blew his whistle and he was pointing fingers to the members.
"You, you, you, and you, do six laps, now", Coach Griffin called out, then he looked at Courtney," Courtney, I have to talk to you, the rest of you, practice racing one another". Gage and Courtney looked at each other with worry, Courtney nervously walked to Coach Griffin. Gage was standing by the pool but he did not start practicing but listening to their conversation instead.
"What is it, Coach Griffin?", she hesitantly asked him.
"Courtney, I'm sorry but you can't be here", he said to her.
"But Coach, I know midterms are getting nearer but isn't this a little too early to kick me out of practice?", Courtney questioned him.
"Honestly I tried to convince the guidance counselor and your teachers to let you practice but I'm sorry, you need to fix your grades", Coach Griffin answered her, Gage gasped at the back, "you have until the midterms to prove yourself so as this moment, you can't compete so now, you should go home". Then the Coach walk away leaving Courtney devasted by the news. Gage ran to her comfort.
"Hey! you okay? I heard what happened", Gage said to her and held her shoulder.
"I can't compete, how do you think I feel?", she responded and was about to cry.
"Look why don't go home first and let's meet again in Dave's house at six", Gage told her.
"Okay", she nodded and tears were forming in her eyes then she turned and left. Gage looked at her with pity and then went back to practice. Hours later practice was over and Gage just got out from the showers and saw Coach Griffin was still there in the pool area.
"Coach Griffin", Gage called him.
"Yes, Gage, By the way, great job at practice", Coach Griffin greeted him back.
"Thanks but I want to talk to you about Courtney", Gage said to him, "isn't there any way for Courtney to compete".
"I tried, I really did," Coach Griffin sighed, "I want her to compete but my hands are tied".
"We need her", Gage begged him.
"I know and I'm sorry, I have no say in this", Coach Griffin responded, "I'll see you on Thursday". Then he went to his office and Gage shook his head in frustration.
The school was over too in St. Rebeccas, Crisan and Tori but were still there by their lockers fixing their things and Crisan was holding her book report paper and she got an A so the two laughed so hard about it.
"I can't believe Mr. Earlson, bought your book report", Tori chuckled.
"Believe it", Crisan responded and put up the paper and waved it to Tori with a sly smile then laughed again then she placed it in her folder and then put it in her school bag.
"This is by far the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life", Tori laughed.
"Me too", Crisan agreed.
"Okay, now let's go to the art room and sign up for the art show", Tori said with excitement. They closed their lockers and then grabbed their bags and walked away. They entered the art room and saw Ms. Murray a dark skin, black wavy, shoulder-length hair wearing a maxi dress with high-heel boots was there cleaning up the place.
"Theresa, Crisanta!", Ms. Murray greeted them with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Murray", Crisan greeted her back.
"We're here to sign up for the art show", Tori said to Ms. Murray.
"Great, I'll just get the signup papers", Ms. Murray said to them then went to her desk trying to find the paper.
"Did a lot of students signed up?" Tori asked.
"I wouldn't say a lot", Ms. Murray responded, then she found the sign-up sheet and showed it to the two girls, "you two will already be filling up half of the sheet also, write your full name and then signature". The two girls looked at each other and cringed.
"I think their parents told them it's for hippies", Tori joked, Crisan and Ms. Murray chuckled then she wrote her name, "okay, Theresa Anais Salvadore, there you go". She handed the pen to Crisan and wrote her full name.
"Crisanta Aera Reagan, done", Crisan said.
"Aera?" Ms. Murray questioned, "sounds unique".
"Yeah, It means 'love' in Japanese", Crisan explained.
"Oh that's sweet... so you're half-Japanese?", Ms.Murray asked. Crisan shook her head.
"I'm one-fourth from my dad's side, at least that's how they explained it to me", Crisan said to her.
"Do you still have family in Japan?", Ms. Murray asked her again.
"No, but we only visit family friends there sometimes", Crisan replied.
"I've been to Japan one time, the cherry blossoms were beautiful", Ms. Murray said to the girls.
"Yeah, I love seeing them too", Crisan said to her.
"Damn, now I really want to go there again", Ms. Murray said to herself and the two girls hold on to their smile, "Well, I have to go, thanks for signing up, girls, I have to submit this to the office".
"Thanks, Ms. Murray", the two girls said in unison and head out then they got out of the building.
"Hey, I have to go to my grandparents today, what about you?", Tori said to Crisan,
"I'm craving for cream matcha from Patty Cafe", Crisan said to her
Tori shook her head and chuckled, "okay, I'll see you tomorrow", she said.
"Alright", Crisan followed and they both hugged and waved at each other farewell then went to their separate ways. Crisan took out the book since she didn't finish reading and she walked alone on the streets. On the other side, Gage was walking while calling Dave.
"Hey! Dave, I'm on my way to your place, is Courtney there?", he asked him on the phone.
"No, she's not here yet, but she texted me that she's on her way here", Dave answered.
"Okay, I'll just stop by at a store to buy snacks", Gage said to him.
"Alright, see ya!", Dave replied then they both put down their cell phones and Gage continued walking. While walking he took out the Romeo and Juliet booklet and opened it and study it a little. He was walking to Patty Cafe and so did Crisan who was still reading her book. Patty Cafe has a take-out booth on the side for on-the-go customers so that's where they headed. Still having their book on their noses they didn't pay attention to their surroundings. As they got to the take-out booth they bumped into each other again and they dropped their book on the ground opposite to each other.
"Sorry", Crisan apologized and didn't realize that it was Gage as she was huffing when she moved back a little.
"No, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there", Gage apologized back and moved back a little too. His head was down since he was trying to fix himself. Crisan then looked at his way and trying to puzzle out the guy he bumped into then Gage put his head up and Crisan's eyes were about to pop out when she realized it's Gage then got a little puzzled when he looked at her then his brows raised once he recognized her.
"Oh my God", she reacted softly with euphoria but covered it with her hand.
"Hi!", he greeted her with a light wave and a smile.
"Hi!", she greeted him back, "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking...again".
Gage chuckled, "it's okay, I wasn't looking either".
"Uhm..were you going to buy a drink here?", she asked to try to break the upcoming awkwardness.
"Yeah, I have a study session in a friend's house", he answered her. Crisan nodded in response that she understood, "are you going to buy something too?".
"Yeah, good thing I haven't because I was about to buy a hot drink", she joked to him. Crisan realized that she word vomit and freaked out so she turned around and put her head down and started clenching her hands together. Gage understood what she meant since she was indicating the incident in the park and found it funny and snickered, Crisan turned on him again, "Oh God, sorry about that too".
"It's fine," he assured with a chuckle, "the stain washed off last Sunday".
"Nice", she responded then she looked down and saw her side then her head turned on the side and saw his book, "Oh right my book", then squat down to pick it up. Gage did the same, he bends down and picked up the other book. Once they stood, they looked at the book and got confused for a second then at each other realizing they picked up the wrong book then they laughed and they both gave it back to each other.
"Thanks!", they both said at the same time.
"I see you have Shakespeare", Crisan noticed.
"Yeah, it's for a project for my literature class", Gage replied to her.
"Oh... book report?", she asked.
"No...a skit", he answered her.
"A skit?", she asked looking impressed.
"Yeah..." he nodded
"I guess it's better than doing a book report, right", she joked.
"I think so", he chuckled, "why? are you doing a book report about that?".
"I was, I just finished", she answered.
"So how long did take to finished the book?", Gage asked her.
Crisan began to smile sheepishly again and Gage weirdly looked at her, "I didn't", she responded to him and Gage got confused.
"So how did you do on the book report?", Gage asked again.
"I just have to summarize and write my opinion about it", Crisan answered, "So I don't have to read the ending anyway".
Gage looked impressed and put his head down laughed, "I'll try to remember that", he said
"Book report hack 101", Crisan giggled.
"Eternal with you", he read the cover of the book, "I haven't heard of that book, is it good?"
"It's different", she answered with a smile then they both stared at each other, Crisan suddenly looked away and blushed and Gage felt something different too in a good way with her.
"Sorry, I'm the only one here", a guy, with who seems like about their age with thin body, light-skin, black hair and blue eyes and wearing a white shirt with a Patty Cafe logo on the left side of the chest and a fitted pants over an apron said by panting and it surprised Gage and Crisan so they quickly turned to their back and saw a guy in the take-out booth, "did you guys wait long?". Gage and Crisan looked like they saw a ghost.
"Oh right! the snacks", Gage remembered and face-palmed.
"Okay... Hi! I'm Henry", the guy sighed to himself, "so what does our love birds want?", Gage and Crisan were confused and looked around the area if he was talking to someone else then faced the guy in an odd way. The guy was confused too and stared at the two trying to figure out what he did wrong. The atmosphere went awkward again.
"We're not together", Gage told to the guy.
"Oh... I'm sorry, I heard you two talking so deeply for five minutes so I thought...", Henry explained then saw Crisan and Gage's mouth dropped to the ground and so it everything felt awkward again and Henry starts to feel embarrassed," nevermind, what can I get you two? I mean any of you want anything?".
" Okay... I'll have cream matcha in medium-size cup to-go", Crisan answered.
"Okay, and you?", Henry asked while writing the orders then looked at Gage.
"I'll have a dozen Patty donuts and three vanilla coffee," Gage said to him.
"Okay, coming right up", Henry said to them then he walked out the back to make their orders. Gage and Crisan were left alone again. Crisan walked to the wall next to the take-out booth and leaned on it and trying to contain her smile.
"Weird, that guy thought we were a couple", Gage said to her.
"Yeah", Crisan responded to him then Gage's phone began to ring so he got his cell phone from his pocket and checked his caller ID and it was Courtney then he answered it.
"Hey!", Courtney called, "Where are you? I'm here in Dave's place right now". Crisan was standing next to him and she looked away trying not to be nosy but she can hear the conversation
"Sorry, I lost track of time", Gage replied, "I'll just wait for the snacks and I'll go".
"Hurry", Courtney demanded.
"I will and... just rehearse with Dave first", Gage suggested.
"Please be quick", Courtney begged, Gage puts down the phone and sighed, Crisan noticed he felt troubled.
"You okay?", Crisan said feeling worried and thought she might be at fault. Gage looked at her.
"Uhm... yeah, I'm okay", he replied to her, "it's my friend".
"Oh..." she nodded with understanding, Gage then observed Crisan and noticed her uniform and thought what Courtney said before. Crisan was looking away not knowing he was staring at her, "so who will you be playing?", and then turned to her head on him.
Gage quickly looked away feeling a little unnerved, "Uhm... what?", he questioned then look at her.
"Who will you be playing in the skit?", she repeated.
"Oh... I'll be playing Romeo", he answered.
"Nice", she responded softly looking discouraged but trying to sound impressed.
"I'm just doing this to get a good grade", he explained then he realized something, "although a book report doesn't sound so bad right now".
Crisan giggled, "please, I was doing a book report of a book for the midlife crisis".
Gage snickered, "so how different is that with Romeo and Juliet? does it have a better ending?".
"No", Crisan replied then she recognized something, "actually there's no difference, it's a tragedy too".
"Oh... so how does it end?" he asked, "did they die".
"Yeah, you could say that", she said, Gage raised his brow then looked mixed, "they turned themselves into stones". Gage then looked blankly and his eyes pop out.
"Okay, that different", he responded and quailed, "at least you don't have to read the rest".
"I'm still gonna read the rest", she said to him.
"Why?" he asked.
"I like to know how they get through with their... condition", she answered, "plus, the whole story is the best thing", then there was this moment between them.
"Your foods here", Henry said aloud to them and they turned to him, "here are the Patty donut and three vanilla coffee and here's your cream matcha, Gage grabbed a box of the donuts and the coffee and then pay for it.
"Thank's", Gage said to Henry then he turned to Crisan, "I have to go, nice seeing you again. Bye!".
"Bye", she said to him softly and smiled, Gage smiled back then went his way. As he walked further, Crisan watched and her smile slowly disappeared, she got her cream matcha and then paid for it.
"Thank you", Henry said to her then leaned on the booth's counter, "by the way, I like to reading something too". Crisan gave him a crooked grin in response.
"Really? like what?", she questioned.
"A love story of you and me", he flirted.
Crisan giggled and felt flattered but not affected, "thank you... for the drink", she said letting him down nicely then left.
Henry felt kind of dejected, "come again", he said to her aloud as she already walked away then dumped his head on the booth.
In Dave's house, Courtney and Dave were rehearsing the balcony scene in the basement, " O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet.", Courtney said her lines.
"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?", Dave read the line for Romeo.
"Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name Belonging to a man. What's in a name?....", she muttered then groaned, " damn it, I forgot again".
"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't started rehearsing my part", Dave responded and started to feel frustrated.
"Where's Gage?", she moaned, Dave shook his head and shrugged out of fear.
"He'll be here, don't worry", Dave said. Courtney exasperated and put's her hands on her head and Dave doesn't even know what to do at her condition since ever since he said his joke about her, "come on, let's try it again".
"I'm not gonna get this", Courtney whined.
"I'll just skip and go ahead with, I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo", Dave read on the booklet.
"What man art thou, that, thus bescreened in the night, So stumblest on my counsel?", Courtney responded from her line.
"By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself because it is an enemy to thee. Had I it written, I would tear the word", Dave acted.
"Ugh... I give up", Courtney whined again
"Me too," Dave whispered to himself.
Suddenly, Gage came,"hey! guys" he greeted while carrying the snacks he bought.
"Where have you been?", Courtney interrogated him.
"I stopped by the Patty Cafe to buy these", he answered her then placed the donuts and the coffee on a short round table.
"Yeah, but what took you so long?", Courtney interrogated him again.
"It's a long story", Gage said to him, "look, I'm here now with food so let's just get it over with so did you guys rehearse?".
"I am", Courtney claimed, "I don't know, what he's been doing?".
"I've been helping you", Dave reminded her.
"Well, it's not so...yeah", Courtney scoffed.
"Hey! you asked me to help you rehearse your lines and said I'll practice mine later since I have fewer lines than the both you, " Dave reminded her and Courtney rolled her eyes.
"Enough... Dave, why don't you take a break and get a donut?", Gage told him, "I'll take it from here".
"A break from what exactly?" Courtney said feeling annoyed.
"From you", he whispered to himself but Gage and Courtney heard him.
"I heard that", Courtney said aloud to Dave.
"Oh, I'm sorry", he apologized with no sincerity.
"Dave", Gage called out to him to stop.
"Fine", Dave sighed then he moved to another seat and took a donut.
"Okay, so what scene were you guys doing?" Gage asked.
"The Balcony Scene," Courtney said to him.
"Let's read it first as we act on it", Gage suggested, "we'll worry about memorizing it some other time".
"Good idea, let's start", she said to him.
Later in the evening, Crisan was studying in the dining area with her mom helping Marcus doing his homework. "So... how's the book report?", her mom asked.
Crisan paused doing her homework, looked at her mom blankly then she took out the paper of her book report with a big A on it from her bag then held it to show her mom and then gave her a grin then, " you tell me", Crisan responded.
Her mom's mouth dropped and then smiled so big, "Oh...my God", she screeched and gently grabbed the paper from her hands and looked at it closer, "you are so good, I'm so proud of you".
"Thanks!", Crisan said to her.
"Great job, Crizzy", Marcus said with a thumbs up.
"Aww... thanks, Marcus", Crisan said to him.
"Now you see, Marcus, you don't have to work harder, just smarter", mom said to him.
"Huh?", Marcus reacted looking confused.
"You'll get it when you're older", Crisan added, Marcus just shrugged it off and got back to his homework.
"This calls for... ice-cream", mom said to them.
"Yay!", Marcus and Crisan cheered.
"After homework", mom continued.
"Oh...", the two kids moaned.
Marcus continued doing his homework again, their mom turned to Crisan again while she's doing her homework, " So have you told your dad about this?", her mom asked.
"I want to but he has not been online lately in google chat", Crisan answered.
"You know how it is, right?", her mom comforted her.
"Yeah", Crisan sighed suddenly feeling unfulfilled.
"Cheer up, you got an A and ice-cream", her mom said to her by embracing her, Crisan just smiles but her eyes seemed sad. Once her mom let go, she gave Crisan a comforting smile then continued to finish her homework.
Later in her bedroom, Crisan was sitting on her at the study table and fixed her things in her for school tomorrow, she took out a book then the letter falls out on the ground and it made a sound. Crisan turned and looked around a little then looked down and saw the letter again on the floor. She bent down, picked it up and hold it up. As she looked at it she was curious and thought of opening it. It was old but it was sealed so firmly that it couldn't be opened from the cover. She puts on her study table and took out a scissor from a drawer, she was about to cut it open but she felt hesitant then her brother knocked the opened door, "Crizzy, come on, the ice- cream might melt", her brother called out.
"You go on ahead, " Crisan said to him, "I'll be right down".
"Okay,", her brother responded then left. Crisan looked at the letter then sighed and decided not to read it so she dropped it on the study table again and walked out of her room.
The next morning, Crisan and Marcus were eating their breakfast, Crisan wearing her school uniform with a different style and was reading her book while eating her toast and Marcus was eating his cereal. Mom was preparing Marcus' food in his lunch box.
"Marcus, I packed you a ham and cheese sandwich and I even put in a juice box", mom said to him.
" Thanks, mom", he said to her.
"Crisanta, do you want me to make you something too?", she asked her.
"It's okay, mom, I'll just buy later", Crisan responded.
"Alright", her mom responded.
Crisan suddenly saw the time on the wall clock at the dining and gasped, "We better get going to school", she said and then puts the book in her bag.
"Oh yeah", their mom said in a heaved and grabbed Marcus's lunch box and handed it to him," Marcus, sweetie, here's your lunch, you too, have a great day".
"Thanks, mom, see you, later," Crisan said to her then their mom gave them a peck on the cheek then they both waved at her farewell then got out of the dining area and left.
Later in the afternoon, Mom was left alone and was watering the plants outside then Mr. Gordon was having his morning jog and saw her. He stopped and panted for a few seconds, "Thelma", he called her. She turned her head on his way and he waved at her and approached so she turned off the hose then threw it aside.
"Charles", she greeted him. They hugged.
"I haven't seen you in a while", Mr. Gordon said to her.
"Yeah, I know", she sighed, "look at you jog".
"Yeah, got to stay in shape and build some muscles", Mr. Gordon said then flexed his arm.
"I see them", Thelma teased then touched his flexed arm.
"So how are you?", Mr. Gordon asked.
"It's a hassle, the two kids have been doing some different activities in school", she explained.
"What's Marcus been doing lately?", he asked her again.
"He's been playing soccer", she answered, "Crisanta has been helping him practice unlike his dad".
"Nice, I can help too", Mr. Gordon, "I used to coach both of my son's soccer team when he was his age".
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind", she said to him.
"Also, I will be having a marathon, do you want to join?" he asked her," I also invited Crisanta, Theresa and Munro".
"Did Crisan said that she's going?" she asked.
"She said that she'll think about", Mr. Gordon said to them.
"Ah... yeah, but I love to go", Thelma said to him.
"Yeah?", he questioned with glee.
"Yeah... I want them men chasing at me", she joked.
"You might attract more from the cheering crowds", he chuckled.
Thelma giggled, "Thanks, Charles", she said, "I will definitely come, is Regine coming?".
"I haven't asked her but I'm on my way to Reds to ask her", he answered her with a grin on his face.
"I hope she comes", she said to him with excitement, "but she will".
"Me too", he breathed, "well, I'd better be going, I'll see you around".
"Alright, bye, Charles", she said to him.
"Bye, Thelma", he said to her and pecked her cheek then jogged away. Thelma then went back to watering the plants. Later, she was in Crisan's bedroom folding her clothes and placed it first on her bed, and then she opened her closet which was next to her study table. As she got back to the clothes, she suddenly noticed the old letter on the table. Thelma got curious to she wanted to take a closer look but she decided not to since it Crisan's belongings and left it alone and so she shrugged it off and continued to do her task.