For the first time in my life, I got nagged for recklessly drinking by a person who has taken on the role of my mom.
"Seriously, Lizelle, I thought you were better than this." Gene looked really disappointed while looking at me. My head was still throbbing from the hangover, and I couldn't really think straight.
I was so drunk yesterday that I ended up sleeping on Rebecca's sofa while Clint passed out on the table. When I woke up, it was already morning. I was still on the couch, but there was a comforter over me. Clint was gone because he had an interview scheduled that day. And Rebecca told me Genevieve has been calling me since last night.
I knew I was screwed up the moment I heard that. Thankfully, Rebecca told Genevieve that it was the both of us who went drinking, or I would've been screwed up pro max if she found out I was drinking alone with a man!
"This is the second time you've done it! The first time, I forgave you because you had a pretty reasonable excuse! But what's your excuse right now?" I laid my throbbing head on the kitchen table with my eyes half-closed. "You couldn't even call or send a short text? It's not like I'm going to stop you! I just want to know where you are and if you're safe, so I won't go around worrying! Do you even understand that?"
"So this is what it feels like to have a mom," I muttered.
I'm probably still too drunk for me to feel this sentimental. After this, I should never drink again.
I looked up at Genevieve and gave her a toothy grin. "I like it," I said before putting my head back down on the table and completely shutting my eyes. The headache is making me feel like my head is breaking.
Genevieve was silent. I was wondering what she was doing, but whenever I tried to open my eyes, they felt like they were going to jump out of their sockets. I heard some movements and some sounds I couldn't make out coming from the kitchen, but the drowsiness was slowly taking over, so I ended up falling asleep.
I was woken up by the delicious smell of chicken and noodles. My stomach made a rumbling sound at the smell of the food.
I lifted my head and slowly opened my eyes. In front of me was a hot bowl of chicken noddle soup and a plate of sandwiches.
"Eat that. Then go to your room and sleep," she said as she hurried out of the kitchen. She didn't look as upset as she was earlier, though.
I picked up the spoon on the table and began tasting the soup. It was bland. Genevieve isn't really the best cook. That's why we ate the same breakfast every day. Despite that, the soup still tasted delicious.
….…
"So, how was the hangover?" Rebecca teased me when I came into the office.
I groaned, not wanting to remember my disastrous self from two days ago. For the first time in my entire life, I ended up skipping class. I never even once skipped class because I was sick! Who would have thought that alcohol would do the trick? What's worse, we had a quiz that day!
The number of points I've lost is making me cry. This is really that handsome guy's fault! I shouldn't have agreed to go drinking with him!
From now on, I'm banning that handsome guy from my life. He is a menace!
"By the way, what did Clint eat during lunch that day?"
When I sat in my chair, I looked at Rebecca, perplexed. "I texted you to let you know that we'll borrow some ingredients from your kitchen. What do you think we used it for, a science experiment?"
"Clint cooked?"
"Yeah, right. The first thing that guy did when handed a knife was torture a poor cabbage."
"I thought so."
I went and opened my computer to work on my unfinished research. Dr. Palmer asked me to continue researching my Halfeti theory. He was very interested and even showed her a white rose he planted in a controlled environment, but they all failed.
In theory, fulfilling the three conditions of soil, water, and weather sounds so easy. But in actuality, it is more complicated than that. You also need to consider if the plant can survive in the conditions in which you place it.
"So, you cooked for him, and he ate it?"
I turned in Rebecca's direction. "Why are you asking such weird questions?"
"Because that asshole is extremely picky! When I cooked for him, all he said was that it was bland, salty, tasted strange, and so on. The only thing that the ungrateful jerk's mouth approved of was the food from the Gourmet Palace and Tasty delivery. He never ate any food unless it was from those two places!" Rebecca hissed.
"So, what did he say about your food?" she asked after calming down.
"He said it was delicious."
Rebecca was stunned for a moment.
"No way he said that!" The look of unbelief in Rebecca's place is hilarious.
I shrugged. "He even begged me to cook for him again." There was a hint of pride in my voice when I said that.
"Wow, so your cooking is on par with those master chefs?"
I shook my head. "That's impossible. It was my first time cooking the dish I cooked that day."
Rebecca fell silent for a while. I went back to what I was doing.
"Fuck! I'm fucking killing that asshole!" I jumped on my seat when Rebecca suddenly screamed and stormed out of the room, extremely angry.
I just watched her as she slammed the door shut so loudly that my ears were ringing.
A few moments later, I received a call from Mr. Handsome Guy.
"What did you say to Rebecca?"
"What do you mean?"
"She just called to tell me I'm banned from the 300th floor!"
I bit my lip when I realized what was happening.
"Why don't you just ask her," I suggested. In moments like this, the roundabout tactic is the best course of action to avoid falling into a dire situation.
"I did! She wouldn't tell me!" Mr. Handsome Guy sounds really frustrated. I had to fake a cough to hide my laughter.
'This is what you get for making me lose academic points,' I thought in my head.
"Then, how would I know?"
The line went off after I said that.
"Ugh! That guy is as rude as ever," I muttered and put my phone down.
Rebecca came back a few seconds later, looking extremely pleased. "I called the tower master and told them to ban Clint from ever taking a step on the 300th floor," she said.
I smiled at Rebecca. But then I remembered my conversation with Clint.
"This place is the only place where I feel free and at peace."
Remembering the sad look in his eyes made me feel a bit guilty. Well, it's not really my intention to get him banned from his sanctuary. I didn't even know Rebecca would react like that. But it's still technically my fault.
"Isn't banning him from this place a bit too much?"
"Don't talk to me. I'm still pissed that he said your cooking tasted delicious."
I was taken aback. I realized Rebecca isn't really angry. The 30-year-old woman is actually sulking!
For a moment there, I thought she was possessed by Genevieve!
These two cousins really have a weird, dynamic relationship. I can see that the two deeply care for each other, yet they act extremely distant when they are together. It made me think that maybe, Clint isn't the only person who suffered some trauma in their family.
I can't help but feel sad for the two of them.
My phone vibrated. There was a message from Clint.
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Do you really not know why she's angry?]
I thought for a while before replying.
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[I think it was because I told her you said my food was delicious.]
Clint didn't reply for a while, so I went back to my work. He's probably working as well. I heard the premiere of his series is drawing near, so he's surely busy.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Why would that make her angry?]
I shook my head. This guy—he's really clueless sometimes.
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Because she said you never complimented her food.]
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Oh]
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[What should I do now?]
I was about to type my reply when another message appeared.
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Rebecca blocked me.]
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Just let her be for now. She's just sulking. I'm sure she'll forgive you sooner.]
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Then, what should I do now.]
I imagine him looking extremely lost while typing that text. I can't help but feel even more guilty thinking about it.
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[I'm really sorry.]
He didn't reply for a while again.
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[If you're really sorry, you should compensate me for my loss then.]
I don't really like where this conversation is going. I fully knew that it was a trap, but unfortunately, my reckless words have already triggered it.
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[What do you want?]
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Paint a candid painting of me.]
From: Mr. Handsome Guy
[It should be from your memory. Don't look for stolen photos online.]
I let out a sigh of relief. If it's a painting, even if he asked for one in this instance, I could easily give him one. But of course I wouldn't! He might misunderstand me if he saw those paintings.
To: Mr. Handsome Guy
[Deal]