Reaping Me Softly

Chapter 18 - The Unexpected

Lia can’t seem to weave her thoughts. She was having a fight with herself and she can’t even tell which one was dominating. Was it her heart that wanted to keep him or her mind that pictures her life with all the luxuries she would have in the future?

She was sure about what would be her life looks like if she follow her parents. They wouldn’t let someone with nothing marry her after all.

But deep inside her, she knows that even if she reach the stars, have a comfortable life and money that could sustain her entire life, she’d be incomplete without feeling loved.

She was not loved by her parents... She dreamt to have a family of her own and she swore that her future child won’t get through the same as hers.

“Do you believe in vampires?”

Her forehead ceased because of his sudden question.

It has been two days since she moved in to her unit. Simeon seems to love her place, so he has been staying with her from morning, before they both go to school, and after school.

He would knock on her door wearing his uniform and she got used to his presence. However, he’s still not allowed to sleep with her.

Simeon leave her unit late in evening. She was worried and felt a little bit guilty because who knows? Something might happen to him on the way home.

But he insisted anyway. She was glad that Simeon was strong and brave enough to go home alone.

Of course, she was thankful that he always made it home safe.

“What’s with your weird question? The movie seems hit you hard, eh?” She laughed.

They just actually finished watching a vampire movie and Simeon was acting strange after!

Even now that they are preparing for her final exam in the next two days, whereas Simeon offered to be her study buddy, the characters didn’t seem to leave his mind.

“I was just thinking...” He closed her notes. “What if you’ll encounter one? Like one day, they would show up and try to take over humans. Maybe treat them as some sort of blood slaves and stuff.”

She stared at him weirdly. Lia is not a fan of non-existing creatures. She only believe on what her eyes sees and vampires?

“That’s impossible,” she retorted. “I’ve been living here for a decade and eight and I haven’t heard such thing, Simeon.”

She lowered her head down to pick her pen.

They were sitting on the carpet of her living room and in between them was books and her notes, a plastic basket that was filled with her pens in all colors and highlighters that were scattered around them.

“Let’s say that they exist, Lia. What would you do or even your reaction? For example, I’m a vampire... Would you run away from me and never show up again?”

She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle in disbelief. Lia finds it funny, really.

What made him think of that?! If it was because of the movie they have watched, then he’s not making any sense here!

“You’re making me laughed, Simeon...” she uttered in between her small laughs. “Please, stop! Don’t let that movie creeps inside your mind. There’s no such thing as vampires in this realistic world, Simeon.”

Shaking her head, she laid her back on the sofa’s leg rest and started flipping her notes, trying to study but he was distracting her!

Simeon looked so serious! And it was giving her a creep.

“Hey!” She slapped his arm. “You said you’ll help me? Come on... Don’t think of anything. Vampires does not exist, okay? It’s just inside your mind because of the movie we’ve watched earlier.”

He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. Lia didn’t think of it deeply.

For the whole afternoon, they helped each other review. But it was just her who really study as Simeon just finished his exam last week. Although she really don’t need his help, but today is Saturday and they chose to spend it reviewing together.

They wanted to go outside. However, they don’t feel the need to.

They spent an hour or two reviewing her notes. Lia just stopped when her tummy complained. She dropped the notebook and pen on the ground, peering at him who’s more focus.

“I’m hungry...” She put her hands on her stomach. “We didn’t have lunch yet... I’m sure you’re hungry , too, and I don’t want to order food. Not again...”

She pursed her lips. They have been ordering food outside nonstop. Lia was not actually a fan of it as she prefers home cooked food. She knows a little bit dishes, though.

She just not have time to cook.

“I brought groceries yesterday. I have plan to cook something and all ingredients are present in the kitchen. That if you can wait...”

He stared at her for a moment. Then, smiled a bit.

“I can wait, of course. And I’m not that hungry, though.”

“Alright... Let’s cook, then.”

They headed to her kitchen and started preparing the needed ingredients. Lia will cook a chicken in tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots. Simeon, on the other hand, gave up peeling.

“Eh... You should just sit and watch. Then, learn from me. I swear, this would be your favorite dish from now on.”

“Boastful, aren’t you?” He chuckled as she stood beside her. “But let’s see if you could surpass my mother’s cooking skill.”

She pouted. “No one’s gonna beat a mother’s skill in the kitchen, Simeon. I bet she’s a legendary when it comes to cooking.”

“You’ll lose,” he uttered. “We all love her dishes, Lia. I’m sure you will, too.”

She bit her lower lip to stop the smile from forming. Lia felt her heart thump for a little. Does that mean that he would introduce her soon to his family?

Lovely...

By just his stories about her mother, she could already feel that she’s an amazing woman. She will probably thank her for bearing Simeon. If not because of her, she wouldn’t have met him.

“I’ll just agree with you once I get to taste her dishes...”

She raised her brows up and down which earn her a laugh from him.

“You’d like to meet my mom?”

She nodded and continued cutting the ingredients.

“Yup. She seems nice and I wouldn’t let it pass, Simeon. If you would just let me, I’d love to meet your family.”

He smiled widely. “I only lived with my mom and sister, well... Together with my cousins, too. Also, our great grandfather.”

“I bet they’re all nice.”

“They are...” he said in a low voice. “Except my sister.”

“Tell me about it...”

“Something just happened that made her turned to what she is now. But she was nice, Lia. The incident made her act like stone cold.”

“Oh... Sorry,” she uttered sincerely.

“It’s fine... Let’s just finish this quickly so we could eat.”

It took them less than thirty minutes to finished cooking. That includes Simeon silliness and failures in cutting and putting some seasonings on the food she had to think of ways to balance the taste.

Eventually, it got better. At least decent to eat despite of its saltiness.

“It tasted delicious!” he commented as they ate together.

Rolling her eyes, she put a piece of chicken to his plate.

“It would have been more decent to eat if you just didn’t pour all the salt to the container.”

“I said sorry...”

“Nye, nye... Let’s stop talking and just eat.”

For the past days, Lia was feeling happy since she met him. She can’t recall when was the last time her heart felt at ease. Just now and she’s afraid that it might vanish too soon because of uncertainties.

Things just won’t work for them. But she will still try... They should take a risk if they wanted to last long.

She was sure as hell that what she felt for him was not just a simple crush. It was not love either, or something near love. It was safe to say it was something in between like and love and as clear as the crystal, she’s expecting it to grow more.

“I’ll bring you with me...” said Simeon right after she went out of her school.

Hell week is over and she never thought that she’d wish to not end it too soon.

Because that means that her time with him would come to an end soon. It has been a week and she’s not yet ready to go back to what they were used to just to see each other.

“What... What do you mean by that?” She fastened her seatbelt, confused while her eyes fixed on his.

“You want to meet my family, right? Then, I’m bringing you with me.”

She blinked twice, lips parted slightly.

“This is so sudden...” she told him. “We never talked about this matter, Simeon. Can we at least plan it?”

Shaking his head, Simeon started to drive on the way to nowhere.

“Well, it’s really rare for us to be together. I’m using this as my chance to introduce you to the whole family.”

“Oh god...” she leaned on the passenger seat. “I’m not even prepared! I did not even buy something for them, Simeon!”

He hushed, glancing at her direction.

“They don’t need anything, Lia. Just your presence. And my family don’t bite, babe. Don’t be scared, okay? Just relax.”

“How can I relax?!”

“Take a deep breath, baby...”

His hand went to her thigh, squeezing it gently. She didn’t mind it though as her attention was focus more on meeting his family!

God... “What shall I say first? Shall I great them? Of course, but in what way?” she whispered to herself.

The latter just chuckled as he heard her panic. He just kept on assuring her but then, Lia can’t just stop feeling anxious.

“I’m nervous...” She brought her hand to her lips and bit her nails. “Would they like me?”

“I’m sure that they will...”

“Of course, you would tell that...”

“Baby, it’s natural to be nervous but I assure you, my family loves you. They love you already so, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Biting her lower lip, she nodded. She just have to trust him and anyways, what’s there not to love about her?

She shook her head mentally. She will finally have the chance to meet them and she’s nervous but excited at the same time!