We Found Each Other

'Funny Guy'

Esoteric delightment woke me up from the intense blurs of my dreamzone which included silver sea and moonlight shining straight on my face. However it lasted only till daylight fiercely struck my eyes.

A throbbing ache weighed down my head and my throat was a desert itself. I stretched out my hand to the nightstand to fetch some water from the jug. I took an Advil—that I discovered lying next to it—chased it down with water. Then I checked my phone, it was Sunday and I had slept later than usual.

I adored Sunday mornings since mom and I had a lot of time for gossips. 'She must be so curious to know what happened at the party' I thought. The idea brought yesterday night's recollections surging in my mind.

I attempted to recall each and everything that had happened, from the wheatfield to drinking champagne then my memory grew hazy and had a great deal of gashes and voids in it, like some missing puzzle pieces.

The biggest question was 'How did I get here?' The only one who could answer this question was my mom.

I scampered downstairs after taking a shower and putting on a casual violet T-shirt and Jeans. Chatters and chortles kept emerging till I reached the dining hall with developing curiosity.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Mom looked jubilant but I was far too shocked to reply to her.

"Did you get a good night's sleep, Linnet?" Tyler smiled.

'What is he doing here?'

Mom and Tyler were perched at the table having breakfast and talking. 'How did he and mom get so close?' I crouched at my usual place across mom and Tyler.

"So, that pretty girl in black who came last night to pick them up, is your sister?" Mom asked in surprise. "Wiola, is her name isn't it?"

"It is! Your colleagues must have a hard time competing against the intelligent you."

"What an exaggeration. I'm just a good observer, that's all. You both look so much alike." Mom chuckled, waving it off.

"You're just too humble."

Their chuckles and tattles continued, blending me in some background.

'Wow, I'm being totally ignored. Is this how betrayal feels like?'

I was so used to the attention mom gave me, that sharing it with Tyler— that uninvited intruder—seemed like hell. But as soon as mom looked at me, joyful brightness took over the gloomy clouds forming inside me.

"Linnet," she addressed me, "How come you've told me about all of your friends but not him? You didn't mention you had such a nice friend?"

"I didn't know you disliked me that much." He spoke, acting all docile and hurt.

"Uhh that's– it's not like that– I don't dislike you." I got restless in my seat with frustation and mom gave me her 'how can you do this to that pitiful soul?' Look. "I simply didn't get the chance to tell you about him, mom."

"Oh really? That's nice to hear." He smiled innocently.

'Ugh that angelic smile. He's literally the villain here. As if third wheeling between a mother and daughter wasn't enough now he's making me the bad guy.'

"But what is he doing here?"

"What do you mean, Linnet? He's our guest. I insisted that he stay here for the night as he was unable to leave." Mom answered. Her stern expression scared me for a moment.

"How can you be such a brat, Linnet? Do you even remember what you did last night?" Mom thought.

"Last night?" I blurted out.

'God, I don't remember anything after I slept leaning against that black wall. Or was it Tyler?'

"Yes, last night, now do you remember throwing his car keys out of the window?" Mom asked, a bit of humour in her tone.

A piece of memory flowed into my mind. Where I squinted my eyes as the engine silenced and I could barely see a thing through the windshield of the car.

"Yeah, I've reached there, Wiola. Yes, she's still asleep." Tyler was speaking to someone on the phone. "Looks like she woke up. Let's talk about this after I get back." He hung up.

"You're... trying to kidnap me, right?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at Tyler with my focus continuously wavering.

"I am not dumb, I will not let you succeed in it!"

"Linnet, We are at your home right now. I'm not k********g you—"

Before he could finish I yanked the key out of the ignition and flung it out of the window. He just stared in stun with his mouth hung open. "Guess what? Your mission failed!" I cracked up.

"Right now, my mission is to escort you to your home safely." He got off from the car and arrived at my side. But till then, drowsiness pooled on my eyelids and wrapped my eyes in a profound sleep.

My hands instinctively covered my mouth which was dropped open with surprise as I recalled that memory.

"Seems like she remembers now!" Mom said.

"At least she won't be kidn*pped while she's drunk." Tyler chuckled and mom agreed while laughing.

"What about your keys, did you find them?" I asked with concern, forgetting for a moment the deal this person is.

"I found them this morning, they were stuck in the bushes of the garden near the driveway." Mom assured me.

Without a single doubt, he was able to get his keys with a flick of his finger or just travel through making a violet hole in the air like he did last night. If he stayed, it was his choice. And I didn't need to feel guilty at all.

"That's a relief." I sighed.

"How's your hangover? Did you take Advil? I had put it on your nightstand." Mom asked casually.

"Yeah, I took it. It's better now."

My gaze moved at Tyler and he smiled cheekily, 'Or worse I can't actually tell.'

"Thank God, I thought you were going to have an awful hangover. You were totally wasted when Tyler came carrying you last night," Mom said and I froze in my chair right there.

"Carrying me?" I accidentally dropped my fork back on the platter.

Tyler sat there, unbothered. Eating his food like a five-year-old has been given a bag of mixed candies.

"It was quite a sight though, your bag was hanging in his neck and he was carrying you with such delicacy as if you were made of glass. If I didn't know you any better, I would have believed that this young man was your boyfriend." Mom mused.

"So it proves me right. You See, your daughter has a weird habit of cursing walls and strangers. She can't date anyone," he said and mom chuckled.

"Why are you single then?" I asked out of annoyance.

"Because I couldn't find anyone like your mom." He smirked.

"Oh my God, you are such a flirt." Mom chortled. "But seeing how you carried her upstairs so easily, you must work out a lot."

'What the heck? Mom let him enter my room?' The punches of embarrassment hitting my gut were awful. The childhood pictures hanging on the walls and placed on the desk in my room kept flashing in my mind making my face red.

"Mom! How could you let a guy enter your daughter's room?" I sulked in my chair scowling at my uneaten scrambled eggs.

"But he is not just a guy. He is a funny guy!" Mom and Tyler were laughing again and talking in code words I couldn't understand.

How was it possible for me to forget that mom is especially fond of guys with a good sense of humour. And Tyler, this guy could charm anyone.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs Flores. I'll take my leave now." Tyler retreated from his chair and picked up his belongings from the table.

'Huh? Where did he learn that?'

"No need for formalities and all, just call me Rosie. And do come again." Mom smiled.

"Of course, Rosie." He proceeded to the door.

"And Yeah, Linnet!" He turned back. "See you at the subway at 3 pm everyone has decided to meet there."

"Okay, I'll be there," I replied.

It was weird, however. By how much they all were drinking last night, wouldn't they be too drained? Maybe it wasn't the case with them. Maybe Emalie and Ryle wanted to tell us about them. I couldn't be sure.

"Wait, I'll come pick you up. Your place is in my route anyway," he suggested.

"Then I'll leave my daughter in your care, Tyler." Mom agreed before I could say anything. He left while grinning on my distress.