A Soft Place To Land

Chapter 2

“I want my phone now.” He grumbled, stomping his feet.

Her eyes run through the young man’s whole person. With his small stature, she couldn’t discern her age, probably a minor but he’s standing around 168cm tall. His skin looked fairly white, his limbs were long and thin, and so was his waist and neck.

Maxine swallowed.

It was flawlessly white that you would be teased to bite. His face looked serene, framed by dark brows that shadowed his soft, large eyes. His delicate, high-arched nose had a hint of pink on the tip, and his thin lips pursed whenever he spoke. He had the innocent appearance of a child. You can see the grumpy temperament he has from his furrowed dark brows and pouty lips.

In just a few seconds, Maxine observed his whole being.

“No.” Maxine answered.

Maxine observed his brows furrowed deeper and his lips pressed tightly together that made his cheeks puffed.

Maxine thought he would leave after she turned him down. But to her amusement, after taking a few steps he looked back and asked, “When can I get it back?”

She subconsciously c****d her head to the right and said, “Not sure”.

Her mind was distracted by the inexplicable feeling. She was certain that she had felt this unknown emotion before but forgot when it was.

With her brows slightly knitted, she stood up and ran away because of the uncomfortableness she could feel inside her.

In the kitchen, Maxine went to the cellar to fill up her silver flask with alcohol.

“Must be a palpitation" Maxine's deep voice sounded like a whisper in the air with no one around. Everyone was in the dining area, busy having fun with each other.

“Kuya." Maxine greeted Dylan who arrived in the kitchen.

“I was looking for you. I was about to get you some wine.” He halted and looked down to see what Maxine was holding.

“Oh you want a rum?" Dylan asked and walked to Maxine.

“Mm.”

Dylan smiled softly.

“Earlier… that's your son?" Maxine asked, staring straight to Dylan’s eyes.

Dylan could also feel the drowning stare of her Meimei, an abyss that seemed to devour anyone who met it. However, after growing alongside her, Dylan got accustomed to it and met her gaze. It gets softer the more you get familiar with her. You won’t feel the heaviness it feels once you get used to it.

He strode to Maxine and took her silver flask and the rum bottle she was holding to fill it with. While, in his mind, he planned to refine his entire cellar based on this specific rum, the one she had chosen. His sister was notoriously picky with alcohol, so if he found one she liked, he knew she'd stick to that brand.

“Who? Abbi, he’s my son?” Dylan asked.

“Right, this is the first time you saw him. You are both grown up now.” Dylan added. A chuckle broke from his lips. His face was cheerful and calm. There was a hint of pink in his cheek from the alcohol.

Maxine watched Kuya Dylan’s movements while her mind flew. She frowned, she knew her brother had a son, but she never met him for some reason, or had she?

"Abbi…" Maxine whispered in a low voice.

Dylan saw that Maxine was lost in her thoughts. He chuckled and put the silver flask in her hand. “I will go back now to entertain the others.” Dylan said.

“Oh and don't leave yet! I will go look for you later." Dylan shouted before leaving the kitchen. Although the chatting voice from outside the kitchen overpowered his voice, Maxine heard his shout.

Maxine didn’t even bother with her Kuya and continued her pondering.

A moment had passed.

“Ah I see now.” Maxine said with her deep voice. Her eyes lit up.

It’s been some time when Maxine's eyes lit up about something. It has been a ages since Maxine found something interesting.

She laughed out loud.

Her eyes located the boy who had spoken to her earlier. He was attempting to bury his face completely in a latte-colored hoodie, the hood pulled taut and his eyes squeezed shut against the world.

“This will be interesting." she murmured, taking a sip from her silver flask. A cool, mysterious smile spread across her face.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Abbi went back to the sofa, utterly bored. It wasn’t like he did not try to ask for his phone but that woman refused. She gave off an odd, unsettling feeling, convincing him it was best not to cross her. He didn't know why, but for some reason his instinct told him to keep his distance from her.

Abbi also attempted to slip upstairs but Amethyst caught him. She pleaded that she can rest once the two children fall asleep. She reasoned that she only gets to see her siblings when there’s an event like this.

Abbi sighed and went back watching the kids.

Were children always this high spirited? He wasn’t like this before.

In just a few days, Abbi would turn 18. Curiously, he and his Papa shared the same birth month, June. His Papa, Dylan, was born on the 16th, making him a Gemini, while Abbi, born on the 28th, was a Cancer.

He wasn’t excited at least a bit for his coming up age. Nothing much to look forward to, his college life has just begun.

He took a deep sigh and clamped his eyes shut. He wasn't sure if he was praying, but he desperately wished for someone to rescue him from these high-spirited girls.

As if an angel had heard his plea, instant chaos erupted.

A piercing bawl rang out from one of the girls, so loud it felt like it would shred Abbi’s eardrums. Abbi winced, his brow furrowing in pain as he forced his eyes open.

He saw the little girl folding her arm and bawling over a tiny cut. Maybe she got it from playing and she was probably tired that a small wound in her arm caused her to overreact. Her mother quickly took her away. The other girl, who had no choice but to follow, was carried away too. Though she was tightly clutching the small figurine, it slipped from her grip as her mother moved. Her mother did not notice and kept going. The mother likely assumed the girl's tears were from being taken away.

Abbi was delightfully watching the kids being taken away by their parents. He was left there alone but he was overjoyed that he can finally take his phone back and rest upstairs, though he will play video games. He was used to sleeping late when he had no school the next day.

He looked at the dining area. The adults were still drinking and chatting like they had no intention of ending the celebration. Although few have already left, many people still having fun and both his parents, elated, entertained them.

Abbi stood up and went to Amethyst's side. “Ma" Abbi called.

Amethyst understood him right away. Grateful, she smiled softly and said, “Your aunties and uncles already left. They give thanks to you for watching their kids for them all night. The young lady was outside, go look for her."

Abbi looked in the window, the sky outside was dark. Under the moonlit sky, he immediately spotted the white silhouette standing alone in front of a white car. Her clothes dance along with the wind and the street lights kiss her icy pale face.