Chapter 3 - Nostalgic
1816 Words
Chapter 3: Nostalgic
“I don’t think I have a type, Elise. And Keane, you should know that as well.” Alouette defended. Elise smirked, as if she knew what will happen next. She totally thinks that her best friend will fall in love with her boyfriend’s cousin.
Keane hid his smile, knowing that Alouette might really fall for Axl, “We’ll see about that, Lou.” He said.
“See? I bet you’ll fall in love with him the moment you see him.” She said, teasingly. Alouette rolled her eyes.
“I don’t have time for love right now. We need to solely focus on the plan for it to be successful.” She reminded, knowing that even a bit of crack would give away their plan. Her mom is good at knowing the truth, skeptically smart.
“Oh! I agree. Love can wait.” Elise agreed, smiling widely. Alouette looked at her, weirdly, while Keane just remained silent, waiting for a response before changing the topic.
The girls did remain quiet, “Anyway, I’ll have to talk to him first and have you introduced to each other for you to discuss your plan & have him agree on it.”
“Do you think he’ll agree?” Alouette asked. Keane hummed.
“Probably. He has a good heart, helping those in need.” He replied as Alouette nodded.
“Babe, you can give him an overview about it. It’ll be easier.” Elise suggested and Alouette agreed to it.
“We will have to tell him everything truthfully. He’s pretty smart, would do anything to know if your intentions are pure as white.”
“He’s like my mom then.” Alouette commented.
“We’ll see about that.”
“Sorry to have interrupt your lunch, ladies, but I will be going now. You can continue your little chitchat. I’ll see you later, Eli.” Keane said as he bid goodbye.
Elise’s eyes followed Keane as he goes straight to the kitchen area.
“Sometimes I’m amazed on how protective he is of you, Lou.” She smiled on the thought.
“You both have known me since birth. Maybe Daddy talked to him about it or something.”
“Ah! That makes sense. I’m sure Uncle-Dad did.” Elise has been calling Alouette’s Dad “Uncle-Dad” since they were kids. That is because she used to stay with them until she decided to move out, at 18, to be independent and experience life.
“Right?”
“By the way, I just realized how crucial this plan is. I don’t think there will be any other guy suitable for your taste, Lou.” Elise mentioned. That made Alouette wonder. She never had any other guy friends aside from Keane. Let alone having a boyfriend. She is a total “no-boyfriend-since-birth” not because no one has the guts to court her but because she has no interests in it. Career and success are the things that she has in her mind, nothing else.
“I know, but I really have to do this. I don’t want to be married, especially at this young age. I am just 27 years old, life has a lot to give.” She responded.
“Do you mean that you are not thinking of having a family at all?”
“I would love to travel around the world, explore everything that would captivate my heart. I don’t have time for marriage or having my own family at all.”
“You always say that. Having no time on all that relates to love.”
“Love can wait, Elise. My career and future do not.”
“Travelling can be any time, any age. You can’t be serious.”
“No, I mean it when I say it.”
“Before Keane and I got together, I didn’t have any thought of marriage or having my own family. But then, he happened.”
“You two are so in love with each other. Of course, you’d think of that. But I’m not.”
“You won’t understand now since you never had a boyfriend.”
“If ever I’d think of marrying, that would be when I turn 35 or near 40.”
“Dude, are you serious?”
“Yes, Elise. Dead serious.”
“Alright, I believe you, if that is what you really want. Well, for me, we may be young, but I do think of marrying him in the future. Near or not.”
“I know.”
“No offense on your plans for your life but I really do disagree, Lou. You know what the truth is? You don’t want to be married yet because you haven’t met the right guy. Not because you disliked the thought itself.”
“How come sometimes I feel like you know me better than myself, Elise?”
“I’m your dear best friend, Lou. I’ve known you ever since we wear diapers.”
“Except that we didn’t.”
“Ah, right. I forgot the name, but it is that white cloth that Mrs. Keva always washes right after.”
“Mom insists that she saves up.”
“It took a lot of hard work though. Mrs. Keva is the best Mom I’ve ever known, honestly speaking.”
Alouette smiled at what Elise said. Yes, her mom is indeed the best mom in the world, always thinking the best for her family. So supportive and gentle.
“I’ve been wondering for so long, Elise. Why is it that you call my Mom, “Mrs. Keva”? Didn’t we always say you should her call “Mom” as well or Auntie-Mommy like you used to?”
Elise scrunched her face, as if disliking the idea.
“Truth is, I’m a bit scared of her.”
“That’s surprising. You felt threatened?”
“No. I fear how perfect your Mom is. And I still do.”
Alouette smiled, slowly shaking her head in disbelief.
“You’re impossible.”
***
It is six in the morning as Alouette remembers what day it is today, thanks to the tone of her alarm clock. Sunday, her hear-mass day. She always makes sure that she attends mass, without fail, every Sunday at the Benedictine Abbey Cathedral of St. Maurice in Einsiedeln.
“Ah. Elise.” She almost forgot to call her, their Sunday-routine. She must always call her to wake her up. Without getting up from the bed, she reached for her phone.
Ringing…
It rang for a couple of seconds, but Elise did not pick up.
“She’s definitely still sleeping.”
Ringing…
On the sixth ring, it signaled that the call has finally picked up.
“Hello?”
Elise answered with a hoarse voice, indicating that the call woke her up.
“Good morning, Elise. Today is Sunday.”
“Oh, shoot. I forgot, Lou. Sorry, Keane and I did a movie marathon yesterday. I slept around three in the morning.”
“Are you coming with us?”
“I’m afraid I can’t. I’m too sleepy.”
“You’re not going to hear mass today?”
“Dude, no. I’m going to the afternoon mass, I’ll ask Keane to go with me.”
That made Alouette smile.
“You better be. Alright, sleep well.”
“Adios.”
Call ended.
“I should get ready.”
Getting up from the bed, she went to her walk-in closet as she chooses what attire to wear. Since she will be going to church, it should be clothes that they allow. She’s thinking of wearing a dress that goes below the knee, but at the same time, she’d like to wear an over-sized long sleeve that goes well with leggings and her white sneaker.
Knock
Knock
“Sweetie, are you going to the Church with me?” That’s her mom, Keva.
“Yes, mom. I’m just choosing clothes to wear.” She answered, as loudly as she can, to be heard.
“Alright. I’ll wait downstairs.”
It has been their family’s tradition as well. To go to Church every Sunday, without fail. Having taught by her mom to always thank the Lord for all they have and will have (hopefully) as they are showered with blessings every single day.
“I’ll go with this then.” She said as she prepares the over-sized long sleeve, black leggings, and her plain white sneakers. With that, she finally went to the bathroom to start her day.
It took her thirty minutes to prepare as it is now 7:00 am. The mass starts at 8:15 am, giving them time for breakfast and travel time.
She went straight to the kitchen, seeing her mom enjoying a cup of coffee as she browses on her mobile phone.
“Eat first before we go, Cara.” Keva mom said, without even looking up. She nodded politely.
“What’s for breakfast, mom?” Alouette asked. Yes, readers, her full name is Alouette Cara Hutton. Her mom always calls her “Cara” when at home, for informality.
“Your auntie cooked eggs and bacon with toasted baguette. It’s in the dining table.”
“You’re not going to eat?” She asked as her mom finally looked at her.
“Of course, I will. We have thirty minutes.” Keva said. Alouette smiles at her. Together, they walked towards the dining area and sat down.
“Good morning, Miss Alouette.”
“Please join us for breakfast, Auntie.” Keva suggested. The helper politely declined.
“My apologies but I should decline, Madam. Please enjoy your breakfast.”
“Auntie! You’re a family.” Auntie/Mrs. is what they call their helpers in the house. As for them, it would be rude to call them any other names.
“Is Elise not coming with us?” Keva asked.
“No, mom. She pulled an all-nighter.”
“Will she hear mass today?”
“Yes, she mentioned she’d be going with Keane later in the afternoon.”
Keva nodded in approval.
“That’s good.”
“Let’s eat, mom. We might get late.”
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- Writer
