Velvet

Chapter Five

Velvet's POV

As I sprinted out of the park, my heart raced, doubling my footsteps to the exit. The tears that I had managed to hold back started streaming down my cheeks, mixing with the jumble of emotions inside me.

I felt a mix of embarrassment and sadness for letting my emotions get the best of me as the image of Nate's familiar face, tainted with red lipstick, etched into my mind.

Velvet you need to compose myself, it's just a crush, I reminded myself. Why does stuff like this always happen to me?

I am not crying because he is kissing another girl.

It is just that it hurts, and I don't understand how I always end up in this kind of situation whenever I think it is the right time to tell someone how I feel.

I remember the last time I confessed my feelings to someone was in grade six—Micheal Williams, he was one of the notorious students, but he was so handsome that I fell in love with him the moment I noticed him.

You could describe us as the perfect couple in class, but it didn't even last for six months and love was gone.

He did the one thing that every guy knew how to do- break girls' hearts. I caught him smooching another girl at a party.

My thoughts and emotions were all over the place as I stumbled my way through the bustling streets. Everything seemed so blurred, but I managed to find my way back home safely.

I stood at the front door trying to find my keys, but it was already opened. I guess Mom has arrived back from work.

With a deep inhale, I opened the door and saw Mom sitting on the couch with her hands covering her face—and she was crying. I walked towards her, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

I reached out and gently placed my hand on her shoulder, “Mom, what's wrong?” I asked softly, my voice trembling slightly, worried about what might be going on.

She looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. A forced smile appeared on her lips as she attempted to compose herself.

“Oh, sweetheart, it's nothing…it's just been a tough day at work,” she replied, her voice quivering ever so slightly.

I wasn't convinced because I knew her so well that she would not cry just because she was having a tough time at work.

Her eyes told a different story, it felt more like a serious problem rather than just a difficult day. I hesitated for a moment, but I knew she was going to open up when the time came.

Her gaze softened as she pulled me into a warm embrace.”What's wrong with your face? Have you been crying” she asked with a look of concern and worry?

“Kinda… It's just boy trouble. It is nothing serious, " I answered, my voice barely above a whisper, not even trying to sugarcoat it.

She was not pretty much convinced, but she went on to give me the assurance that I needed

“Are you sure?... Remember that I will always be here for you when you need someone to talk to”

I nodded, feeling relieved by her words. She always had a way of comforting me that was both soothing and insightful.

As we sat on the couch, she gently wiped away the tears on her face with the corner of her sleeve.

The rest of the night passed quickly while we talked and laughed, watching our favorite series, Friends, with some cookies and fruit juice at the side.

Days turned into weeks, and slowly but surely, the ache in my heart began to lessen.

I have not seen Nate in school lately, and it is two things—it is either he has not been attending his classes or our path has not yet been crossed.

We did not have any class in common, and the only time I saw him was at the end of the school day or if we both decided to ditch class.

It was Saturday morning and the sun streamed through the curtains, waking me up from my slumber. I woke up to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soothing music playing in the living room.

I brushed my teeth, took my shower and descended the stairs.

The aroma of coffee hung in the air as I walked into the kitchen. Mom turned to me with a smile on her face as she stirred her latte.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she greeted, her eyes twinkling with affection.

“Morning, Mom,” I replied, returning her smile.

Moments like these reminded me of the happy times Mom and I enjoyed, despite the challenges and troubles we faced.

I made my way to the kitchen island and poured myself a cup of coffee. The rich, comforting taste spread through me, chasing away any remnants of grogginess from my sleep.

Leaning against the counter, I took a sip and sighed contentedly. “You make the best coffee,” I commented.

Mom chuckled. “Years of practice, my dear. Sometimes a good cup of coffee is all we need to start the day right.”

“It has been a while since we enjoyed coffee together. I think we should do it more often” I said, slowly gulping down my coffee.

As we sipped our coffees, the soothing melody of the music in the background provided a serene backdrop to our conversation.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for these quiet moments with my mom, moments that helped me understand and find meaning in life amidst all the difficult situations.

“So,” Mom began, her tone casual yet curious, “any plans for the day?”

I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Not really. I think I might visit Sophie and probably spend the rest of the weekend at her place. It will be a good idea to crash over at her place for the weekend."

“That sounds lovely,” she replied, her gaze thoughtful. “You both need to spend more time together. You could watch some movies at her place.”

Sophie's place was just a short drive away, nestled in a quaint neighborhood surrounded by towering trees. This used to be my neighborhood too until Mom and I moved out.

I parked my car in front of her house, excitement fluttered in my chest.

I couldn't wait to see my best friend.

It had been a couple of weeks since we spent quality time together, and I was eager to share all the gossip and my recent boy problems with her.

The door swung open, and Sophie greeted me with her signature grin. “Hey, Vee! Come on in,” she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug.

“Hey, Soph,” I replied, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me as her arms wrapped around me.

We headed straight to her room and ordered a pizza with some chilled coke because we were both starving.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow through the windows, Sophie and I decided to settle in for a movie night, just as Mom had suggested.

We popped a bowl of popcorn, dimmed the lights, and huddled on the bed with a stack of DVDs to choose from.

“How about a classic thriller?” Sophie recommended with a mischievous grin.

I disagreed, suggesting something more modern and fun, “How about we do Netflix and Chill”

She contemplated but finally agreed to it, soon we were engrossed in the tense plot of the movie. Sophie and I sat huddled in the dimly lit bedroom.

The movie came to an end and Sophie turned to me with a furrowed brow.

“You know, it's been a while since we really caught up on everything,” she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

I nodded, “Yeah, it has. There's nothing new happening in my boring life, except I've just been dealing with some boy drama.”

“Tell me more”, her eyes filled with genuine interest.

I took a deep breath, and decided to open up to her about everything.

“Well, there's a new guy in school, he's a transfer student, and it seems I have a crush on him” I began, my voice tinged with a feeling of nostalgia.

“We talked on the first day, but later I tried to ignore him and then… I met him again at Sarah's party. “ I added.

“And then what happened?” she asked, wanting to know about every detail.

“I saw him kissing another girl at the park on my way back from school”, My heart ached as I continued.

Sophie placed a comforting hand on mine. “Don't worry, Vee. You'll get over it soon… Don't think about it too much”

“Thanks, Soph,” I said, offering her a small smile.

“But enough about me. What have you been up to?”

She laid down on the bed, her expression thoughtful. “Well, I got a new boyfriend!”

I grinned, genuinely happy for her. “I'm happy for you, Soph! You better introduce him to me the next time we meet.”

The conversation went on, it felt like old times when we would talk about anything and everything without hesitation. These are the memories I would want to relive every day of my life.