January

Chapter 21

Even though Erine felt like it was a long time since she talked to the guard, she can't help but to feel the same closeness she felt back then. He was close as being a father to her, and she was thankful for that. But not thankful enough that she couldn't visit, not even once when she graduated. It almost seem like she wasn't even thinking of thanking him at all.

Erine's head drooped low at this realization. Now that she thought about it, even though it isn't necessary to voice it out, she never has been thankful of the people around her.

And all those people had helped during those times of struggle.

No wonder, the three of them didn't make it through. There is no precise time when she had messed up their friendship. But one thing is certain, it's that she didn't get to treasure their friendship more.

"Thank you." That was all Erine could say. Whether the guard were surprised by her sudden gratitude or not, she didn't get to see.

"Erine!" Erine looks up and found Luke running towards her, he was wearing his sports uniform while a sling bag was over his shoulder.

Erine would have appreciated his presence as well as the sight, but she doesn't have the courage to face Luke at the meantime. The first priority is to interrgate Prince, while avoiding Luke for the entire day. That is because she knew Luke would question her about yesterday, as well as the appearance of an unknown college student.

She bit her lip and utter a silent prayer as Luke finally stood in front of her.

When she looks up, Erine manages a smile.

She clutched her notebook tightly as if asking for support. It's already hard just thinking about it, and right now that Luke appeared unexpectedly she can't help but to cower.

"Hi, Luke." Erine awkwardly greeted.

"Hey." Luke was smiling when he greeted back.

But having been 'married' with Luke for many years. Erine knew when he was forcing a smile. She have seen him done it many times whenever he would go back home from work, or when something is bothering him. Between the two, it is obviously the latter.

"About yesterday...," Luke started that made Erine gape.

Is he really going to get into it right away? Erine thought.

"What about it?" Erine asked, waiting for him to say something, as well as bracing herself.

"Um, not to pry in your business but...," Luke's sentence were cut off once again, maybe thinking of the right word to ask her.

Erine knew what he is going to ask. But she isn't going to finish the sentence and dig her own grave. For all she know, Luke might back out from asking and just leave it behind...for a while.

Erine gritted her teeth. There is just no escaping any way.

There was something really terrifying with the way that Luke just stood there, without saying anything. It's as if she was in a graded reporting and the teacher asked a very difficult question and which she a hard time answering quickly. It was anxiety-inducing. And terrifying at its' best.

"About yesterday..." The sentence was cut again.

And Erine just waiting for someone or anyone who could maybe butt into their conversation.

"The person whose with you..." Please don't finish that sentence! "...I wanna know who he is."

Erine wanted to roll her eyes. He finished the sentence, now what is she going to say?

Maybe the answer can just be a simple, 'Someone I don't even know.' But with the way Prince acted, Prince would eventually think that she was lying. And lyin could lead into too much misunderstandings.

But if she were, to be honest, she had to tell her own circumstances so that she wouldn't appear like she has lost her mind.

"He's Prince." Erine choose to say. "What about him?"

"Oh," Erine's eyebrows lifted up.

-----

Even though Erine felt like it was a long time since she talked to the guard, she can't help but to feel the same closeness she felt back then. He was close as being a father to her, and she was thankful for that. But not thankful enough that she couldn't visit, not even once when she graduated. It almost seem like she wasn't even thinking of thanking him at all.

Erine's head drooped low at this realization. Now that she thought about it, even though it isn't necessary to voice it out, she never has been thankful of the people around her.

And all those people had helped during those times of struggles.

No wonder, the three of them didn't make it through. There is no precise time when she had messed up their friendship. But one thing is certain, it's that she didn't get to treasure their friendship more.

"Thank you." That was all Erine could say. Whether the guard were surprised by her sudden gratitude or not, she didn't get to see.

"Erine!" Erine looks up and found Luke running towards her, he was wearing his sports uniform while a sling bag was over his shoulder.

Erine would have appreciated his presence as well as the sight, but she doesn't have the courage to face Luke at the meantime. The first priority is to interrgate Prince, while avoiding Luke for the entire day. That is because she knew Luke would question her about yesterday, as well as the appearance of an unknown college student.

She bit her lip and utter a silent prayer as Luke finally stood in front of her.

When she looks up, Erine manages a smile.

She clutched her notebook tightly as if asking for support. It's already hard just thinking about it, and right now that Luke appeared unexpectedly she can't help but to cower.

"Hi, Luke." Erine awkwardly greeted.

"Hey." Luke was smiling when he greeted back.

But having been 'married' with Luke for many years. Erine knew when he was forcing a smile. She have seen him done it many times whenever he would go back home from work, or when something is bothering him. Between the two, it is obviously the latter.

"About yesterday...," Luke started that made Erine gape.

Is he really going to get into it right away? Erine thought.

"What about it?" Erine asked, waiting for him to say something, as well as bracing herself.

"Um, not to pry in your business but...," Luke's sentence were cut off once again, maybe thinking of the right word to ask her.

Erine knew what he is going to ask. But she isn't going to finish the sentence and dig her own grave. For all she know, Luke might back out from asking and just leave it behind...for a while.

Erine gritted her teeth. There is just no escaping any way.

There was something really terrifying with the way that Luke just stood there, without saying anything. It's as if she was in a graded reporting and the teacher asked a very difficult question and which she a hard time answering quickly. It was anxiety-inducing. And terrifying at its' best.

"About yesterday..." The sentence was cut again.

And Erine just waiting for someone or anyone who could maybe butt into their conversation.

"The person whose with you..." Please don't finish that sentence! "...I wanna know who he is."

Erine wanted to roll her eyes. He finished the sentence, now what is she going to say?

Maybe the answer can just be a simple, 'Someone I don't even know.' But with the way Prince acted, Prince would eventually think that she was lying. And lyin could lead into too much misunderstandings.

But if she were, to be honest, she had to tell her own circumstances so that she wouldn't appear like she has lost her mind.

"He's Prince." Erine choose to say. "What about him?"

"Oh," Erine's eyebrows lifted up.

Even though Erine felt like it was a long time since she talked to the guard, she can't help but to feel the same closeness she felt back then. He was close as being a father to her, and she was thankful for that. But not thankful enough that she couldn't visit, not even once when she graduated. It almost seem like she wasn't even thinking of thanking him at all.

Erine's head drooped low at this realization. Now that she thought about it, even though it isn't necessary to voice it out, she never has been thankful of the people around her.

And all those people had helped during those times of struggles.

No wonder, the three of them didn't make it through. There is no precise time when she had messed up their friendship. But one thing is certain, it's that she didn't get to treasure their friendship more.

"Thank you." That was all Erine could say. Whether the guard were surprised by her sudden gratitude or not, she didn't get to see.

"Erine!" Erine looks up and found Luke running towards her, he was wearing his sports uniform while a sling bag was over his shoulder.

Erine would have appreciated his presence as well as the sight, but she doesn't have the courage to face Luke at the meantime. The first priority is to interrgate Prince, while avoiding Luke for the entire day. That is because she knew Luke would question her about yesterday, as well as the appearance of an unknown college student.

She bit her lip and utter a silent prayer as Luke finally stood in front of her.

When she looks up, Erine manages a smile.

She clutched her notebook tightly as if asking for support. It's already hard just thinking about it, and right now that Luke appeared unexpectedly she can't help but to cower.

"Hi, Luke." Erine awkwardly greeted.

"Hey." Luke was smiling when he greeted back.

But having been 'married' with Luke for many years. Erine knew when he was forcing a smile. She have seen him done it many times whenever he would go back home from work, or when something is bothering him. Between the two, it is obviously the latter.

"About yesterday...," Luke started that made Erine gape.

Is he really going to get into it right away? Erine thought.

"What about it?" Erine asked, waiting for him to say something, as well as bracing herself.

"Um, not to pry in your business but...," Luke's sentence were cut off once again, maybe thinking of the right word to ask her.

Erine knew what he is going to ask. But she isn't going to finish the sentence and dig her own grave. For all she know, Luke might back out from asking and just leave it behind...for a while.

Erine gritted her teeth. There is just no escaping any way.

There was something really terrifying with the way that Luke just stood there, without saying anything. It's as if she was in a graded reporting and the teacher asked a very difficult question and which she a hard time answering quickly. It was anxiety-inducing. And terrifying at its' best.

"About yesterday..." The sentence was cut again.

And Erine just waiting for someone or anyone who could maybe butt into their conversation.

"The person whose with you..." Please don't finish that sentence! "...I wanna know who he is."

Erine wanted to roll her eyes. He finished the sentence, now what is she going to say?

Maybe the answer can just be a simple, 'Someone I don't even know.' But with the way Prince acted, Prince would eventually think that she was lying. And lyin could lead into too much misunderstandings.

But if she were, to be honest, she had to tell her own circumstances so that she wouldn't appear like she has lost her mind.

"He's Prince." Erine choose to say. "What about him?"

"Oh," Erine's eyebrows lifted up.

Even though Erine felt like it was a long time since she talked to the guard, she can't help but to feel the same closeness she felt back then. He was close as being a father to her, and she was thankful for that. But not thankful enough that she couldn't visit, not even once when she graduated. It almost seem like she wasn't even thinking of thanking him at all.

Erine's head drooped low at this realization. Now that she thought about it, even though it isn't necessary to voice it out, she never has been thankful of the people around her.

And all those people had helped during those times of struggles.

No wonder, the three of them didn't make it through. There is no precise time when she had messed up their friendship. But one thing is certain, it's that she didn't get to treasure their friendship more.

"Thank you." That was all Erine could say. Whether the guard were surprised by her sudden gratitude or not, she didn't get to see.

"Erine!" Erine looks up and found Luke running towards her, he was wearing his sports uniform while a sling bag was over his shoulder.

Erine would have appreciated his presence as well as the sight, but she doesn't have the courage to face Luke at the meantime. The first priority is to interrgate Prince, while avoiding Luke for the entire day. That is because she knew Luke would question her about yesterday, as well as the appearance of an unknown college student.

She bit her lip and utter a silent prayer as Luke finally stood in front of her.

When she looks up, Erine manages a smile.

She clutched her notebook tightly as if asking for support. It's already hard just thinking about it, and right now that Luke appeared unexpectedly she can't help but to cower.

"Hi, Luke." Erine awkwardly greeted.

"Hey." Luke was smiling when he greeted back.

But having been 'married' with Luke for many years. Erine knew when he was forcing a smile. She have seen him done it many times whenever he would go back home from work, or when something is bothering him. Between the two, it is obviously the latter.

"About yesterday...," Luke started that made Erine gape.

Is he really going to get into it right away? Erine thought.

"What about it?" Erine asked, waiting for him to say something, as well as bracing herself.

"Um, not to pry in your business but...," Luke's sentence were cut off once again, maybe thinking of the right word to ask her.

Erine knew what he is going to ask. But she isn't going to finish the sentence and dig her own grave. For all she know, Luke might back out from asking and just leave it behind...for a while.

Erine gritted her teeth. There is just no escaping any way.

There was something really terrifying with the way that Luke just stood there, without saying anything. It's as if she was in a graded reporting and the teacher asked a very difficult question and which she a hard time answering quickly. It was anxiety-inducing. And terrifying at its' best.

"About yesterday..." The sentence was cut again.

And Erine just waiting for someone or anyone who could maybe butt into their conversation.

"The person whose with you..." Please don't finish that sentence! "...I wanna know who he is."

Erine wanted to roll her eyes. He finished the sentence, now what is she going to say?

Maybe the answer can just be a simple, 'Someone I don't even know.' But with the way Prince acted, Prince would eventually think that she was lying. And lyin could lead into too much misunderstandings.

But if she were, to be honest, she had to tell her own circumstances so that she wouldn't appear like she has lost her mind.

"He's Prince." Erine choose to say. "What about him?"

"Oh," Erine's eyebrows lifted up.