Summer Medicine: Love In The Midst Melancholy

Chapter 2

Pat's POV

I woke up late on my second day because I went to the bonfire last night. Emma invited me, and I'm glad I went. I met Ms. Fee; Emma told me that she's like the mother of this place because she's always here. Unlike us, who can only stay for a month, she can stay here whenever she wants because her sister owns this place.

Max was not there. Remember? The stranger who came up to me yesterday.

I'm currently cooking breakfast. It's just an egg and bacon, and I'll add bread with strawberry jam later because I don't like eating rice for breakfast.

As I was cooking, I heard a knock.

"Coming!"

I shouted.

I flipped the egg and bacon and ran towards the door. I opened it, and I was shocked to see Max.

"Hi, good morning."

He greeted me with the brightest smile.

"Good morning."

I'm glad I washed my face. It would be a shame to face Max with my just woke-up face.

I'm self-conscious most of the time.

"I'm here to give you this."

He said and gave me two flowers.

"Wow, um, thank you."

"I got it from the garden."

It's a white daisy. He was hiding it from his back earlier.

"Oh, I haven't been there."

"We can go if you want."

"Yes, sure."

"You like it?"

Max asked, pointing at the flowers he had just given.

"Yes, thank you. It's beautiful."

I want to ask him why he was not at the bonfire last night, but I don't want to sound weird and clingy because we don't know each other yet.

"What's that smell?"

Max asked while sniffing, then I suddenly remembered the bacon and egg I was cooking.

"Oh shoot!"

I ran in, and as soon as I got to the kitchen, I immediately turned off the fire.

Luckily, it's not that burnt yet.

"Is everything okay?"

Max asked.

"Yes, um, just a moment."

I quickly put the food on the plate and put it on my little table.

I quickly turned to face Max.

"Sorry about that."

"No, it's okay. Sorry for bothering you."

"No, you're not bothering me. I just totally forgot I was cooking. Would you like to come in for breakfast?"

I sure have enough food for two.

"Sure. Thank you."

Max took off his shoes and went inside the house.

"Sit there, I'll just finish making the breakfast."

I said, and Max nodded.

I started making the bread and jam when I noticed my bra hanging on the side of the bed, which I immediately put inside my bag.

Luckily, I don't think Max saw it.

I'm not going to lie. I'm not very comfortable with Max being here inside my house. It's normal because we are not close, and I'm not even comfortable with the house itself yet. I take my time to feel at home whenever I go to a new place. I don't adjust well and fast.

I opened the small cabinet on the side of the sink where all the plates were and then placed the food on it.

"Smells good."

Max commented.

"Really?"

"Truly."

I gave him a spoon, fork, plate, and water.

"You're very caring."

Max commented again.

"Thanks. I got it from my mom. She always took care of her guests whenever they came home. The word dust does not exist in our house whenever there are guests."

"Same with my mom."

Max said.

"Moms."''

We said in chorus unintentionally and chuckled.

We started eating and then talking more about random things. We realized we had a lot of things in common. We both like pastel colors and the sound of a piano, but he likes the sound of a guitar more. We both like cold seasons, and we love cats.

"What's the name of your cat?"

Max asked.

"Milo."

He's more like my son.

My younger sister takes care of Milo while I'm away. I only trust my sister when it comes to taking care of my cat.

We were the only pet people in the house.

"Milo, like the drink?"

"Yes, but I didn't name him after the chocolate drink."

"Oh, I thought you did."

Max laughed.

"That's what they all thought, but I named him Milo because it means my love."

Mi means my, and lo means love.

"It's so sweet."

"What about your cat?"

"Oh, I don't have one."

"Oh."

I thought he had one because he mentioned how much he loves cats.

"I have one cat that I feed every day, but she's not really mine. I'm not her real owner."

We used to have cats like that at home. They always come over as we always give them food.

"How is she like?"

I asked.

"She's a sweet cat. All white with a red collar and white bell on the center of it."

"Sounds fancy. It makes me want to see her."

The cat reminds me of the cat from the cartoon Tom and Jerry based on Max's description. The one cat that Tom is courting.

"I'll try to kidnap her for you someday."

"Silly."

"Did you go to the bonfire last night?"

Max asked.

I'm glad he asked, so I can also ask him why he did not go.

"Yes. I didn't see you there."

"Were you looking for me there?"

He chuckled, so I was a little embarrassed.

"I'm just kidding. I've been there many times already."

"Ahh."

I continued to eat. I started to remove the yolk from the sunny side up and put it on the side of the plate.

"You don't eat the yellow part?"

"I don't like it."

"Just in sunny-side up?"

"No, all."

Of course, I don't have a choice when it is scrambled eggs.

"Do you mind if I eat it?"

"Yes, sure. Sorry, I know it's a waste of food. I don't have Milo here to eat the yellow part."

Milo is my partner in crime.

"It's fine. I'll eat it so it won't be a waste. We all have something we don't like eating."

Man, Max is a good guy.

"What's yours?"

"Any fat part of the meat."

I don't eat that too.

"How long are you staying here?"

"Max."

I answered.

"What?"

Huh?

"Oh, I mean, max, thirty days."

I said, and he started laughing, and so did I.

"My bad."

He thought I was calling him.

"You?"

"I don't know yet. Hey, can I ask you something? It's okay if you don't want to answer it."

"What is it?"

I asked.

"Why are you here?"

"I... um, I just feel like I need to be here."

I chuckled, as I didn't want it to sound too serious.

"Hmm?"

But he seems serious about it.

"I don't know, to be honest. I don't know if I'm depressed or just lonely. I always can't stop myself from thinking."

From overthinking.

"Hmm."

He answered.

"Are you not going to ask me back?"

He asked.

"Can I?"

"No, I don't want to answer it."

"Eh, why did you ask?"

This man could be really annoying.

"Because I want to know if you're curious about me."

I guess I am.

"And what if I am?"

"You'll know the answers. Not now, but you will."

Max said I look like I'm full of mystery, but he seemed to be more likely than I am.

When we finished eating, Max said goodbye and left.

I took a glass and filled it with water, then I put the flower that Max gave me. I put it on the side table of my bed so I could always look at it before sleeping.

I adore flowers. They said it is the second most beautiful thing in the world, next to women. I like that quote.

I started washing the dishes, and after that, I finally decided to shower.

Showering is the hardest thing to do for me. I know it would help me, especially when I'm stuck in bed thinking I should not use my phone anymore, but I couldn't pull myself up.

The bathroom is small, but it's okay because I'm not a big person anyway.

I applied light makeup to look presentable after I showered and left the house only with my phone.

I was walking around here and there when a woman came to talk to me.

She's a bit old. I'm guessing like forty-five years old.

"Are you looking for something? Someone?"

She asked.

"Oh no, I'm just walking around."

I smiled.

"You should walk with someone. This place is too big to walk alone. You don't want to get lost."

"Oh, okay. Thank you."

The woman just smiled and walked away.

I looked around, and I realized that the woman was right. I might become confused because of the amount of trees and how they looked the same.

Who should I go with? I only know two people here that I can ask.

Emma can't surely come with me because she works here, so the only option left is Max.

I started walking back to the houses, hoping to find Max, and it was not even five minutes yet when I found him.

He's literally everywhere.

I saw him talking to Ms. Fee, and they were laughing together.

I walked towards them and turned to Ms. Fee.

"Good morning, Ms. Fee."

I greeted.

"Good morning, Pat. How's your first night here? Did you sleep well?"

Ms. Fee asked.

"Yes. I slept very well last night."

The place is so peaceful that it will help you to fall asleep fast.

"That's good."

"Um, Max, are you busy?"

"No, why?"

"I'd like to go for a walk. I'm unfamiliar with the place, and a woman just told me I might get lost if I walk around by myself."

"Sure. I'll be happy to walk with you."

"Thank you."

I smiled.

"We'll get going, Ms. Fate."

"Alright, take care."

"Babye, Ms.Fate."

I waved to Ms. Fee, then we started walking to the woods.

"Thank you for coming with me."

"No, don't mention it. If you get lost, I'll be looking for you immediately."

Look who's caring now.

"You can hold my shirt when it gets slippery on our way."

"Hmm, thank you."

I answered.

"Hey, Max. Didn't you say you've been here since June?"

"Yes."

"But you can only stay here for a month. How come you're still here?"

It's August now.

"I'm special."

He smiled.

"Is that why you know the place so much?"

"Yes."

He answered and offered his hand to me as we reached the part that was a little higher and had to climb.

I grabbed his hand, and then he pulled me to him.

"I'm sorry."

I said when I bumped my head on his chest. I almost hugged him. It's a reflex as I don't want to fall.

"It's alright."

He smiled again.

Every time I look at his face, I want to stare at it for some unknown reason, especially when he smiles.

There's something about him that I want to know.

It's only the second day, but I'm already interested in him.