"Why would you do that Dad? It's still too early," I groaned, as I rubbed the sleep from my still red eyes, "It's just been little over three months, you don't know her well enough."

"We've been co-workers and friends for a while, Amelia. Besides we're not getting married already, planning weddings take a while," I could feel my dad pause to take a  breath before delivering the final remark, "I really love her Mia, even before I introduced you both. I'm really happy with her and I think you would be too."

I sighed, there was no stopping my dad, "Dad, I know that. I just wish you had taken more time with this, still just promise me one thing, I will have to be present for the wedding."

Dad vigorously nodded his head and gave me a big wide smile, "I promise, Mia. We'll discuss this when you get home, we won't be married till then."

I laughed, "I'm not going to be around till Christmas and it's still just April."

"There's no problem, we'll just wait. We have to be on the same page with a new addition to our family. At the end of the day, you'll be always my daughter and my family. I love you, sweet heart."

"I love you too, dad." I smiled and changed the topic, talking about my place of work and how the first week went. Dad smiled through it all, and advised me before the video call ended.

*********

With the new week brought new changes. The corona virus cases became so bad that school had to be temporarily closed and resumed online, Ilana Supermarket now had a strict policy of the number of shoppers to attend to at a time along with compulsory facemasks. The president imposed a curfew from 6am to 7pm, no movements after that time. Even churches and banks were either closed, or had a policy of people to be present at a time.

I wasn't really too bothered with these changes, what bothered me was the rapidly escalating virus and the safety of my family and friends. I made sure to call my dad, Kathy, Charlotte, Leo and Daisy at least three times a week just to be safe and updated.

"Work's been good, guys. Apart from the whole three shoppers at a time, it's been alright and a bit uncomfortable because of the face masks." I said gesturing to the Zoom video call just as my phone beeped, signifying an incoming message.

Cole: "Hey Mia, I hope you're doing fine. I know it's been a while since we talked, but I just want to be sure you're okay. Take care of yourself."

Smiling, I immediately responded.

Amelia: "Thanks so much for checking up on me, and I'm sorry for being unavailable most of the time. I'm fine... for now, and I hope you're too."

"Mia, why are you smiling like that. Who messaged you, Is it that Jason guy?", Daisy asked, with a knowing smile while Leo looked like he could break my phone if I let him.

"It's just a friend from home checking up on me."

"A male friend, I'm sure.", Daisy insisted.

I heard another beep, this time from Daisy herself.
Daisy: "It's Cole, isn't it? I didn't want to say it with Leo present, you've got a serious guy problem on your hands🤣🤣."

I glared at Daisy until my point was made, before steering the conversation onto safer waters.

Afterwards we were all called into class, literally, everyone's phones rang so much you just had to be in class. Some automatic set-up, I heard. Online classes just wasn't like the real thing, not everyone was present and learning online isn't easy at all because understanding was harder.

We had our usual class schedule for the day, but with no lunch break. After all, you could just snack as lectures were going on.

"Students, I hope you remember your tests are scheduled for next week, and they're all still holding." Ms. Martins said as soon as classes ended and our calls connected to hers.

I groaned as I slumped my shoulders and wiped an imaginary sweat from my forehead, a part of me had hoped that the tests would be postponed.

She continued, "The tests would be written and practical, with the written tests being first. Then your practical tests, of course, will be showing your teachers what you've learnt so far with designing.", She typed a few keys on her board and everyone's phone beeped. I opened the message and it was my test schedule, from the sad faces on the screen it was the same for everyone.

"First years, read well and be prepared. This is just a taste of what the exams will be like. Take care and stay safe.", Ms. Martins finished and immediately logged off, and that was our cue. Classes were over for the day.

********

Later that night, Jason came over just as Daisy, Leo and I were about to start a game of scrabble. I unfortunately had to witness the awkward tension when I introduced Jason and Leo to each other, while Daisy's eyes crinkled at the corners while she put her hands over her mouth. The girl was laughing, just as she put two of her fingers up.

Luckily, nothing bad happened and later we were all munching cookies at 2am and discussing life's season.

"How did you and Lily end up together?", Daisy piped up suddenly. I looked at her in horror, she wasn't even supposed to let Jason know she knew that.

When I discreetly pinched her, she scrunched up her face as she shrugged and focused on Jason for answers. Jason, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable under her scrutiny before he too shrugged and blew out a breath.

"Lily has family in Rome, distant relatives. She came visiting one summer and we met, the rest just happened. Few months later, some things happened and the relationship got too complicated to continue. For the record though, we're no longer together." He said, directing that last bit at me.

For a while there was silence until Leo cleared his throat, and I saw that Jason and I had been having a staring contest. Awkward.

Soon after that, the boys laid mats to sleep on while I and Daisy slept on my bed. I was already dozing off when Daisy whispered, "Well at least you know they're no longer together."

I gasped, "You scared me, I thought you were already asleep."

"Not at all, you know you have to settle this. Leo and Jason looked like they wanted they wanted the other out of the room the whole time, Cole is in Canada sending you sweet messages..."

"It wasn't a sweet message, he was just being nice and checking up on a friend. Besides, why are we talking about this by...", I squinted at the clock besides my bed, "three a.m."

She clucked her tongue in disbelief, "If only you believe that. I'm just saying, you might need to make a choice before things get ugly. Anyway goodnight, my advice time is over. It's sleep time." Daisy said,  relaxing her body until I heard a soft breathing. She was already asleep, even though she woke me up.

I sighed, I had tests, work and my dad to worry about. The boys could wait, none of them had even asked me out yet. Daisy and I were just going on speculations, especially with Jason and Cole. What if they were just being friendly, why would they even like me? I wasn't too special at anything, for three cute guys to be fawning over me.

Please do vote and comment❤️❤️