15TH NOVEMBER.
ORION ACADEMY:
APHRODITE AND YUMI'S ROOM.

WITH a textbook open on her lap, Aphrodite leaned back on the headboard. She groaned as she doodled a star beside a topic that she didn't understand. The notes that Jonah had given her were as good as nothing. His handwriting was clumsier than her own which made it difficult to read. She had been sitting beside him for all their lectures. It was just to make sure that she doesn't have to make eye contact or talk to Lex. She was avoiding him and perhaps he was too. The only time they sat together was for lunch but it was easy to avoid him there too. All Aphrodite had to do was talk to Karan because boy, he never shuts up.

She had pushed the whirlpool of her emotions in the deep dungeons of her mind. Ever so often when they broke off, she would distract herself. She didn't want to deal with him--or Yumi.

Yumi hadn't spoken a word about that night either. It wasn't easy for Aphrodite to pretend everything was okay. Waking up everyday with a smile on her face and Yumi doing the same is what bothered Aphrodite the most. She wanted to give her the benefit of doubt but Yumi was nervous, avoided Aphrodite's direct gaze and didn't stay close to her which pointed to one thing--Yumi knew. History was repeating itself and Aphrodite didn't have the strength to go through it again. It was the best for both of them to simply forget. But it was hard. Very, very hard.

Her train of thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Assuming that Yumi had come back from the library, Aphrodite didn't look up and asked her to come in. The door slowly creaked open but her eyes remained on her textbook. The person standing on the threshold cleared their throat. She looked to find the boy she had been giving cold shoulder standing at her doorstep. Alone.

Oh, boy. This is bad.

She hopped out of her bed and stood on her wobbly feet. She momentarily lost balance. Lex quickly stepped forward and laced his long fingers around her wrist. She swallowed and smiled hesitantly to him after muttering an inaudible thank you. He nodded, his eyes betrayed no emotion. Whenever they had the tiniest flicker of touch, Lex's eyes would glimmer. He would wet his lips or stifle a smile but today, his eyes were cold and dark--as if she had no influence on him. He stepped away from her, his face still expressionless.

She did hurt him but alas, she can't hear my opinions and trust me, I have a lot of those.

"I...um, hey!" A sound left from her throat--a mixture of croak and squeal. She feigned a cough. "What are you doing here? Is everything all right? I mean--" She widened her eyes and raised her hands in surrender. "--I mean, not that I don't want you here. It's just that I wasn't expecting you right now. I've been so busy. I haven't gotten time to relax at all. Even Yumi--" She paused abruptly, realizing what she was about to say.

Lex likely noticed her absurd behaviour but didn't remark on it. "I am just here to tell you and Yumi that my sister is getting married this weekend and my mom wants my friends there. Could you maybe inform Yumi? I'll be leaving tomorrow morning. West will drive you three the day after."

Friends. Phew, that's better. She thought but tried her best not to show relief.

"Oh, um. Okay."

Without exchanging any other word or smile, he turned around and walked away.

...

Next day tossed in and Lex woke up before he even had the chance to catch a good sleep. He brushed his teeth, took a shower and went through his daily routine. Karan was sound asleep on his bed, snoring loudly. Lex pulled a egg-white coloured sticky note and scrawled I'm leaving. May not attend calls in a neat handwriting before sticking it on Karan's desk. He picked his luggage bag and stepped out of his dorm room.

For a moment, he paused outside Aphrodite's room. He extended his hand to knock on the door but he quickly pulled his hand down and paced down the hallway. He signed his leave for the next three days and jumped in his car. He turned up a soft song and took off before showing his ID at the main gate. He was going to be alone for the next four hours and for some reason, his heart felt heavy. He had to face his old town again--the one he so desperately wanted to leave. On his way, he passed the magic store that he and Aphrodite had stopped by at. The old lady's words still  reverberated in his mind.

Remember, son. Icarus may have died for getting too close to the sun but at least he went down for something he loved.

Agitated, he turned the volume of the radio on to drown his thoughts. His phone rang with his sister's name flashing on his phone. He hastily connected his phone to the car's speakers and attended her call.

"Don't worry, I left. As much as I'll love to do it, I am not ditching your wedding," he joked. Much to his disappointment, he didn't earn a comeback or scold as he expected. Instead Sofia sighed and it wasn't the sigh where you're just releasing the breath. Lex broached, "Sof, is everything okay?" Sofia's breath turned more ragged and shallow.

"I...when are you coming? I need you here. I, um, I'm freaking out."

Shit, she was having a panic attack.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. I'll be there in a couple of hours, okay? Where's mom and..." Lex's breath hitched. "...Dad?" He tried his best not to sound restrained.

"Mom...mom is checking my dress and Dad..." She paused, her breath becoming even more uneven. "...he had an urgent business conference in London. He'll be back tonight for rehearsal dinner."

Good, keep talking.

"Okay, okay and what about Chris? How is he doing?"

Sofia took a deep breath. "He is fine. He has been glowing ever since the proposal. I love...I love Chris just as much as he loves me. I am so happy that I found him. I..." her breaths softened. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him--in our house. We've decided to move to New York next year. Are you bringing a plus-one?"

Lex's heart jumped.

"Uh, no. None," he said tightly.

"Aw, well." Sofia was back to her normal, bubbly self. "I hope you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with soon."

Uh-huh.

"And, um, I..." She added. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"You have to come back here for my wedding. I know you hate this place-- especially after last year's--"

"It's fine." It was the last thing he wanted to talk about. "People who wanna talk about it will talk. It's not your fault, not even in the slightest. Anyway, I'm driving. Will be there soon. Go have a drink."

"Okay. Just to be clear--water or tequila?" Sofia laughed.

"Oh, there's no way you're getting drunk before the rehearsal dinner."

"Relax, Mom. I'm joking. Geez, what happened to you? College made you go sober?"

"I'm the team captain. What did you expect?"

"Aye, Aye, Captain. Whatever."

header image by Brock Wegner

been in a writing slump for days. I wrote this chapter in, like, five different ways. anyway, do you like Sofia? 

how many books did you read this month? I readdore than I expected haha. if you're interested more of bookish contain (outside of wattpad), follow me on Instagram a.little.booked