Part II
Chapter - 3

I told Nova that mom had no objection to me staying over; and for a second, I saw his eyes gleam in the brightness. Then they were culpable of what I had seen.

“It's alright. She said she doesn’t mind.” I hoped that I could reassure him.

His heart might have ached, but it did blossom too. Perhaps, momentarily.

We sat by the table, alone. What he served, was what he prepared himself—and even though it was late, his parents did not appear. It was no ordinary meal too. The scent and the color told you that it was all costly. It made the food we have been serving him seem shabby. But apparently, we did not share the same opinions.

“It's not as good as your mother cooks, ”he said while serving me some bacon, “but I have tried my hardest. So, please enjoy it.”

I was reluctant, but not because of his words. It was a seed sown in my own insides, by my own doubt and panic. He had said those words to ease me—but it did not seem to help. I raised the fork, hoping that he might actually have mistaken sugar for salt. I put it to my mouth, and felt my odds floating. I was terrified for once. It was not just the more expensive food, but Nova's skills in culinary were also top-notch. I did not need to bite it off; it melted away in my mouth. I’d never buy food again in my life if this was what I was to be served.

My expressions must have played off on my face, and he was quick to catch the gist of it. That was why he smiled, before placing bites into his mouth. It was hard for him to hide it, even when he ate.

“What age did you learn to cook?”

“I was nine. I liked packing my own box when I used to go on field trips with my friends.”

“Friends?” I considered, “Like from our high school?”

He was quiet then. I understood his silence. I needed words to cloak my shallow negligence, and I had opened my mouth to, before the door hit open abruptly. It was pushed so hard on, I felt for a moment that the hinges might have given away.

Someone came in. Long blond curls fell over the ground. It was a woman that came in. She bent over the door to grab the support, as she had literally busted it open.  She was on the verge of falling off, even when tried to hold up. Her ebony stilettos slipped over the thick marble, and the purple dress she wore dazzled under the light.

It was her presence; that was more than enough. Then came her musky cologne. It was something about her, something so familiar and nauseating, that what we described as discourteous did not mean anything when it was done by her. That is how she was.

She cackled short. The cackle of a confident woman. Her hand racked through her hair to push it to the back. And then I saw her. She was grace, and beautiful, like the little mole that sat near the left side of her lip.

She watched something. Her eyes were first on our table, just as soon as they had lifted up. She searched for it; for us. It was then that I noticed it. My eyes were on Nova, and they watched how he sat. Of all the time that it had happened, he had not even turned once to watch it. He sat still, like a mannequin cut out in granite and marble; one that had nothing to do with the world, and yet, everything that happened concerned him.

Of the time I knew him, this was the most dreadful I had seen him. He looked as if something in him screamed to ask me to rush;  something that killed him inside.

I do not know to understand it.

But I did not need to. I was late.

That woman spoke, in a voice drenched in ecstasy and intoxication, “Hey baby,” the letters resonated, and were left behind, “how is it going?”

It ringed in my ear until was gone.

There was no mistaking it.

She had addressed Nova.

Something in me cracked and shattered. It broke fast, and was quick, but the pain that followed came in afflicting ripples of waves. It was bad. It did not seem right.

No.

Who was she?

Why?

What did she have to do?

With him?

With us?

I gulped. It made my throat ache. My eyes had become watery. Why did it hurt? I did not know. It was just weird.

“How are you doing? You bringing friends over tonight?” She was dazed. She stumbled her way to his chair, and stood by his side. One of her hands cupped his face.

“Did you make it yourself?” She smiled. “I knew it. You are just too good. I love you.”

I averted my eyes. “How good. But I would love you more if you can do the dishes too. You can do it… can’t you?”

She squeezed his cheeks, her gaze unmoving. Nova just watched, he did not even blink.

“Yes.”

“And—”

She was to speak, but someone called from the door.

“Babe, c’mon. We’re late,” I heard.

I held my breath. My brain had stopped functioning.

“Just a second, honey,” she called. She then looked at me. Her eyes suddenly seemed interested.

It gave me chills. I wanted to run away.

She walked over to me. It was slow. And I was so timid, that my heart tried to match the pace of her heels clicking against the floor. She stopped beside me. Her hand slammed near where Nova had kept my dish, and it made it roll. It stopped, and then it was dead still. She studied me. It did not seem like an extremely hard job for her.

“So you are that friend?” she questioned. She grinned. “It's nice to have you. Make sure you have a great time as long as you are here.”