10 | Z A C K

I stirred the vegetables and beef inside the pan, before adding the fried mushrooms. The rich, promising aroma wafted down and beckoned the kitchen. Making breakfast every weekends has always being my passion. I love cooking and enjoying the spicy perfume of the saturated air. My mom and I are the only volunteers when it comes to cooking but aren't alone when it comes to eating.

Every two to three weeks, we visit our paternal grandmother who lives about an hour in the outskirt of Denver alone. We go from dusk til dawn. We enjoy spending our time with her in her enormous, isolated, yet cozy cottage.

"I'm literally dying of hunger and this aroma isn't helping matters." Eden whined bitterly the moment she stepped inside the kitchen and dropped down on the stool.

I nudged a plate packed with French toast roll ups farther from my side in response. She jumped from the stool right away and took the plate with her.

"Thank you!"

The front door opened and closed as footsteps echoed on the granite floor tiles. Kassidy popped up, her eyes dilated as she devoured the aroma coming from soup I was stirring.

Kassy was a college undergraduate living with her boyfriend in their own apartment. She's twenty-one with a charismatic and lovely personality. My sister looked akin to us with her short blonde hair, deep blue orbs like the sea, soft features and a below-the-average height, she was the reincarnation of our mother when she was her age.

"Hey guys. What' you doing?" She asked curiously.

"Hi Kassy" I greeted her with a smile. She air kissed me on my left cheek.

"Wow. This kitchen is on fire like literally, I just had breakfast but my stomach is suddenly empty in starvation."

"Yeah Kassy, Zack's scrumptious dishes are very tempting. I think he should consider culinary arts to be one of the best chefs in the world - apart from Mom." Eden said.

"Ewww! Don't talk with your mouth full." Maya scrunched up her nose in disgust as she stared at her sister. She had quietly crept down the stairs without us noticing.

Kassy shook her head and sat next to Eden. "Dad's almost done warming up the car. Where's Mom?"

"Upstairs," Maya shortly replied before fixing back her attention on her phone. "By the way, where is Nathan?"

Nathan is Kassy's long term boyfriend. They have being together for the past three years. A few times, he joined us on our trip. He's quite okay, so we're on good terms. "He decided to go out with his friends today." She faintly replied.

"Eden, have you taken the casserole to the car?" Mom called out from the top of the stairs. She rushed down, now fully dressed instead of the crazy morning mess she always appears to be in.

"For the hundredth time, yes." Eden replied irritatedly.

"Kassidy!" She finally noticed her eldest daughter and gave her a motherly hug.

"Hey Mom. I thought I was late but it isn't what I was expecting."

"Your brother wants to cook his grandmother's favourite dish and we had to wait."

At last, I finished and cascaded the soup inside a food flask. I opened the freezer and pull out the bottles of cold berry and yogurt smoothies.

"Maya, Eden help me get these to the car please." I have to beg my tyrant little sisters to come to my aid which they sometimes don't.

Mom rubbed her hands together with a bright smile, "ready to go?!"

We're already waiting in wings.

***

"Gran, Zack has a girlfriend."

I can't believe what came out of Eden's little mouth. We've only bring here for about two hours but Eden is trying to turn the day upside down. She had been poking me, trying to test my anger. I have a limitation but it wouldn't burst anytime soon.

We're currently in our grandmother's backyard, sitting by the sides of the swimming pool in our trunks. While Maya and Kassy are chewing the rag and enjoying on the chaise lounges, Mom and Dad are inside, getting ready for our soccer match.

"How?! Zack, why didn't you tell me?! This is good news!" Our precious grandma is always quick to judge.

Although, I courted during my junior school years, Gran acts like I'm some untouched, innocent virgin. She tried to set me up with young girls she met in town numerous times,which I turned down.

I rolled my eyes in frustration. "J have no girlfriend, Gran. Eden, stop being silly."

"Then who's the girl?" Gran's wrinkly face creased deeply.

"She's just a classmate and nothing more." A month ago, I'd have wished for more but Daisy is enough at the moment.

"Maya! Can u enlighten me about Jenna? She's your classmate, right?"

I buried my face in my hands at Eden's sudden blunder. All that crap came out faster than magna and just as destructive. Of course, it caught Maya's attention. Both Maya and Kassy sat upright, their eyes seizing us weirdly.

"Maya sweetheart, why don't you give us more details about Jenna, your classmate?" Gran said, her eyes glittering habitual inquisitiveness.

"Jenna? As in Jenna Coleman?"

"Yeah. We met her at the Ice villa and we conversed over a short period of time. She was as nice as a pie. Zack wouldn't stop staring at her." Eden grinned mischievously.

I stared with a blank expression only Gran understand but she was oblivious. I always find solace in her when I'm facing issues. It's being a while since we discuss our personal issues so I'm assuming she thought everything's going perfect. I plan on revealing what I got myself into today but I don't want to ruin their mood. They are in blissful and happy state and I don't want to replace it with the opposite.

"Alright guys, let's begin the match!" My parents came at the right time. I'm glad we'll drop the conversation.

Maya, Eden and I are a team while Mom, Dad and Kassy are our opponent and Gran plays the referee. Playing soccer in the huge backyard of our Gran's cottage is like a family tradition we enjoy doing. Gran lives alone in a very isolated area. Our grandfather passed away over five years ago of liver cancer. Even though Gran was traumatised, she refused to leave the cottage. She said she still feels the presence of her husband there and the beautiful memories they had are permanently scarred inside the cottage.

Maya approached me with a knowing look. We're about to start the game but Dad is warming up so there was a delay.

"You better start talking, Zack. You don't want me to call our friends and tell them the big news."

While Kassy is the duplicate of our Mom, Maya is simply the carbon copy of Eric Lockwood when it comes to their character. Even when the truth hurts, they say it. Once they're determined on something, they must succeed. No wonder they are best friends.

I tried to play dumb, "what do you mean?"

Maya shook her head and squinted her eyes due to intensity of the sunlight. "If you want to play dumb, fine. Why don't we fix the roof while it's still shinning? I'm talking about Jenna. Just tell me what happened."

"Nothing happened, okay? Eden said it herself. We met Jenna at the Ice villa and we chatted for a few minutes and that was it." I blurted out.

She stared expressionless at me, with her hands on her hips. "I don't believe you."

"And I don't care."

"Seriously Zack, what game are you trying to play?"

This time, I sincerely don't know what she's talking about. "What do you mean? The meeting at the parlour was a coincidence. Just so you know, mind your business."

She decided to ignore me. "You're acting weird, Zack. You disliked Candy like crazy but suddenly, she's your new friend? And then, the all shy, naive Jenna chatted with you. I mean, for the past decade she turned a blind eye on you and now, she virtually spoke to you. Don't you think this is senseless? Candy trying to befriend, Jenna trying to befriend in just a week? I observed all of these and came to one conclusion. You're hiding something."

My heart almost leapt out of my chest. I thought she found out about the pregnancy. I know this game is risky but I never thought it could be to that extreme. Anytime soon, I know Maya is going to find out. Not just Maya but the entire universe because the baby bump will finally make an appearance not even Daisy could hide with thick layers of sweaters.

"There's nothing wrong with them trying to befriend me. I tutor Daisy to assist her in passing her exams. Jenna is my partner in English class. Wait, I thought this is what you want - Jenna and I becoming close."

She swept her long blonde hair to one shoulder. "It's not about what I want. It's about you, Zack. I care about you because you're my brother. I'll point out your flaws if necessary and I'll protect you from any harm or demonic intentions." Having said that, she backed off to her original position.

The time is ticking. I have to get mastery over my fears in order to tell my family before they discern from others. It would afflict them to know I hid such a dark secret from them.

Gran blew the whistle, declaring the beginning of the game.

______________________

*Don't forget to vote, comment and share to support me*

Hope you enjoy❤