The sky had fully darkened as the day finally came to an end. Most people had retreated to the comfort of their homes, while others were only just beginning their day. Yet inside a cozy duplex, a simple and peaceful scene was unfolding.
Four people sat around the dining table, animatedly chatting as they enjoyed a hearty dinner. Laughter occasionally filled the room as they discussed the events of the day, their faces bright with genuine smiles.
Just a family enjoying dinner together.
Adrian listened as Drew vented about some particularly annoying customers who had complained about their dishes.
"...Seriously, one more word, and I'd show him my cleaver skills aren't limited to meat."
Adrian chuckled lightly before taking another sip of his refreshing orange juice.
"So, Adrian." Nicole turned her attention toward him. "Did you like your new gift?"
Adrian set his glass down and nodded.
"It's great. The color, the acceleration, everything's just per—"
"And picking up girls too, huh?"
Natalie cut him off with a huff, folding her arms across her chest.
Adrian's sentence died in his throat.
Nicole blinked.
Drew slowly turned toward him with a knowing grin.
Adrian glared at Natalie, already exhausted.
Here we go again.
"...Care to explain?" Nicole asked, her curiosity steadily building.
"Yeah, apparently Adrian's become a ladies' man overnight," Drew chimed in. "And not just with any random girl, either. We're talking about Amaya."
Natalie eagerly added more fuel to the fire.
Nicole's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Now I'm really intrigued. Small world, isn't it? She's a pretty girl, albeit a little shy."
"Her face was bright red the entire conversation," Natalie added, clearly enjoying herself. "And he even called her cute!"
The fire had now become an inferno.
Nicole and Natalie immediately turned their attention toward Adrian, eagerly waiting for his response.
Faced with the two cream-haired women staring him down, Adrian scratched the back of his head.
"I mean... it's the truth, right?"
"Yep. He's head over heels," Drew said with a grin.
"I'll even make a whole bouquet of flowers for you to surprise her with," Nicole quickly added.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"Oh, come on! Saying she's cute is like saying a painting is beautiful."
"Ooh, so you think she's a work of art, huh?"
Nicole masterfully twisted his own words against him.
"That's NOT what I said!"
Unfortunately, arguing with Nicole was somehow even more hopeless than arguing with Natalie.
Like mother, like daughter, he guessed.
Adrian doubted there was anything he could say that would rid him of the allegations.
The dinner eventually came to an end on a bright note. Adrian and Natalie cleared the table and washed the dishes together while casually discussing whatever random topics came to mind.
"You know, I still think you're overreacting about Amaya."
Natalie handed him another plate. "I'm not overreacting. I'm simply making observations."
"Observations?"
"Yes. Very accurate observations."
Adrian rinsed the plate before placing it aside.
"You're impossible."
"And yet, you love me."
Adrian paused.
Natalie looked at him expectantly.
He slowly shook his head.
"That's exactly the kind of sentence that gets people misunderstanding things."
Natalie burst into laughter.
---
Meanwhile, Amaya sat at the dining table, quietly eating a bowl of chicken stew with her grandmother.
She blew gently on a steaming spoonful before taking a bite.
"Tastes great as always, Grandma."
Amaya was already preparing to take another bite when her grandmother smiled warmly.
"Thank you, dear. I knew you'd like it."
She paused before continuing.
"So, how was school today? Did you manage to make it to class in time?"
"Yes, ma'am, I did," Amaya replied.
"That boy took you, right? He seems very nice."
Amaya nearly choked on her food.
She quickly reached for her glass of water, taking a sip before composing herself.
"Hmm... I guess he is."
Her grandmother smiled knowingly.
"It's nice seeing you meet new people. You only ever talk with that Natalie girl. I don't want you growing up lonely like me."
"Don't say that, Grandma."
Amaya tried to lift her mood, but her grandmother simply smiled.
"It's true. If your grandfather hadn't met me when he did, I would have spent my whole life alone."
Amaya opened her mouth to respond, but her grandmother gently raised a hand, stopping her.
"Don't wait for fate to give you the right cards. Sometimes, you have to steal them from the deck."
Amaya blinked.
Her grandmother's bowl now lay empty on the table as she slowly stood from her seat.
"Just a little advice from an old lady."
She gave Amaya a warm smile.
"Goodnight, dear."
"Goodnight, Grandma."
Amaya watched as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Don't wait for fate to give you the right cards...
Sometimes, you have to steal them from the deck.
Her grandmother's words lingered in her mind.
Soon, Amaya finished her meal as well. After clearing the table and washing the dishes, she finally retired to her room.
She let out a quiet sigh laying down on her bed as her body sank softly into the foam beneath her. As she stared up at the ceiling, the events of the day replayed themselves in her mind.
Her thoughts always drifting to one particular person.
He helped me get to school on time, protected me from Tyler, and even got himself into trouble with Principal Eleanor... all without asking for anything in return.
A thoughtful expression crossed her face.
Natalie never mentioned that she had a brother, though.
She rolled onto her side and hugged her pillow tightly.
And those two are pretty... close too.
Natalie had immediately stepped in while she and Adrian were talking. She had even stopped Amaya from sitting behind him on his motorcycle. Then there was the way they had acted around each other after she went inside.
Amaya's thoughts slowly began drifting in a direction she hadn't intended.
What if they're...
The thought barely had time to fully form before her face bloomed red.
"Nope."
She quickly shook her head, throwing it out as fast as it had formed.
"I need to get some sleep and stop overthinking things."
With that, Amaya finally closed her eyes, allowing the darkness behind her eyelids to slowly pull her into sleep.
"Isn't that what friends are for?"
A small smile crept onto her face.
And before long, Amaya finally drifted off to sleep.