Sentiments

I hate Sundays.

I really, really do hate Sundays.

On Sundays, I have to stay at home all day and all night.

‘Family time'.

Well, it's a good thing. Family time should be appreciated. Unless you have a family that's always arguing and fighting each other.

Then you really should  not appreciate it.

It was quarter to 10 and I was still snuggling in the blankets, scrolling down 9gag and waiting for when dad would come and wake me up and I'll have to go through the same Sunday routine I've been going for a long while.

I was giggling when dad knocked on the door and came in and my giggles haltered.

“Good morning, Grace. I see you're awake already,” he said. I peeked out of the blanket. His salt-and-pepper hair shone in the sunlight that was coming through the window. His hazel eyes twinkled with freshness.
He was always unusually alert and fresh in the mornings, but I was not such a morning person.

“Morning,” I said and slid my phone under the pillow before getting up from the bed. “I'll be down in 10.”

“Alright.” He turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

I got fresh-well, as fresh as I could in the morning, tying my hair in a ponytail and changed into black tights and navy blue blouse. He hates when we come to breakfast in our pyjamas.
I wore my glasses and stared in the mirror.

I had a feeling that this was going to be a long day. Plus, I was already tired.

I woke up tired.

I ran downstairs and as usual, dad was sitting on the table with a newspaper in his hands, his own glasses on the tip of his nose, chatting with Alex about school.

That's the only thing he frequently chatted about.

Mom was making scrambled eggs in the kitchen and I went to help her.
“Grace, can you roll my sleeves?”

I did as told, her hands wet due to cutting tomatoes. She tried to tuck the black tendrils of hair falling on her face by the back of her hands but failed miserably.

I stopped staring and tucked her hair behind her ears, properly retying them with the hairclip.

She smiled and muttered a thanks.
I went to the fridge and took out a slice of cheese and handed it to mom.

“Cheese in mine,” I said.

“I knew, I was going to get it. Let me make the simple ones first.”

“Okay, I'll make mine,” I said and she whistled.

“What?” I said, letting out a short laugh. She just shook her head and emptied the pan for me. She went to the toaster for breads and I started making my own breakfast, adding in every spice and herb I could find quickly, onions, tomatoes, green chillies, capsicum and parsley along with it.

And, of course, the cheese.

I was the only hardcore cheese lover in the home so.

We all sat on the table, that's when Aaron finally came, his eyes red as they were every morning, his hair a mess.

He's a mess.

But we all are in our own ways. Still, he's the kind of mess you just can SEE.

I smiled inwardly at the thought and resumed eating.

“So Aaron, how's studies?” Dad asked.

Ugh.

“They're good. We're having our finals soon. We're preparing the events for our graduation nowadays. Party and all that.”

“Hmm, that's good.” He munched at his food and smiled, his wrinkled face widening.

“And you, Grace? How are your studies?”

“Fine, really,” I said and finished my breakfast, pouring myself water. But when I took a sip and looked above, everyone was staring at me...

Right.

“Um, tell us more?” Mom said, her green eyes twinkling with humour.
I nearly rolled my eyes but stopped myself.

“I have my exams too in about two months. Right now we're just focusing on assignments,” I said.

“And are you getting good grades in them?” Dad asked eagerly.

“Yep. All A plus,” I said, barely containing myself from-

“I hope it stays that this time,” dad said, sipping on his tea.

-that exactly.

“I'll try my best,” I said and gave my trademark fake smile.

He nodded and looked away and my smile fell.

It won't stay that. I'll make sure.

“Alex?”

“Um, I gave this maths test and I got 43 out of 50 marks,” he said but hurriedly added, “I'll improve dad-"

“That's not good enough, Alex, you know that right?” He said, his mood changing gradually to anger.

“Yeah, but-"

“No buts,” he interrupted, “maths is really easy if you practise. Why don't you? Beth?”

He called mom and she went into a foul mood by the look on her face, “why are you getting angry? He's going to get better marks next time, he said that.”

“You know you should focus on him getting better at his studies rather than going out with your friends every other day.”

Mom's jaw fell open, literally.

“Excuse me but I'm also a doctor JUST LIKE YOU and I do a job JUST LIKE YOU and have to maintain my social life JUST LIKE YOU as well.”

Dad nearly slammed the tea cup on the table and Alex, who was sitting on dad's right side, visibly flinched.

Aaron muttered an ugh and said, “Mom, dad, please stop so early in the morning-"

“YOU need to talk properly to ME,” dad said, getting furious.

“OH, I have to talk PROPERLY and you can treat me like shit whenever you like,” Mom said, frustrated.

That's my cue to get the hell out.
I started picking the dishes while trying to remain invisible, while mom and dad shouted at each other,  Alex ran to the kitchen and Aaron tried to calm them down.

I went into the kitchen myself and saw Alex worried. I put the dishes in the sink and stood near Alex, awkwardly patting his shoulder.

“Go play or study or whatever. It's okay,” I said.

He nodded and looked at me, his large eyes worried, his lips down in a frown.

At this point, he knew that whatever the thing was that started the fight, it was not the main reason for them shouting at each other.

They just needed that little spark.
He started going to his room.

“And Alex,” I said and he turned to look at me, “don't ever be like them.”
He just went.

I figured I should study and made my way to my room.

After getting everything on my study table, I relaxed back.

Now, which subject to not get an A plus this time? Should it be 2 this time or 1 like before?

I guess I'll just Eenie meenie the whole lot and let it decide.

I tuned out the loud shouts that were ringing through the entire house and started pointing at the textbooks.

“Eenie meenie miney moe,
Catch a tiger by the toe,
If he hollers, let him go,
Eenie meenie miney mo.”

Phonology it is.

I sighed and rested my head on the table.

My head hurts from all their shouting.

It's always like that. They argue about anything and start shouting. It's so frequent nowadays. When in public, they may appear like a sweet couple. They sure do know how to act their part.

But who's watching at home, right?
Except just the kids who might have a worse impact that they think.

I sighed and looked at the Phonology textbook.

Now how will I not get an A plus in this one?

Maybe I should mess up one of the assignments or the finals?

I can decide that later.

...................

After spending the last three hours studying my head off, I decided it was time to treat myself.

I wore my leather jacket and my everyday jewellery plus makeup, brown sandals and after telling mom that I won't be home for lunch, went out of the goddamned house.

I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath slowly, feeling better already and started walking with no destination in my mind. I plugged in my earphones and played shuffle. My feet moved with the rhythm,  my body swaying lightly along with it as I walked the streets.

I treasure alone time. I love walking the streets with no care while it lasted.

I must have walked here and there a good two hours before I got a text. Thinking it must be Heather, I smiled lightly and took out the phone out of my pocket quickly to see who it was.
It was Ethan.

Well, not what I expected but I wasn't disappointed either.

I read the text:-

Heyyyy. Whatcha doin?

I rolled my eyes and replied:-

Out. Alone. Walking. Going for lunch somewhere.

I waited for his reply.

Ooh, where? Can I join?

If I roll my eyes again, they'll start hurting.

Yep. Wherever you say.

He replied:-

I know this good Chinese hotel. What do you say?

Chinese it is.

He texted me the directions and I took a cab.

It was not too far away. It was an outdoor hotel, not too crowded. A nice, good vibes hotel. They had an indoor dining are as well.

I texted Ethan:-

Where art thou?
He replied:-

Behind thou, milady.

I turned behind and he stood there, clad in a navy blue shirt and black jeans with a dark grey upper and sneakers.

I looked down at my own outfit and then at him.

He smiled. “We match.”

“Whatever. So, what's the best thing here? I'm famished.”

We ordered noodles and chinese rice with chicken manchurian and sat on one of the wooden tables.

“So how was your Sunday?” Ethan asked.

I waited for a second before answering, “Boring. The usual old boring Sunday. You?”

“You just flinched.”

I made a face and said, “What?”

“I mean, before you said boring, you visibly flinched. Was your Sunday not good?”

Oh man.

“Really? How?”

“Your eye twitched. Your left eye.”

Aw man.

“Tell me. What happened?” Ethan asked, leaning in, his eyebrows furrowed, a serious look on his face.

“I will. But before it gets sappy, I want you to tell me how was your day so far?”

He leaned back.

“It was nice. Dad was back from his business tour so we had a nice fancy breakfast and talked about our lives. Me and Emma wasted time on games before I texted you.”

I nodded. That was nice.

“Now, let's get sappy,” he said and I smiled.

“It was just the usual Sunday and I mean it when I say that. Everything was fine until mom and dad started fighting and we went to our rooms. I studied for a while before going out.”

“And what were you doing out?”

“You know, just walking around, lost in music, swaying~” I swayed my body and he laughed.

“You like dancing?” he asked.

“I LOVE dancing!”

“I can tell,” he said, pointing at my hands that I had clapped together when I said that. I glanced around, making a face.

“There's just something about dancing, you know? That reveals what we are as we lose ourselves in it. I'm actually nearly always dancing when no one's watching,” I said.

“I might get to see that one day,” he said, smirking.

“No one, I said, in case you didn't get that.”

He laughed.

We ate our delicious meals, mostly silent but talking about something now and then. After arguing 10 minutes about who's going to pay, I gave up and we walked out of the area.

“So are you free? I mean, for a while?”

“Well, I don't have anything else to do except sulk at home so yeah. What do you have in mind?”

“You should come by at my place,” he said. “Mom and Em will love you.”

I stopped in my tracks.

“What's wrong?”

“Um,” I shifted, “I don't think that's a good idea. You know how long it took for me to get comfortable with you. They'll die of boredom.”

“Come on!” he insisted.

“Maybe when-"

“Nope. You're coming.” He said and held me by my wrist and dragged me to the footpath to hail a cab.

“Heyyy,” I tried to get myself free but gave in. He shifted his hand to hold my own hand instead of my wrist and we waited for the taxi.

“You need to give me tips. And you need to be there all the time. Don't leave me alone.”

He rolled his eyes. “They're just like me. You need to chill.”

“Chill, as if,” I muttered.

Finally, a taxi stopped and we got in. He said the address which was oy a couple blocks away from where we were now.

“Don't worry. They'll like you. Just be yourself.”

I widened my eyes, “Did you really just say that?” I laughed and he did too.

“Okay! You can let go of my hand now, I won't jump out of the taxi.”

He was still holding my hand tightly and caressing my fingers absently but as I said that, he abruptly let go of my hand and cleared his throat, probably feeling awkward in this situation as he looked down and then at me with pursed lips and I laughed lightly.

“Tips please,” I said.

“You already know about Em, she'll do most of the talking so you won't have to worry about that. Mom will probably ask questions and as long as you answer as normally as you can-" he said, emphasizing on the normal so I rolled my eyes, “-you'll be fine. Dad won't be home right now.”

I sighed. Long day.

The taxi stopped at our destination and we got out. I looked at the white and grey schemed exterior of the house.

Ethan took the keys out of his pocket and opened the grey gate and we walked a few feet of the garage to the main door. A wide lawn extended to the right and went behind the house. The lawn was bordered with bushes and orange trees, a section of flowers decorating the middle.

“Nice lawn,” I said. He passed a smile and opened the door.

“Ma~” he called out and a reply came from the other end.

We walked through the living room with lavender and grey schemed furniture decorated with various paintings and souvenirs.

Though it did not appear homey, it had the vibe. Compared to the home I live in, which has a warm look but a cold vibe, this was the opposite.

A cool look and warm vibe. Good.
We walked to the kitchen where a woman, his mom, stared at me with surprise on her face apparent. She must be in her forties but had a face that looked ageless, with Ethan’s dark brown hair that went down her shoulders in beach waves and warm honey eyes. She was very pretty, clad in an apron.

The smell of what she was cooking filled the air, spices and all.

“Ethan! You've brought a friend! You should've called me, I look so messy.”
“Oh no, it's alright. I'm Grace, nice to meet you.” I shook her hand.

“Oh, so you are Grace,” she said, scanning my whole self and I glared at Ethan.