“You see those stars?” Kent calmly asked. and I heard his voice from his chest.
“Yes.”
“They always shine, but their shine only appears in perfect timing,” he stated.
“What do you mean?” I said, and for a second I thought he was going to propose to me. My heart thumped fast, and I started sweating on my forehead.
Kent got up in a sitting position, which made me get up and sit as we looked at each other. He held my hands, and looked at me, “Celia,” he started.
My heart skipped a beat, and maybe two or three.
“I wanted to say that I love you.”
He finally said it. He finally said he loved me. I grinned so wide, like never before and said, “I love you too.”
Then I hugged him tightly. He returned the embrace and we stayed there, feeling the love surround us.
****************************************
Later on, after Kent had dropped me off at my house, my family and I had dinner, and I had the time to sit with my father in the living room once he’d taken my mother to their bedroom. He looked alert that night, maybe anxious. I pretended that I was watching television but I kept glancing at my father. He looked tired, but tried so hard not to show it. It must have been hard to work at home as a marketing campaign designer, but the managers had a talk with him, and he had the permission to work from home a few days of the week.
“How was your day?” I asked.
He turned to me and said, “It was hectic, but I’m hopeful.” He then smiled. “You shouldn’t worry about me. That’s my job as a father.”
“What’s my job, then?”
“You’re supposed to have fun. This is not your responsibility. “I’m sorry if you’ve ever felt that way.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Dad, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault,” I comforted him.
He shook his head, and shuddered as he tried to hold his tears in. One dropped from his eye, and he quickly wiped it away. “I just want the best for you. All of you.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“I’m just…tired,” he confessed.
I got up and put my hand on his arm, “Dad, go get some rest. You need it, it was a long day.”
“Okay.” He got up and kissed my forehead, and said, “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Dad.”
I finally checked my phone after a long day and I got a few texts from my girls, Kent and Ned.
Kent: Send nudes ;)
I typed after a while.
Celia sent a sexy lady sticker
Kent: Ouch!
Me: I’m in my pajamas now
I took a picture of my bunny pajama and sent it to Kent.
Celia sent a picture
Kent: Bunnies, huh?
Me: Yeah, I’m obsessed with bunnies since I was three years old
Kent: Now I know what to buy for your birthday ;)
Me: Not the real ones, they poop EVERYWHERE
Kent: Hey, we poop too
Me: At least we clean ourselves
Kent: They’re still cute
Me: They are
I got a text from Max and Jane on the other group chat
Max: I’m stressing about us
Jane: Us?
Max: Our friendship
Me: So sorry, was away all day!
Max: Hey, Celia
Jane: We missed you
Me: I know
Celia sent a sad face sticker
Me: I was really busy with school and Kent
Me: Kent…
Me: You’d never guess what happened!
Max: OMG, DO TELL
Jane sent a surprised face sticker
Me: We went on a picnic this evening
Max: AND?
Jane: and?
Me: He confessed that he loves me!
Max: OH, MY, I saw that coming though
Max: I mean who wouldn’t love you, hun? ;)
Jane: I love you too
Max sent a middle finger sticker
Me: I guess she’s drinking
Max: So Celia, what’s next?
Me: I don’t know, I hope we move in together
Max: I hope so too
Max: I’m so excited for you!
Me: I’m excited for me too!
Me: Well, gotta go
Me: Goodnight
Max: Goodnight ;)
Jane: NIGHT
I closed the chatroom, and opened an active one. I had no idea who texted me, so I added that person’s name as “Stranger.”
Stranger: Hello
Me: Hi?
Stranger: :)
Me: Who are you?
Stranger: The king to your kingdom!
Me: umm, excuse me?
Stranger: It’s me, Ned
When he texted his name, I went to my contacts and changed his name to Ned.
Ned: You okay with me texting?
Me: I agreed, didn’t I?
Ned: yup :)
Ned: Glad you did, though
Me: Don’t push your luck
Ned: Okay, I want to let you know that we’d need to meet up often to start this project
Me: Yes?
Ned: My home or your house?
Me: Your house
Ned: Are you free tomorrow evening?
Me: I’ll try
Ned: It’s a date
Me: No it’s not
Ned: Then it’s not. Sorry
Me: Yeah…
Kent texted me again, in the middle of our weird conversation.
Kent sent a kiss sticker
Celia sent a heart sticker
Kent: You know I love you, right?
Me: I know, and I love you too
Kent: Be prepared for tomorrow ;)
Me: Ooooh, another surprise? ;)
Kent: You’ll find out tomorrow
Me: Alright, see you tomorrow
Me: Goodnight?
Kent: Goodnight
Ned hadn’t finished his texts and started texting me again. I felt a little annoyed that he was texting me. It wasn’t like we’d become best buds or anything.
Ned: Are you sure, now?
Me: What is it?
Ned: I can’t believe I’m meeting you tomorrow
Me: Umm
Ned: Did I say that in words?
Ned: Oops
Me: Goodnight, Ned
Ned: Okay
I put my cellphone on the bedside table, and opened a drawer. There were
