Chapter 12: The n


    Just to get August’s mind out of the fact that she boldly kissed her hot neighbor and professorst


    night, she decided to clean her apartment after taking a shower.


    She turned her sound system to its loudest volume that even her vacuum cleaner can''t be heard when


    she uses it. She yed her favorite ylist of Korean Pop music.


    She tied her short hair up with some strands loose, covering part of her neck and face.


    She first cleaned the bathroom, changed her bedsheet cover and pillowcases. She just ate scrambled


    eggs and french toast for brunch. She just couldn''t afford leaving her apartment after what happened


    and might bump into Flynn.


    It''s almost dinner when she''s done tidying her apartment. Her phone rang for FaceTime and she turned


    the iPod volume down to answer her mother''s video call. She ced her iPhone on the phone holder


    while she prepares her dinner, instant ramen noodle from the Korean convenience store!


    Her mother greeted her happily. "How are you, sweetie?"


    She smiled as she blows the hot ramen noodle on the counter top. "I''m fi—"


    "What are you eating?!" Her mother asked, panic in her voice.


    "Uh, ramen?" She answered, a little confused why her mother reacted that way.


    "Have you been eating instant or processed foods since you got there?" She looked so shocked, her


    face upied the whole screen.


    She giggled at her mom''s reaction. She can''t just tell her that she''ll start eating processed foods to


    avoid her neighbor! Knowing her mother, she''d soon discover it once she makes a lousy excuse! So,


    she''d have to just denied it straight up!


    "Of course not!"


    "I''ll have to go there on my next day off and cook you real food. You need to learn to cook real meals,


    sweetie, okay? We''ll do grocery shopping once I go there."


    She chuckled. "Mom, I''m fine. I could just buy take out."


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "You don''t know how oily and fatty fast foods are." She exined. Her mother is a nurse and a health


    enthusiast. It''s one thing that she and her father don''t understand so she would sometimes sneak out


    with her dad eating fast food! She smiled remembering those days. "What are you smiling about?"


    "That''s what makes them delicious, Mom." She chuckled on her throat after she slurps on the ramen


    soup.


    "What''s going on?" She heard her father asking as he tried to fit his face on the screen and realizes


    she''s eating ramen. "That looks delicious, dear. Is it the spicy one?"


    She smiled. "Yes, Dad! You should try this spicy seafood vor!"


    "I can''t believe you''re talking about that in front of me." Her mother sighed.


    "Sure. I''ll try to look for one here or maybe we can eat together once we get the chance toe back


    there, okay?" He winked at her, clearly teasing her mother.


    Her mother pped her father''s shoulder as she walks out. "I''ll just go take a shower. You better not


    eat ramen the next time I call you on FaceTime, Augustine!"


    Sheughed with her father. "Ignore your mother! She''s just jealous she can''t enjoy the food we enjoy."


    "I heard that, Augustus! Stop teaching your daughter about those unhealthy habits you have!" Her


    mother warned, shouting from the stairs.


    They bothughed.


    ???????


    The video call ended when her father said he''ll have to work on the blueprint for another project at the


    city hall.


    Her mother didn''t go back downstairs and probably ended up getting a warm bath on the bathtub which


    she confirmed when her father sent a photo of her mother falling asleep with her stic shower cap on


    and an empty ss of wine in her hand.


    Her dad captioned it with: Why I never want to divorce your mother! That skill gets better every time!


    She was giggling as she walked out of the balcony, knowing that Flynn is probably out for a run and no


    one would be at his apartment or balcony tonight.


    Flynn never messaged her again after she ignored his text messages the morning after they got drunk.


    She just couldn''t think of anything to tell him after what happened. Besides, she''d also have to avoid


    him sooner orter. Maybe it’s a good way to start than n.


    It''s dark outside and the subtle brightness from the street lights gives the city a beautiful glow. She sent


    her father a reply.


    You''re adorable! I love you both! ?


    She was enjoying the view from the sixth floor of the low rise apartment building while sitting on her


    hammock swing chair when the light from Flynn''s apartment turns on.


    Crap! He''s home?


    She panicked and pick the pillow up to cover her face, hoping it would help her hide. She was going to


    get inside when she heard a female''s voice, as if she''s talking to someone on the phone.


    She peeks behind the pillow and she couldn''t help herself from feeling bewildered. With the faint


    brightness from Flynn’s room and city lights, she saw the beautiful young woman with long blonde


    straight hair, her body looks perfect in her red floral wrap minidress and red sandals. She probably


    around Flynn''s age or maybe younger.


    "I''m here at your apartment. I used the key you gave me." She heard the young woman said to the


    person on the phone. "What time will you finish your run?" She paused, waiting for the other person to


    answer which she assumed is Flynn.


    Who else would have a key next door?!


    She felt her chest heavy, as if her heart is being crushed into a thousand pieces.


    That damn bastard! He has a girlfriend! The n to ignore him was right after all. I''m never talking to


    him again.


    She feels bad, d and sad all at the same time. She feels bad that she almost gave in to her feelings


    because she’s physically and intellectually attracted to him. She feels d that they stopped before it


    gets worse. And she feels sad that it was Flynn who was able to take control of himself, he probably


    loves the blonde woman so much he thinks it was a big mistake to do such thing with her!


    She went inside with her eyes in tears. She turned the lights off and went to bed.


    Tears still in her eyes, she resolved that she should stop acting foolish and just focus on school and


    work.


    Why am I acting like this?! I’m not even his girlfriend!


    She closed her eyes as she told herself to stop crying or she’ll have problems exining why she’s got


    puffy eyes if her parents would contact her through video call.


    But what worries her most is the fact that school starts tomorrow.


    How can I focus if Flynn’s teaching my major in school, alwayses to my workce and even lives


    in the same building I live in? Ugh!