A peaceful night was spent in her room, she was painting, a bloody red paint was dripping down on her illustration board, it was a bloody red rose while the red paint was dripping in uneven length, it was light enough not to drop to the bottom, it was just enough to show that it was dripping like blood from each petal. She had her headphone so her attention was fixed on her painting.
But something lighted up beside her and found her, she saw a notification. She cringe her forehead when it was a message.
“Open the door,” it says but it was an unknown number so she ignored it. She continued highlighting the outline of her painting to important details to make it more attractive. A message popped in again.
“Where are you? Open the door, I am starting to worry.” Her face turned into confusion, who would worry about me? she thought. Then it started ringing and she immediately answered.
“Hello?” and his voice made her smile immediately she got up and straighten her face before walking to the door.
“Yes?”
“Where are you? I have been knocking since yesterday.” She bit her lip to stop her smile when she heard him complain. Instead of answering she cut the call and opened the door.
“Finally!” he sighed.
“I had my headphone on so I didn’t hear anything.” She explained and let him in.
“What’s the matter?” she asked instantly, while Nick found himself a chair to sit on.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yeah?”
“Good, I haven’t, let’s eat.” He stood and went to her kitchen. She eyed him like he was some sort of an alien, it was clear that she said yes and he answered that way.
“You have your own kitchen, let me remind you.” But deep inside she was happy to have him in.
“I know but I am out of stock so I am eating here.” He sheepishly smiled at her and started searching for something to cook in her fridge. And he saw a sausage, he turned to her and Fera only crossed her arms.
“You’re not having that, find something else.” She clearly ordered but he only smirked at her.
“Why? Isn’t sausage good and easy to cook?” His naughty smile never left his lips, he was doing good bringing up her stupid moments. She had regained the embarrassment so she went to him and snatched the canned sausage but he raised his hands. She glared at him but his eyes were glistening adding his white teeth and a full smile, her heart started racing then realized how close they were.
“Give me that darn sausage,” and she stepped back wearing her mad expression.
“I can’t hear you.” And he turned his back, he went to get the oil and pan but Fera walked out. “Okay, we’re not having sausage for today, we’ll have hotdog instead.” But Fera did not even turn her head back.
“Hey! I’m sorrrryyy, we’re not going to have sausage anymore.” He said while chuckling but it was answered by silence. He put everything down and followed her. She was sitting at her study table when he entered her room.
“Fairl? I’m sorry.” He awkwardly asked sorry when the truth Fera was holding her smile back, he went closer and hugged her from behind. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she said but took his arms off and went to her bed.
“I know it’s not, I will not do it again, I will not bring that topic again.” He said while standing beside her bed.
“Okay,” her cold response made him more worried that she was mad. He lay next to her and hug her. “I’m sorry,” he softly said.
“Okay,”
“You’re not okay, I’m sorry. What do you want? Anything you want to make it up.”
“It’s fine,”
“Realy?”
“Yeah,”
“Then you’ll eat with me?” she had put all her effort to stop herself from smiling, he was so adorable when he gently asked her.
“I’m full,”
“I am not eating until you eat with me, you don’t need to eat anyway. You’ll just sit there and watch me eat.” She find it childish but her smile escaped.
“And that supposed to be fun?” she almost laugh at it.
“Of course, come on.” And he carried her out of her bed in bridal style to the kitchen and put her on a chair.
“This better be entertaining, I was painting and you disturb me.” She didn’t hide her smile anymore.
“Watch and learn,” he got her black apron with a pink flower design. He got the pan and flipped it before putting it on the stove. “We are going to make corn beef in Nicky style.” And he showed the can of corn beef and even smile then pose for a few minutes.
“You are absolutely not for modeling.” She harshly commented and he acted hurt which made her laugh. “Silly.”
“I am for you that’s why, okay first, let’s add a few amounts of oil, while waiting for it to boil, we’ll do a quick cutting off onion and garlic.” She was stopped by his sudden pick-up line. But manage to keep her smile and acted listening.
“Now, we add the garlic and onion.” She was looking at him almost the whole time. Until he finished it. Even if she had already eaten, Nick prepared her a plate too. She left no choice but to eat.
“I want to invite you actually,” he confesses.
“To?”
“A small party at my grandparent’s house.” He said and took a full spoon of rice.
“A party about?” she was suspicious of what was the party about.
“My birthday party,” he simply said. “It’s just a simple dinner with family,” he never left her eyes, waiting for her answer.
“Wouldn’t that be awkward?” she asked and he instantly shook his head with a wide smile.
“Of course not, Lola Clarita wants to see you too.”
“I don’t think so, who else is your family? I think your relative will be there and family friends, I presume.”
“Partly but that wouldn’t be too crowded, I promise.” He hopefully looked at her.
“You know that I am not that friendly, I might mess with your relatives and ruin the party.” She could imagine herself ruining his night at that party. She never likes a party and hates to be surrounded by people.
“Well, you can try and if you want to then I will send you home. You can not miss my birthday celebration, come on.”
“I don’t know.”
“There’s nothing to worry about, I did nothing this time. No police will show up, I promise.” Her experience in his grandparent’s house wasn’t so good, the reason why she was hesitant. While she was thinking about how to decline, she didn’t really like the idea of showing up at his party.
“Come on, it’s just a party, after that, I will send you here.”
“No, I will be meeting your family, isn’t awkward?” But truly, she was afraid that one of his relatives knew her family. Especially his grandfather, Nickolas Hernandez.
“Please.”
“Okay,” she finally agreed.
“Yes! Okay, I’ll pick you up by six pm, cool?” he asked. There was no turning back for Fera. She couldn’t snatch his delight anymore. But nervousness had perfectly settled in her chest. She knew that attending his party would be risky but she couldn’t say no.
After the dinner, Nick bid him goodbye and she was left thinking about what she should do. Until her eyes fell into her cellphone and find herself dialing her dear cousin. It was odd but he was the only person that came into her mind that could help her.
“Yes, hello?” she heard him say from the other line.
“When did you become formal to me?” she asked, it wasn’t a so good start to a conversation when she needed something but that phrase surprised her.
“Since you learn to call me, I was expecting a police officer or any civilian when I saw your caller ID that’s why.” She was taken aback by his words, why would he expect someone when it was her phone?
“And that’s supposed to mean something?”
“I was expecting that you were arrested if you drop your phone somewhere and someone would call me using your phone, cause you never called me until now. There must be something.” He sounded tired and bored and his last statement made her nervous.
“I just need your opinion on something.” She manage to say that but she had no idea where to start.
“Okay?”
“It’s about Nick…” she glance at her ceiling and took a deep breath.
“And?” his impatient reply made her hesitant to bring it up.
“He invited me to his birth…” her voice was gradually slowing and bit her lips, she had not finished her words but that was enough for Fred to understand the situation.
“Birthday party. Will you be needing a date?” he asked he was surprisingly calm as she expect and warm.
“No no no, I was just torn between attending or not, do you think it would be okay?” It was very awkward from Fera’s end. The was surprised he didn’t ask why would she be attending.
“I don’t know, I never heard a Hernandez associated with your father or mother, his family would be safe, I think.” And the glee in her heart had risen, she couldn’t hide her smile anymore. She was still the little girl that wants something new, her held backs before had gone lighter.
“Really? Then can I attend his party?” She clumsily asked those questions out of happiness. She bit her lower lip when she realize how awkward her question was. It wasn’t the typical her that would be interested in a party and so much invested like that. She sounded like a toddler that was permitted by her father. The other line went silent for a second.
“Sure,” he answered after a few silence.
“Okay, thank you.” She cut the line and suppress her happiness. Her smile was too wide as she took a deep breath. She carefully put her cellphone down and hugged the pillow.