FACING THE TRUTH

My mum's cooking was at the same level as mine. We had canned soup and ham sandwiches. It was fine since Uncle Max was just a stone's throw away. On days that we were all under the weather, we could call him and have Marco deliver to our doorstep.

But even as I ate, I really missed home made gratin and that new box of fancy chocolates smell. You know what, I should just go a buy a box of those f***ing chocolates.

Oh what was wrong with me? Why was I so upset?

Keeping this cat was bad for me. I should put him up for adoption. I was done with this s***.

Didn't I say I was done with this? This... This being the second place, I'm tired of smiling and laughing it off like I don't love you. I'm tired of watching you leave when it's time to go because your pack is always first. But most of all, I'm tired of lying to myself that I don't love you because I know how much it would hurt when your soulmate shows up.

Wow. Epiphany.

I'm in love with my cat.

"What's wrong, Serene?" Mum asked.

"I suddenly have a craving for a box of expensive chocolates." I told her.

"What?" Mum furrowed her brow, puzzled.

"You know, like the type Shilem used to buy me." I answered lightly, "I'm going out to buy some."

"Oh, Serene! I'm sorry." Mum said suddenly, "I'm sorry it didn't work out between you and Shilem, but he has moved on, and you need to move on too."

Ooof. Wow, that was a blow to my pride, by my own mother, no less.

"I am totally over Shilem! I was over him since college!" I argued.

"Then why is it you keep chasing the unattainable men? Like that Beta... you know nothing will come out for dating a Lycan who isn't your soulmate." Mum said, "Why don't you go to the wedding with Marco? Or Fred? I know Fred had been watching you for years."

It's too late, Mum. But the words wouldn't come out.

I shook my head, "It wouldn't have worked out with them either."

Maybe that was my problem. Maybe the problem was me.

Thankfull, Mona burst into the shop with a loud jangling of the little bell above the door, "Serene! We need to go shopping! NOW!"

I took this as an excuse to run downstairs, away from the conversation I didn't ever want to have, especially not with my mum.

"Quick! Girl, hurry! This is a matter of life and death! We need dresses! And make up! And bling! And heels..." Mona was close to shrieking. I noticed Dad wincing, even though he claimed to be hard of hearing at his age.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"The wedding's tomorrow and you need to make Shilem wish he never dumped you!" Mona told me sternly.

"No, I'm actually happy for him." I lied with my usual smile and shrug, "But I have a craving for chocolate, so I'll come with you."

I managed to smile through the rest of the shopping too. I even bought a silver silk dress and matching heels. The heels were killer high, and the end looked sharp enough to stab someone with.

I also got chocolates. I had never bought chocolates for myself before, but maybe I should get used to it. I might be buying chocolates for myself for a long time yet.

Because of my bad habit of "chasing unattainable men."

"So did you get your plus one yet?" Mona asked.

My first reaction was to lie through my teeth and say yes. Then at the very last minute, give a stupid excuse and skip the event.

But that would be dishonest. And I did value my friendship with Mona enough to want to keep it real.

Or I could just not answer anything directly and hope she drops it.

I tried to tell her the truth but saying "I don't have a plus one" made me feel pathetic. Especially in the light of what my mum said.

Did everyone here think that Shilem broke up with me and I haven't gotten over him?

I've gotten over Shilem. I've even gotten over Harvey. It's my cat that's giving me issues.

Anyway, I couldn't admit I didn't have a date aloud, so I laughed it off, "I'll be coming with my imaginary boyfriend."

Mona laughed, "You're mad. Oh well, as long as Shelly can imagine him clearly too."

Now I needed an AR projector.

No, I'm kidding. I waved Mona off promising to knock everyone's socks off tomorrow, then I went out to help my parents collect take outs from Uncle Max's cafe, and then took my share up to my room claiming that I had way too much work to finish.

"I can't believe I shopped all afternoon, and tomorrow, the wedding will be all morning. The trades aren't going to make themselves, you know." I joked as I excused myself.

Mum pressed her lips together, but said nothing.

You can fool some of the people some of the times, but you can never fool all of the people all of the time.

I'm pathetic. That's the truth of it. I'm a failure at love. And I'm bad at facing the truth about myself.

What's that truth? I'm not the happy confident and successful woman I want everyone to think I am. I'm not the type of girl guys think of as their one true love. I'm just the presentable second place.

The tears came down again. They came down hard. I pulled out the box of chocolates and threw it on my desk.

Then I lifted open my laptop and turned it on. Sniffing quietly, I wiped my tears out of my eyes to see the screen.

My phone vibrated. Was it my cat?

No, it was Shilem.

"Hi babe. I heard you were back. Can I see you now? Meet me at the swings."

What the hell was that?

I considered it very briefly. And then I took a screenshot and posted it to Fred, Marco, Mona, and Clara.

Just as I posted, my cat texted. So I ended up sending the screenshot to him. Oh great.

"Eat properly. Get rest. Don't stay up late. It's probably your period."

What the hell? Was that something a boss texted his female subordinate?

He's just a cat. He's just a cat. He's just a cat.

And then another message before I could delete the screenshot.

"Who is Shilem?"

"No one." I quickly texted back, "I posted on the wrong chat. Sorry. PS I think u posted on the wrong chat too."

There was a pause. Ha! Take that, you cat! And then he replied.

"I can feel you crying all day."

Eh? Feel me crying? Was that another Lycan secret super skill to spy on your employees' unstable feelings? And I was not crying all day! Maybe I was. Was it really just PMS? Oh man... I'm such a fool.

I went into the bathroom to check and then stuck on a pad, just to be safe.

My cat was right, it was actually about that time of the month for me.

So today's ridiculous amount of inner turmoil was just PMS? Hahahaha.

I ate my dinner. Still missing gratin and the smell of fancy chocolates. And then I crawled into bed and curled up to sleep.

My cat was right. It was probably just my period.

My phone chimed again, opps Shilem!

"Babe, I'm at the swings. Come out and meet me, please."

I took another screenshot of the two messages and this time carefully shared it in the right chat group.

"WTF." Marco was first to reply.

"Don't go!" Fred texted.

"No, let's all go." Mona texted.

"Everyone meet behind Fred's house in five." Marco texted.