.. ...

The alarm goes off. Casper groaned in annoyance for interrupting his sleep. Trying to make as little noise as possible so I wouldn't wake up Casper. I jumped out of bed, ran to the bathroom, and got ready. After swiftly putting on my clothes and folding the bed, I headed downstairs, with an Add-Math textbook under my arm, to the dining table.

"Morning, birthday boy", as Catherine turns her head to greet me. "Making your favourite, with a side of last night's birthday leftover. You better finish them both or those cannibals will show no mercy."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Yes, the risk of getting my dessert eaten but the real, burning question was ready to spew out of my mouth like a hot coal on my tongue. I whispered loudly, "Super cheesy, stretchy stringy omelette, with spice?"

"With lots of spice," she replied.

I gave such a toothy grin. It might just get stuck there permanently for the rest of the day. Due to our parents' long absence, Catherine has stepped in to be the cook for breakfast while I would cook for dinner. Normally, we would have half-boiled eggs with buttered toast for breakfast. I'm surprised that Catherine has figured out the recipe to make it.

My heel begins tapping the wooden floor in anticipation. I took quick glances at the stove, checking whether or not my breakfast is ready. It was harder to focus on my studies because of my super-duper breakfast. Still, I did my best to concentrate on my Add-Maths.

Catherine teases me. She kept saying how she forgot to add ingredients to the omelette while looking around the kitchen, making me worry whether or not my breakfast will taste any good. She drags her feet along the floor and slowly, very slowly, sets the omelette in front of me. A cheeky smile grew on her face, knowing she had successfully irritated me.

With my breakfast undisturbed now, I wolf it down, stringy cheese dripping everywhere, creating a whole mess on my plate and oil stains on my textbook. It didn't matter, this is super cheesy, stretchy stringy omelette with spice we are talking about.

Casper and Cassandra came down the stairs. Their faces were still stuck in dreamland. Their uniforms weren't tucked in, Cassandra is missing a sock and Casper had buttoned his whole shirt wrong. I bent down in front of them and told Cassandra to go find her missing sock while I fixed Casper's shirt. I hear Casper incoherently speaking, "You...swan...like...N-Nathan?"

I was puzzled for a moment. I turned to Catherine, but she wasn't in the kitchen anymore. I look back at Casper. He didn't seem estranged at what he just said, nor is he even registering my facial expressions. He robotically moved away from me and sat at the table waiting for his breakfast.

Casper came alive after his hearty half-boiled egg with buttered toast and a large dose of Milo. Cassandra found her school sock, and got her fill just like Casper's but with twice the effect.

Like a coordinated dance, I walked out first, opening the gates. Casper followed while skidding his feet against the concrete floor. Cassandra is more meticulous with her shoes, sitting at the doorstep, strapping on the velcros tightly, and asking Casper to wait for her. Catherine locks the front door and turns off the porch light. Once everyone's out of the house, I locked up the gate and put the key in the side pocket of Casper's bag.

We walked through the same road I ran back from last night. I picture myself running in slow-motion in the same darkness now. I realised what a ghastly state I was in from running when I had the most brilliant idea of wanting to appear to Nathan. Honestly, no one would do something that silly, but I have just proven to be the first.

I held my head in my palm, trying my best to suppress any emotion from the night before. I can feel the wrinkles from my scrunched up face on my hand. Nathan was nowhere near the window I stared so long at last night. I felt the need to escape this body, never wanting to be seen for committing the stupidest act of love of all time. What was I thinking? Appearing half soaked in sweat with messy hair and poor athletic durability in front of the person who meant so much to me?

Catherine and Cassandra walked ahead of me. Casper ran ahead to Catherine and held Catherine's hand. I walked in silence, feeling numb and tired of all the embarrassment I just caused myself. Looking at the three of them, all I can do is smile and thank them for sticking together through everything that has happened so far, and I really don't want any more unforeseen things to occur.

The sun dawns over the horizon, peeking shyly and casting long banner-like shadows from the same cityline we saw last night. An intense red surrounds the glowing orb of a sun, while the light mauve quickly retreats, creating a border of deep orange and separating the hues in between. This view never gets old. I tilt my head up to watch the painted clouds closely, thinking of what kind of shape it will form this time.

Coruscations of clouds drift and dissolve, I study them intently, completely focused on what's above me and being unaware of my surroundings.

Suddenly, I feel a strong force push me from the right side of my arm, followed by the weight piling on top of me. My mind snapped out of a moment too late. I fell back-first on the floor.

The next thing I heard was a loud thud, something warm wrapped behind my back and something heavy pressing against my chest. All I could see was the post lines and the same sky. Tilting my head forward, I look at two dark, round eyes covered by silky, black hair and a slender face, bright red.

Nathan.