Chapter - 14

After a while when I was just about to finish the dishes in the sink , dad came in collecting more dishes to be washed . Ugh - I just finished these . He kept them in the sink in front of me and smiled when he saw me annoyed .

" I can do these if you don't want to . " he offered .

" It's fine dad . I'll do it . " I said .

" You should sleep . " I said while he nodded .

Just as I was about to start washing these , I heard a chair being dragged behind me and I turned around to see my Dad being seated in the middle of the room .

" You know - if you like that guy just tell him . " he said after a while making me sigh .

" Dad - can we not ? " I asked .

" What ? I'm just giving you some advice . "

" Dad - I'm fine . I really don't need your advice . " I said .

" Just tell him . " he said ignoring what I just said .

" Dad . We are not discussing my love life . "

" Oh come on . I'm your dad . " he said, making me force a laugh .

" Yes . You're my DAD . " I said, emphasizing on the dad .

" You can tell your dad . "

" About my love life ? No thanks dad . "

" Kids these days . " he said, making me laugh .

" Besides, why are you soo interested ? " I asked him .

" Your brother never tells me who he is dating or something . Just thought my only daughter would tell me . But - it’s fine . I’ll be okay . " he sighed dramatically, making me roll my eyes at my father .

" Ugh . Fine fine . Just this once . " I said and turned around to see my dad smiling . “ After this , we are never discussing my love life, dad . “ I said sternly .

“ Ya ya ok . “ he smiled .

" Yes . I like Sam but I don't know if he likes me and we have a great friendship so I don't want to ruin that . " I told my dad .

" Well he did bring you your favorite flowers even when he didn't have to . Who knows but maybe he likes you ? "

" Yeah no . " I said . After finishing washing all the dishes , we went upstairs to our respective rooms .

" Good night . " we wished each other .

" Good night Dan " I yelled from my room . " Good night . " he yelled back .

It was 9 o'clock already when I sat down and took out my assignments . I turned on my pc and texted Sam .

Are you still up ?

Yep .

Zoom ?

OK .

Just after a while of sending the link , he joined .

" Hey ! Had dinner ? " I asked .

" Yep . "

" So which subject ? " I asked .

" Biology ? "

" Ya sure . "

After an hour , we were done with our biology .

" Is it still there or not ? " he asked . " I think so . They're not extinct . "

" Oh ok . "

" I'm done with biology . " I said .

" Umm -"

" Me too . " he said and closed his copy . " That was a lot of notes . "

" Yeah . "

" Now what ? " he asked .

" English ? "

" Oh right . The essay . "

" Read it to each other once finished ? " I asked .

" Oh yea . Good idea . "

After researching and writing for about another hour now , I was finally done .

" I'm done ." he said just as I was about to .

" Me too . "

" You wanna read it first ? " he asked .

" No . You can go on . " I said, yawning .

" It's long . "

" Don't worry . I'll be listening . " I said and kept my head down on the table .

" Ok . " he said . I yawned again .

" Climate change has always been the major topic in every country in this world . It has had a global effect and has seriously made us think about the choices that we humans have made . About the activities carried out in our own houses --

" Ellie . Ellie . " someone whispered in my ears . " Wake up honey . " It was dad .

" Dad ? What - what are you doing ? What time is it ?" I asked .

" 6:30 in the morning, " said my dad . " Oh shoot." I said slowly, trying to wake up . " Ow . My neck hurts . " I said massaging my neck .

" I think you fell asleep here, " said dad .

" Oh my god ." I saw Sam on the screen . He too was sleeping on his desk . I felt so bad .

" Sam ? " I called out . " Sam ? Sam ? Wake up . Sam. '' he then slowly raised his head and he smiled at me . His hair was messy and he looked soo tired . I smiled with guilt . He then waved at me .

" Hey . Good morning . " he said with a smile .

" I am so so so sorry Sam . I don't remember when I fell asleep . "

" Hey hey . Don't worry . It's fine . It's fine . "

" No it's not . You slept on the desk . "

" Don't worry about it at all . " he said

" But - "

" Ellie . It's really ok . Besides , I wanted to keep you some company and I needed it too . It's totally fine . " he said, cutting me off .

" Oh uh good morning Mr. Hansler . " waved Sam after seeing my dad .

" Good morning Sam . " said my dad . " Ell - I'll be downstairs . " I nodded .

" Thank you Sam for the company . You really didn't have to do that . You could have slept comfortably . " I said after dad left the room .

" Meh . It's fine . I did get to experience sleeping at the desk . That was fun " he said, making me laugh .

“ I feel so bad . “

“ It’s okay . It’s fine really . Trust me . “

“ I didn’t listen to your essay . '' I said as guilt filled me again .

“ Meh - it’s no problem . You can listen to it in class . “

“ I’m so sorry . “

“ Hey - it’s ok, “ he said . “ Don’t feel bad . It’s really fine . “

" Alright - I’m taking your word for it . “

“ Good then . “ he smiled .

" Well - I'll freshen up . Talk to you later ? " he asked .

" Yep . See ya . " I said and closed my laptop .