Distant

After almost an hour ride, Aviana Valos finally got off the car and walked inside her family mansion. Just as she expected, her mother was the one waiting for her.

At the sight of her only daughter, Gillian Valos quickly rose from her seat and her concern was more than evident in her face. "Aviana, are you alright, dear?"

Standing in her place, Aviana nodded without much enthusiasm. "I'm fine."

"I can't reach you and I was so worried," her mother said to her while wiping away some droplets of rain in her clothes.

Aviana recalled that time when she rejected her mother's call twice before she eventually switched off her phone. "My battery died." She lied but there wasn't even the slightest change in her expression.

Her face was just calm yet emotionless and her carefree behavior just an hour ago seemed so distant now.

Even Mrs. Valos struggled for words to say to her daughter.

"You should go up and change. It's time for dinner and your dad also said that he will be home shortly," was all that she managed to say after what felt like hours.

"I already have dinner, Mom. You can have it with Dad. I want to study." As always, she walked upstairs before her mother could say anything.

Staring at the back of her daughter, Gillian Valos felt so helpless. However, before she overthinks, her attention was on the bodyguard who returned with her daughter.

"Where did you find her?" She asked as she took a seat on one of the couches.

"At the cafeteria of the Oasis Library, Madam," the bodyguard promptly responded.

"Was she with her friends?"

"Yes, ma'am. With a boy."

Just a boy? Mrs. Valos slightly raised her brows and looked up at the empty stairs.

Didn't Aviana say that it was a group project?

"Is there a problem, ma'am?" The bodyguard asked when he noticed the lady's expression but Mrs. Valos promptly shook her head.

"It's fine. Don't tell my husband about this. I don't want him to be worried," Gillian Valos quickly said and the bodyguard bowed his head.

"I understand." With that said, he walked out of the mansion.

*

The moment she walked inside her spacious room, Aviana stood still with her back pressing against the door. After spending almost a minute that way, she put her bag on her desk and lie down on her bed with her arm covering her eyes. It was until she was startled by the sound of the roaring thunder.

It was still raining? She even forgot about it as her mind was on something else throughout her ride back home.

The rain made her thought of Evan Livares who said that his mother told him not to wet himself.

What an obedient son!

Did that mean he was still not going home? It won't be hard for him to take a cab but... what about his bike?

Without even thinking much, Aviana Valos took out her phone and switched it back on. The first thing she did was call Evan Livares, not even thinking of the fact that it was her first time calling him.

The Prince Adonis of her school didn't pick up the call right away and Aviana wondered if he was in the middle of doing something. However, Evan finally picked up right before it went to a voice message.

"Are you still at the library?" was the question she first asked the flustered Evan who was still trying to process the fact that he received a call from his two years secret love!

Once Aviana heard Evan's response, she nodded though she was on the phone. "That's a relief. You know that we have an unfinished conversation, right? Text me once you are free. I think I'll be studying late tonight."

She waited for a few seconds and once she heard a response, she ended the call and put her phone on her bed.

Meanwhile, Evan Livares slowly put down his phone and blankly stared at Aviana's name on the screen.

What was that?

Did she really call him because she was worried?

His confusion was so evident on his face and it didn't go unnoticed by his father who was sitting beside him in the backseat of a car.

"Is something going on?" Major General Rylan Livares asked his son. "Who is that?"

Being snapped out of his thoughts, Evan put his phone back in his pocket. "A friend who did the project with me," he replied.

"And?"

He looked at his father and wondered what was going on in his mind. The Major General noticed this and laughed.

"Why? You look like you see a ghost." He leaned a bit closer to his son and said, "Shouldn't you at least answer my question as I make extra efforts to get you home without wetting yourself in the rain?"

"I can just take the cab, Dad," Evan frowned. "I was waiting only because I want to avoid going back there tomorrow just to get my motorbike."

"But I still come and get you while that library is so far from my workplace," Rylan Livares stated with a sigh and shook his head in disappointment. "You are so ungrateful."

"I'm sure that Mom told you to do it," Evan Livares simply replied. "She is quite disappointed that you can't spend the weekend with us."

"Don't even get me started," Rylan Livares sighed. "She will surely refuse to talk to me again." An idea crossed his mind and his face brightened up. "Now that we are going home together, why don't you put in some good words for me to your mother?"

"As if she would listen to me," Evan argued and laughed. His father frowned as he knew that he was having a point.

"I will be home tomorrow," he said in a less enthusiastic voice. "I will have a whole day to make up for it."

"Don't worry, Dad," Evan Livares said as he was feeling somewhat amused by the expression on his father's face. "I'm free tomorrow. I will help you."

In an instant, the Major General's face brightened up again. "My son is really the best!" he exclaimed. One thing crossed his mind and he quickly said, "Don't worry about your motorbike then. You will be busy with me, so I will send someone to fetch it."

Evan Livares nodded, feeling happy that he didn't have to go back there the next day. Not to mention that tomorrow will be a fun family day!

However, the library reminded him of Aviana and her call.

Was everything fine with her?