10: New Life

" Are you done there yet?"

I asked. I keep taking a peek at his work, where he secures the hose on the faucet. Maybe he'll fail from what he's doing, and then the water splashed on me.

" I already took a bath, Peter. Don't you da--,"

My voice became thin when I screamed as he pointed the end of the hose at my face. I freaked out that water might come out, but there was nothing. I just warned him.

It was as if my heart and chest had fled from what he had done, " That's not cool, Peter! You're so annoying!"

He has the urge to freak me out after I agree to go with him to the garden to do what Mom told him to do. He was laughing his ass at me, 'till he gets to hold his stomach. He finished fixing the faucet, but I knew his face wouldn't stop laughing even if he had already turned his back from me.

" It's not funny,"

Nothing was traced on my face when I dropped the hose on the grass. He kept calling my name as I got up from my knees, but suddenly I felt something spraying behind my foot. I kept jumping from where I was standing until I turned my back. I haven't gone far yet: he continues to tease with the hose.

" Peter, shut it down!"

It turns out that the faucet is on. I thought his prank was still on, but they're feet away from each other.

" Huh?"

He also panics as I panic with the hose. It's showering the both of us now. I tried to reach the faucet to close it because what he was doing was taking the hose away from me, and it didn't help at all! Until I finally took a shower because he pointed the hose at me.

" Arch--" I struggle because it's sprinkling right on my eyes.

It feels like I'm choking a person on his neck by what I'm doing to this hose. And in a flash, he is taking a bath with me.

"Sue!"

We both reached the faucet and got the chance to shut it down. We both caught our breath from the panic that had happened.

" You already took a bath, right?"

His hair became dripping wet while leaning both hands behind. He looked challenged by what happened a while ago.

I couldn't help but laugh at him, the two of us. His head tilted as his forehead creased at first but joined with me from laughing. Until I fell on the grass, snorting, and even hit my head on the wall, and Pete laughed and became much wilder than me.

" Susan, Peter! What on earth--Are you playing with the hose again?"

" Sorry, Auntie. It was Pete's fault," I point at him with my thumb.

I knew he would say something to defend himself, so I prepared my fist on him. I grabbed his hand after he got his feet on the ground first, even though he wasn't giving it. That's why he almost lost his balance.

" Go take a bath already, Peter. And you two got a serious letter,"

Auntie showed us two white envelopes in her hand

Pete and I stared at each other before I snatched at her hands the envelopes she was giving us. I started running inside the house barefooted and reached upstairs. I leaned my back on the wall as I got to Mom's room. Pete manages to catch up beside me.

" You take a bath first. You stink," I said, pulling away the envelope from him when he tried to get his.

" Sue..."

" Take a bath first, Peter. And get my towel in the door,"

It took him seconds before standing up. He gave me the towel I was demanding him to get, " Don't open mine, Sue," he warned me before his shadow faded at the door.

" Oh, I will,"

I slit open the envelope with my finger and read the given paper inside. This is the last envelope we'll receive from the school we applied to. The other two, from St. Claire Academy and Dominique College, didn't accept us. So yeah, last chance.

I winked one eye as I slowly opened the paper. The paper first revealed saw the seal and name of the school.

'Lorraine University'

Better be good news, Lorraine.

I reached the letter's first paragraph, but the exciting part wasn't there. So I continued opening the letter until I reached the signature part by the Principal. And two-sentence captured my attention.

'Congratulations! On Behalf of Lorraine University, we welcome you to our team, looking forward to seeing you around the campus.'

I bit my lower lip, so hard as I read that line, and I couldn't help but go silent and scream. I've gone wild that kicked the air until I hammered the floor using my bare fist with the overload tingle, which my heart felt.

I got accepted, I got accepted!

Pete walked into the room as an innocent child came from the bathroom. That's why I find it hard to control my laugh, which eventually made me lay on the floor steadily.

" Sue,"

In his voice, he sounded as if he wanted to hit me with the towel hanging on his shoulder. I couldn't stop laughing until I felt something wrong in my stomach.

" Check your letter, come on. I read mine, and I got accepted, come on!" I said in a hurry.

He accepts the envelope from my hand, and I can't wait for another second to hear good news from the letter. It was as if my lower lip was bleeding from the intensity of my bite on it.

His eyes are pacing back and forth inside the letter. Suddenly, his facial expression changed, which made me lose too. He looks like his world had collapsed in a second.

" What? Peter!"

He didn't move, as if he were stunned somewhere from his seat. Time by time it makes me get more nervous.

" I..." he started, with his gaze away from the letter,"... got accepted,"

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS DAY would ever come. At first, it felt new to experience until you got used to being with them. We had a lot of fun and shared laughter that was done in the few weeks they lived with us. It's like we're a whole family here, if only they weren't ashamed that they would just stay with us.

" Do you want me to give you a picture of me? You might miss me right away,"

The apartment he found for them was also miles away from us. But it was close to Lorraine University where we got accepted. I guess our fate is destined to be in Lorraine. It would be a great opportunity for both of us.

" I won't," he simply said after zipping the bag. All their bags are ready, only this one is left here. Just as it was when they arrived, so was what they were going to bring.

" Attitude," I said with crossed arms.

" School year is going to start anyway, Sue. Missing you wouldn't be a problem,"

That made me scoff and raised an eyebrow, " Excuse you?" I questioned as I chased him downstairs.

" Are you two fighting again?"

" Your son is so harsh, Auntie," I pointed to myself when he wasn't looking.

Auntie glared at Peter when my lips bent over at her. Pete just shook his head at us while fixing their bags. Auntie whispered at me before she walked past beside me and went upstairs.

Is this the effect of being with us for weeks? His attitude became worse over time, his words kinda getting harsh. It's like my whole existence is being insulted by him. I just went out of the house to find a taxi for them. We were lucky, and a group of people in the taxi was dropped by in the neighborhood.

So I called them inside and helped them put their bags in the back. I just opened the door on the tail of the taxi, might not be able to carry the weight of their bag.

He stopped in front of me after he placed all their belongings. He even shook his two hands as he closed the trunk.

" Don't skip your meals, okay?"

He nodded.

" And your hair, tsk..." I said, combing his hair backward, " Soon, your hair would look just mine,"

He always wants to have long hair, so he always looks like a woman. He slowly became my competitor when it comes to our hair. His was smooth even though he was only in the shower for a few minutes.

" I'm going to get a haircut next time before the classes start,"

" You should be,"

I let out a wide smile on my face before I tipped over my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"It's like you're going to lose a year," my eyes began to sweat.

His jaw moved on my shoulders which made a laughing sound, "Do you want a burger when we meet again?"

I chuckled and patted his arm, " With no mayo, please. I hate Mayo,"

We let each other free and watched him open the taxi door. He leaves a gaze on me before he goes inside the car. I stepped back onto the sidewalk while waving the taxi goodbye.

When their car lost my sight, I went back inside the house. As I closed the door, I didn't hear anyone frying in the kitchen by this time. I no longer see anyone running down the stairs while adjusting the bag on their shoulder.

I smiled sparingly before going back outside. I walked down one house before entering the house beside it. She immediately greeted me with wide-open arms.

" Mama,"

" Just in time, Susan. My daughter is here,"

My eyebrows raised from what Mom said. That explains the boots left at the doorstep of the house. Mama brought me to their living room, where her daughter stay, Danica, the youngest child among them two.

I once called her Mam Danica, but she told me I could call her by her name since we're just 8 years apart from each other. And the eldest, Monica, we're 13 years. apart from each other.

" Sue!" she was surprised when she saw me standing beside the sofa.

I immediately sat beside her after Mama left us in the living room.

I hugged her back when she gave me a warm hug, " How are you? Mom told me you graduated last month?"

" Yeah. I graduated with honors while my friend, Pete, got the high one,"

" That's great! Congratulations!"

She gave me smiles that could melt your heart and another warm hug. Over time we became comfortable with each that we treated each other like friends or sisters. We're like siblings at the same age, and our oldest is her sister, Monica.

" Where's Eli? She's not with you?"

" I left her to her father. You know, father-daughter bonding," she chuckles.

And I nodded at her. Eli or Elizabeth, she's Danica's daughter. Her kid and I are so close, like Auntie and Niece's relationship, just like how close I am to her Mom.

I sat closer to her as I took the phone out of my pocket, " Here's our photo together with his Mom,"

I showed her the graduation picture we took. I showed the photo of Pete and me outside the auditorium, also the picture Auntie captured my name, and a picture flashed on the wide screen T.V. I didn't show it yet to Mama. So when she returned with a tray of snacks, we included her in our conversation. She kept pointing at my face in every picture I showed.

I spent my whole afternoon at their house until evening come. Mom texted me she was going home, so I had to say goodbye to them. I have to prepare dinner for both of us.

While walking down the street, my phone beeped a notification.

Peter Pan: We're home.

Next to his message was a picture of their apartment. It's like he captures the entire floor due to the size of their place.

On the right of the picture, there's an empty small space that's next to the front door and a glimpse of the kitchen counter next to that vacant place. And another door on the left of the entrance, and I think that's their room. Small place indeed.

Susan: Give me a tour next time, okie?

I sent it with laughing emojis.