Ironic catastrophe

After another long semester of college, it is finally time to rest. Rest as in sleep. Sleep as in the only reason I would be living in my room for the next fifty-six days is because I need food. Food because well, I can’t live without it. 

Driving to my parent's house, because well I’m broke, and I don’t have my own apartment. It’s is going to be an amazing summer.

“Hey mama, I’m home!”, I say right after walking into the wood polish-smelling two-story building know as home.

“Oh, your room would be upstairs down the hall to the left.”

“Thank you, ma’am”

Okay, husky voice.

“What respectable boy, if only Jemmie would date guys like you”

Okay mother, and she’s judging me.

“That sweet, but she wouldn’t look at me.”

“Nonsense, I would be proud to have you as a son-in-law”

Okay, dad.

‘Why are they making marriage plans without my consent. First, it’s my second year in college, I don’t have a job, and I’ll like to have my own money before depending on some wanna-be husband. Who is this bastard they are even talking about?’ I quick step to the living room and confront,

“Jeremy Lake.”

“Yeah, that’s me. It’s good to see you Jem.” He responds with his signature smile. 

I’m in shock, I’m confused and I did what every young adult would do.

“Hey, mama. Hey, dada. I’m back….Bye”, and I ran up to my room.

Why did I do that? Why wouldn’t I do that, the boy I liked since I was a high school junior is in my house. He is staying at my house! Well, my parent's house but still. We had been family friends for a while but we were never close. He was just friendly in school that’s all. Yeah, when his parents died my parents supported him but it doesn’t mean anything. Nothing. Gosh, I’m confusing myself. This is a disaster. Wait no it’s not a disaster. I just have to proceed with the original plan. I have enough social battery to run to the book store and get painting supplies. Yes, let’s use this wisely. 

“Hey, I was about to knock”

I shut the door. God, I shut the door in his face. Okay okay, let try again.

“Umm did you open the door naked or something?” He said with a wide grin. It makes me redden, and I shut the door in his face again.

This kind of excitement isn’t good for my heart. Let’s calm down I’m already tired. A knock comes on the door. I swing it open and this time I start the conversation.

“What do you want?”

“Wow a little harsh, it’s too bad. You’re fully clothed”, His grin stretch along his face, and my face was practically a tomato.

“Gentleman my ass.”, I try to clap back, but umm as it seems I am very bad at doing that.

“Calm down strawberry Jam. Saying how you’re as pink as one.”

And that went the rest of my willingness to fight.

“Seriously what do want?”, I ask again. I was already really tired.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see your face”, I was too exhausted to read meaning into the fact that he sounded a bit off, and apparently too exhausted to think.

“You wanted to see my face that badly. Why don’t you have a kiss as a complementary?”

I didn’t even realize what I had said until a tongue was in my mouth. It drove hungrily down my throat, and I couldn’t push him away. His grip was so strong on my waist. He brought me so close I could feel all of him. I felt myself fading into the kiss, but never kissing back. He lets go, and I slap him.

“Are you crazy! Why did you do that?!”, I yell robbing my lips.

He chuckles, turns to me, and says I asked for it.

Asked for it! Asked for it! Okay, I actually asked for it. I slam the door and collapse on my bed. I guess no painting for me today. I’m going to sleep.

     I wake up at my usual 4:00am. Brush my teeth, do yoga, and go for my morning run. The familiar neighborhood fills me with nostalgia. Listen to music and drowning in the scenery. Apparently, I was too deep into my world to notice a certain person jogging beside me. 

“Jem.”

“Lake”

“Lake?”

“Yes Lake”

“Are we on last name bases because of what happened yesterday?”

I turn to him, trying to be as mature as possible. “I will think nothing of it, and I advise you to do the same. Happy jogging Lake.”

I put my headphones back on and continue jogging. Only to be pulled back, face resting on a hard surface otherwise know as Jeremy Lake’s chest.

I’m a tomato. His husky voice breathes into my ear,

“Let’s go on a date tomorrow, then I’ll think nothing of it.” He jogs away.

I just stood there bum-founded, and kind of angry at how much effect this guy had on me. I’m talking about the guy everyone wanted until the accident. Shallow bastards. I talking football superstar, great personality, outgoing, and hardworking person. And after even two years away my heart is still running in circles for this guy. Nope. It’s too much. I came home to relax and that is what I’m going to do. 

    I run to the supermarket and get some snacks and instant noodles. Not forgetting water and drinks. Get home, make lunch for my parents, and thank the God in heaven that Jeremy wasn’t home yet. I crash course into my room and start on a new book ‘A Curse So Dark And Lonely’ by Brigit Kemmerer. Such fantastic writing. Yes, I didn’t come out of my room for the rest of the day, and the day after, and the day after that. Actually, for a week I think. I’m not really sure. It was the day after the other I don’t remember, a nice evening reading another book, ‘A Heart So Fierce And Broken’ also by Brigit Kemmerer cause I pretty much love her. Just chilling until Jeremy barges into my room, and like all impulsive people carries me like a sack of potatoes.

“Let me go!”

“It’s time for dinner. It has already been two weeks, and everyone is worried”

“Oh.”, it had been that long.

“But I wouldn’t mind your ass in my face tho”

Way to go to ruin the moment.

He sits me down in the middle of my parent's and whispers in my ear before sitting across me.

“I missed you.”

And there went the rest of my sanity. 

My mom broke the silence with disappointment in her tone,

“We were worried.”

“I’m sorry mama, I’ll do better.”

We ate dinner, talked about random stuff, and when I had run out of social battery I went outside for some air. Jeremy followed.

We sat on the back garden bench in silence. Really comfortable silence. At least he knew when to shut his mouth. Mouth. Oh shoot, I remembered something and he noticed. 

“Strawberry Jam.”

“I am not…”, my mouth was shut with his. Carrying me to a place in the garden my parents would neither hear or see us. 

“What are you…?”, I tried to protest but he slams his lips back on mine. His grip was strong, and I started to melt as he deepened it with so much passion. The way he moved as if he belonged in my mouth. My vision was… I was beginning to suffocate in his kiss. He lets go and hugs me tightly against his chest. I’m gasping for air like I just ran a marathon. 

I could hear my heartbeat. It was fast, and so was his. It was really fast. Like really really…

“I love you.”

I think I was deaf for like two seconds, cause I didn’t just hear…

“I love you, Jemmie!”

“What?”

“I love you Jemmie and I don’t have much time left.”

We sit down again, and Jeremy explains how he has cancer. How he had liked me back in high school but was too chicken to confess. Well, chicken is about to die so might as well. It’s actually not funny, I just used it to hold in my tears.

He had already told my parents and had asked for my hand in marriage. So it’s confirmed that my parents were planning my wedding behind my back.

“I am sorry if sexually harassed you in any way. I’m really really sorry”. At this point, he was on his knees.

I just smiled, “ I love you.”

He was wide-eyed and stayed on his knees.

“Will you marry me Jemmie Woklogs?”

“Sure why not. I’ve been waiting for five years anyway.”

He smiles brightly and smacks me with another one of his kisses.

We walk back inside, and Jeremy gives my parents a thumbs up which confuses me.

“Goodnight Jem.”

“Goodnight Jer.”

That was way too much for one day. I need another break. Two weeks doesn’t sound enough.

It really wasn’t. I think I was in and out for three weeks. Until again carried like a sack of potatoes to a car? My parents and I were driven to a salon. I was forced to dress and makeup. Then somehow found myself in a court for marriage. And I got married. It was the happiest and confusing day of my life. Literally.

Our honeymoon was spent in this really fancy hotel. We did what all couples do on their first night, but ours was on the tenth cause I didn’t have energy for the thing. 

The day after, I did not wake up by the usual four. I don’t know, maybe it was because MY BACK HURT! I was still happy and it was still a great day ahead.

“Hey, baby. You’re up?” Jeremy says as he plants a kiss on my forehead.

“No, I’m down. What does it look like… what doing on? What do you look so pale?”

“It’s okay baby.”

“No! No! It’s not okay. You did the chemo. You did everything”

“I’m fine. Stop panicking.” He says sternly, but collapses.

“Jer! Jer! Jeremy! JEREMY!”

“I love you”

    Jeremy was right. He did drown in his own fluids. It went so quickly like a dream. Well the pains was at most real. Very real.

So I just spent my longest holiday, getting annoyed, rekindling a romance, getting married, doing the devil's tango on my wedding night —sort of—, and becoming a widow. And you’re telling me that I still have to drive to school and attend classes on Monday.

Damn.