15

I wake up with a stomach ache, feeling that I'm hugging someone. I realize it's Kayler. Normally, the guy is supposed to hug his girlfriend from behind, but this time, it's me who’s hugging him. It's sweet since he seems to be comfortable, holding onto my arm as if he doesn't want me to let go. I don't want to either. He looks so handsome asleep, with his messy hair, slow breathing, and slightly open mouth. Just thinking about last night makes my cheeks burn, but at that moment, as I swallow, I notice a strange taste in my mouth.

I get alarmed because it's the same taste I had the time when… what happened, happened. I carefully release my hold on Kayler and get out of bed, heading to the bathroom. I fan myself with my hand and try to remember. If I had gone out last night, Kayler would have noticed. Maybe this taste is because my wolf part is hungry... but I don't feel hungry. Oh God, I hope I haven't done anything bad again. I hope I haven't killed someone. Why can't I remember?! Calm down, Carolina, everything is fine. Nothing happened, Kayler took care of you all night, and this taste is due to something else. I inhale and exhale slowly until I calm down. I prefer to think positively and not jump to conclusions. Besides, we are far from the city, so I couldn't have gone that far, right? I splash water on my face and leave the bathroom. Kayler is still asleep.

He seems to be very sleepy lately.

I go downstairs and immediately check on the cat. He's also asleep. I pet his little head gently, careful not to wake him, and stand up with the intention of going to the kitchen, but I first turn on the TV and set it to a music channel, keeping the volume low so as not to wake Kayler. I head to the kitchen and put water to boil for coffee while I organize some things. I move to the rhythm of a lively song that's playing until I feel someone grab my waist and a deep voice exclaims my name.

"AHHHH!" I scream and jump while turning around to see… my mom? Who is now laughing uncontrollably. "Mom? What are you doing here? And how did you get in?" I cross my arms, too indignant because she nearly scared me to death.

My dear mother is still laughing, holding her stomach as she tries to tell me something. "You- you should have seen your face," she says and bursts out laughing again.

I look at her in boredom as I notice Mike appear in the doorway.

"I don't find it funny," I roll my eyes, "and be quiet, you'll wake Kayler," I scold her, but it's too late because a worried Kayler rushes into the kitchen with an alarmed expression. He's only wearing pajama pants, but when he sees the scene, he relaxes a bit before frowning.

"Mrs. Lane, Mike, what a surprise," he scratches his neck. But mom is still laughing at me.

"Are you done?" I asked.

"Wait…" she replies, laughing a bit more, but then she stops. "Now I am," she wipes some tears from the corners of her eyes. "Come here, I missed my exaggerated daughter," she hugs me too tightly.

"Enough," I push her away. Now she heads to Kayler and hugs him the same way.

"Kaylersito, I missed you so much!" she cuddles him. I cross my arms and look away. She didn't even cuddle me. But I haven't even greeted Mike, seeing him standing alone in a corner. I approach him.

"Nice to see you, Mike," I smile at him.

"It's nice to see you too, Carolina," he smiles back, giving me a brief hug.

As we part, we turn to mom and Kayler, who are watching us, but mom looks more emotional than usual, and maybe a bit nostalgic.

"Caro, Kayler, we have something very important to tell you," she says. "Tell us," I prompt her.

"Let's go to the living room, okay?" she takes Mike's hand, but then she stops, smelling something. "It smells like something's burning."

Burning? The water! I hurry to the kitchen, but when I turn off the stove, I see the water is gone, evaporated. It's dried up. Great, and the burnt smell is the pot. Double great. I leave it in the sink and join them. Mom has her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, Mike pretends to look around the house, and Kayler is indeed laughing.

But just wait…

"Oh, Kayler, Kayler, my deepest condolences," mom pats Kayler on the shoulder and heads to the living room with Mike.

"Thanks, mom, thanks a lot," I said sarcastically.

"She's just teasing, Cushi," Kayler approaches and wraps his arms around my waist, giving me a tender kiss on the lips.

I relax a bit. "I know," I respond.

We head to the living room and sit on some sofas across from them. Mom seems a bit nervous. On the TV, there's a Billie Eilish song playing, I think it's "Lovely." It's nice.

"Carolina, it's been years since your father died and…" she begins. I tense up a bit and look away. Kayler also tenses, it's strange. "... you know that Mike and I have been dating for almost a year and… well, we thought it would be better if he and I… well, actually, he and I…" she sighs, "... we're going to get married, Carolina."

I immediately look at her in surprise.

My mom is getting married to Mike? I lower my gaze since it would be difficult to have another wedding photo with someone who isn't dad. But dad is no longer here, and she deserves to be happy, and Mike makes her happy. I can already imagine dad looking at me from the corner, smiling and nodding, giving me his support, giving her his support. It makes me happy to think he might be here.

"Sweetie? What do you think?" she rubs her hands together. She does that when she's nervous. I take a deep breath and smile a little.

"What can I say… congratulations?" I stand up and approach her. She stands up and takes my hands.

"Are you sure?" she inquires.

"Of course, you deserve to be happy and what better way than with Mike," I shrug.

"Thank you, Roli!" she hugs me. I return the hug, noticing Kayler standing up and congratulating Mike.

I look to the same corner at dad, who is now smiling proudly. I smile back at him and focus on my mother.

"Look at the ring," she shows me a beautiful diamond ring. Wow, what a ring. "It's beautiful," I'm stunned looking at that gem.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Lane," Kayler approaches.

"Oh, Kaylersito, call me Cristi," they hug. I approach Mike.

"Mike, I don't think it's necessary to say that you should take care of her and not hurt her because mom is a very sensitive person and she breaks easily, okay?" I asked him sincerely.

"Of course. I promise to make her happy every second of my life," he assured. I hugged him.

"I hope so," I whispered.

A meow brought us out of our wedding bubble, making us look at the little box where the kitten was waking up.

"And what is that?" mom inquires.

She doesn't like animals.

So how does she manage with Mike? I wondered.

"That is a kitten," I looked at her.

"But you don't like cats," she told me.

"Who says I don't?" I frowned.

"They give you allergies," she crossed her arms.

I looked at her without understanding.

"What? I'm not allergic," I swallowed with difficulty.

"Yes, get that out of here," she approached me. "Open your mouth," she put her hands on my mouth trying to open it, but I dodged her.

"No, you're mistaken," I went over to Kayler, but as mom was coming towards me, I got behind him.

"When you were a child, a cat almost left you breathless," she told me. "How long have you had it, Kayler?" she asks my boyfriend.

"Since yesterday," he replied.

"I bet you feel your throat tightening, right? You feel something strange in your mouth, listen to me, Carolina Lane or else…"

"Alright! I admit it, yes, I feel that, are you happy?" I dropped onto the sofa.

I guess it's a relief that mom discovered my strange allergy because I didn't want to think I had eaten another human. I felt relieved at that moment.

"What? Do you feel very bad? We need to take her to the hospital," Kayler, aka Mr. Exaggeration, gets beside me, evaluating me.

"Of course not," I tell him. "I'm fine, it will pass."

"She needs some medicine," mom says, looking for something in her bag. "Luckily, I always carry them just in case," she pulls out a packet of pills.

"I'll get water," Kayler goes to the kitchen.

"Also, I brought you some things you forgot," she hands me a box with some items. I frown but take it.

Kayler returns with a glass of water and hands it to me. I take a pill and rub my temple. "What will we do with the cat?" I questioned.

"For now, we don't know, we'll find it a home soon. And by soon, I mean today. I feel sorry for the kitten. Who would have thought I'd be allergic. Great."

“Mrs. Lane, I need you to tell me the name of these medicines just in case,” Kayler says, getting up and heading towards my mom.

“See? He cares about your health and you don’t,” she scolds me.

“How was I supposed to know?” I stand up with the box. “I’ll go put this in the room,” I announce, climbing the stairs. Once in the room, I sit on the bed and look through the items in the box. There are some photos of me. I notice the photo on the nightstand, one of Kayler and me. There’s also the photo Kayler took when we first started dating. There’s also one of him. Among the other things, there’s a diary.

Scott’s diary.