Chapter 6
“Hey, Runaan, Ethari. I’m home.” Rayla says coming inside.
“Finally! You had me worried! What took you so long?” Runaan asks, worried. Ethari comes and stands beside him looking a bit calmer.
“You didn’t have to worry. I was with my friend Callum. I just watched a movie with him.” She replies.
“You met him today! Why do you trust him so much?”
“Because he’s trustworthy.” She says, taking a seat on her sofa.
“It’s okay, Runaan. Rayla trusts him. He must be a good person. Don’t worry.” Ethari tells Runaan.
He rolls his eyes, says, “Fine.” and leaves.
What’s his problem with Callum? Is it because of her past with the boy named Kasef? But she knows for sure Callum’s not at all like Kasef and in fact, is the complete opposite. He’s kind, funny, sweet and caring. She should bring him over sometime and show them how good he is.
— — —
“Callum, Ezran! You’re home! What took you so long?” Harrow asks Callum and Ezran who just entered the house and took a seat on the couch.
“We both watched a movie that’s why it took so long.” Callum answers, a remote in his hand shifting channels.
“What movie did you watch?” Harrow asks, taking a seat beside them on the couch.
“I don't know what Ez watched but I watched The Nightmare 2.”
“Wait, you both watched different movies? Look, I know you both fight over what to watch on TV but I think you should have at least some coordination when going to watch a movie in a theatre. It’s much more fun with family or a friend.”
Ezran and Callum look at each other for a moment and Ezran replies, “We didn’t do that because we couldn’t decide what to watch together. I went to watch a movie with Aanya and her parents and Callum went to watch a movie with his girlfriend.”
Callum turns to Ezran and looks at him with wide eyes.
“Since when did Callum have a girlfriend? Or are you dating Claudia again?”
“No! She is not my girlfriend! It’s not Claudia and I never dated her. The girl I went to the movies with is Ezran’s English teacher. I met her yesterday at the conference and again today at the café and we became friends. That’s all.” Callum retorts, giving Ezran a serious look.
“I see.” Harrow replies but his tone didn’t seem so genuine.
Speaking of Rayla, has she reached home yet?
Callum reaches out for his phone and texts Rayla.
[Callum] (10:48) Hey Rayla! Have you reached home yet?
She sends it and locks his phone.
“Well boys you should get some sleep.” Harrow says, taking the remote to switch off the TV.
“Fine.” Ezran says.
Callum checks his phone once more to see if Rayla replied before going to sleep.
[Rayla] (10:51) yep reached home did u?
[Callum] (10:53) I have!
[Rayla] (10:53) see i didn’t die im okay
He chuckles and rolls his eyes.
[Callum] (10:54) Can’t be sure until I see you again. This might just be your ghost typing.
[Rayla] (10:54) ghosts cant type dummy
‘Dummy’?
[Callum] (10:55) Yeah, whatever. Also, are you sure you’re an English teacher?
[Rayla] (10:55) yes why?
[Callum] (10:55) Your texts don’t have punctuation at all! 😂
[Rayla] (10:56) i don’t waste my time adding punctuation into my texts like you dummy
Callum chuckles again.
“What’s so funny?” Harrow asks.
“Uh, nothing, just a… meme I saw on insta.”
“Lemme see.”
“Uh, I… can’t find it anymore. I’ll go and sleep.” He gets up and goes to his room. Harrow looks at him, a smirk on his face. Something told Callum that Harrow knew that he was lying.
— — —
Sunday
BUZZ BUZZ
Callum wakes up to his buzzing phone which was placed right next to him. He forgot to turn it off before he went to sleep. He opens his phone to see the messages.
[Claudia] (9:43) Hey Callum! I’m back from my exhausting trip! Wanna go to the café together?
For a second, he thought Rayla had sent those messages and was about to reply thinking it was her. She really took over his thoughts huh?
[Callum] (9:44) Sure! What time?
[Claudia] (9:45) 10:30 ish?
10:30?! He hasn’t even showered yet!
[Callum] (9:46) I’ll see if I can get ready by that time.
[Claudia] (9:46) Sure!
He showers and comes back to see 2 missed calls from Rayla. What could she be calling for? He calls her back.
“Good morning Rayla. Sorry, I was in the shower. I didn't see your calls.”
“That’s alright. Wanna go somewhere today?”
“Um, what time?”
“Anytime. It’s a Sunday anyways so what do you say?”
Oh, he would love to spend more time with her. But Claudia already asked him. He did like spending time with her but with Rayla… it’s just different. It’s amazing.
“Rayla, I would absolutely love to, but my friend Claudia asked me to catch up with her. She returned from a trip last night so she wants to spend some time with me.”
“Okay, that’s alright!” She rushed. “We can catch up some other time.”
“Wait… you could come with me.”
Go with him? To meet Claudia? But she doesn’t even know Claudia.
“Um…”
“It’s okay, Claudia won’t mind. She loves meeting and making friends with new people. And I’m pretty sure she’ll like you.”
“Okay. I’ll come.”
“Great! 10:30, Barius’ café.”
“Yep. I’ll be there.”
“Thanks.”
— — —
[Callum] (10:23) Hey Clauds!
[Callum] (10:23) Update, I’m bringing my new friend with me.
[Callum] (10:24) Her name is Rayla.
[Claudia] (10:27) Oooh can’t wait to meet her!
[Callum] (10:27) Yep! I think you’ll like her.
[Claudia] (10:28) If you like her, then I’ll definitely like her.
Callum couldn’t help but smile at her message.