Ineffable

39 | HEARTBREAK WEATHER

I back away, quick, and stand behind Amelia and Chris. "Ma—"

Mum stands on the opposite side of the kitchen island. "Oh, don't you dare Ma me!"

Chris looks at Amelia and says, "Did Mum just—?"

"Shh," Amelia waves him off. "It isn't every day you see Mum scolding Noah."

Nice set of siblings I have got.

I ignore them and look at Mum. "Mum, listen to me—"

Mum points at me. "I gave you that recipe so that you can sleep and not stroll around the house like a ghost!"

"I can sleep—"

"Oh, sure you do," Mum glares at me. "Do you want me to get all the recordings where you just roam around the house?"

"Wait, we have cameras in the house?" Chris asks, shocked.

Mum turns to him. "And you."

Chris blinks. "Me?"

"Will you enlighten me on why you came home at three am?" Mel asks him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Ummm..."

Mum rolls her eyes and turns to me, again. "And you, again. You don't share anything with me, now! We used to be best friends."

I look at her for a solid moment, confused, until I realize...

Amelia also realizes at the same time. "Oh, Jesus."

"Where's that wanker?" I look around until I see the curly head behind the kitchen door. "I can see your stupid head, Subramaniam."

That fucker comes out of his head and grins, sheepishly. He gives us an awkward two-finger salute. "Hi?"

"You—"

"If you take another step," Mom warns me. "I will take away your bike and car for a month."

I look at her in surprise. "You wouldn't."

She raises her eyebrows. "Try me."

In moments like these, I really wonder if Mia and my Mum secretly plot their children's punishments together. I can hear Bella agreeing with me in my head.

Nevertheless, I stop walking towards Adi but I don't stop talking. "It was supposed to be a secret!" I say to him.

The idiot still standing far away from me, says, "It slipped."

As I glare at Adi, I hear Amelia ask Mum, "What did he do?"

Mom sighs when I turn towards them. "Oh, my son—who I thought respects women and their choices immensely—was trying to give Iris—the sweetest girl I've met—the worst date ever."

"Friend date," I correct her but she ignores me. "Also—"

But before I can even complete it, Amelia has punched my arm. "You are a jerk. You—Chris, if you make another move..."

Chris, who was trying to break out from the room, sits obediently. "Fine."

Adi walks towards us but when I glare at him, he quickly walks towards Mum and stands beside her. "I don't blame Noah. Even if Iris was telling him to kiss her—"

I say, "She would never."

"—the guy would tell her that she needs space and he will give that by running off to Canada."

Amelia laughs. "That's my brother, yes."

"Then, what do want me to do?" I say, frowning. "Tell her that I have feelings for her and hope that she says the same even though I know that she still has feelings for another guy."