Love Aint Always Pretty

Petrichor

- the scent of rain on dry earth

Origin: Greek

16

After visiting their mother's tomb, it was almost twelve noon when we left there and I'm terribly starving right now. The car paved way to the gravel road and I saw us arriving on the pathway of this old looking house. Tracy seemed so excited to be here but Nick was just quiet after we left the cemetery.

"Starving Savannah?" Tracy gazed at me over the rear view mirror.

"A little." I answered.

"Don't worry. Nick is here. He knows how to cook." She says before unbuckling her seatbelt.

When they stepped out of the car, I did too. I pulled my blouse down to cover my showing skin above my garter and then finally stared at the white colored house. Vines were creeping on the corners of the house and I see a patio swing right on the porch. I walked behind them as we march our way near the house.

"Who owns this house?" I asked.

"We do. It's where we used to live before we headed college." Tracy answered.

Nick inserts the house key to the knob and finally opens the front door. It was a small house and everything inside looked untouched, like they were still new furnitures. The living room couch was colored light green and the walls were white. There's this staircase that leads to the second floor and I see a door right across the living room which is probably the kitchen. Tracy closed the front door behind me as I watch Nick entering the kitchen.

"Are there still foods in the kitchen Nick?" Tracy asked.

"Yeah. I called Mr. Moore that we were coming over today so he did some grocery." He answered.

Tracy and I headed to the couch. "Your brother knows how to cook? Seriously?"

She nods and grabs the remote as she starts to turn on the television. It was an old looking tv but it was still working.

"Who's Mr. Moore?" I asked.

"The caretaker of this house. He's the one who's been looking after our place when we left for college. He lives a little close by."

The kitchen door swings open, "What do you girls want for lunch?"

"Make your all time famous spicy spaghetti Nick." Tracy said happily.

Nick gazed at me. "Would you want that for lunch?"

I nodded right away. "Yeah. Sure."

He walks inside the kitchen. "Could you look after my brother for me? He doesn't wanna be alone inside that kitchen." "Why?" I asked.

"Something from his past. Could you? I just need to go to the bathroom."

Both of us stand. "Sure. No problem. And thank you Tracy."

She heads up the stairs while I was doubting if I should go inside or not. Little by little I slowly reach for the door and opened it. I see Nick chopping some spices, he pulled his head up to me. "What can I get you?"

I marched inside. "I was wondering if you needed any help."

"Oh. Could you chop this for me? I'm still going to make the sauce."

I paused. I don't know how to do that.

"Just follow the shapes of what I already chopped." He says.

He quickly stands on his feet and headed to the burner. I sat down on the same chair and started chopping. We were both quiet while we were both doing our thing. When I was done chopping, I stand and handed him the chopping board with the chopped spices that he needs. I was just watching him while he was busy cooking.

"How long have you been cooking? Guys don't really likes to cook." I said.

"Seven years now." He answered.

"Did your.. mom teach you how to cook?" I tried to make a conversation.

"No." He said quickly.

I didn't ask anything else further more cos I'm sure he'll just get mad at me if I do so. He's in a foul mood right now and I don't know why he is. Gosh he's so moody. I cleaned the table and threw the trashes that I left behind to the bin.

"Savannah." He called out.

I paused and turned to him. "Yeah?"

"Forget about what I said that night when you found me drunk."

I gazed at him, he's talking about Catherine. He was still focused on what he was doing. "Okay."

By the time we started eating lunch, the dish that Nick made was very delicious. It tasted a little bit sweet and spicy. It was great. He's even a better cook than I do. But then I noticed that he's been even more very quiet since that time he told me to forget about what he said that night and I'm sure he's clearly talking about Catherine. Who's Catherine anyways?

Around two or three in the afternoon, we were done watching this rom-com movie. Tracy and I were both laughing about the movie but Nick was just quiet right next to Tracy. Then Tracy and I started playing cards while Nick was just watching us. By six, when we were ready to leave, we started packing and the most unexpected thing happens.

"Guys I think we can't leave yet." Tracy called out while she was peaking outside the window.

I hear the raindrops hitting on the rooftop little by little, I looked up to the ceiling, then it poured hard with the next ones in a few seconds. I hurriedly ran to the window and the rain was pouring outside the house making everything totally soaked within two seconds. The loud pitter patter of the rain echoes inside the house and I think we are stuck here for tonight. One house with Nick.

"We'll leave when it's clear. The road maybe slippery on the way back. It's dangerous to travel at night." Nick says.

"You mean we have to sleep here for tonight?" I asked.

"We don't have a choice." Tracy answers.

"But I have an early class tomorrow that I can't miss." I say.

"Well I guess you'll have to miss it then cos I'm not going to take the risk on driving on a rainy night." Nick says.

I gave up.

During dinner, Nick made another delicious dish of chicken with sauce. He's so good and I wonder how he got this skill. Tracy and I were the only ones talking while eating. By the time it was time to clean up the table, Nick helped me place the dishes to the sink while Tracy went upstairs to prepare a room for me. Nick and I started washing and drying the dishes together. The sound of the rain on the rooftop were echoing and the plates clinking each other too. But the silence between me and Nick was deafening. Too much deafening actually.

While he stands right next to me, so it was my chance to look at him before this night would end. His golden-brown hair perfectly paired with those mesmerizing blue eyes, his broad shoulders, sharp jawline and goodness the way he always smell so insanely delicious as if he just stepped out of the shower and haven't towel-dried yet.

The door swings open. "Savannah. I'm done preparing your room. You're going to sleep on my old one. C'mon I wanna show you."

Tracy enters and grabs my hand. She seems so excited to show me her room so I went upstairs with her. It was so girly and I could see her old photos when she was young while she was with Nick. I smiled as I look at his younger self, Nick has always been a looker.

Then a loud crash from downstairs made Tracy and I stop. Both of us got worried. What if a robber could've come inside and fought with Nick? We glanced at each other and Tracy quickly ran to the door. "Nick?!" Tracy called out.

Both of us quickly stumbled downstairs and ran to the kitchen. My eyes widened out from my sockets. Broken glasses were scattered on the floor and a knife too.

There's blood.

Blood dripping.

His hand is covering with blood. His blood is dripping all over the floor.

Tracy shrieks.

"Nick what happened to you?!" Tracy and I ran to him.

He was holding his wrist tight with the other. "The knife slipped from my hand."

I gaped.

"Shit. I don't know what to do. It's raining outside too." Tracy startled.

"Where's your first aid?" I asked.

"Upstairs. Bathroom. Right under the sink." Tracy said.

"I think I know how to." I said. Since my mom taught me how to do first aids.

"Are you sure you know how to?" Nick asked as if he doesn't trust me. "Yes. Now lead the way." I said.

"I'll clean up here and finish what Nick has started already." Tracy says.

Nick and I headed out of the kitchen. Both of us walked up the stairs and I was following him while his blood was dripping on the floor. Once we were inside the bathroom, I quickly opened the cabinet and pulled out the kit. He closed the toilet lid and sat down while I sit on the edge of the tub then pulled his hand to me. I begin to inspect his wound. The cut right under the end of three of his fingers, starting from his middle finger to his pinky one then I started cleaning it.

"It's not that deep." I said, sounding like my mom. Mom showed me a deep wound before so I clearly know how it looks and I was thankful this isn't deep.

"You sure?"

I nod. "Yup. My parents are surgeons. My mom showed me how a deep wound looks like and this isn't one."

I looked up at him and he's watching me carefully with those beautifully intense and contrasting blue eyes.

"This might hurt a little." I said while showing him the alcohol.

He laughs as if he knows what pain is and to him, his eyes doesn't look like this was even pain to him.

"Tell me if it'll hurt, okay?" I ask.

"That's not real pain Savannah. You haven't felt real pain yet." He says.

My brows are furrowing and I'm confused by that riddle he said to me.

"Well there are different types of pain." I say.

He didn't answer.

"Physical pain. Emotional pain." I added.

"And real pain." He continues.

As if he knows what actual pain really feels like.

"You don't know how real pain feels." He says seriously but he's staring at his wound.

SFTC:

Only Hope Switchfoot