Chapter 18

                                    

                                          
The smell of sweet pancakes wafted into my room waking me up. My first thought was "whoa I'm dreaming" and with a great effort I opened my sleepy eyes. I get out of bed and throw on my sweatshirt over my pajama top, put my feet into my slippers and followed my nose down into the kitchen.
                          
As I approaching the kitchen, I overheard a conversation between Jake and Rose. 
                          
Rose asked, in her strong English accent, "what did your boss say about the building that you have designed?" I heard the frying pan being stirred with a wooden spatula. "Does he like it?"
                          
"He better be because I love the design so much." Jake assured. He told me that he worked as an architect for an architecture firm located in London.
                          
I walked into the kitchen and simply gave them a smile, said, "good morning." 
                          
Placing the last plate down, Jake looked up at me with those deep blue eyes and spoke, "Ah, you're awake. Good morning."
                          
Turning, Rose put the freshly cooked pancakes onto three plates. "Good morning, Amanda. You must be tired. And jetlagged. Now come and have some breakfast." She muttered, signalled me to an empty chair. Then she turned again and set the frying pan to one side and wiped her hands on her wrapper.
                          
He sat at the end of the table, with Rose close by on one side, and I sat down in the chair opposite her. I was about to took the maple syrup when Jake held our hands and prayed, "dear lord, thank you for the food."
                          
I then raised my eyes, looked at them in bewilderment. There was a feeling of disbelief that came over me, and it hit me over and over again. It felt so different from back home because I never read prayers before eating. Growing up in that dingy house, Daddy lavished me with his money but nothing could compare with the love of the family. In my entire life, nobody ever taught me how to pray. I felt a hole in my chest form and felt a sudden emptiness when I realized how beautiful it was to gather around with someone and spent some quality time together, laughed over little things.
                          
"Could you pass me the maple syrup?" Rose mumbled, she brought me back to the reality.
                          
"Mmm hun, this is so good!" Jake complimented, smiling. He lifted her hand to his mouth, placed a warm kiss on her palm. He turned his gaze on me and said, "actually we are planning to get married. And you're the first person to know about it." They both smiled shyly at each other, and seemed to be madly in love with those eyes.
                          
I totally sat up straight when they shared the news. My first reaction,amusement, was followed by the overwhelming fact of the good news. The hint of amusement broadened into a smile. "Aww, love is in the air!" I chuckled teasingly, clapping my hands.
                          
A twinge of embarrassment heated her face. She mumbled, "Oh my god this is so embarrassing." 
                          
Jake lifted their entwined hands and kissed her knuckles, the feel of his lips on her skin sending a rush of heat to her abdomen. His eyes were warm and open, watching her.
                          
Seeing Rose and Jake held their hands together tells me that those two love birds will be married for a lifetime. I pursed my lips and turned up into a smile at both of them. I blurted out, "so have you decided on a date for the wedding?"
                          
Just when we were about to continue our serious discussion, Jake's phone was ringing from its place in his jeans pocket. The cellphone had rung several times before he anwered. "Hello?"
                          
I had no idea why his eyes bulged and his face turned dark red while clenching his fists.
                          
"Why can't he calls me by himself?" Jake demanded in a hoarse voice. I was so eager to know who was on the other line.
                          
While his eyes were wandering all over the room, they stopped at me for a while. "Why must he use an intermediate to talk with his own son?!" He retorted angrily.
                          
When I heard the conversation, I was so dumbfounded that I could not believe Daddy asked his assistant to call my brother instead of himself. I've never thought that their relationship was so bad. Why did bad things keep happening to our family? Why can't all of us live in peace under one roof? 
                          
"Jake?" I called his name. I bit my lips hard, eyes close and gently held his hand and finally my sobs turned into sniffles and he turned towards my direction.
                          
He looked at the phone for a long time before he pressed the End Call button, furrowing his brows in confusion.
                          
I looked down at my food, gathering my courage and looked straight into a pair of deepest and warmest blue eyes I have ever seen. I spoke under my breath, " It's not your problem. I'm sorry for involving you. Maybe I shouldn't come here in the first place. Maybe I should just stay at home and lock myself in my room. I didn't know that this will happen. I never thought that he will calls you and never have I imagine that your relationship with him are so bad that I am so scared that I might lose one of you anytime in this fight.
                          
"Hey.." He said. It came out hard and frustrated. "None of us want this to happen but maybe God has a better plan for us. Never lose faith on him."
                          
"But-" I cut off his words.
                          
"No. There's no but. You are my sister and your problem is my problem too. Get it?" He forced a weak smile and patted my shoulder.
                          
#Fact:
Being an interior designer and an architect are my dream jobs when I was young. I love building so much that I never get tired of it.