~Alyona~

"Will you be my girlfriend," Shawn purred.

"Shawn, I have never seen you like this. I don't love you." I answered as I tried to get rid of him.

"Please give me a chance," He tried to come near me.

I tried to run, but it seems like my leg got stuck in the ground.

His face is getting bigger and bigger as he is pouting his lips towards me.

I saw a stick to hit him, but when I pick it, it converts into ice- cream.

What the hell is happening to me.

"Alyona Marshall," a sound calling my name from far away.

I looked here and there.

"Alyona, don't make me come up there," it's my mom screaming at me.

But where am I?

I woke up in a shocking state. My mother was screaming my name as she was calling me to come down and have breakfast with her.

But to whom I was running in my dreams.

I shook my head.

Suddenly, I remember. A clingy guy, my senior who wanted me to be his girlfriend. He used to be my unwanted admirer.

But why am I dreaming about him?

I thought to myself,

"Alyona, if I have to call our name one more time..."

"Ahh... coming, mom," I answered.

I threw my blanket with the thought of an unwanted admirer.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Am I so much desperate to meet Mr. Right?" I zoomed my eyes on whiteheads on my nose.

I literally peeled myself from my thoughts.

Otherwise, mom will again remind me, her elder daughter is far better than me.

I jumped into the shower to rinse my thoughts about Mr. Right, and not to mix Mr. Right with my clingy senior.

"Oh, God. When are you going to show me my Mr. Right?" I purred as the shower water goes into my mouth.

Once I adequately scrubbed, shaved, and scented, I stepped out in my goofy towel. I looked at myself one more time in the mirror to check my nose should be pointy and clean.

Even if I wanted to wear short clothes, the chilly weather, will not allow me.

I wore my jeans and a tank top.

I can hear my mom started blubbering for me.

I roughly put on some makeup and rush down.

Looking at her, I understood. She is angry as she is getting late for her work.

We had some rules in our family, and to eat breakfast together is one of them.

I hugged her from her back, "Mom, I love you."

I tried to cool her down.

"Al, you know we have to do breakfast together." She glared at me.

"I am sorry, mom. Last night I didn't sleep well." I whispered.

She turned towards me as she knows I have an asthma problem.

"What, are you ok? My baby," Her tone suddenly changed.

"No, mom, It's just the chilly weather. And it seems like my room heater is not working properly." I gave her a reason for waking up late.

"Why didn't you come to my room?" She sighed,

"Ok, let me call the society office." She took the phone.

"Wait, mom. I will do it. You are getting late, let's have breakfast first," I took the phone and arranged the table.

As we sat on the table, I took the toast in my mouth.

My mom glared at me one more time.

The second rule, always thank God for everything.

"Sorry," I whispered.

"Thank you, Father, Praise You for the nourishment that you provide. Thank you for meeting our physical needs of hunger and thirst. Forgive us for taking that simple joy for granted, and bless this food to fuel our bodies forward into your will for our lives. We pray that we will be energized and be able to work for the glory of your kingdom. In Jesus’s name, Amen."

As we finished our morning prayer, I looked at her.

"Mom, why you always pray?" I questioned her blind faith.

She smiled and answered,

"Al, when your father left me, I didn't know anything about this city and place. I was not even a believer. But my mom told me he is always with you, even when you don't see him." She added,

"And when you call him, you will see him standing next to you. I called him that night when I had nothing to eat or any place to stay."

Tears rolled out from her eyes.

"Look at me now, I am blessed with two beautiful daughters, and I have my own house." She smiled and looked up.

"I know you are listening, but we love you, father. Bless my daughter with a handsome man." She wished for something unusual.

"Mom?" I gave her a surprised look.

"What? I know you want your Mr. right more than your job," she laughed out loud.

"Well, if you are saying then, let it be," I winked at her and thank God for accepting her prayer for me.

With this emotional, spiritual ride, we finished our breakfast.

As we were talking, we heard a knock on the door.

"Go, your gang is here," my mom rolled her eyes.

I smiled and gave her a flying kiss.

As I opened the door, I saw Olivia and Ivy rushed inside and hugged my mom.

I sensed they came up with the plan, and we need my mom's permission on that.

I raised my brow as I looked at Olivia, holding something in her hand.

"Omg, girls calm down." my mom felt like a sandwich in between their hugs.

"We need your permission for taking Alyona to the masquerade ball." Olivia opened her cards.

"Masquerade ball?" My mom raised her brows.

"Yeah, before you say no. I want to tell you, It's a free entry, I have three passes, and it is organized by my company for completing five years."

Olivia spills everything in one breath.

My mom smiled as she read my face.

"Dress? I am not paying for anything," my mom answered.

"Don't worry, we will manage." Ivy jumped in between.

My mom agreed, and she gave me permission for the ball.

"So, how we are doing this?" I asked.