So, I headed out for groceries.
Because apparently "buying groceries" is no longer a simple task in my life.
First, I tied my blonde hair into my signature two messy buns—the kind that make it look like I fought a tornado and barely survived.
Then I put on my glasses because the world without them is just… abstract art.
Since the weather was hotter than a sauna, I threw on an oversized pink T-shirt I stole from Jake's closet.
Don't tell him.
And some shorts I definitely didn't buy.
Let's just say they were… borrowed.
With my eco-friendly milk bag over my shoulder, I marched into what Google called a supermarket.
Or maybe a mall.
Honestly, these places all look the same.
The place was almost empty.
Apparently everyone else had the smart idea of staying home in the heat.
But the AC inside?
Absolute heaven.
I grabbed a shopping cart and pulled out my mental grocery list.
Okay…
Flour.
Eggs.
Sugar.
Milk.
Should I cook something real?
Or should I just buy a cake and pretend I baked it?
Hmm.
Yeah… cake ingredients it is.
Healthy food can wait.
As I rolled through the aisles, something caught my eye.
Three very familiar figures.
Mark.
Ethan.
And Liam.
Of course.
Why does this always happen to me?
I panicked and quickly hid behind a display shelf full of floor tiles.
Yes.
Floor tiles.
Don't ask.
I crouched down like a spy on a secret mission.
Maybe if I stay still… they'll leave.
Then a voice spoke directly behind me.
"Looking for treasure back here?"
I slowly turned around.
Liam was standing right there, leaning over the shelf with a mischievous grin.
Of course it was Liam.
He tilted his head.
"Are you hiding… from tiles?"
I stood up awkwardly and grabbed my shopping cart like it was a shield.
"Hi… uh… what are you doing here?" I asked nervously.
Liam smirked like he had just caught a criminal.
"Oh nothing. Just watching a short person stalk flooring materials."
"I am not short!"
Before Liam could reply, Mark walked over.
Calm as always.
He gently took the shopping cart handle from me.
"You were going the wrong way," he said casually and started pushing the cart.
Excuse me?
My cart?
My groceries?
Meanwhile Ethan quietly picked up the paper in my hand.
He stared at it.
Then he stared at the flour in the cart.
"Aren't these vegetables?"
I rolled my eyes.
"No."
"I'm baking a cake for my mom."
Liam leaned into the cart and picked up the eggs.
Then he stared at them seriously.
"Aren't these vegetables?"
I blinked.
"They're eggs."
He nodded slowly.
"Right… round vegetables."
I stared at him.
Mark chuckled quietly.
I crossed my arms.
"Do you guys have a problem with cake?"
Liam shrugged.
"No. But do you know how to bake one?"
I tossed my hair dramatically.
"There is something called the internet."
Liam gasped dramatically.
"Wow. Technology."
Mark shook his head smiling.
"So you're following a recipe?"
"More like… vibes."
Liam looked terrified.
"She's going to poison someone."
I shoved his shoulder lightly.
"Relax."
Then I narrowed my eyes.
"Wait. Why are you guys here?"
Mark answered casually.
"We're buying a present for your mom."
I blinked.
"My mom?"
Liam nodded.
"Jake told us it's her birthday."
My brain short-circuited for a moment.
They came to buy my mom a present?
Before I could respond, Mark tapped the shopping cart.
"You walk too slowly."
"Excuse me," I said defensively. "I like my pace."
Mark pointed at the cart seat.
"Hop on."
I blinked.
"You want me to ride the cart?"
Liam grinned.
"Yes please. This will be hilarious."
I hesitated.
Then I climbed in.
And suddenly Mark started pushing the cart through the store.
Fast.
Very fast.
I burst out laughing as I grabbed things from shelves like a grocery ninja.
Flour.
Sugar.
Milk.
Chocolate.
Meanwhile Liam walked beside us eating a candy bar.
"You missed the sprinkles."
I grabbed sprinkles.
"And frosting."
Grabbed frosting.
"And snacks for me."
"Absolutely not."
Liam pouted.
"You are the worst shopping partner."
Mark laughed quietly behind the cart.
"You two argue like siblings."
"We are not siblings," Liam said quickly.
I pointed at him.
"He started it."
Liam leaned closer.
"You're lucky you're small."
"Say that again and I'll throw eggs at you."
Mark chuckled again.
"You should draw this scene."
I snorted.
"I told you. I can't draw humans."
Liam gasped.
"So in your sketchbook I'm just a potato?"
I shrugged.
"A slightly annoying potato."
Mark laughed louder this time.
Even Ethan smirked slightly.
Back Home
After all the shopping chaos, we finally returned home.
The second we walked in, Liam cleared his throat dramatically like he was about to give a royal speech.
Or announce the Queen.
We dumped the groceries in the kitchen.
Then the three of them casually flopped onto my bed like they owned the house.
Seriously.
They all live in mansions but still treat our TV like it's a luxury cinema.
Just as I started pulling ingredients out, my phone buzzed.
Jake.
"Mom will be home any minute," he said.
"I'm waiting outside."
"Get everything ready."
Panic mode activated.
It was already almost seven.
I opened YouTube tutorials and started mixing ingredients like a confused scientist.
Flour spilled everywhere.
Egg shells went into the bowl.
At this point I was basically inventing new recipes.
Then suddenly—
A gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I jumped.
Mark stood behind me wearing an apron.
"Need help?"
I immediately handed him everything.
Flour.
Eggs.
Sugar.
My dignity.
He calmly started baking like he had done it a hundred times.
Meanwhile I rested my head on the counter watching.
Then he glanced at me.
"Why do you always avoid us?"
I sighed dramatically.
"I hate annoyance."
He smirked.
"Am I annoying?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"You're the least annoying one," I said quickly.
"You're just… different."
He paused for a second.
Then he muttered quietly,
"You didn't come back for the tutor."
I blinked.
"What?"
But he just shrugged.
"Never mind. Let's bake."
Classic Mark.
It was supposed to be a simple birthday party.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing life-changing.
Just cake, candles, and my mom smiling for once.
The four dumb-dumbs—Ethan, Liam, Mark, and Jake—had even chipped in to buy Mom a present.
Which was honestly shocking.
Miracles do happen.
We placed the cake on the table, a tiny candle flickering on top like a heroic little flame fighting for its life.
Then the front door opened.
Mom stepped inside.
And we all jumped.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!"
Our voices filled the room like a small explosion.
Mom blinked in surprise before her face lit up with the warmest smile.
"Oh my goodness…" she laughed softly.
She walked toward us and did her usual thing—pinching cheeks and pulling people into hugs like we were all still five years old.
"Happy birthday, Mom!" I said proudly.
She reached over and squeezed my cheeks.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she whispered warmly.
Jake snorted beside me.
"Ugh. I honestly wasn't sure a donkey like you could pull this off," he said with a smug grin.
My eye twitched.
But I crossed my arms proudly.
"Yeah? Well now you know."
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
Then—
Creeeak.
The front door slowly opened again.
The sound cut through the laughter like a knife.
We all turned toward the door.
A man walked in.
He looked like he had stepped straight out of a business magazine.
Mid-forties.
Crisp white shirt.
Perfectly tailored black trousers.
His blazer looked so sharply pressed it could probably cut paper.
His blonde hair was styled perfectly, and his tall muscular frame made it clear he spent a lot of time in the gym.
But that wasn't the shocking part.
He looked exactly like Jake.
Same sharp jawline.
Same piercing eyes.
Same confident stance.
The moment Mom saw him—
Her entire face changed.
Her eyes widened like she had just seen a ghost.
She stood up so fast the chair behind her scraped loudly across the floor.
Her stare locked onto him like she was preparing for battle.
Jake's expression darkened instantly.
The room suddenly felt ten degrees colder.
Ethan, Liam, and Mark looked equally confused.
Like they had accidentally walked into the wrong movie scene.
Mom's voice came out tight and shaky.
"Ronson… what are you doing here?"
The man—Ronson—took a slow breath before stepping forward.
My brain froze.
Ronson.
Wait.
My name is Ayana Ronson.
The realization hit me like a truck.
Is he… my dad?
My stomach twisted painfully.
Jake stepped forward immediately, cracking his knuckles.
"What are you doing here?" he snapped coldly.
"I thought we agreed you'd never come back."
Ronson didn't react.
He stayed calm.
Too calm.
Then his eyes shifted.
Toward me.
His expression softened instantly.
He stepped closer, slowly reaching for my hand.
I froze.
He looked directly into my eyes, something almost fragile in his gaze.
"My daughter…" he whispered.
Jake moved like he was about to shove him away.
But Mark quickly grabbed Jake's arm and held him back.
"Wait," Mark murmured quietly.
Ronson leaned forward and gently kissed my forehead.
"I really missed you… my child."
His voice cracked slightly.
And for some reason, my chest tightened painfully.
Then his expression hardened again.
"I don't know how to explain everything," he said slowly.
"But… this situation is your mother's fault."
The words hit the room like a bomb.
My heart flipped violently.
My eyes snapped toward Mom.
She looked completely shattered.
Jake finally exploded.
"You don't get to say that!" he shouted.
He shoved Ronson hard, sending him stumbling backward.
For a second, it looked like a fight might start.
But Ronson simply straightened his jacket.
His expression returned to calm.
He glanced once at Mom.
Her face was pale, tears streaming down silently.
Without another word—
He turned around.
And walked out of the house.
Just like that.
The door closed behind him.
Silence swallowed the room.
My brain couldn't process what just happened.
Was that really—
My father?
I looked around desperately, hoping someone would explain.
But everyone looked just as shocked as I felt.
Jake started pacing across the room angrily.
"That guy really thinks he can just show up after all these years?" he muttered furiously.
"Disgusting."
His fists clenched tightly.
But underneath the anger… I could see something else.
Confusion.
Pain.
My heart pounded painfully in my chest.
My hands trembled.
Slowly, I turned toward Mom.
She was sitting on the couch now.
Tears still rolling down her cheeks.
But she was forcing a weak smile.
"Mom… what happened?" I asked quietly.
My voice shook.
She wiped her tears quickly.
"It's nothing," she whispered.
"Thank you for the party."
She stood up too quickly.
"I'm going to my room."
She walked away before anyone could stop her.
Liam spoke gently behind me.
"Good night, Mrs. May."
She nodded weakly without turning around.
Mark ran a hand through his dark hair and looked at me.
"You should get some rest too," he said softly.
"You've done a lot today."
I nodded slowly.
My mind still spinning.
I turned toward the stairs.
But just as I stepped on the first stair—
CRASH!
The loud sound of glass shattering echoed from downstairs.
I froze.
My heart jumped into my throat.
What was that?
Did someone break a plate?
Did something fall?
Or—
Was it just my imagination?