14 World's Apart
14 World's Apart
14
World's Apart
Dinner at Grams’ was warm, just as it always was, filled with the smell of grilled fish, pepper soup, and freshly baked bread. But for Tessy, the flavors didn’t quite land the same way tonight. Her mind wasn’t at the table, it was somewhere far away, somewhere inside a mansion she’d never stepped foot in, sitting across from a boy she couldn’t stop thinking about.
The second she’d gotten back from work earlier, Ryan’s short message had been waiting on her phone.
Hey, I’m back home.
She’d smiled instantly, thumbs flying across the screen as she typed her reply, carefully casual, but betraying her excitement.
And then… nothing.
No dots.
No buzz.
No reply.
So now, while Grams and Bruno chatted about everything, what happened today, the garden and Patricia was dunking bread into her soup like she was at war with it, Tessy kept sneaking glances at the phone lying screen-up beside her plate. Every two minutes, her fingers twitched toward it.
Bruno noticed.
“You okay?” His voice cut through her thoughts.
Tessy looked up quickly. “Huh? Yeah. Fine.” She forced a smile and scooped some soup into her spoon, though she barely tasted it.
“She’s probably waiting for Ryan to text her,” Patricia announced with all the blunt innocence of a twelve-year-old.
Tessy froze mid-spoonful, heat rushing to her cheeks. “Patricia…”
Bruno’s gaze sharpened at once. “Ryan?”
Patricia giggled, unfazed. “Or maybe they’re already chatting.”
“Patricia, enough.” Tessy’s voice was soft but firm. She reached over, brushing a hand over the girl’s hair. “Come on, bedtime for you.”
“With the way you reacted, she might not be lying.” Grams snorted, pretending to mind her business.
Patricia groaned, but Tessy coaxed her up from the table. In her room, she tucked her in, smoothing the blanket over her.
“Don’t go telling everyone what you don't know, okay?” Tessy whispered with a half-smile.
“But I'm not lying.” She shrugged.
Tessy sighed. “No, you can't be going around doing that. People might believe you.”
Patricia only grinned. “Goodnight, Tess.”
“Goodnight, Pat.”
Back in her own room, Tessy shut the door and leaned against it, exhaling. She tossed her phone onto the bed, grabbed her nightclothes, and headed for the bathroom. A quick shower later, her hair damp and smelling faintly of coconut soap, she padded back into the room in her pajamas.
Her phone screen lit up.
One message.
One missed call.
Her heart skipped.
Ryan.
She didn’t even hesitate before calling him back.
“Hey,” his voice came warm through the line, and Tessy felt something inside her unclench.
“Hey yourself,” she said softly. “Sorry, I was putting Patricia to bed.”
“It’s fine. I just… wanted to talk to you. Today’s been… a lot.” He told her about coming home, the ridiculous spread on the dining table, seeing Margaret, the unexpected visit from his dad, and the gifts his dad had brought him. She listened, picturing it all, his grin as he showed her the sneakers, the way his voice dropped when he spoke about his father.
“I miss you,” he admitted quietly. “The mansion feels… different without you here.”
Tessy chuckled. “You’re just bored without someone to annoy you.”
“Maybe,” he teased, “but I think it’s more than that.”
Her smile softened. “I miss you too, Ryan.”
They lingered in that warm bubble for a few minutes more, until a knock sounded faintly on Tessy’s side.
“Tessy, it's me.” Bruno called out from the other side.
“That’s Bruno,” she murmured. “I should see what he wants. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
She hung up and opened the door to find Bruno standing there, arms crossed.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“Sure.” She stepped aside, and he walked into her room, glancing briefly around before facing her again.
“You okay?” he asked, his tone careful.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Was that Ryan you were on the phone with?”
Tessy hesitated. “…Yes.”
His jaw tightened. “What’s going on between you two?”
“Why?” she asked slowly.
“Because you’re getting too close to him, Tess. I don’t like it.” Ryan had even started calling her the nickname he, Bruno, had given Tessy. And that infuriated him more.
Her brows knit. “Why is that a problem?”
“Because you’re not the same,” he said flatly. “He’s rich. We’re… orphans. Barely holding on. You know how arrogant the rich can be. He’s just pretending to be nice, but he’s playing with you.”
“That’s not true,” Tessy said quickly.
Bruno’s voice hardened. “Nothing good will come from the two of you being together. You’re already getting attached, and I can see you falling for whatever trap he’s setting. I’m relieved he’s gone. You should cut ties with him now.”
Her heart thudded. “Why do you think that about him?”
Bruno’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you remember what the rich did to us? When we needed help? When we were still at the orphanage?” His voice rose. “They looked down on us, Tess. They acted like we didn’t matter. They’re arrogant, selfish. Ryan will never see you as his equal. The second he gets what he wants, he’ll leave. And if he doesn’t, he’ll get tired of you and still leave. You’re from different worlds. He’s rich. You’re just…” He stopped himself, but the damage was done.
Tessy’s chest tightened. “…Just what, Bruno?”
“Just you. How do you expect someone like him to actually like someone like you?”
The words stung like ice water poured over her. She straightened, masking the pain behind a calm she didn’t feel. “You’re wrong. And I don’t appreciate you talking about him or me like that. Please leave. I want to sleep.”
Bruno stared at her for a long moment, then sighed and walked out without another word.
As the door clicked shut, Tessy stayed still, her hands trembling. Slowly, she moved to the window and pushed it open. Across the house, she stared at Ryan's room at Gram's house. His window facing hers. She imagined him moving around, doing things without knowing he was being watched. But now, the room was dark and empty. Void of his presence.
Bruno’s words replayed over and over in her head, chipping away at the steady certainty she’d had about Ryan. What if Bruno was right? What if this really was a bad idea?
She shook her head, as though she could physically push the thoughts away. No. She wouldn’t let doubt ruin what they had. She’d go with the flow, take things as they came.
When she picked up her phone again, her breath caught at the sight of a new message.
Goodnight, Tess.
Her lips curved into a small, shaky smile. The heaviness in her chest eased, just a little. She typed back:
Goodnight, Ryan.
Then she set the phone down, lay back, and let the peaceful night pull her toward sleep.