"Can't believe people can lead suchlike destabilizing morning routine on the daily basis," Sukja rubs his head, sitting next to me at the table.

"It is the very first time I woke up like this as is." I eye him intently, really meaning it. If my parents quarrel, it happens only in the evening. 

As for Zoella...

She spends most of her time sleeping, therefore I get to witness her seizures only a few times per month. If I am lucky enough, I get to lock up in my room just in time before it gets worse.

If today it wasn't for Missis Blackberry, who came just in time to calm my grandmother down and to take her back to her room-

In fact, my neighbor was surprised as well.

"No thanks to your altruistic initiative to go all pro cook on the kitchen and as a result to create such a loud scene, let alone the fact that Missis Blackberry also had no idea at all that there was a drunk ass synthesized on the sofa in the house of impeccancy...You were perceived as a robber and almost beaten up by the second old person..."

What can I say? 

High secrecy isn't a joke to my family. 

Mom and dad know how to create the impression of the castle made of stone, whereas the damp sand on the inside has already started to crumble.

"My ass isn't drunk!" Then, stressing out of nowhere, the interlocutor of mine vividly gesticulates, fleetly changing the topic "At least not anymore. Aiishh, my poor brain...What's your name you said though?"

"Who cares I don't want to have an-"

"Oh right!!! Hookie!! Nice to meet you in the daylight," Somehow still sleepy guy snatches my hand and starts shaking it enthusiastically, "I knew that the fortune would look my way even at the right place and the wonderful time."

I momentarily grimace at the memory.

"So the bench near the seaside in the darkness of the night is the answer to everything? Such a great way to squeeze all the joy available in life." I roll my eyes, innerly amazed by his radiating optimism. 

The feeling of urgency that I’ve been bearing for a while starts to grow, but I can't quite put a finger as to what it's related t-

"I actually enjoyed my solo bench birthday." The practical stranger crosses arms on his chest, huffing as if to prove a point.

"That pathetic disaster was your birthday?!" Now it's my time to go in the shook mode "Next time make sure to surround yourself with people who truly care about you."

"You wanted to say 'friends'?" He smiles genuinely, lighting up the room, if it's even possible, on several Kelvins.

I almost smile back, not without a fraction of devastation. 

When did real friends become a privilege? 

But my own expression changes into a different one, giving me away, reacting faster than my conscience upon noticing the looming danger, as the next thing Sukja says, more like stutters is "S-someone is behind me, is-sn't it?"

Missis Blackberry completely ignores the biggest outlaw in the eyes of hers and impatiently questions in her old person voice "Are you sure, Ash, that 911 shouldn't be involved in..." Her resting in wrinkles eyes hintingly motion to the black haired who as a reply sends me a confused goopy fish kind of look. "This. Are your parents aware?"

"WAIT WAT?!? YOUR NAME IS ASH?!?!-" Ajusshi's eyes suddenly widen and he almost faints straight away.

Of course it's a collapse of his universe since he gave me a name – that the world may have never known yet – by himself, which stood out to be fake.

I pat the boy on the shoulder in warning and laugh his reaction off nonchalantly, even though on the inside I am boiling in the stew of panic.

It won't hurt to lie just a little bit, I decide. 

Therefore the smile on my face grows believably enough to calm the concerned lady down.

"Of course my parents are aware. He is my cousin and best friend from childhood in one flacon. He just...Got a concussion no thanks to...what happened earlier."

What my 'a little bit less crazy than my gran' neighbor definitely can't know is that in the light of the last several years I am actually not capable of sustaining a relationship like this, being for the most time merely on my own.

But in the old lady's eyes I am probably a cinnamon roll, therefore-

"Fine, kid. I've got to go home now. I gave your gran her medicine, so she's going to be quiet. Don't forget to eat the pancakes that I've brought, they are in the microwave." She grins my way warmly to what I bow your head in gratitude.

Starting the day with pancakes is in top of my list 'How to reach – even if it doesn't last long – happiness'.

But then Missis BlackBerry's face loses its softness and two palms of hers roughly land on the broad shoulders of my guest from his back as she ominously whispers in warning straight into his ear. 

The poor guy literally shrinks in his seat at the action "I memorized your face, handsome melon pie. One mistake from your party and the last thing you know – you are handcuffed in the basement on the mattress stained by urine."

I am flooded with regrets instantaneously as the emotion tries to get the control over me.

The laugher does its best to escape my mouth, but I put a huge effort in suppressing it. 

The old lady is famous for her obsession with detective and horror series in the whole neighborhood. 

All in all, I regret not making some popcorn, with a following same felt thought: Why can't SHE be my real grandma?

If it wasn't for her support, I doubt that I’d have power to continue suffering through Zoella's antics. 

Two oldbags literally used to be best friends forever in the past, but so far when my grandmother remembers her friend's name from time to time, it's already a grand achievement. Because there are such days when she barely manages to construct a sentence that has a point. Talk about the best pill for forgetting all the embarassing moments though...

Still staring sternly at the proclaimed Ajusshi, Missis Blackberry slowly retreats, going backwards to the front door before disappearing behind it, promising to bring me the recipe book that I asked for the other day a little bit later.

Even though I am a pure amateur in this newfound hobby, I like to bake when I feel stressed. 

The new year of school has just begun, so in theory I can justify baking and binging on goods every day now.

"It ended better than I expected." Ajusshi playfully states, casting a glance at the spot where my neighbor was seen 2 seconds ago.

"Yeaaah." I drawl out, trying to come up with the best solution for the both of us, but then the gnawing feeling within me that has grown to the size of a truck finally obtains clear outlines and what I couldn't decipher previously, finally dawns on me, causing my heartbeat to increase immediately.

SCHOOL HAS JUST BEGUN.

It's officially my first day of classes.

I feel how something in me withers and drops to the pit of my stomach, disturbing the remaining part of my pre-panicking composure.

AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS EITHER.

If I'm late again, I'm so screw-

I rush to round up the chitchat with an aim to set off to school as soon as I can even if I have to overlook the morning grooming routine and end up looking like a hobo when I arrive there.

"You know, it was really...um...cool to meet you and everything, but it's about time we separate. I'm glad that you are feeling better despite this hangover thing and some martial art lessons, but-"

"That's what it is! Stupid head hasn't adjusted to the language yet..." Ajusshi abruptly stands up and makes his way to the door, me following him devotedly and happily since I didn't even have to force him to leave "It's called a hangover. Should have known better, Honja would have never drunk so much of apple juice indeed...Why did I even steal that suspicious bottle...Gotta ask for some treatment a medical worker now. May even pay a visit to the nearby store afterwards.." He proceeds on the go, thoughtfully scratching his chin. “What do you want me to cook for dinner, my ward?" The black haired epitome of beauty, if I am being completely honest to myself, unexpectedly asks, turning around when he's already crossed the threshold.

But there's a bigger reason for what I am about to say than the mere 'I'm late. Got no time for the chat.'

"Nothing. Listen...You might have gotten the wrong idea." I try to explain, befuddled with Sukja’s persistence. "Let's put an end to this midnight adventure now and here."

"B-but-"

"Forget that I exist." I manage to say confidently before shutting the door in his face and leaning on it wearily.