"Jude, honey?"

"Just a sec, mom."

The middle aged woman smiled lovingly at her daughter from the doorway of her room. Jude was sat on her desk, typing out something on her laptop. Her fingers swifly typed out her thoughts, eyebrows furrowed in focus at the screen. Occasionally, she'd stop in her tracks to have a moment of reflection, and while doing so her thumb would absentmindedly move to rub the tips of her fingers.

It was one of the little things her mother loved about her, especially since it was a trait she shares with her father. Just a small, barely visible quirk that speaks volumes about how much Jude resembles her father.

"..And we're good. Sorry about that, mom. What's up?" Jude said after finishing up the paragraph she was typing.

"Me and dad have something to tell you. Come downstairs? I made lemonade."

-

Jude's mother's lemonade isn't like any other. At first glance, it looks like any usual pink lemonade everyone is familiar with. But Jude loves her mother's especially, simply yet tremendously elevated with the addition of rosewater to the drink. Jude would take this lemonade over alcohol any day.

A sip of the lightly pink tinted drink brought a smile to Jude's face, now sat on the dinner table across from her parents.

"So what did you want to tell me?" She asked.

Her parents exchanged looks with each other. Jude now has the impression that whatever it is she'll be told, it's gonna be either amazing or terrible.

"It's.. about our jobs, bug."

Bug. Judebug. A nickname her dad calls her when she was small. The nickname is sweet, and very dear to Jude. Though now as she's a lot older, the nickname only seems to show up during serious situations, like that one time her dad apologised for eating the ice cream she had saved to eat after a long day of classes, or that one time he and her mom had to go away for days.

Both her parents work for the same health institute, her mother a therapist and her dad a neurologist. Heavy jobs. Certain times one or the both of them wouldn't come home for the whole day. But in instances where they'd need to leave for a longer period, Jude is always notified beforehand.

"You two are going away for a while again?" the girl assumed based off of past events, fingers rubbing the condensation of her cold glass of lemonade.

"It's slightly more than that. Me and your dad, we.." they shared another glance. "We've been relocated."

Jude furrowed her eyebrows.

"Relocated?"

"To Belgium, honey." her mother precised.

"No, that's not my question," Jude let out an awkward chuckle, "Relocated, like, permanently? Both of you?"

Her mother nodded.

Jude sat there, somewhat sceptical at the news. However, the serious expression touched with a bit of concern remained on the faces of her parents. They meant what they said. They're moving away.

"When?"

"We're leaving in a week." her dad replied, his hands doing the little trait they share, thumb rubbing his fingertips.

"Wait, but.." Jude's hand gripped her glass. "What about me?"

Things have been looking great ahead of Jude, mainly with the dim light of hope she has about Vinny. Of course, there are other reasons that concerned her if she had to also move away. Her stable studies, her friend, and the city she has never considered leaving.

"About that, Judebug, we want you to stay here."

Jude's eyes widen. "What?"

"You're so big already. We trust you're ready to live alone. At least, it's a better choice rather than to leave everything you have here." her dad said, receiving an agreeing nod from her mother.

Somehow Jude was moved to tears. It is true, she's over 20 for heavens sake, living alone shouldn't be too much of an issue, her 19 year old friends are literally surviving on their own already. However the abruptness of the news was a little hard to take in for her still dependant self.

Jude never asked for a lot from her parents, mainly because they had provided her with just about anything she needs and wants. Everything has been served to her. She never had to worry about anything, including the fact that one day she would need to start adulting and do things on her own.

"Wow, I'm so.. spoiled." She managed a laugh through her tears at the realisation in her head.

It seems like her parents agree with the statement, seeing the two immediately understanding the reasons behind why Jude had said it.

"Well we do love spoiling you, honey. That's more our fault." her mother laughed softly.

"We know this isn't gonna be easy on you. But we thought that it's the best choice for you. Unless you're okay with going with us?" her dad added.

Jude shook her head immediately while using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. The idea of leaving is way worse than the idea of staying, plus a bit more impossible because of the fact that moving universities isn't exactly an easy process.

"We'll call you lots, I promise. Video calls every friday night. How's that?"

The girl let out a long shaky breath, fingers placed on her eyes to give them another rub.

"I'm really gonna miss you guys."

The adults rose from their seats seeing their daughter fully breakdown in tears. They embraced their perfect little girl, spoiled just a little too long, however has been the best child they could ever ask for. It hurt just as much for them to leave, especially after being on Jude's side her entire life.

It was like reality weighed down heavy on Jude. Living alone, doing everything by herself, she probably would get used to that easy. But her dad's silly jokes and annoying habit of stealing food, her mom's absolute hug of comfort and refreshing glass of rosewater lemonade. She won't be experiencing those for a while.

--

"Are you fucking serious?? You're back to being all sulky and quiet. What is it this time?!"

It was suddenly monday afternoon. They're at the cafeteria again, Jude and her nagging but concerned friend.

"I'm not sulking." Jude refutes.

"Your head is in the freakin clouds, girl. I thought the friday night drinks helped."

"If anything it fucked you up. Can't really hold your alcohol, can you?" Jude smiled teasingly, taking a bite of her lunch.

"Okay, okay. Touché. I suck, that's true. But for reals, Jude. What is it that's really bothering you this much?" Alex said.

They saw that Jude isn't as quiet as last time, meaning this issue is probably not as bad. Still, they'd put Jude being sad and silent at the bottom of the list of their favourite things. Alex is just trying to help, but they know their friend is somewhat reserved about her personal life. They're willing to do whatever they can to help, though.

Jude shook her head then considered for a moment to tell her friend about the situation. Deciding her friend deserves to know and is most definitely trustworthy, she opens her mouth and told them about her parents' job relocation.

Alex as expected took it very well without judgement. Sure, they both are and have been adults, however having your parents that you've lived with your entire life suddenly go away leaving just a one week notice, even Alex themselves would be in the gutters.

"It's gonna be alright, Jude. I'm always here if you need anything, alright? Don't even act okay around me when you're not. At least if you're struggling with something, tell me. Or Ked, or Vinny. Just don't keep it to yourself, alright? Have this orange." They rolled their lunch orange towards Jude, the girl happily receiving it.

"I will, Alex. Thank you."

-

Upon arriving at Vinny and Ked's faculty, Jude immediately spotted them outside having a conversation.

The two boys are sitting next to each other and seemed to be really immersed in whatever they were talking about. They didn't even notice Jude's car arriving, the girl needed to pull her window down and call out to them.

Successfully catching their attention, Jude watched the two rose and started to walk towards her car. Rightfully so, she expected Vinny to come open the door to the passenger's seat, as usual, but to her surprise, the two came and sat on the back seat.

"Hi Jude." Ked greeted.

"Hey. Uh, Vinny, you're not sitting here?" Jude asked, referring to Vinny's usual seat.

"Eh, I wanna sit here if that's okay." Vinny shrugged.

Jude thought it was slightly peculiar, but then quickly decided it's not a big deal as she then started to drive away.

"Ked, were you hungover?" Jude asked in the middle of the ride, interrupting a conversation the boys yet again were having.

"Me? I don't really get hangovers. I could get absolutely shitfaced when drinking but the mornings are usually easy for me. Well, as long as there's no one in my bed to bother me awake."

"Oh, I'm the one bothering you?" Vinny scoffed at the obvious satire towards him.

"Well a certain someone definitely got me all bothered that morning." Ked smirked at the other boy who reciprocated the action.

Jude let out a sheepish laugh despite not completely understanding the context. She had left early that day without even glancing inside the room the two were sleeping in, thus not knowing anything that went on in there at all, let alone after she had left.

She imagined the two probably had a small altercation due to Vinny suddenly sleeping beside Ked that night, however whatever had happened has made the two bond so much closer. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she saw them sitting in close proximity to each other with wide smiles plastered on their faces as they continued talking about things Jude couldn't follow, before quickly having to avert her gaze back to the road.

Eyes now focused on the drive, her hands' grip around the steering wheel tightened. She hoped she had also imagined the pink tints on each of the boys' cheeks, the color deepening by the moment as their eyes layed upon each other.

A sense of uneasiness crept over Jude. The now strengthened bond between Vinny and Ked, created by that mysterious moment, casted shadows over her heart. The once familiar route towards Vinny's heart returned back to being an unpredictable route.

The sight of their smiles, so genuine and carefree, contrasted sharply with the thoughts swirling in Jude's mind. She wished understanding and managing emotions are as easy as stepping on the gas pedal and steering.

As her car advanced forward, so did her anxiousness. She fears that a competition for Vinny's affection is commencing, and she worried she isn't the one currently winning.