Page 84 of Blossoms of the Heart
Chapter 17
Tai
* * *
Iworked from home the next day.
Had to because I didn’t want to face anyone and I didn’t want to see Phoebe.
I was acting like a jealous ex and I was nothing of the sort.
We’d never been together and I was acting like she’d done something to me.
It wasn’t her fault that I had this Candace situation. Had it now for over a month.
Over a damn month.
I was supposed to be working, as in doing actual work but I spent most of the day on the beach smoking and drinking.
By nightfall I was in a worse state and not in the mood to speak to anyone.
Akito called at nine sounding awful, like he was dying. The sound of him snapped me out of my state.
“Hey Akito, are you okay?”
“I have the worst cold, Tai.” He answered sounding weak and wheezy.
“What do you need? I can be there in a few minutes.” I could jump on my bike. No, damn I’d been drinking. Drinking far too much to drive and I had a migraine.
“I’ll be okay. Mitsuke is here giving me that awful green soup. It’s Phoebe I’m worried about. She’s still at work. There’s a power cut at the center. I think one of the wires tripped and she insisted on working through the night. I’m just worried. That part of town can be dangerous at this time.”
“Dad, calm down. Your blood pressure. Remember,” I heard Mitsuke say.
I was already grabbing my jacket. “I’ll go over there and see if everything’s okay.”
Akito was right to worry. Phoebe shouldn’t be at work at this hour, but maybe just like everything else that was my fault.
“Thanks, Tai. I would have gone myself but I really don’t feel well. I doubt I’ll be well enough to go in tomorrow.”
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“Thanks, son.”
I always liked when he called me son. It was a sign of respect and appreciation.
Time to get my act together and stop this stupid wallowing.
* * *
In my post drunken state I took a taxi .
I went to see Phoebe first before venturing down to the control room where the main systems were.
She’d bought a few candles. Scented ones so the place smelled of cinnamon and vanilla.
She was at her desk reading. Looked like she was reading the journal.
When I got closer I could see she was, and she was wearing ear phones so didn’t hear me come up behind her.
