My Crazy Housemate: What Makes You Happy - Chapter 280

“Hey there!”

Jeremy turned in surprise when he heard the family voice behind him. “You came!” He said with a smile. He was too happy today that he didn’t think before hugging her, startling the woman.

When she was over the shock, she chuckled and patted his back with one hand. “Of course I had to. It’s your graduation after all.” Mrs Wesley said with a smile, before they broke the hug. She handed him the flowers she was holding.

“Come on, I’m a man.” He whined. “Men do not need flowers.”

“Then I will take it.” Ellie who had been standing idly beside Mrs Wesley accepted it happily and sniffed it.

“You look very handsome.” The woman noted.

His hair was in a tight ponytail, he wore a blue shirt tucked in a black trousers with a really nice pair of shoes to go with his dressing.

He blushed. “You also look very beautiful Maria.” He smiled.

The woman looked like she was in her thirties even though she was already in her mid forties. She wore a red pencil gown which ended just below her knees which a white stiletto and marching purse. Her hair was in a bun and her face was beautifully made up. He was sure a lot of younger men usually tried to hit on her.

“So you are officially a graduate, big boy.”

“Yes. And I even had better grades than I expected. Came out as the number 10th student in my class. Big surprise!” He said with a proud smile.

“Really? What about Kelvin?” The woman asked curiously. Jeremy had made sure to keep her updated with everything happening in his life so she about Kelvin.

“Well, his GPA has always been high so I guess that saved him. He was number 5. A big hit to his ego. I don’t see him anywhere. Dude is probably brawling somewhere.”

“You are a devil, aren’t you? You should be feeling bad for him.” She said even though she was smiling.

“He has never been nice to me. Besides, Mia got to be the best student while Chloe was also given an award. I am excited.”

“Tch! You are not ashamed of yourself. Do they have two heads? How come you were not awarded for anything?” Ellie asked.

“Hey! Don’t start that with me. You aren’t even the top of your class and I doubt you’ll ever top you class when you spend so much time with the neighbors gossiping about me and my relationship.”

“Haha! Enough with the banter already. I want to see this Mia girl you have always told me about.”

“Oh Mia! She should be around here somewhere. He said and began to look around. The whole place was crowded with students and their families.

*****

Mia had never thought that she would one day become a photographer like Leo. But right now, she had become one. If she charged a dollar for each picture she took, she was sure going to earn a lot to buy a box of Pizza and a lot of beer to drown herself in.

“Here, thank you.” Another graduate handed his phone to Mia, begging her to take a picture of him and his parents.

She couldn’t reject them. They all looked so happy. If she had a family here, she wouldn’t have ended up as a photographer.

The more she took photos of people, the sadder she got. Even the awards couldn’t stop the emptiness she felt. The scholarship for a master’s degree the school had promised to sponsor, to any univeristy of her choice within the country was not also able to stop her from feeling empty. The congratulatory messages did nothing either. She really felt like an empty vessel.

“Thank you.” The boy said and took the phone back from Mia.

Mia guessed it was best she returned home. Her phone had been buzzing inside her bag but she didn’t make any move to take it out. She knew Leo wasn’t calling. He had sent a text last night to apologize in advance.

She turned to leave and caught sight of someone who waved at her from afar. Her heart skipped for a moment but she reminded herself it was not Leo. It was Louis. She was glad he at least had stopped his deliberate act of looking like Leo. His hair was neatly styled to the back with a few stubborn strands falling towards his forehead. He wore a formal dress and trousers and held a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

She smiled back faintly. Louis had made sure to call a couple of times to remind her to eat and take her meds. So for the past three days, they had spoken quite a lot even though he had been practically scolding her and doing much of the talking.

“Congratulations Mia. You were exceptional.” He said when he got to meet her halfway.

“Thanks.”

“This is for you.” He handed the flowers, which made her look surprised.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Not Chloe’s?”

“She isn’t a fan of flowers. This is for you.” He urged her to take it.

“Ohhh.”

Mia had never received a flower before so it felt kind of weird. Even Leo hadn’t given her a flower before but she didn’t mind, really. They lived together after all.

“Tha..nks. I guess.” She said as she accepted it.

He smiled when she finally received it. “How is your health? Feel better?”

“Feel better. Thanks.”

“Why are you uncomfortable?” He asked. “You also do not look happy.”

“Well….”

“Hey, there is something I have been meaning to discuss with you so if you do not have any plans later today—”

“I’m sorry… I can’t.” She shook her head. She didn’t know what he wanted to tell her, but she didn’t want to stay too close to Louis when he reminded her so much of Leo.

“Do not tell me you are just going to lock yourself in today?”

When she didn’t say anything, he realized he had guessed correctly.

“Come on, that’s exactly what we need to talk about. You cannot keep locking yourself in. There are going to be a lot of celebrations tonight so just for you to feel comfortable, I’ll ask Chloe if there’s any particular place she is hanging out with Jeremy, and you are coming.”

“But…”

“No buts Mia. Leo wouldn’t like to see you like this. You need to be happy. Have fun. Let loose. Hmm?”

“….”

“We will see tonight?” He asked.

Mia sighed. She didn’t want to go but it was going to suck staying in her room all day. Maybe she really needed this. She need to clear her mind and let herself free even if it was just for a few hours.

“Maybe?”

“Good! See you then. And congratulations once again, Mia Lucas.”

Her heart skipped when she heard him call her like that. Leo usually called her Mia Lucas majority of the times.

When he already walked to a distance away from her, he turned to wave at her again with a faint smile on his face.

Leo usually waved at her like that too. In a moment of daze, she slowly raised her hand and waved back.