Chapter One Hundred Twenty Seven: The Period That Destroyed Percy
A week had passed since Shreya's period chaos.
The mansion had finally recovered.
Mithun had been declared a saint. Akshi had created a "Period Survival Guide" based on his techniques. C.N. had calculated the statistical probability of his patience (it was 100%).
But now—
Now it was Honey's turn.
---
Percy woke up oblivious.
Happy. Bouncy. Ready for the day.
He bounded into the kitchen. "GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE! IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY!"
Honey sat at the table.
Staring at nothing.
Coffee untouched.
Percy paused. "Honey? You okay?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"EVERYTHING."
---
Percy blinked. "Is it... that time of the month?"
Her head snapped toward him.
"THAT TIME OF THE MONTH? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT?"
"I—I didn't mean—"
"YOU DIDN'T MEAN WHAT? TO BE INSENSITIVE? TOO LATE!"
Percy's eyes widened. "I'm sorry!"
"SORRY DOESN'T FIX IT!"
---
The kitchen went silent.
Everyone turned.
Akshi whispered to Chethan. "Uh oh."
Chethan whispered back. "Percy's in trouble."
Shreya nodded. "Big trouble."
Mithun observed calmly. "This will be educational."
Jay grabbed her coffee and moved to a safe distance. Keifer followed.
C.N. pulled out his notebook. "Documenting."
Rakii raised her camera. "For posterity."
---
Honey stood abruptly.
Chair scraping against the floor.
"You know what? I'm tired. I'm tired of you bouncing around like a puppy every morning. I'm tired of your loud voice. I'm tired of—" She paused. "I'm tired of EVERYTHING."
Percy's face fell. "Honey—"
"DON'T 'HONEY' ME!"
She stormed out.
The door to their room slammed.
---
Percy stood there.
Stunned.
"What just happened?"
Jay patted his arm. "Period mood swings. They're rough."
"But she's never—she's always so calm—"
"Honey's calm. Period Honey is different."
He paled. "How different?"
"You're about to find out."
---
Percy approached their room cautiously.
Knocked.
"Honey? Baby? Can I come in?"
No response.
He knocked again.
"Honey, please?"
The door flew open.
Honey stood there, eyes blazing.
"WHAT?"
"I—I just wanted to check on you."
"WELL I'M FINE."
"You don't look fine."
"THANK YOU FOR THAT OBSERVATION."
---
Percy took a step back. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Chocolate? Heating pad?"
"NO."
"Are you sure? Because—"
"I SAID NO!"
She slammed the door.
Percy stood in the hallway.
Defeated.
---
He walked back to the kitchen.
Everyone was still there.
Watching.
"She hates me."
"She doesn't hate you," Jay said. "She's just in pain."
"What do I do?"
"Try again. Bring chocolate."
"Chocolate?"
"Always chocolate."
---
Percy grabbed the biggest chocolate bar he could find.
Approached the door again.
Knocked.
"Honey? I brought chocolate."
Silence.
"Dark chocolate. Your favorite."
The door opened a crack.
Honey's face appeared.
Red-eyed. Fierce.
But she took the chocolate.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Now go away."
"Okay."
---
He returned to the kitchen.
"She took the chocolate."
"Progress," Akshi said.
"And then she told me to go away."
"Also progress."
"How is that progress?"
"She didn't slam the door."
---
The day continued.
Every time Percy approached, Honey found something new to be angry about.
At lunch, he sat too close.
"MOVE."
He moved.
He sat too far.
"NOW YOU'RE IGNORING ME?"
"I'm not ignoring you! You told me to move!"
"I TOLD YOU TO MOVE, NOT ABANDON ME!"
---
At afternoon snack, he brought her tea.
She looked at it.
"Is this decaf?"
"Uh—yes?"
"I WANT CAFFEINE!"
"You said caffeine makes your cramps worse!"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT I SAID! I WANT CAFFEINE!"
---
By dinner, Percy was a wreck.
His shirt was untucked. His hair was messy. His eyes were desperate.
He sat at the table, staring at nothing.
Mithun sat beside him. "How are you holding up?"
"She hates me."
"She doesn't hate you."
"She called me a 'useless bouncing puppy.'"
Mithun paused. "That's... specific."
"AND ACCURATE!"
---
Chethan tried to help. "Just keep being there. Bring her things. Don't take it personally."
"Easier said than done."
"Nothing worth doing is easy."
Percy looked at him. "Did you just get wise?"
"I have moments."
---
At 9 PM, Percy tried one more time.
Knocked softly.
"Honey? Can I come in?"
Silence.
Then: "Fine."
He entered slowly.
Honey was in bed.
Curled up. Heating pad on her stomach. Chocolate wrapper nearby.
She looked... smaller.
"Softer."
He sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For what?"
"For being annoying. For being loud. For being a puppy."
She laughed weakly. "You're not a puppy."
"I'm not?"
"You're a golden retriever. There's a difference."
He smiled. "Okay."
---
She reached for his hand.
He took it.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"It's okay."
"It's not okay. I was mean."
"You're in pain. It's allowed."
She looked at him. "You're too good to me."
"I'm not. I'm just me."
"That's the point."
---
He lay down beside her.
Pulled her close.
She curled into him.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too. Even when you're angry."
"Especially when I'm angry?"
"No. Especially when you're not."
She laughed. "Fair."
---
The next morning, Honey woke up feeling better.
Percy was still beside her.
Watching her.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Hey."
"I'm sorry for yesterday."
"Don't be."
"I was terrible."
"You were human."
She kissed him softly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"No more golden retriever comments?"
"No promises."
She laughed.
He smiled.
Another storm weathered.
---
In the kitchen, everyone waited.
Percy walked in.
Alone.
But smiling.
"She's okay?"
"She's okay."
"Are you okay?"
He nodded. "I survived."
C.N. made a note. "Percy: Period survival. Effectiveness: Questionable. Survival: Confirmed."
Rakii photographed his disheveled state. "For the album. 'The Day Percy Almost Died.'"
Jay raised her coffee. "To Percy. For surviving."
"TO PERCY!" everyone echoed.
He grinned.
Worth it.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Twenty Seven