Chapter 9 - Math's "X"

"Okay, so mushrooms or broccoli?" Jason asked while holding out the packed veggies for her to see. Adeline turned around, startled at the question her father had asked her. She looked at him and the surroundings he was in. Standing in front of the fridge, he had broccoli in one hand and the mushrooms in the other. "I just had my first day of school, how can you even have the audacity to ask me about veggies?" She retorted while throwing her hands up in the air. "Gimme chocolates and junk!" Jason was highly amused. His daughter surely had been attentive in English to use a word like 'audacity'. She was the only reason for him staying alive. Jason playfully glared back. Placing one hand over his hip, he spoke, "You surely have learnt a lot of English, why don't you go practice maths?" She stared at him for a few seconds and then replied, "Are you telling me to do my homework and taunting me?" "I might not say it because you are responsible enough to do it, doesn't mean I can't tell you to do something at all. I am your parent, I can say whatever I want," He shrugged without care. Adele stared at him for a few minutes, shook her head, and walked upstairs. Settling down on the table and chair, she pulled out the least favourite subject first: Mathematics. 'All the gods above, please tell me what the X is today.' She prayed. Sighing, she shook her head and started with the first problem. "Dinner's ready, it's octopus and snail", Jason yelled from the kitchen, snorting in the end. Adele rolled her eyes and yelled back in a playful tone, "You do know that nobody finds you funny,nny right?" She ran downstairs into the kitchen and saw her father froinn on his spot. He was not moving. He turned around slowly, eyes wide, and shakily brought his hand up to his heart. Adeline was scared now. He was shaking with something unknown to her, and she was shaking from fear. "D—Dad, are you okay? Do I call someone right now?123?" He didn't respond immediately and stood still, making Adeline's heart beat inhumanely quicker.