Toxic relationship

Chapter 9-Milan

I wake up as soon as my alarm goes off. It's 07:00am, if it was a person then I swear i'd've punched him right right in the face. Doesn't really matter who, but that's not what's bothering me right now, it's Real. Well, she was extremely drunk last night and I wonder how she's doing. I reach out for my phone and text her, but she doesn't reply. I continue to sleep for 1 more hour and text again, but no reply still.

I then try calling her, but she doesn't pickup.

"Milan baby, breakfast is ready!"

I hear my mom call me from downstairs.

I quickly get outta bed and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

Then I get out of my room and go downstairs to the dinning table. As soon as I get downstairs I hear the sizzling aroma of waffles and omlet. Then I see mom in her purple dress and a cardigan. Her hair is tied into a messy bun.

I push the chair and take a seat and the only sound which is been heard is from the kitchen, so I'm guessing dad's already off to work and Daryn's at her best friend Stephanie's house for a sleepover.

"Sup baby, you seem to be in deep thought. What's wrong?"

Mom asks me whilst saving me the food.

"Well.." I say whilst having my food. Mom pours juice in a glass and hands me.

"Real's not picking up." I say after taking a sip of my juice.

"Real, is everything ok?" Mom asks wide eyed.

Damn... Did I just tell my mom about Real? What the hell was I thinking, now she won't drop the topic.

"Did you do something she didn't like?" Mom says holding my arm in assurance.

"Come on, you can tell me anything."

"Mom!" I say annoyed.

"I'm just trying to help."

"Real's not my girlfriend."

"I know, but she's also the only friend you have. Come on baby, talk to mommy." She says touching my chick.

"Mom, I'm not a kid anymore!" I say removing her hand.

"But Mil..."

I just carry my food and exit the dinning room.

"Mil baby, wait up, I might help.!"

But I just leave coz I just need my own space and when I need space, I get space to think things through and mom knows I can't turn back.

I have my food on the balcony. My thoughts shift to Real again, she's still a minor and I'm not even sure whether it was her first time to be that drunk without her family around. I text her again, but no reply.

* * * * *

Two pm.

I decide to go and check up on her myself. I reach at her doorstep and knock. I knock for some time without getting any response. I'm now on the verge of giving up, until the door cracks open.

"Lan?!" I see a confused and nervous Real.

She's wearing a blue tee and black two-line sweatpants. Her hair's tied into a messy bun.

"Ya... whom were you expecting?"

She ignores my question and tells me to get in. So I get in. Real looks extremely blank today.

"Umm... coffee?" Real says handing out a glass.

"Thanks." I say.

Real then packs some of her stuff laying around.

"Sorry it's alittle messy." Real says whilst packing her belongings.

"Let's talk about yesterday."

I swear Real choked on that coffee. She seemed so disturbed.

"Are you ok?"

"Um.. yeah, totally." She says.

"You don't seem ok."

"How about we seat on the benches outside."

I agree and we both go outside.

"Umm.." Real starts.

"Sorry for last night, I wasn't being my actual self."

"I know." I say after taking a sip of the coffee, it's damn perfect, more cream and less coffee.

"Did I create a scene last night?"

"A huge one."

Real gasps.

"Really?!"

Real's literally freaking out right now.

"What-what did I like do, was I that-"

"Relax, I was only pulling your leg. I cut her up.

"Wow, I never knew we were that close to c***k jokes with each other."

"Ya...I bet you never knew, and I also never knew we were that close that we'd kiss."

By this, I see guilt written all over her face.

"I really didn't mean to do that, I know I always mess up when I'm drunk, but I swear it wasn't intentional."

So what Real's saying is that she didn't mean for the kiss, but she isn't saying sorry for it. Girl's got no time for it, she didn't mean for the kiss, but she also doesn't say she regrets it.

Well, I don't regret it either. I've never had a feeling like I had yesterday when I was kissing Real. It was so magical and I could swear I could see sparks igniting.

"So... d'ya wanna know what you did yesterday?" I ask.

Real takes a deep breath.

"Yes... Apart from kissing you."

"Ya ...apart from kissing me."

Girl's really in shock.

"Well... you told me about your family."

"W-what did I tell you about my family?" Real asks.

"Well... just some freaking facts like you're the last born of six kids, that's from two mothers and fathers."

Real is now getting furious.

"So last night we really had some fact time huh. I guess I wasn't more of a talkbox."

"Oh really?" I then tell her that she called me vinegar last night and Real can't help but laugh. But she admits she wouldn't say that when she's sobber.

I also remind her she told me about trust and talk and she admits that she really meant it. She says it's something she can say even when sobber.

"Careful, coz I'm sure you don't wanna experience my mood swings." Real can't help but laugh.

"So you really do have temper problems, don't ya?"

"I don't know, my parents say I let my anxiety take control over me." I say calmy.

"Well, I can help with your anger issues." Real says and I look direct into her eyes.

"If you want." She adds.

Damn... she has hypnotizing eyes, and I can't help but look at her soft pink lips and I have some bad thoughts passing through my mind, like I wanna knack Real. So I face away and change the topic.

"So...where do your siblings stay?"

I try to sound as casual as possible.

"Umm... London."

"London, how come you here?"

"You see, when I was little my mom told me to never be somewhere I'm not needed, so.." Real sighs.

"Here I am."

"Well, that's Greek to me."

"You see mama was white, and my dad was a freakin white racist."

Real says and I notice the pain in her voice.

"Damn, that's so f****d up."

Can't even imagine how that'd be, if you racist why the hell would ya marry a black woman and have kids w/her.

"So my siblings are like totally white, no trace of black. Like they ain't even my mom's babies, and we'll, I'm different."

"Honestly, I don't see you as black." I say.

"If you don't see the blackness in me, then you don't see me Lan. My siblings are racists and I've always been the victim."

"What the hell?!"

"Yeah, that's coz my structure's different."

"What you mean?"

Real closes her eyes and bites her downer lip and sighs, I think she needs some time, so I don't push it too hard on her I just wait for her.

"My siblings always made fun of my structure, coz they're all slender and their curves aren't like mine. They say it's a disorder which is over inheritance of female traits, or maybe I cheated at birth."

"Meaning."

"They say I might've been injected at birth, but that's not true, coz it's the way things are. Some days I'd just wish I'd be found dead coz I was treated like an outcast. Sometimes I just wish I never had these curves, coz people think you're a living Barbie."

"Are you?"

"Ofcourse not."

"Look.." I wrap my hand against hers.

"You're a fighter, Real don't let negative comments define who you are, coz that's clearly not what you are. You're just perfect the way you are. One negative comment shouldn't drop a thousand spirits in you and most of all be proud. Infact you should know that you're blessed coz alot of girls out here are killing themselves to be just like you. Curves aren't embarrassing."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better, aren't you?"

REALITY

So I'm telling Lan about my family and how my siblings think I'm a disgrace, Erica. I forgot that part.

He assures me that I'm perfect and ofcourse that I look good. I'm starting to blush with all the complements. Never expected that from a guy like Lan.

He's actually the first to complement me on everything, I almost syed a year. He says I'm different for complaining about curves .

Milan takes out a cigarette and lights it using a lighter.

"Want some?" He asks after one puff.

"No, thanks." I say shaking my head.

"Don't worry, it's just nicotine."

"Not a fan of smoking." I say honestly.

Lan asks me of what I plan for in the future and I tell him I wanna work on music coz my life's not all Sundays and rainbows.

"Too much sunshine makes a desert."

I agree with him.

"So... you go to school, right?"

"Ya "

"Securing your future, huh."

"Sorta." Says after a puff of the cigarette.

"Why don't you go?"

He suddenly asks me.

"Coz I know what I want, and it's definitely not school." I say smiling.

"You're nuts." He says recklessly.

"Well, school's scum, you pay money all your school life and later you might not even find a job. Oh how convenient.

"Atleast you come home with facts."

"It's only ok to people like you who can still earn without a paper. So... how's your school life?"

"f****d up. Everything's f****d up with me."

"Hey, you aren't the type to have a f****d up school life, from my POV."

Milan shakes his head.

"s**t just happens sometimes."

"Tell me about it."

"My grades are excellent, but every Monday and Wednesday I have to meet my dumbass ex who's my Biology class deskmate and I can't change."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Everything." He drops the cigarette and steps on it, hence extinguishing it .

"Can't fuckin learn like that."

"You still love her?"

Lan looks at me.

"Wha?"

"D'ya still love her, your ex, are you still in love with her?"

"Ion know." Lan shrugs.

"Maybe... but I can't fuckin tell her that. She drives me up the wall sometimes, and I don't like it, she wanna act like we still a couple when we're not."

I take a minute to think things through and analyse everything.

"What if she still loves you?"

"Real, do I look stupid to you?"

"No.." I say shaking my head.

"Good, coz I have nothing to do with her."

"Do you need help from me?"

"Wouldn't deny if you'd like to."

"Good, coz you've come to a sensei. It's still, just act as if she ain't even there."

"What?"

Lan looks at me confused.

"Ignore her every time she tries to speak to you, don't give any attention, don't tolerate her nonsense and when she tries to touch you, don't let her. Remove her hand and after all this if she has dignity she won't bother you no more because the most important thing to a girl is attention."

Lan looks at me for a minute, tryna process everything thoroughly and I stare at him to wait for a response.

"Baked up plan, I like it." He says giving a smirk.

I'm now at ease.

"So I'll come for an update."

All I say is ok.

"Do visit more often, my mom is still asking for you."

I gasp.

"You can't be serious."

"It's the fact, yo and you're now kinda special coz you're the first person I'm sharing how I feel. Tell me if you need anything, I won't disappoint you."

All this is just magical. Lan's mom, seriously, that lady's a diva. What did she see in me and Lan is giving a guarantee of support, I pinch myself out of the dream, but I realise it's reality.

"Can you help me find Erica Banks?"

I ask.

"Erica Banks? It's hard to find her, especially since she's at the NBA. She plays for the country and I ain't on that level yet "

"Please?"

"I'll try my best to find Erica for you, Real."

Milan says and I'm over the moon.

He asks me whether I'm on IG, sss, Twitter, linkedin or Pinterest and I tell him no. He's surprised by it all but I assure myself that I'm surviving.

"I just let some stuff go."

"Ya, just like you did with school."

Lan says in a dissing way.

"Atleast tenth grade is far enough and besides, I hate rules."

"Rules?" Lan asks in between a chuckle.

"Ya, in school you gotta abide by alot of rules and I didn't wanna be ruled."

"Rules are rules, Real and everybody has to obey."

"That's why I don't wanna go anymore."

After alittle more chat, Lan says his goodbye and leaves.

MILAN

I leave early from Real's place coz I feel it's getting late and I didn't get my Jeep.

I see a familiar ford ranger beside me and the window is slid down and I see my dad there.

"Get in, son." I get in and my dad is answering a phone call at the time.

After about 5 minutes the call ends.

"Where you coming from?"

"Went to see a friend." I reply facing outside the window.

"Friend? Interesting...was it Real?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Was just asking, Cos I know she's the only friend you've got now."

"Ya didn't have to make it so obvious."

I say giving an annoyed look.

"Ya but I can't help it, you should know that if you get so distracted it might end up affecting your athletic life."

I kinda pissed by all this.

"What you mean, that I don't know what can keep me going and what can't. Do you think Real is a threat?"

"Whoa whoa whoa son, I didn't say that and I absolutely have no grudges against her. I have no problem with her, but I'm talking to you."

He says with one of his hands touching the driving wheel and the other pointing at me.

"Well, what is it that you're saying?"

"In athletics you need to be double sure to make it work. So.." he takes out a bottle of pills.

"I got these pills for you keep you going." Says lifting the bottle in the air for me to see.

I think of how I almost died last year.

"Are you kidding me, those pills almost killed me last year!" I say not holding my temper back.

"I'm aware of that, it's coz you had an overdose." He says calmly as if he even understands me.

"You know what, I don't need your fuckin pills to show my abilities as a good player!"

"We're now in our driveway and dad won't stop until he makes his senseless plan a point.

"You don't get it son, ask all the successful athletes. I want the best for you and Thursdays alone are not enough."

Dad packs the car in the garage.

"Cool then,I get you."

I open the door and get out of the car angrily and storm into the house. Dad follows suit and he's at it again.

"I don't want your b****y pills no more!" I shout.

"Could've been easy if you were a good enough player."

These words pierce me right into the heart and at this point I don't care what I answer no more.

"Well, I don't fuckin care about how you feel no more, coz it's about me and not you!"

I challenge, pointing at him.

"Milan, what's wrong with you, how can you speak to your father like that?!

My mom who's so concerned interferes. I can see she's hurting and breaking apart.

"Why don't you ask your f****d up husband?" I say pointing at dad.

"Milan! Language!"

Then storm upstairs to my room.

I get my sports bag and basketball and come back downstairs.

"Where you goin?" Mom asks and dad's attention shifts to me.

"Where your husband fuckin wanted me to go, but couldn't go straight to the point. Practice."

I say the last word whilst walking away.

"Hey, you can't go now, just look at the weather." She says looking outside and I do too.

They're some dark cumulonimbus clouds which means it might start raining anyoment. I ignore all that and just leave.

Mom goes to dad.

"Honey, you need to stop him." She says shaking his arm.

"Sweetheart leave him, let's see for how long he'll practice. Maybe that's when he'll realise.

His comment doesn't bother me, it's the result that'll affect him.

NARRATOR

*Minutes after Milan leaves *

"Honey you should've stopped him!" Misha says disappointedly.

"Sweetheart , leave him, let's see for how long he'll practice , maybe that's when he'll realize."

"If anything happens to him..."

"Relax hun, nothing will happen to him." Alejandro assures Misha.

Daryn comes downstairs.

"Where's Mil?" She asks.

Misha kneels and touches her soft chick.

"I don't know honey."

"What you need him for?" Alejandro inquires.

"He was supposed to help me out with my report, he promised he would."

"Welk, I'll help you, you see I always got straight A's in English ." Misha says excitedly.

"No need to brag, everyone knows that." Alejandro says rolling his eyes in a playful manner.

"Well...I have to make it obvious mommie's brains." Misha says in a sassy tone.

Misha helps Daryn with her report which she's so sure she gon Ace.

Misha comes back downstairs, worried about her son.

"He still isn't back!" Misha says.

"Yes.." Alejandro says typing on his laptop and sipping his coffee.

"Prolly for the best." He adds.

"What you mean prolly for the best." Misha says furious.

"I'm still very worried my son's not home yet and it's raining very heavily out there."

"Well.." Alejandro says before he takes another sip.

"Our baby's not a baby no more, he can't even say a proper sentence without 'f**k' in it."

"Well, he's still our baby, he might not be in the mood for some things sometimes, but you just need to understand him." Misha says calmly in a motherly tone.

"Fine." Alejandro says looking away from his monitor.

"You can just call him."

Miaha immediately takes her phone and tries calling him, but he doesn't pick up. She tries several more times, but gives up when she thinks maybe he's too upset to pick up the call.

She decides to take his uniform for laundry.

She goes into Milan's room and see his geometry books on the bed.

"Just look at Milan, today he's left his books on the bed." She says shaking her head first before she removes them and puts then on the mini shelf.

Then she sees Milan's phone on the bed.

"Oh God, Milan's left his phone ." Misha says getting the phone.

Alejandro arrives.

"What now?"

"Well, he's left his phone." Shows him.

"Honey, Milan's big enough, he's eighteen, he's not a minor." Alejandro assures Misha.

"I'm still worried .

It's quarter to twelve and Milan is stil not back. It has been raining and thundering heavily since he left and it's really been bothering Misha a lot. She hasn't gotten any sleep yet because she's scared her son might be in a really bad condition.

She's in her short sky blue night dress and a long Cardigan which comes with it. Her hair is tied into a messy bun and she isn't in peace at all.

She's just walking back and fourth and she's already checked the time a million times and still can't believe hee son isn't back yet.

She hears footsteps and when she turns to the other side, she sees Alejandro in his grey dark Knight vest and black Adidas sweatpants with a water bottle.

"Hey hun, you aren't asleep yet?"

Misha looks at Alejandro with worry written all over her face.

"Yeah, it's to twelve and my son's not yet home." Misha says worriedly whilst looking at her phone to check the time again.

Meanwhile Alejandro is also starting to warn away with worry.

"Was it that hard on him?"

Alejandro asks.

"I dunno" Misha says shaking her head.

"But you know Milan, you can't force him to do something he doesn't want."

Misha says almost crying.

Worry cripples Alejandro, its his fault and he really can't run away from that truth.

"Maybe he's at a friends place."

"But which friend, you know since he had a mental breakdown last year all his friends seem to disappear."

Misha seems completely broken as she's saying this.

"My kid's really going through a lot, maybe Real, he was at Reals earlier, so maybe he might've gone again?"

Alejandro says trying to give a new alley of hope for them both.

Misha finally looks relieved and would like to call Real immediately.

"But I don't got her number."

"Neither do I." Alejandro says scrolling through his phone to check on the contacts.

"I'm sure Mil has it." Misha says getting Milan's phone from the table.

"Damn, his phone's fingerprint secured!" Misha groans.

"Isn't there like another password ? Alejandro asks pointing at the phone.

"It's supposed to be, but then I got no idea." Misha takes a moment to think.

"Da..Daryn might know." Misha says.

"We can't wake her up, she's already gone through a lot." Alejandro says.

"I'll try asking the people I know." Misha says typing on the phone.

Misha tries calling a few of Milan's classmates she knows, but to no avail. She then decides to go live.

"He everyone, it's Misha Valencia, Milan's mom. If you've got any clues of where my baby is, then please call to tell me he's ok and tell him to come home."