The unbreakable bond

Chapter 3 - Do I need a part-time job?

Chapter 3 - Do I need a part-time job?

Alena - pov

I don't know how or when I fell asleep, but I woke up with burning eyes still full of sleep. I hear my mom downstairs, it sounds like there is war in the kitchen. I chuckle, already fantasising about the delicious meal she is preparing. Wait, what time is it? I take my phone, dead... I probably forgot to charge it since I just ran upstairs and jumped under my blankets. I put my phone on the charger and went downstairs. My mom is already preparing our lunch. Ever since the doctors told her she only had 4 months left, she has stopped working and stayed home for me. I sighed.

"Good morning mom, what time is it?" She looks up from what looks and smells like soup and smiles.

"Good morning honey, how did you sleep? It is 10 am, why? Did you have to go somewhere? I didn't want to wake you up since you worked so hard", my mom keeps babbling before I interrupt her.

"Mom, I appreciate it", I kissed her cheek, "but you don't have to worry about me. I'm still young". I smiled "What smells so delicious?" I asked her before she could say something.

"I made some soup, cheap but very nutritious". She looks at me. I can see the bags under her eyes, which means she probably didn't sleep very well due to the pain.

"Mom, you can go and rest a little. I am also capable of making soup", pushing her away from the stove.

"You? Cook? Whenever you do, you make the kitchen look like a battlefield! No no, I will cook" she laughs and I act like I am hurt by her comment.

"Oh before I forget" my mom turns towards me and continues "Chloe called, something about you having to get your lazy ass to her as fast as possible." I laugh, yep that sounds like Chloe. I go upstairs and change into my favourite high waist pants, a pink crop top with a dandelion on it and go downstairs again. I put on my black boots with over 3” high heels (I am short, I need these) and got my coat.

"Bye, mom!" I yelled before exiting my house. I walked to Chloe's house, luckily my best friend lives only 2 blocks down. While my mom and I live on the edge of the town, Chloe lives more towards the centre. I arrive at her house and go inside through the backdoor. We've been friends for so long, that her parents basically adopted me.

"Hello?" I went to the kitchen and saw Kate, Chloe's little sister, sitting at the table.

"Good morning your highness". I make a little bow and she giggles. She is 8 years old right now and living in a fairytale.

"Good morning, you may sit. Did you bring the goods?" She asks. I looked over my shoulder, pretending to be mysterious.

"Your command is difficult to fulfil." I can see her face losing its joy.

"But" she smiles and her eyes begin to twinkle, "you asked your best counsellor" my hand goes inside my pocket and I take out a lollipop.

"Here you go, your highness" and I smiled. She takes the candy, stands up, gives me a kiss on the cheek and runs upstairs to sneakily eat the candy. I chuckle.

"You will make her fat". I jumped in my chair and turned around, looking at Chloe and I laughed.

"I know, I know, but she is so sweet and it is the only thing she ever asks for. Besides, Katherine does not need to know" I said. Chloe laughs.

"Oh, my mom definitely can't know. You know she is trying out this healthy diet and we have to join her on this journey" she snorts.

"I know" I say, "but Kate is still a child and needs her candy. Tell me, why did you call my mom?" I looked at Chloe.

"Well, for starters, because you didn't answer your phone" she starts, "since our semester is about to start and you have not taken the initiative to look for a dorm we could share, I took the honour to do so" she smiles and gets her laptop.

"Look! This one is very close to campus, has 2 bedrooms, an open kitchen and is close to all the good clubs. It's not big, but big enough for both of us". She is smiling and radiating enthusiasm. I sighed and looked her in the eye.

"It is also way too expensive. You know I can't afford this. No matter how much I've worked this summer". Chloe is still smiling and I know she is up to something.

"I know, but I've talked to mom and dad and they said you only have to pay whatever you can" she looks at me, with hope evident in her eyes. I sigh again. I know Chloe's parents are wealthier than the average family, but I cannot and will not let them pay for me. The silence was enough for Chloe to understand my answer.

"Think about it. It could be a loan or something, you can pay them back after you have a job" she says, trying to convince me, but it just won't work.

"Chloe, I-"

"No, Alena, please think about it before you refuse!" she exclaims. I sigh once more.

"I will think about it, but I won't accept a loan! I already have student debts, so I don't want more debts. I will find a job I can combine with college and I will pay my part", I told her, determined.

She squeals "Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, you are the best! I will call the owner and make an appointment to look at the apartment!" I have never seen Chloe so happy. Or perhaps I have, when we were in our senior year and her crush asked her to homecoming. I smiled.

"You do you, I have to go back home. Mom is making her famous soup and I don't want to miss it." I stood up, on my way to the same door I came through as I heard Chloe say something.

"If you have left-overs, I would love to claim them" I heard Chloe say before I closed the door behind me.

Once back home, I saw my mom sitting in front of the television. She seemed so relaxed. Even though it is only 11 o’clock, my stomach is begging for food, so I go to the kitchen. Luckily, on my way back, I stopped by the bakery and got some french bread. I put some butter on it and serve myself some soup. I take my bowl and bread and sit down beside my mom. She is watching a programme about firefighters. I love this show. We sit in silence as I enjoy my soup.

“How was work yesterday, honey?” my mom asked all of a sudden.

“Good” I say. “I even got a 70 dollar tip. It’s more than I earned while working all those hours” I said almost bitterly. My mom huffs.

“You know you don’t have to work so hard. We have enough money to live comfortably”, she says. It’s true, we are not poor, but we are definitely not rich. The only reason we have money is that my mom worked her ass off. She saved up every cent she had and only spent money on stuff for me. I wish she would just buy something for herself once in a while. But still, she is not working now and soon I will be alone. I need to save up for college, for my future. I sigh.

“I know mom, but you know I want to pay for the stuff I want. You worked for your money, let me work for mine.” I dipped my bread in my soup.

“The only reason I worked so hard, was so you would not have to” she sighs, “you take too much after me”, she says after a while. I can see the small smile on her lips. I know she is proud of me.

“How was your day?” I asked.

“Good, I went to Sabine. We ate some cakes and went for a walk. I came back and watched some TV. Just enjoying the good life” she says while laughing, but I can hear a little despair in it.

I can feel my throat closing with emotions. I swallow a few times to prevent myself from crying and leaning on my mom.