Chapter 22
2192 Words
“Hi baby!”
I tried to sound jolly and hyper as I talk to my younger brother. Sometimes, I hope that he was a little bit older so I can tell him all my problems. But when I realize how hard it is to be a grown up, I wish that he would stay as a child, an innocent one.
“Achi…. I miss you so much.”
He cutely said. I miss him too. So much. How badly I want to visit him and just stay as his sister forever. I want to be with them. To be with my mom, to have a family of my own. I just want to be someone normal. I’d trade anything to live a normal life.
“I miss you so bad too. How have you been, baby?”
“School will end soon so we don’t have anything to do at school already. All we do is play achi! When I finish school, I’ll tell daddy to visit you.”
“What? You don’t have to do that Angelo. Mom and Dad might be busy.”
“But I want to see you!”
“I’ll try my best to visit you soon okay?”
“Angelo? Who’s that?”
I heard my mother’s soothing voice. Maybe it was longing or maybe I was just too sad. But when I heard my mother’s voice, I suddenly had the urge to cry. I miss my mom so much. I miss her hugs.
“Achi, mommy! Do you want to talk to her?”
“Angelo! No need, mom might be busy. Let’s not disturb her okay?”
I tried to convince my brother. For the first time since we parted ways, I don’t want to talk to my mother. Because I know that the moment, I hear her voice, I will lose it. I will breakdown.
“Leila?”
Oh god.
“M-Mom?”
“Are you okay?”
Shit. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing. No…. f**k! Erina come on! How can three words make me feel this way? How can I long for her after she abandon me? How can I love her despite everything?
“Of course, mom. I’m okay. How about you?”
Despite trying hard, I heard myself stutter. She was silent on the other line. Did she notice? Did she at least hear the pain from my voice?
“Leila? What’s happening? Are you really okay?”
“Yes mom. I’m……I’m o-okay I guess?”
And then my sobs filled the room. I’m not okay. I’m not fine at all. I feel like I’m dying. I feel suffocated. I feel abused. And I miss Silas. So much. I want to talk to him and see him, hug him so bad.
“Angelo baby…...can you please go to your room? I need to talk to achi privately. Is that okay baby?”
“Okay mommy. Talk to you later achi. I love you!”
“I love you too,” I tried to sound as normal as possible as Angelo bid me a goodbye.
“Now, Erina Leila Castelo. Tell me what’s happening please,” she said obviously leaving out my father’s surname.
Her voice had finality in it. Just like how he used to talk to me when I don something that makes her headache. Memories…. I’d be happy to go back to the time that I can still tease her.
“I’m really okay mom. Why are you so sure that I’m not anyway?”
I heard her clicked her tongue. She’s probably shaking her head right now.
“Leila, you are my first baby. Of course, I know when you are not fine! Not tell your mother what’s happening, or I swear to God I’ll go there just to pinch your arm.”
I’m really going crazy. She’s even threatening me, but I felt so happy when I heard her call me her daughter again. It felt so good knowing that she still cares.
“Leila?”
“Yes mom?”
“Tell me baby….”
Would it be so wrong to tell her how I really feel? Would it be so bad to want to have her care for me?
“Mom…... I miss you so much,” but before I can utter something, I burst into tears again.
“Okay, that’s it. We’re going there. I’ll have to talk to your Tito Loui first and of course, Angelo’s school. But we’ll be there okay?”
“W-What? No need to mom. I can do this. I know you’re busy. You don’t have to come here. I’ll be okay, I promise.”
“No. we’ll got there. Your brother wants to see you anyway. He’s been asking us to visit you. Don’t you want to see us?”
“Of course, I do mom! I just don’t want to bother you.”
“Leila, I know I might have given you the impression that I don’t care about you. And I’m sorry. But I’m your mother. You will never be a bother to me. I love you baby….”
“Mom…...”
And then I started crying again. But what hurts more is to hear her crying too. She uttered how sorry she is for many times until we heard my brother speaking.
“Mommy? Are you crying? I’m hungry can we eat now?”
“Oh, okay baby. Wait a second okay?”
“Leila, remember what I said okay? I’ll call you again soon.”
“Okay mommy. I love you and I miss you so much. Kiss Angelo for me.”
After the call ended, I immediately felt better. The world is not against me at all. Because despite all the pain, I gained my mother back. I don’t know what made her be soft with me again. but whatever it is, I’m eternally grateful. Now, I think I’ll have the strength to face the next challenges of tomorrow.
I was about to prepare for my late lunch when I heard the doorbell rang. For a second I felt goosebumps on my skin. Maybe I was traumatized because here I am thinking that it might be the twins or Diane again. But then I won’t find out if I’ll just stand here so I walked towards the door and then the gate.
“Sir Leo!”
I immediately opened the gate when I saw who was outside. Finally, a friend.
“Erina, my dear! Oh my god I’m sorry!”
We hug for a bit before I pulled him inside the house. I made him sit in the living room while I prepare the food that he brought with him. Thank god for the free lunch, I won’t have to cook anymore.
“Are you okay here?”
He sounds very concern.
“A little bored but I talk to my baby brother sometimes and the girls are here at night, so I guess, I’m okay?”
“How about Silas?”
“I haven’t talk to him yet.”
“What? Why?”
“I just…… don’t.”
I can see how confused he was. And I can also see suspicion and indifference in his expression. Of course, he knew how much I love Silas. He’s one of my close friends indeed.
“Did the evil twins forbid you to talk to Silas?”
If I say no, he will ask why. And if I say yes, he might wonder why I’m agreeing to all these bullshits. And I can’t tell him about Sassy and Raqi. I can’t do that to them. It’s not my story to tell.
“By the look on you face, I guess the answer is yes, huh?”
“Sir Leo, I don’t want to talk about it please.”
“Those two evil bald men! I just can’t believe how I worked for them for almost ten years! How did I survive their predatory behaviors?”
I see him shaking in disappointment with himself. I ask those questions too. How did I choose a company like them? There are a lot smaller but better. You chose wrong again, Erina.
“What are you doing here anyway?”
“I just want to visit you. See how you are. And also, I have a proposition for you!”
I noticed how he switched his mood from being angry to being excited.
“I’m leaving H&H.”
“W-What?”
“Yes! Finally! I can’t stand those two evil spawns anymore.”
“W-Wait…. What do you mean?”
“Steve is going to open a new company with one of his producer friends. They both have connections, and most artists love them so I can see the success already. I’ll be joining them. And I want you to come with me, Erina.”
“I want to Sir Leo. You know I want to. But I have contracts with H&H, and how about GreyArea?”
I felt thrilled knowing that a new company will soon be emerged. Sis Steve is a dignified man. And I know that he would treat his artists well.
“Your individual and group contracts will end in three months Erina. I checked. By then, the new company will be ready, and you won’t have to continue with H&H anymore.”
That’s good. That’s so exciting. But I know. The twins would force me to stay. And they have all the guns to fire just to make me stay in their company.
“I’ll think about it,” I smiled briefly at Sir Leo.
I can’t tell him no straight because he might ask why. I don’t want to lie to him, and I don’t want to put the girls in trouble.
“Okay, sure! You’ll love it there, Erina! I’m a hundred percent sure. And of course, I’ll take care of you, as always.”
“Thank you, Sir Leo.”
After joining me for a late lunch, Sir Leo headed out. According to him, he has things to do since he’ll be resigning soon.
I checked my phone after taking a break from playing the guitar. Silas has been calling me nonstop. He’s been sending me text messages too. I badly want to talk to him or to even read his texts. But I know that the moment I hear his voice or read his messages; I will not be able to stop myself from running towards him. From running towards his hug, his smell, his kisses.
I was crying in the bedroom when I heard the door opened. The girls are probably hear now so I hastily wipe my tears and fix myself to meet them.
“Oh god, I’m so tired!”
I heard Kesha said as she lay down in the sofa.
“What’s for dinner?” Raqi asked.
“Let’s just order again?” Leina said.
“No need, I’ll cook us dinner!” I enthusiastically said which made them look at me. I smiled widely to hide the pain.
“Are you sure?” Sassy asked.
“Of course, I’m sure. Just wait a bit okay?”
They nodded their head, so I went to the kitchen and immediately prepared the ingredients for the dinner I plan to cook. After almost 30 minutes, I have prepared the table, so I called them to eat.
“Thank you for the food, Erina!” Sassy enthusiastically clapped her hands before digging into the food.
“By the way Erina, were you instructed to avoid Silas? He sent me a private message a while ago and he said that you are not answering your phone,” Kesha asked while chewing her food.
“I…. I might need to break up with him….”
Shock immediately registered in their faces after what I said.
“What? Wait…. What do you mean?”
“I……I’m choosing my career.”
- Writer
