The Life of Her

His World

Six Months Before

Trenton Singh’s POV

Dreaming in achieving something is a fascinating act. It will calm the tides and continue to recommend to aim high. I was an achiever, an athlete, I was active – someone who is highly praised for being dedicated to his will. Almost everyone was eager to be called as one of my friends. But despite of such acknowledgment, there are those who take the endeavor to stop who’s above them and eventually would take that place.

To me, living in such solitude was the way to see life as a leveled ground, where the souls are competing who’s going to be above first. Solely, they started to greed more, more of wealth, popularity and social status.

It was my thing. It was my drive. It was, but not now. I moved towards my window and glued my sight to Ms. Jennifer and Mrs. Honey. The weather is gloomy today. That’s why they would often talk about the constant change of our weather and start their conversation like “The weather is not good, isn’t it?”

They were currently talking to each other and sharing laughter as they walked down the cobbled street. Both of them were my teachers, not until I moved to another school and took home schooling. Lucas even tried a couple of times to persuade me in going to his school, but I insisted. It’s fun when I’m at home – a way for me to play games with my online friends too.

I put on my blue shirt and went downstairs. I saw mom over the kitchen sink. She was talking to someone over the phone and I could see the frustration on her face – eyebrows began to meet each other. Staring at her, she had lost weight these past few months and she’s not that interacting anymore inside the house. Perhaps, she misses Dad.

The clock was ticking above the fireplace. It was eight in the morning. The smell of French toast and cereals over the dining table has caught my attention. A smile curved on my lips. Moving myself to the kitchen. She recognized my steps and turned her head to see me. Her reaction suddenly changed into a jolly one.

I would often see her having problems with our finances and of course, with her relationship with Dad. I knew, she’s deeply in love with him even until these years of their marriage. She is a loyal wife to him. I sighed. I was secretly seeing her suffer, trying to save the family they have built. But when I’m in front of Mom, she would erase and try too hard the heartaches and worries inside of her. She’s a warrior and I praised her for being like that.

“Good morning, Mom. How’s your sleep?” I asked her and poured milk into my bowl. I settled on my chair and she walked beside me. She looked at my spoon rather than locking her eyes to me. “I-It’s fine, dear. Is everything alright with your homework? I can get you a personal tutor if you want. Remember Mrs. Honey?”

“Yeah, I just saw her passing here, a while ago.” I replied and filled the toast with strawberry jammed.

“I heard that she’s taking into tutorials. Do you want me to call her this weekend?” She sat beside me and poured a spoon of coffee into her cup with hot water.

“No. I’m fine with my studies, Mom. By the way, Lucas will be here this weekend. He wanted to play basketball with me.”

She smiled and gazed at me. She suddenly rubbed my hair and uttered. “I’m glad you’re okay with your studies.”

I smiled at her and ate my cereals. She watched me as I enjoyed it, then in a sudden moment, she asked me. It was the same question before.

“Your dad called me and again, wanted you to come with him on one of his trips next week. Are you really sure you won’t go with him? It will…be fun with him, Trent.” She recommended.

I laid the spoon beside my bowl and raised my head. “Mom. My decision is final. You…don’t need to ask me more than a dozen with that same question.” I gave her a faint smile.

It just started to rain. She was silent for minutes and I just let her. Perhaps, she still has the hopes that I and Dad will be okay once again. Indeed, I did try my best, but the second time around that had happened was far enough for me not to give it a try again. I just lost hope for both of us. I glanced at her. She was just holding her spoon, slowly stirring her drink.

“You don’t want to drink it when it’s cold.” I told her.

“Oh, right.” She immediately drinks it.

Just when she put her cup on the table, the bell rang. A man was calling out her name near our russet, timber gate. It was him.

Mom was looking straight at him at the window. I saw how she held her cup tighter. She was anxious and I felt that.

“You don’t have to meet him today, Mom.” I firmly said.

She didn’t respond and just walked through and opened the door to him. I sighed and bit my lip. Why, Mom? Why are you still holding to him like nothing happened at all?

I heard Molly barked inside his cage and it was clear that he’s happy that Dad visited us, well maybe it was just him. The keys waggled as the gate scratched the ground, it was opened. I heard several steps coming inside the house. He stood still beside the main door, bringing a box of those donuts from that famous store. He really still does remember my favorite.

Please don’t try too hard, Dad.

Mam passed through him and offered him a towel. He was soaked with the rain and now he’s trying to dry himself. He should better not to get a cold. It’s been a week when both of them decided that Dad will live in our another house to cool off. To me, it was just an excuse for them to part ways. How many times would they try to build back the relationship that had been shattered already?

“Aren’t you going to greet your Dad?” Mom talked to me.

I fiddled my fingers and stood from my seat. “Good morning…Dad.”

The man continued to wipe his arms and face. “Good morning too son. Are your grades okay?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good to hear. Here’s a box of donuts I bought for you.” He lends me the box and I grabbed it.

Mom walked to the kitchen, grabbed another plate and gently placed it on the table. “Did you eat your breakfast?” She asked him.

He smiled at her and put the towel on the couch. Dad passed through me and went to join Mom for breakfast. I remained in my spot and patiently gawking to both of them. They were like setting the dining table like a romantic date, not minding my mere presence. They were blind by the quoted situation.

“Trenton, you still didn’t finish your breakfast. Have a seat.” Mom stated and ate the toast.

“No, I’m full.” I grabbed my plate and put it on the kitchen sink. I filled my glass with water and walked to the stairs.

“Aren’t you going to eat some donuts?” Dad said.

“Maybe later.”

I didn’t wait for his response neither with Mom. I don’t want to see her troubled face. I moved instantly inside my room and closed the door. Placing the glass on my desk, I slumped myself on my bed and stared at the cerulean ceiling wall with glowing stars that are visible during the night. I rubbed my temple, not until my phone rang above my head. I immediately lifted my hand and clutched it. It was him, my great cousin, Lucas Walsh.

I answered the phone and a squeaking voice was heard on the other land. He was panting. Something came up to my mind. It was a kind of dirty thing that I just hoped that it’s not it true.

“What are you doing?” I inquisitively asked.

“T-They’re chasing me again. Wait. I’ll call you later. I’ll just find a place to hide again. Tsk.” He directly turned off the call which left me hanging. I stared at my phone for minutes then I saw him calling again.

I answered him. “What now?”

“Wheew. They’re crazy. I should probably get a personal bodyguard.” He chuckled on the line.

“You should. Your popularity is on the verge of hitting the spot of the presidency.” I joked.

“Man, you should have seen me run like an athlete. It was a nice try. Thanks to those girls who’re head over heels to my beauty. I’ll sign the membership tomorrow for this club. Oh by the way, I heard that Uncle is going home there again. Did your father arrive?” He added.

There was a sudden pause from me. “Yes, he did…a while ago. He even bought be those donuts from that store.”

“Hell sure he’s making the move to win your heart again. Don’t be too hard on him, Trent.” He uttered and I knew he was scratching his head on that matter.

“I know…so why did you call me? I’m about to do my homework.”

I moved to my computer and turned it on. It was a lie. I’m planning to have a game with my neighbor named Jackson. He’s been inviting me to play Call of Duty and right now, I have the time to accept his request. I pulled my chair and settled on it.

“Man, I really want to come in your house this weekend, but mom asked me if I could help her in cutting those bushes and plowing.”

“Stop pouting. I know you are right now. It’s fine-”

“So I was thinking, maybe you should be the one to visit me at my house this Saturday.”

I heard the car horn from below. I moved the curtains a bit and peeked over my window. It was Dad. Mom was looking at him as she stood outside the gate. They talk for a while and Dad drove off. Maybe he’s having an emergency meeting again.

Dad, is somehow blessed with a silver spoon in his mouth since he was a child. My grandparents owned a restaurant in Poblacion and it’s still working at this current time. I could say those two have managed the business so fine. Unfortunately, dad is not the type of person who had dwells with the same line with them. He took business administration and built his own source of income – a clothing store. His clients were all over the country and even outside. He sure is a busy one that it’s hard to ask for time, unless if he’s willing to give some.

“So, what do you think? Are you coming?” Lucas apprehended and cleared his throat.

He began to quench his thirst as he waited for my reply. “I’ll look to it. I’ll tell Mom again about the change of plans. You know she’s not into change.” I bit my lip for the truth.

“She sure is. Just being a little squeaky, are they getting better?”

Lucas Walsh, my dear cousin and also a nosy typed person. I kind of despise that part of him, yet I know that would be a useful personality soon.

“I think they are. Probably, they won’t end with those papers. But I don’t mind if they do have a divorce…”

“You suck…You really suck, Trenton Singh.”