The Life of Her

Flashes of Yestertime

Just how many times will I turn myself back at that moment? It was hell. It was a nightmare. A nightmare which is hard to put behind me. It was as if, it was already engraved in my heart that I couldn’t look him in the eyes again. I heard shrieking hilarity, those agonizing flashes of the woman’s face kept unrest in my mind. Who is she? Where is she?

I should have asked her name back then. I should have asked her reasons why she needed to keep herself close with my Dad and why she did put herself to be one of those to have the blame for destroying someone’s family. They broke the trust. They broke us. He broke Mom’s heart, yet she still wanted to put things to rest and try to mend those fragmented bits of hers. How long will it take you to stop and just yield…just like me?

How long are you going to hold on to it?

I recognized the door slowly creaked as it opened. Those soft steps came in my direction. The bed suddenly moved as if someone had rested beside me. Long, soft fingers brushed on my hair and a sweet kiss was planted on my forehead. I slowly opened my eyes and saw her face. She was looking at me with her worried eyes. She touched my neck to check if I was getting hot.

The sun was outstanding brightly outside the window. It’s already Saturday. Molly was barking hard towards a stray cat that was passing his cage. I was sweating hard that my shirt’s collar was wet with it. I glanced over at my alarm clock that was on my desk. It was already ten in the morning. Damnit, I slept too much. I still didn’t even finish my assignments and project.

I rubbed my temple and slowly glimpsed at her.

“I heard you talking in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare, son?” She questioned.

I gawked at her, blinking twice. Had she grown a bit older this time? I just realized that her hair was getting grey. Those dark bags under her eyes were now visible, as well as with her wrinkles and pimple. Is she working too much?

I gave her a frail smile and slowly hoisted myself and sat beside her. I heaved the blanket near to me, covering my legs. Sponging my sweats with my handkerchief, I said. “Good morning, Mom. I’m okay. It’s just a bad dream.”

She glanced over my desk and saw the computer that was still on. I even forgot to turn it off. Way to go, Trenton. A deep, annoying sigh bolted from my mouth.

She turned to look back at me, now her brows crossed and her eyes narrowed. “Have you been playing games late at night again, Trenton?” Her voice was deep and a bit in annoyance.

I gulped and laughed deliberately. “N-No?”

“Trent, how many times will I tell you that you don’t have to play those games almost every day. Do you want to put your health at risk again like the old times-”

“I can take care of myself, Mom. I’m not a kid anymore that you need to look around every minute.” I sighted.

She was silent for a while, until she placed her hand on top of mine. “I…just don’t want you to be harmed. You know that right?”

I nodded and hugged her. “I know and I promised that I won’t make you worry.”

My phone rang on the desk. There was a message sent. Mom grabbed it for me and saw the sender’s name on the screen.

“It’s Lucas. Aren’t you going to his home today?” She exclaimed and gave it to me.

I opened the phone and instantly saw the successive seven missed calls from his name. How rude and resolute of him. I bit my lip as I went to my messages and opened his. There were five.

Wake up, you sleepyhead. Mom just went for groceries. She’ll be home at 3 P.M. We can play anything we want and you know, maybe watch those videos. Lol.

Hey, answer my call. Why are you ignoring your most handsome cousin?!

How insolent. Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.

Do you want me to fetch you there?

I laughed a bit when I read them all. Mom’s face was conscious as she stared at me. I turned it off and raised my head to face her.

“He’s persistent, Mom. I should probably get myself ready.” I said.

She stood. She suddenly giggled and rubbed my head. “Okay. Okay. Get yourself ready and take breakfast. I prepared them for you.”

She winked at me and opened my door, holding the knob firm.

“What did you make?” I asked her.

“Chicken noodle soup, bacon strips and omelet.” She winked and immediately closed the door.

I opened my phone immediately and sent a message to Lucas.

“Okay, just meet me at Mint’s Cafe. I’ll be there in an hour. Make food, okay?”

I didn’t wait for his response. I jumped off my bed, grabbed my white towel and directly went inside the bathroom to give myself a bath. Taking off my clothes, I turned on the shower and I went inside it. It was cold. The water rushed on my body. I closed my eyes as I soaked myself wet.

Everything will be alright soon, Trenton. I just have to put on my usual face, or maybe the mask I just made for myself to keep myself at bay. Twenty minutes and I was able to clean myself. I went outside, only with a towel wrapped around my waist. I looked at myself in the mirror. You look fresh, Trent.

I brushed my hair and went to my drawer to search for clothes. I pulled my turquoise cargo pants and dark blue shirt with a pocket on its side. I looked below. Sleepers will probably do for today. I snatched my sling bag on my wooden, white chair and rushed downstairs. Mom was currently in the living room, watching the news on the television. Her right hand was holding her cup, while the other was possessing the remote. She recognized me and smile.

“Your breakfast is ready.” She said.

I beamed back at her and walked through the kitchen. The food was served at the dining table as well as my plate and utensils. They were still hot. I felt my mouth watered that I took my seat and settled. I prayed then instantly took my time to lavish what she cooked for me. I glanced over her and saw her smiling in my direction.

I gave her a thumbs up that it made her smiled more. She focused herself again to watch. My mouth was full that I could cry my eyes out. Mother’s dishes are still the best for me. When I was done, I grabbed the plates and bowls and put them in the kitchen sink. I opened the faucet and began to wash them all. I dried them off using a clean, white cloth and carefully placed each one of them inside the drawer.

I wiped my damped hands with the towel and hanged it on the chair. I walked to her as shhe just finished her coffee and now she was reading her favorite story entitled Downgrade by Coverymyst. I finished reading it and was the one who recommended it to her. She slowly held her head and asserted.

“Are you going now?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to take a cab?”

“No, Mom. Lucas will meet me in Mint’s Café.” I answered.

“Okay, take care. Call me anytime.”

I kissed her on the cheek, put on my cap and went outside.

Mint’s Café is just five blocks away from our house. It won't take me long to get there.

As I went around the street, someone suddenly caught my eyes. A girl was pacing from the distance, panting. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I think she’s at the same age as mine. A face suddenly became visible at her back. Someone was behind her. It was a woman with her white gown– chasing her like an outgrown serial killer. They were running down the street and suddenly turned to the left. What was that? I shrugged and shook my head. I hate these imaginations of mine lately. Maybe Mom is right, I should get enough sleep again.

I was about to continue my walk when a hastening car was coming it's way to me and in a snap I couldn’t breathe properly. My eyes went big. I halted in a spot. A tingling, sharp sensation instantly hit me on the back of my head. I looked around, I couldn’t hear properly. Everything was twirling. I heard the screeching sound of the tires. I closed my eyes hard and covered my ears with my own bare hands. Please stop.

I heard its loud horns, beeping in my direction. I fell on my knees as I caught air. Stop. Stop. Stop. Please stop!

“Just f*cking stop!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I didn’t care less if anyone looked at me strangely.

I felt tears ran on my cheeks as I saw the vehicle completely turned itself to the right. I bowed my head and stared at my shoes.

What have I done?

___

At Lucas Walsh’s Residence

“So, how did it went with him last Thursday?” He asked, stirring his mango shake.

It has been thirty minutes when we met in the café. Lucas ordered shakes and blueberry cakes for us, before we went straight ahead to his home. I leaned my back over their lengthy curved, khaki sofa. Crossing my legs, I took a bit on my cake and turned on the television.

I didn’t share with him about what I’ve seen in the street, where a girl was chased down by a maddening woman and about what I felt when I meet that rushing vehicle. I was biting my own tongue.

He waved his hand in front of me. “Hello. I’m obviously talking to you and would want to know what happened. Don’t act like you didn’t hear anything from me.” He pouted.

I exhaled. “It was fine.” I timidly answered him.

He scratched his head. “That’s it? Nothing happened with you two or maybe with your Mom?” He persistently asked again.

I looked at him with dread eyes. “I told you, Lucas. It’s just a normal day for us. Dad just visited us, brought that box of donuts. Probably, he took his breakfast there too. I was inside my room the whole time he’s downstairs. I let them talked to each other, didn’t bother or even took myself in the kitchen again, not until I saw his car drove off in the afternoon.

“Hmmm. So you didn’t have the time to talk with Uncle.” He commented.

I nodded and grabbed my shake. It was avocado.

“Yeah. It’s not like we talk a lot before. He would just lock himself inside his office, signing those long lists of paperwork on his desk. We don’t talk that much, and when we do….the topic will probably about business and my grades.”

I laughed at that thought – just how things drastically change into something that’s astray and somehow lost in someone’s arms.

“Bro, didn’t he change at all?” Now his voice was somehow soft and worried.

I couldn’t blame him for his acts towards me when it’s all about my family’s issue. When the thing began to roam around, news scattered so badly that it had affected our connections with our relatives. And now, Dad and Mom are trying their best to bring things back. I guessed it really took him several mistakes just to know that it’s cheating. I bit my lip as flashes of that certain time came into my head once again. I shook it off and continued to sip my drink.

Suddenly, Lucas stood from his seat and patted me on my back. “Get up. We’re going somewhere.” And plastered a wide grin, that I felt it was something eerie, on his face.

I don’t like this.

“Where are you taking us this time, Lucas Walsh? You don’t want me to get a scold with Mom again, right?” I slowly stood and grabbed my bag.

He took his denim jacket and wore his light red sneakers. He chuckled and laid his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry. This time it will be a lot of fun. I promise you, dear cousin. And…please armor yourself with courage because it will be an amazing journey, for sure!”

He then nudged me outside his house. Something came to my mind that brought shudders down my spine. I’m really having a bad feeling this time. I couldn’t understand my reaction, but surely is, my cousin is having fun as he glanced at me. Please don’t bring me to that same place again.

But then, it was too late.