Feathers Of A Bird

Chapter : Fifteen

(Listen to the music while reading for a better experience!)

"How's everything going?"
He asked as we slowly walked up the stairs.

I nodded,
"Things are good!"

"Good!"
He chuckled.
"Why isn't aunty here? It would've been great if she came too!"

"Umm..."
I hesitated.

"Mom...isn't always like how you saw her that day. And..."

"Ah, and?"
He asked softly.

"My mom and dad don't go along, they will soon end up getting divorced."

Ryan stopped and glanced at me, seeming shocked. He shook his head slowly,
"I'm sorry, cat. I had no clue this was happening..."

"It's okay! Don't feel bad for me, I'm ready for it."
I smiled out of despair.

He exhaled sharply, smiled,
"I know you are!"

Ryan changed the topic.
"Care to explain was actually happened today?! It was a great surprise!"
He grinned.

"Wait till dinner! Dad can explain better!"

"Ah, fiiiiine!"
He mumbled.
"Hey, I told my biography on the trip night, you do yours!"

"Now?"

He nodded.

"Umm..."
I thought for a second. My biography was pathetic and breaking.
"It's not gonna be fun like it was when you were saying yours, my wife has always been sad. And like, I don't have problem telling you, but you won't like it..."

We stopped in front of his room. He turned his head to me and gave me a sweet smile.

"Hey! It's okay for you to feel this way! Look, your life had been hard, I know, and you could've given up effortlessly BUT take a glimpse at yourself now! You haven't given up, you're still fighting the same old problems. What does it mean? It means you're so strong, cat! You're stronger than you ever realise."

He took a breath.

"And trust me, I would LOVE to hear the biography of someone as strong as you- who has made it through YEARS of hardship!"

For the first time ever, I precisely felt strong for passing the harsh days. I smiled back.
"Okay. Get ready to hear my pathetic yet strong biography."

His smile got wider.

We stepped into his room, passing the tranquillity sign.

He pointed at the bed.
"Don't mind my messy room!"

"The messier, the merrier."
I replied.

He laughed as he took some books up from the floor.
"Mathematics sucks, my lord."

"Why?! You're smart, maths should be easy for you!"

"I am smart?"
He scoffed.
"Okay, in real life, I MAY be smart and cool and stuff, but when it comes to studies, I suck. ESPECIALLY mathematics, Jesus!"
He facepalmed.
"But you're a very good student, I know that. Kids in school told me."

"Wait, kids in school told you I'm smart and a good student?!"

He nodded.

"Well, that's cool. I thought they always talked crap about me- boring, broken, sensitive, weak and stuff."

"Oh no, they...cat, don't listen to them. You know what they say- if someone seems beautiful to you, then the beauty is in your eyes. And I think, just like that, if someone seems bad to you, the evil is in your soul."
Said Ryan.

Once again, I, for the first time ever, felt like I was not the one who was boring, broken, sensitive, weak. Instead, their souls were boring, broken, sensitive, weak. And that's why they couldn't resist me.

I smiled vaguely as I sat on the bed. I was going to say something to Ryan. But all of a sudden, his sight got stuck on something on the table by the door.
It seemed like he noticed something and needed to disguise it.

He casually walked to the table.
"I'm well prepared for the story, miss! You can start now!"
He said as he gradually opened the drawer and put the mystery object in it.

I caught a glimpse of it for one moment. It seemed like a tube.

"Cat?"
He called.

"Oh, yeah."

"You don't really have to talk about it if you feel uncomfor-"

"No, I was just lost in thoughts."
I stopped him in the middle of his sentence.

He walked over to the bed and curled up inside the blanket.
I smiled and turned myself toward him.

"So!"
I started.

"So?!"

"So, my name is Kathrine Thomas. People seem to like calling me Kathy. There's this one person who thinks both Kathy and Kathrine sounds serious and kinda thick. So that sweet-like-coco-person calls me Cat."

Ryan chuckled hard.
"Sweet-like-coco-person, okay!"

I grinned.
"My dad is Arthur Thomas who is a project manager. Daddy is the only reason I can say my parents love me."
I smiled a little.
"He always inspires me to write. And he to be honest made me take my writings with me to show you! Long story!"

Ryan grasped.
"What are we waiting for?"

"We're waiting for dad to finally explain the whole thing, then I'll let you read it!"
I laughed.

Ryan made a babyface.
"Fiiiiine!"

I grinned and started again.
"And my mom is Jessica Thomas who...doesn't necessarily hate me. But like...after a...tragic incident, she started distancing herself from everybody. My dad, me and everyone else. Dad and she used to fight almost everyday...which has led to this situation! I'll explain it after something."

Ryan nodded slowly and abruptly extended his hand towards me. I couldn't help but smile. I put my hand on his hand.
As he exhaled, he clasped it gently.
"You okay?"

I nodded.
"Very okay!"

He laughed a little.

"So, um...I...had a sister. A big sister who's name was Madeleine Thomas. She...um..."
I sighed. I was too comfortable around Ryan that I forgot that I used to hide my sadness. I easily could open up to him.
"She died."

"Ah..."
Ryan's eyebrows got lower and pushed together. His mouth was clenched.
I could literally see pain in his eyes.

I was surprised, he had never seen Madeline, I briefly mentioned her once or twice. But still, he felt sad for her. Or for me?

"I'm sorry, cat."
He slowly whizzed.

I thought in my head,
"I know you're sorry, I can see it in your eyes. I can see genuine sadness."

And I said,
"Committed suicide, to be absolutely certain."

He didn't say anything. Clasped his eyes, he just clenched my hand tighter.
I could surprisingly feel his pulse. His pulse- the vibration made me think that he was feeling tragic.

I mumbled,
"My sister's death is an important part of my biography, my life."

Ryan loosened his eyes.