Easing Heimweh (Heim, #1) ✓

10: Call

It was nearing 1:00 AM when Everen woke up.

I'd almost fallen asleep on the rooftop when Cali called to say that my sister was looking for me.

I never ran faster in my life than I did that night. Heart thrumming, limbs on the verge of giving up, and head in shambles as I struggled to think what I should do when I reached her room.

The door slid open, and there she was, sitting on her bed beside Cali, the food in front of her untouched. Everen all but spared me a glance before gesturing that I come in.

"Eve," I muttered.

"Ate."

I inched closer. "How are you feeling?"

"Calista, you mind leaving us for a minute?" Eve said, pushing away her table to make room for my friend. Calista gave me a knowing look before excusing herself. The door shut close with her departure, and the space was a myriad times more suffocating.

I figured it would be wise to remain standing. Everen would push me away if I sat next to her. "How are you feeling?" I began. Again, I was only rewarded a glance.

"Fine."

"Is...is that a lie?"

"Would it matter if it was?"

"Eve."

"No, don't Eve me," she let out, her words itching my skin like venom. "You didn't even call when you left."

"I had my reasons."

"Bullshit. You still could've called."

She was right. She always was. I could've told her that everything was too hard for me to bear, too complicated for her to understand. But it wasn't right.

And I didn't expect her to care this much.

"It's not that easy."

"Bei dir ist nie etwas einfach," she spat. Nothing's ever easy with you.

No. She didn't mean that. There was no way she meant to say that. The fear of losing her crept into my head like a lion waiting to pounce, and I could only do so much to run away from it.

But who was I kidding? I couldn't. I couldn't get away in the end.

"Take that back," I said.

Everen avoided my eyes, then shifted into her spot so she could lie down. Her back was against me, voice muffled by the sheets but I could hear her hatred loud and clear. "No."

"Eve—"

"Gods, just leave. You never liked it here, anyway."

But...I came back. I came back despite my heart and head telling—begging me not to leave Cagayan. I set aside the peace and solace that place offered because I wanted to see my sister again. I came back, and the first thing she wanted me to do was to leave. As the thought dawned on me, I could do nothing but slowly retreat, and the room's white lights drowned me. I was already at the entrance, my feet outside the frame, yet I couldn't close the door.

Maybe I shouldn't have given in to my urge to run away. This was wrong in all measures that I couldn't imagine being accepted again, let alone think of my surname because I did not deserve to bear it.

Maybe it was too late to regret everything, too.

Hundreds of unsaid words rushed through as I stared at Everen who hadn't turned to look at me even once. I was about to close the door when the one beside it slid open. My eyes widened upon seeing the man who exited the other room.