The Belgian Adventure

4. Reminiscence

We came back home and Jordan, his fingers covered in chocolate, got down to inspect his car. After he was assured that the other vehicle didn't touch ours, we came inside and sat down on the couch. Jordan had the half-empty box of chocolates I gave him in his hands, and was thoughtfully looking at it.

"Go on, finish it. You don't need to ask Mumma!" I teased him.

But the moment the words left my lips, I realized I'd stirred the elephant in the room. He suddenly looked up and I saw his eyes glaze over. I felt so guilty for being so stupid and ruining his momentary happiness, which had reappeared after so many years, that I felt I could punch myself.

I quickly changed the subject. "I'll go call Larry to inform him I would be late today."

Without waiting for his reply, I got up, climbed up the stairs to my room as fast as I could, and shut the door behind me.

"How can you be such an idiot, Meg?" I spoke to myself. "Just when everything was going good for once in your life, you had to say something that brought up the past—Ughh." I went and lay down on my bed, watching the dull grey sky outside. It seemed as if it was going to pour down heavily any minute now. I shivered, imagining the cold winds that would make the rains lash against my window soon.

Just then, I heard, faintly, the sound of my phone's ringtone, and perked up my ears to listen more carefully. Sure enough, it was my phone...but where was it?

The sound seemed to come closer now, reaching just outside my room, and I hurried to my bedroom door. As soon as I opened it, though, I saw my brother standing outside with the wretched device in his hand. Which, incidentally, I was supposed to be using at that moment to call Larry, but which, instead, I had forgotten downstairs.

He stared at me with the phone in his hand, which was still ringing oblivious to the tension here. I grinned sheepishly. "Well... I was looking for it, thanks." I reached out to grab the stupid thing out of his hands.

"No, wait." Jordan replied, dodging, and answered the call. I raised my eyebrows.

"Hello? Yeah, Larry... Jordan here. Megan wouldn't be able to make it today, she's a bit busy with some things.

"Yeah, yeah, I understand, but look... she's not the only employee you have under your wing, is she?

"See, it's just a few hours, bro. Can't you call someone else?

"...Alright, thanks mate. See ya around!" He ended the call.

I stared at him open-mouthed. What did he get me a leave for? Okay, I'd be late if I went, but I would have worked an extra shift. Larry might be my brother's former classmate, but he was sure to cut a day's pay now, and we needed everything we could. At least, I needed to save for art college. I mean, I worked hard to earn even a penny more if I could. And here was Jordan, happily snatching away a day's pay from me (albeit reduced already) for nothing!

He returned the phone to me after his conversation, and said, "Sorry, but we need to talk. May I come in?" I moved aside to make space for him, still confused and annoyed by his behaviour.

"What about?" I asked and slammed the door shut as soon as he was in.

He sat down on my bed, and I took the chair from my study table. "Everything," he said, looking straight into my eyes, and sighed. "Everything that's been happening since the last five years, and everything that was, before."

That shut me up effectively—Jordan going anywhere near sentimental or retrospective was unheard of! I curiously waited for him to continue, and he did, taking a deep breath.