AWAKE

Chapter 15

Nina closed the novel she was reading to reply to the text from the girls. Reading and chatting with the girls, was what carried her through the midterm break. Luckily it was just a week's break.
"My mum just checked my result and I passed all my papers" Anny texted.
"Me too" Des replied.
"Good for y'all. I'd be checking later today. Nina texted.
" Okay girl"
It felt like they didn't have anything to talk about, so Nina excused herself and returned to her book. They talked about everything that happened in school. But she had to face reality.
She was so quiet when she went to church with her mum, never talked to anyone or joined her mum when she went to greet people after service. Church was only fun in school but at home, in fact, nothing was fun for her when her mum was around. She hid in her room most of the time, did her chores early, and ate alone and at her convenience, just to avoid her mum. She couldn't say it out loud, but she hated her mum.
"Nina Darling," Miss Cynthia called.
"Yes," Nina raised her eyes from the novel she was reading.
"You passed" Miss Cynthia said so excited that she almost ran to hug Nina but stopped herself from even thinking about it because she knew Nina wouldn't like it.
"Hmm" Nina continued reading.
"Nina I'm trying my best to make everything right, please let me," Miss Cynthia said, squeezing her hands like a child.
Nina didn't say anything and acted as though she didn't hear her mum.
Miss Cynthia got angry and walked to Nina's bed, and dragged the novel, flinging it on the floor. "Young lady I'm talking to you, you can't disrespect me in my house."
"Are you done? I try to ignore you for peace to reign..." Nina said "...but it seems you don't like peace" she murmured then stood up and went to pick her book off the floor.
"Nina!" She yelled.
"Yes, this book gives me great joy that your presence can't even give."
"Don't you say that again to me!"
"It's okay to kick me out if you think staying with you is a burden," Nina said calmly and walked out of the room.
"Nina... Ah...my chest" Miss Cynthia sat on Nina's bed sobbing with her hands on her chest. "I don't want to fight with you, Nina... I'm... I'm sorry" she said as though Nina were there.

"Micheal" Mimi screamed as she hugged Micheal.
"Woah! Mimi" Micheal gasped.
Though rare, it was always nice whenever their schools had their midterm break almost at the same time.
"Welcome Miss Michelle" one of the maids greeted.
"Thanks, dear. Mummy is treating you guys well, see how fat your chins are..."
"Mimi"
"Yes," Michelle replied, adorably flapping her lashes.
"Don't mind her," Micheal said as the maid smiled and left them.
"Mum and Dad are not around, so it's you and I till they come back," Micheal said.
"I was so upset when I didn't see any of them in the car, why didn't you join the driver to come to pick me up?" Michelle asked acting offended.
"Let's take your bag upstairs, don't you wanna freshen up? cause you smell all sweaty to me" Michael teased.
"Really?!" Michelle shouted and ran to her room.
Michael just followed her laughing.
After the shower, Michael and Michelle sat down to have a conversation.
"...You guys can be so stupid you know"
The statement caused Micheal to glare at her.
"Okay, not all of you-but you understand what I mean though. If a girl should say that to me, you know I'd drag out her eyeballs." Michelle, gesturing with her fingers, dragged the air.
"Like you can hurt a fly" Micheal laughed.
"Hmm. I always say that you underestimate me, but that's okay."
"I don't think I can ever speak to any of them again." Micheal stood up and stared out the window.
"You? I don't think you can stop talking to your boys, besides, I'm sure they don't mean what they said..." Michelle stood up from the bed, and walked up to him, placing her hand on his shoulder, "...let me see what you are staring at..." She looked over and saw there was nothing outside, "Get a grip of yourself boy, friends fight." She tapped his shoulders.
"Ouch" he winced, even though it wasn't painful, he just wanted to spight her.
"I wanna go grab a pizza, coming?" Michelle grabbed her jacket.
"No"
"You know you are coming with me" when she got to the door she turned and look at him "meet me downstairs." She turned around and left.
"Why does everyone command me" he muttered and stood up sluggishly, and went to his room to change.
They went to the cinema not so far from their house and watched a movie Michelle chose. It was a romantic comedy and Michael wasn't a fan of comedies outside comedy shows. He would always say they were raw and funnier than in movies or skits where they had practised lines over and over before producing them. "There is nothing fun in fake jokes" he would always say.
He agreed to see the movie after much persuasion from Michelle. Michelle didn't let him enjoy any part of the movie, as she hit him and pointed to every scene she found interesting; he cringed when Michelle laughed at the dry jokes, when she made silly sounds like "awwn" to the romance scenes which were dead to him and when she cried, laying her head on his shoulder and sniffing so bad. He knew some people would think they were a couple.
"Ah finally!" He rejoiced as the movie was over and comforted his sister who was still sad even after the movie had a happy ending, "I thought girls liked happy endings" he thought as he wondered why Michelle was still crying before he hit his head as he remembered his sister was a drama queen.
"Mimi, we are the only ones still here, we have to leave"
"Oh..." She said then started crying again, "Men are so wicked, why would he do that to her?"
"I don't know. Okay get up so we would start going home" Micheal said becoming frustrated.
"You and who?" Michelle asked angrily.
"Well... I want to go and eat some ice cream." She stood up and grabbed her little purse.
Micheal was too shocked by her change in expression, to notice her leaving. When he noticed, he walked quickly after her.
Michael didn't say anything during their ride back home. He was so scared, hoping his parents hadn't come back. He avoided all of Michelle's attempts to make him talk to her. He was angry with her because she didn't stop eating ice cream, but also proceeded to play basketball which she failed at making any basket, and watching a 9d.
Luckily, when they got home, their parents were still on their way.
"You see," Michelle said.
He rolled his eyes and went into the house.