All The Arts That We're Not

Chapter 22

Zeke

It was already six in the evening, and Zeke's still hopeful he's gonna see his mum. Stepping out of the convenience store, his steps began to grow slower as an unsettling feeling creeping up his spine. He's been paying attention since he left the school and he knows someone's keeping an eye on him.

Shaking off the unease, he mounted the motorcycle he had borrowed from Tim and revved the engine. He sped off, weaving through the streets and making sharp turns, attempting to lose any potential tail. Although he knows it's still gonna be risky and he could just use the time to figure who might that be, he's already had plans tonight he couldn't afford to miss.

After nearly twenty minutes, he arrived at his mum's house. As he stood outside, Jeric's words from their last conversation echoed in his mind, but Zeke shoved them aside. Not this time.

He knocks on the door and it creaked open within moments, and his mother appeared. "Jeric—" she began, but her words faltered when she saw him. "Zeke."

For a fleeting moment, Zeke simply looked at her, taking in her face. He's haven't seen him for a few days and he can't shrug the thought that she's looking a little frail.

"Mum—"

"I didn't know you were coming," she said with a gentle smile. "It's already late."

"I know. I just thought of dropping by. Just want to check on you."

His mum smiled. "Come here. Stay for dinner." She gestured him to the dining table as she prepares him something to eat.

Zeke began scanning around the house and suddenly feel how big it is for someone for his mum who's have to stay here the whole day without anyone else. Though it was smaller than their old one, it still carried the same heavy silence, making the space feel much larger than it was. He couldn't ignore the thought of his mother spending the whole day here alone.

"Where's Jeric?" He asked when her mum returned with a bowl of soup.

"Uh... he's probably at work."

"I don't know he's doing overtime." His mum paused not knowing what to respond to that.

"Eat your soup, honey." She placed the bowl in front of him, but Zeke barely touched it, his eyes fixed on her, concern growing.

He knows she's been taking meds which probably had made her look different from how she used to. But now, as he observed her closer, he noticed how much paler and thinner she had become. Isn't she supposed to be getting better?