Unlock My Heart

Chapter 6

The rest of the week went by in a blur of lectures, assignments, and long nights spent catching up on reading. But no matter how busy I tried to keep myself, Sean always seemed to linger in the back of my mind. Not in an annoying way, though. More like a quiet presence that was hard to shake.

I wasn't sure what it was about him—his persistence, his laid-back attitude, or maybe the way he seemed to just... get me, without asking for anything in return. Whatever it was, I found myself thinking about him more often than I cared to admit.

And yet, despite all of that, I kept my distance. It was easier to stay guarded, to keep things casual. After all, getting close to someone always came with risks—risks I wasn't ready to take. Not yet.

Saturday Morning

I had planned on spending the weekend catching up on my chemistry notes, but the universe had other ideas. Just as I was settling into my room, my phone buzzed with a message from Anita.

Anita: You still coming home this weekend?

I groaned, feeling the weight of my family's drama looming over me again. I'd promised my mom I'd come home, but after the week I'd had, the last thing I wanted to deal with was my parents' fighting.

Still, I couldn't leave Anita to deal with it alone.

Me: Yeah, I'll be home by the afternoon.

Her response was immediate.

Anita: Thank God. It's been crazy here. See you soon.

I sighed, tossing my phone onto the bed. I knew what awaited me at home—another round of tense silences and uncomfortable conversations. My parents would pretend everything was fine, but Anita and I knew better.

It had always been like that. They'd fight, make up, fight again, and repeat the cycle as if it were some kind of twisted routine. And somehow, they expected me to play the role of mediator, like I was supposed to fix what had been broken long before I was old enough to understand it.

I shook off the thought and packed my things for the weekend, trying not to let the dread sink in too deep. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe they'd have a good day. But I wasn't holding my breath.

At Home

By the time I arrived home, the tension in the air was almost palpable. The house felt heavy as if it had soaked up years of unresolved arguments and swallowed them whole.

Anita greeted me at the door, her face lighting up as soon as she saw me. "Finally! You don't even know how bad it's been, Alura," she whispered, pulling me into a quick hug. "They haven't spoken to each other all day."

I nodded, my chest tightening at the familiar feeling of walking into a war zone. "Let's just... stay out of their way, okay?"

She nodded, leading me to the living room, where the faint sound of the television tried to cover the silence that hung between my parents. My dad was seated on the couch, staring blankly at the screen, while my mom sat in the corner, pretending to read a magazine.

"Mom, Dad," I said, forcing a smile as I entered. "I'm back."

My mom glanced up, her eyes softening a bit. "Alura, welcome. You've eaten?"

"Not yet," I replied, moving toward the kitchen. "I'll get something."

Anita followed closely behind me, and once we were out of earshot, she leaned in. "They've been like that since last night. I think Dad's staying out longer on purpose now."

"Typical," I muttered, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water. "How've you been handling it?"

Anita shrugged, her face pinched with frustration. "I just stay in my room. Try to avoid all their shouting."

I nodded, guilt gnawing at me. I knew I couldn't fix this, but every time I left Anita to deal with it alone, it felt like I was abandoning her. And now, being here again, it was all flooding back—the weight of their problems, the expectation to somehow make everything right.

Later That Evening

I was in my room, trying to distract myself with a book when my phone buzzed.

Sean: You home for the weekend?

I blinked at the message, surprised he even remembered.

Me: Yeah. Why?

Sean: Just checking. How's it going?

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Part of me wanted to tell him everything—to dump all the frustration, the guilt, the mess of emotions I was carrying. But the other part of me, the part that had spent years building walls around my heart, kept me from letting it out.

Me: Same old. Nothing new.

His reply came almost immediately.

Sean: You sure?

I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. How did he always know when I wasn't telling the full story?

Me: It's complicated. My parents... well, they're being themselves. Fighting. Avoiding each other. The usual.

Sean: That sucks. I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

I bit my lip, feeling a lump rise in my throat. I wasn't used to people caring, not like this. Most of the time, I just brushed off their concern, but with Sean, it felt different. It felt... real.

Me: Thanks. I'll survive.

Sean: You always do.

There was something in his words—something that felt like an understanding, a connection I wasn't sure I wanted to acknowledge. But it was there, and it was pulling me in, no matter how hard I tried to resist.

Sunday Afternoon

By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I was more than ready to head back to school. My parents had barely spoken to each other all weekend, and the tension had only grown thicker. The air felt heavy, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

Anita walked me to the door, her face lined with worry. "I wish you didn't have to leave," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know," I said softly, squeezing her hand. "But I'll be back soon, okay? Just hang in there."

She nodded, her eyes downcast, as I gave her a quick hug and stepped out into the warm afternoon sun. I felt the weight lift from my shoulders the moment I was outside, but the guilt still clung to me, refusing to let go completely.

As I made my way back to the hostel, my phone buzzed again.

Sean: Made it back to school yet?

Me: Almost.

Sean: Meet me at the café when you get back? We could grab something to eat.

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the screen. I could've said no, made an excuse, gone back to my room, and drowned myself in books to forget about the weekend. But something in me didn't want to.

Me: Sure. See you in 20.

I hit send, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness settle in my chest. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all. Maybe spending time with Sean would help me forget, if only for a little while.