Nightcall - Billie Eilish

36 -

About an hour later, after finding other things to talk about that finally calmed Dina's anger,

we finally left the restaurant

Dina was talking with her brother,

and i stayed a bit behind, just listening, a smile stuck to my face

that's when i felt a hand gently grab my arm

i turned around and saw her mom, who gave me a small smile before motioning for me to walk beside her

"You care about her, don't you?"

i tore my eyes away from her to look back at Dina

"i'm afraid so."

she raised a brow

"afraid? afraid of what?"

"I've never felt a friendship this strong before, i feel like i can actually be myself with her"

She nodded slowly

"dina has always had that power over people. She adapts, she understands, she feels everything around her... but trust me, she paid a heavy price for it"

i looked at her, already seeing where this was going

"you mean Matt?"

she lowered her gaze slightly and nodded

"Matt was just like her. he was her role model, her superhero. they completed each other, they understood each other like no one else. her father and i, we were just spectators to their bond. And when he died..."

she hesitated, her voice almost breaking, then went on:

"she felt..."

"betrayed?"

our eyes met, hers shining with tears she was fighting hard to hold back

then she gave a sad little smile

"exactly. and since then... she's never been able to really attach herself to anyone. she kept switching groups of friends, over and over... and boyfriends too"

i frowned slightly

"That much?"

"she went from relationship to relationship, and after a few weeks she would completely detach. Sometimes even overnight. i think she was just scared of feeling that same pain again. So she cut it off before things got too intense"

"And Kate in all this?"

"Kate is different. She's like a sister to her. She's always been there, no matter what. The day Matt died, even though she was still just a kid, she promised me she'd always stay by her side"

i smiled softly, touched by her words. she went on, more serious now:

"i love my daughter more than anything. and the way she looks at you... it reminds me of the way she used to look at her brother. she cares about you. probably more than she wants to admit. so please... take care of her. As much as you take care of yourself"

her words hit me straight in the chest

i hadn't seen that coming at all

i looked back at Dina

yeah... i care about her

and i have zero intention of hurting her

her mom finally went back to her husband, and Dina turned to me with a little smirk that i instantly returned

she came closer

"she was talking about me?"

"she just worries"