Masked Feelings

Chapter 4: Tommy

I walked in the apartment and quickly made my way to the living room. I let my body fall on the couch and sighed with fatigue. I straightened my back and stared at my reflection in the glass in front of me. My green eyes didn't have their usual sparks. I looked tired. Of course I would be tired. I mean, I've worked last night and had to attend college this morning. I've gotten barely two hours of sleep.

"It sucks to study, right? " Rose asked as she walked in the room with a glass of cold mango juice in her hand. She gave it to me, causing to smile brightly. I really needed this. I gulped down the juice and took a deep breath.

"Really suck" I answered.

"Go rest" she said while staring at me with concern.

"I can't" I exhaled. "I have to visit Tommy" I told her as I closed my eyes and leant my head on the pillow of the couch. It was so comfortable.

"I'll come with you! I miss that little man" Rose said with happiness. Tommy's my step brother. He's seven. Long story short, my father cheated on my mom and got his mistress pregnant. The latter died and my dad refused to take the responsibility of this little boy with cancer. My father was heartless. My mother was worst. She said that she was praying for the death of Tommy.

Why should he suffer for the mistake of my father?

I left home after having a huge fight with my parents. Hatred built inside of me after I saw their real faces. This is why I was now living with Rose. I had to pay my college fee and Tommy's treatment myself. It was getting difficult. I was glad to have the help of Rose and my sister, Alena.

Alena has always been there for me. It really hurt her the day I left her and at first, she didn't understand why I was taking care of Tommy, the child of my father's mistress. I explained and she accepted to meet the little boy. She instantly fell in love with little cute boy. It broke my heart each day thinking that one day, cancer might take over his little heart. I tried not to think about it too much. Tommy needed me, and I needed him as well. He was like a little ray of sunshine.

I stood up and went to my room. I have to change my clothes. I was so tired right now. I took off my dress with a sigh. My eyes soon met with my reflection in the mirror which was in front of me. Why did life have to be so hard? But again, if it was easy, it would be boring. I pulled out my jeans and a top. Once I've put my clothes on me, I decided to put my sneakers on.

"Ready?" Rose asked from the door. I nodded and picked up my handbag. We walked to the car in a comfortable silence. Rose knew that whenever I was tired, I was a little grumpy.

"I just wanna get on my bed and sleep tonight" I breathed out as I started driving to the hospital. I was glad that I didn't have to work tonight.

"You really need to rest" Rose told me as she stared at me in concern. I nodded and put on some music to get my mind off all the problems that I had.

As I stepped out of the car, my face scrunched as the smell of the hospital hit my nose. I hated hospitals and the smell of medicines. Rose seemed to agree with me as she made a gesture that she wanted to puke. A doctor passed by and stared at her as if she was crazy. Suddenly he rushed to her and held her arm.

"Miss, Are you alright?" the doctor asked with wide eyes. He seemed to be in the forties. Rose nodded and gave him a smile.

"Yeah, I am. Don't worry" she told him as she slowly pulled away from him and started walking towards me.

"Then will it be alright if I take you out for dinner?" The doctor suddenly called as Rose reached me. Rose's eyes widened and she seemed disgusted by this proposal.