Run to you

Home III

The whole family were already sitting by the dining table, staring at Gale as he puts down the bowl of food he prepared. Everyone was staring at the head of the family.. The father brought the spoon to his mouth. Cold sweat runs down from Gale's forehead as the head tastes his cooking. He nods his head, giving relief to the nervous Gale. The father looked at him and smiled, "Let's have a drink after this." He said and resumed eating. Gale looked at Fine who was smiling at him. He still feels nervous but he is happy at his progress. The family enjoyed the food and was complimenting him through the course.

Hours after the meal, the two men were chatting at the garden with bottles of beer in front of them. Fine brought another batch. "Are you really going to get drunk in the middle of afternoon?" Fine asked her father, her eyebrows almost meeting each other. "Come on come on, don't brood. It's alright, right Gale?" Her father said, handing Gale another bottle while the young man nods. "Just today" Gale told Fine. "Who said it'll only be today?" Fine's father said and then he raised his glass. Gale smiled and also raised his glass. His heart warms up at the feeling of acceptance. Fine was also happy at the scene of her father welcoming Gale in his own way but looking at the bottles they have finished, she sighed. "You're not going anywhere today. You've drank a lot." She said. "Don't worry, we have an extra room." Her father said. She sighed again and left the men. "She likes to sigh." Her father said and the men laughed.

Fine went to her room where Beth was taking a nap. She takes her steps carefully, "So what came to your mind into forgiving mom?" Beth asked but her eyes are still closed. Fine sat beside her and sighed. "I don't know. I just found myself coming here that night. I felt very sad and disappointed at Gale and I just felt empty. I don't care what happens to me anymore and then I saw mom. My tears just poured out. I only wanted to cry while mom holds me." She said. "So, have you forgiven her completely?" Beth asked. Fine nodded and sighed, "I have forgiven her but I have not forgotten what she did nor will I ever forget it. And I still hate what she did." She said.

Beth smiled and nodded. "Why are you here by the way? Did you have a fight with your husband?" She asked. Beth sat up and grunted. "He kept on nagging." She said. Fine looked at her and raised her brows, "Why? What happened?" "He kept on nagging about my health." Fine sighed, "I thought it was serious, but you look tired. What's happening? Are you on a very difficult case? Did the firm take you in again?" Fine asked. "Yes, it's a very difficult case but it is the most beautiful so far. I'll make it bloom so beautifully that it will attract everyone's attentions" She said, sounding sinister. "I guess he'd really nag you on it especially after what happened to you. Does mom know about it?" Fine asked. "No, I didn't tell her and don't tell her. She's got a lot of guilt already." She said. "Sis, just win whatever case you are dealing with right now. Also, don't take your health for granted, you have to give me a niece or nephew already." She said then Beth laughed, "I have been following up with my Ob-Gyn. I also want to have a child already. It's just very difficult to conceive because of my syndrome." She said. The sisters lie next to each other, chatting and catching up.

The sisters heard a ruckus and so Fine went out of the room and found Gale and her mother struggling to take her father up the stairs. "Why did you let him be this drunk?!" Fine exclaimed while Gale was looking apologetic. "Don't be mad at him. Your father has not drank alcohol for a long time now." Her mother said then her father smiles at her, his cheeks were turned apple red by alcohol. Fine led Gale to the room he'll be staying for the night. "This used to be Beth's room but she'll just stay at mine tonight. You can change into that. I bought that for my father before but it's way too small for him so it hasn't been worn yet." She said, pointing at the folded clothes on the bed. Gale smiled at her, "Your dad's cool you know. We talked about lots of stuffs." He said, trying to knock the influence off. Fine looked at him and chuckled. "Tipsy. What kind of stuffs?" She asked while gazing at Gale's face, finding him adorable at his current state. "Stuffs that I don't talk about with my father" He said, smiling like a child and then he stared into space and slowly took a deep breath. "Everything, basically" He uttered. Fine felt a prick of sadness, she wrapped her arms around him and patted his back without saying a word. The couple stayed like that for a while.

While Fine helps her mother prepare for dinner, the image of Gale's loneliness kept on appearing in her mind. She cannot keep still but she does not know what she could do for him. "Fine, you're spilling it." Her mother said then she looked at the bowl she was stirring. "Oh, I'm sorry." She said. Her mother smiled at her, "What are you thinking?" her mother asked. "I'm just thinking how I can't help Gale." She said. "Why? Why can't you help him?" "It's a family thing and I can't do anything for him in that but I'd really want to do something for him." She said. Her mom handed her a spoonful of the food she was cooking for her to taste. "Then just stay beside him. That's what you can do for him." She said then Fine nodded. "Is it good?" Fine nodded. "Then I'll feed your dad first. Bring Gale his dinner as well." Her mother said, preparing the food she made on a tray. "He's only tipsy, he could dine with us." She said then she went to Gale's room and found him awake and reading a message on his phone.

Fine sat beside him, "who is it?" She asked. "It's Tina. She's asking about my absence." He said then he looked at Fine and grinned at her. "Are you jealous?" He asked cheekily but Fine did not have a sort of reaction on her face. She looked at him, "Do I need to?" She asked nonchalantly. Gale shook his head and laughed at himself. "I lost. Alright, I lost." He said then he ran his fingers through Fine's hair. "You're too good for me." He said while inching closer to her. "Yes I am." She whispered and then he pulled her closer and kissed her. "You taste like beer." She whispered. "Sorry" "But I don't dislike it" She pulled him by the back of his neck and plunged for a deep kiss.

Fine, Gale, Beth, and their mother were having dinner together with their mother interrogating the older daughter on her fight with her husband when a news regarding the politician Alicia Ohori was reported on the news channel the four were watching. Gale stared at the television, watching the interview with her mother, there were camera flashes, reporters' microphones and recorders that surrounded his mother who was insisting on her right of silence. The interview for a statement from the lawyer of the opposing side was also shown, "Graft and corruption, and money laundering. We have enough evidences and witnesses." The lawyer said who, at the same time was reiterated in sync by the same lawyer having dinner with them. They looked at Beth who was smiling and eating happily. "Beth, what's that about?" Their mother asked, obviously surprised. "That? It's the flower I'm tending. It has not yet fully bloomed but soon it will." She said but her mother cannot help but tremble on the possible things that Alicia might do to them. Beth noticed her troubled mother and sighed, "Trust me on this. She has no way out anymore. She's caught red-handed." She said.

"Sister" Fine uttered then Beth looked at her and saw Gale at her side, speechless and ashamed. Beth smiled, "I told you I won't stop." She said and then her phone rang. It was her husband. "What!" She yelled. "So now you know why." Her husband was also surprised by the news and did not know about it at all until just now. "No, I'll sleep here. You get me here tomorrow morning." She said then she hung up. Beth's excitement and happiness was evident and she does not hide it nor contain it even if Gale is with them. Gale smiled nervously and continued eating trying to think unaffected but his mind cannot control the trembling of his hands and the rejection of his throat. It was not only the lawsuit his mother is facing that has surprised him. It is how sick his mother looks that bothers him more.