The World Called WORLD

Chapter 7-Unexpected Hug

I stayed beside my mother sobbing for who knows how long. The twins constantly tried to wake her, calling her name which filled me with despair. My dad never came back ever since he left us, and the crowd dispersed after a while, leaving us to grief over our mothers death.

The whole time I hugged my Mother tightly, wishing her emerald eyes would just open one more time. I remembered the times I spent with her as a kid. She was the only family member I trusted wholeheartedly. Every time I came back home crying, every time I was unhappy, she would be the one there comforting me. Even when she had fallen ill, she never gave up on us, and I never gave up on her.

The Doctors had to pull me away after they tried to tell me it was time for her to go and I refused. I was still screaming her name when the Doctors brought her away. I didn't want to leave her. For the first time, I felt like a little child again, wanting to be in the warmth and protection of my Mother.

It was only after they had left when I started getting my senses back. My clothes were wet from tear stains, and my eyes were red and my lips were puffy. I went over to the twins and hugged them, wanting them to know that I would be there for them. My Mother was truly gone now. My dad had left us. We were alone yet again. I had to stay strong for the twins.

"I-I'm sorry Aria." Someone familiar softly said from behind. It was August, who was red eyed. His handsomely sculpted face showed of sadness and empathy, one which I never saw before.

"If-if only I knew about your background." He whispered, playing with his thumbs and staring at the floor," I would never have been such a jerk to you."

I hated him. This time not because of his grades, his good looks or his friends. This time, because I dragged him into my family matters. He now knew who my dad was, and had to feel guilty about what he had always did. He had to see my mom pass and endure someone else's pain.

I wanted to shout for him to go away, to leave us, but I could feel the guilt in his voice. And I felt guilty too. It wasn't his fault, yet he had to be dragged into this mess.

I needed someone to hold me, so I did something I thought I would never do in my life. I hugged August. He was taken back at first, but eventually put his firm arms around me, holding me tight. I could feel his warm breath against my hair. I felt like a small child who needed protection.

"Its okay." August whispered, I could feel his strong arms around me. My heart jumped a little, not sure whether its because I'm enveloped in his warm hug or the fact that he was consoling me when I was dragging him down. When I looked up, his eyes met mine, and this time, I broke down completely into a sobbing mess.

Just then, Lucas walked into the ward. I immediately realised that I had been hugging August so tightly and released myself from him.

"Oh. Lucas." I managed to say, pretending I had never hugged August. That was embarrassing. August turned to Lucas, who pretended he didn't see anything.

"Aria, I'm really sorry for what happened." Lucas said softly. I nodded. I didn't want anyone else feeling sorry for me anymore. It would remind me of my Mother too much.

The doctor in charge of my mom came to inform me that they had informed my dad. I didn't know what to do next, so I decided to go home.

Lucas and August didn't mention about the project, probably because they didn't want to add anymore trouble. I myself was not sure if I would even go to school tomorrow. I held the twins, their hands in each of mine and led them out of the ward.

Doctors and Nurses gave us sympathetic looks, but I ignored them and kept my gaze on the floor. "Poor children." I heard one whisper.

August and Lucas decided to give me and my twins some privacy by going home right away. We hailed a taxi to go home. It just reminded me that I had made August pay for the taxi fare earlier, but thinking of the past made my heart ache.

The sky was an orange hue. It was already 7. I had spent 3 hours in the hospital. The twins sat next to me, clutching my hand.

"What will we do now?" Cade asked softly. Much that I wanted to just hide in my room and stay in the shadows from now on(Not that I already wasn't), I knew I had to stay strong for my brothers. I gave him a weak smile. "We'll figure it out."

When we reached home, I went to the kitchen to wash my face. As I passed the study room, I noticed that August's bag was still there. My mind drifted back to what happened in the hospital ward, and my cheeks turned an deep red. How could I be thinking of this at this moment?

"I'll just give it back to him tomorrow." I told myself. The glasses of water on the table reminded me that I had been so harsh at August. I gingerly took his glass and put it at my nose. I didn't know why I did that. I just felt like I wanted to see if what he said was true. What was I doing again? Of course he had been lying.

I sniffed the water, and I coughed, putting down the glass immediately. It actually really smelled like vinegar and lemongrass... the same smell from the tap water I smelled when I had woken up the previous night to wash my face, the same smell my Father had on him when he first came back to visit us. It had to be a coincidence.

I realised I had accused August, which didn't make me feel any better. I went to the kitchen to wash my face and heat some leftover lasagna and ham slices for dinner. I didn't really feel like cooking right now.

The twins for once weren't busy playing on their 3DS. They sat silently on the sofa, laying their heads against the arm rest and staring at the ceiling. "Peanuts. Time to eat." I said as cheerfully as possible, forcing a smile as I placed the food on the table.

They didn't budge.

I sat down next to the twins. They didn't acknowledge my presence. "Peanuts, I know it's difficult right now. All of us miss mom. We all want her to come back." I said gently, "But she told us to move on. We have to live for her. I'm sure that's what she wants."

I brought their food to them and forced them to eat, before I ate the food myself. I didn't have much of an appetite and only managed to force myself to swallow a few spoons of the lasagna.

I didn't shower, or brush my teeth. I was too preoccupied with thoughts to do anything. All I did was bring the twins to their beds before going to bed myself.

I didn't realise how tired I was. The moment I went under the covers, I started tearing up again. This time, I was all alone with no one looking; no one comforting me. Confusing thoughts popped up in my head. Those of my dad's words, my moms final breath and especially August. I didn't know what to think of what he had did in the ward.

I listen to the ticking of the clock as I cried myself to sleep, slowly drifting off into slumber.

Special thanks to YiKaiSow for helping me with some parts of the story (the hugging part) and being an awesome Friend.

Also to DIARIES4LIFE for reading all my chapters and commenting and giving support thx :D