The Twist

Chapter 4 - The Parents

§ Ocean's POV §

I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face. The memory of yesterday put me into a happy mood.

I was so happy that it scared me. I was scared that this happiness would be replaced by something...scary.

Oh, how right I was.

-------x

I ran downstairs and was ready to greet my parents.

"Good morning Mom---"

As I was about to greet her, I saw her sprawled across the ground, unconscious.

I knew better than to start panicking, so I immediately went to her, trying to stay calm.

But I couldn't.

"Mom!" I screamed.

I tried to shake her awake, but to no avail.

"Mom..!" I screamed again.

That scream didn't seem to reach her.

--------x

I sat beside the door where they were checking up my mom.

I wondered where my father was.

He should've been here with me, caressing my hair, whispering, "It'll be alright," continuously.

But he's not.

I'm drowning in sorrow and worry, and my father's nowhere in sight.

"Ocean!"

But he was there.

Christian.

The person I wanted to replace so bad.

Out of guilt, sadness, loss, worry, and the slightest bit of relief, my eyes started to tear up.

When he saw me, he immediately pulled me in for a hug.

"Ocean, it's alright, I'm here. I'm here. You'll be alright. Mrs. Augustus will be alright, she's strong. So calm down, okay? Remember that game we used to play as kids? Whoever cries will be the loser? I always lost that. You're not going to let me win now, aren't you?"

I didn't hear anything because I was crying so hard that I just couldn't. I cried and cried and cried that Christian stopped talking and just hugged me.

The world I tried so hard to make perfect was being the complete opposite.

And the mom I so loved was in the brink of death. My father isn't even there.

What in the world is happening?

-------x

Moments after I calmed down, Christian bought me a can of soda.

"It'll help you calm down, I think. I hope."

I tried to smile. "Thank you for your effort, Christian."

He smiled back and draped his arm around my shoulder. He knew that this gesture somehow gives me relief. Being around his arms would give me questionable comfort.

As I drank the contents of the can, he suddenly asked, "It was inappropriate to ask earlier, but I guess it's fine now; where in the world is your dad?"

I looked at him with sad eyes. "He's....busy, I guess."

He gave me a questioning look, but nodded anyway. "Seems like. I called him after receiving the news, but it was straight to voice message. But what could be so important that he'd prioritize it over his own wife?"

Good question.

---------x

After approximately one hour and twenty minutes, the doctor finally came out.

"Overwork. That was the cause for Ms. Augustus's sudden collapse, but for some reason we're yet to know, the probability of her regaining consciousness is still unclear. If unfortunate, Ms. Augustus might pass. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." The doctor explained.

I stared at the doctor in shock. Suddenly the tears that stopped rolling on my cheeks earlier came flowing again.

Christian hugged me again. While I cried on his chest, Christian silently thanked the doctor and discussed stuff that I couldn't quite hear because of my deafening heartbeat.

Mom. All that I could think of was mom.

Will she die? Will I be left with Dad from that day onwards?

Will I be left alone?

What if she dies? What if Dad does too? What if Christian earns a girlfriend? What if Jessica and Kim no longer need me? What if Allan also bullies me?

I'll be all alone.

As if Christian heard my thoughts, he hugged me tighter and now caressed my hair.

"Shh, we'll be fine."

He pulled me away from his hug and kissed my forehead. "Didn't I say Ms. Augustus is strong?"

I hugged him and cried more.

Gosh, I'm such a crybaby.

Luckily I have Christian.

-----------x

I arrived home, my eyes swollen, my mother not with me.

After Christian dropped me to my house, I thanked him a lot.

"I can never repay how kind you are to me. Thank you, Christian. Really."

He chuckled. "Well, it is you I'm helping. You're special to me." He said and smiled.

I smiled back, and somehow my cheeks felt warm.

"Goodnight, Chris."

"Night, mi amoré."

I laughed and he laughed and suddenly it felt like my world wasn't broken down and my mother isn't at the verge of death and my father wasn't gone when I needed him and I didn't even know why.

He was home.

I want to fall for you.

------------x

Author's Note:

This is my birthday update! Like last year, I specialized the chapter, making it either super happy, super sad, super annoying, super etc. I made this super dramatic. The special chapter I had on my last birthday was in another book, which is He's My Gamer. Try it, please!