A Break Apart

CHAPTER 33. More Secrets

"You're still around?" I thought Mum already left for work, only for me to come downstairs and find her sitting in the living room, looking anxious, and checking her wristwatch every now and then.

"I'll soon be on my way. I'm just, uh—"

Our attention focused on the door when we heard a knock, and she got to it before I could even think of doing so.

The door opened, and I stared in wonder, at the two folks who queued in. Neither Natasha nor Austin told me that they were coming. They all exchanged greetings with Mum, who then thanked them and turned to me.

"Take care, honey." She smiled and left.

The faces of my unexpected guests were gloomy, especially Natasha the loud mouth. I stood still, confused, not knowing what to say to them, and they were short of words themselves.

"You good?" Austin broke the silence. "She told us everything," he said in a sympathetic tone. Of course she did. I had underrated her paranoia—reason why I never wanted her to find out in the first place. I started feeling like I felt on the night Abel offered me shelter; like a helpless victim.

"Come here." Austin marched on, and I slowly walked into his arms. Natasha's silence had sucked her in her own shadow, as she was nearly nonexistent in the living room.

We ended up watching a movie in my room that lacked everyone's attention because we were all deep in our own thoughts. I was seated in their middle, with my head on Austin's chest, who in turn held me in his arm while I munched on the jumbo-sized Cheese Balls he got me. I was receiving a baby treatment, but I wasn't complaining.

My eyes darted at Natasha who sat a little distant, staring at my laptop screen, but her mind stared farther, and I wondered what was running through them.

With a little stretch, I poked her arm, and she turned her face to me. I threw her a sheepish smile, and she replied with a sad one that vanished too soon.

"Can you at least say something?" Austin interrupted our mute chat, and her eyes focused on him. "You've been quiet this whole time and it's not helping," he added, getting no response. "You look creepy staring like that," he said in resignation, and I almost laughed.

She flashed him a glare and turned back to the screen.

He sighed and faced me. "She's been crying since your mum broke the news."

I didn't know what to say to that, but I did feel awful. She flashed him another glare for exposing her, and he only shrugged in response.

"Alright, kiddo. I'll be back in a minute," he said, getting up.

"I'm not a kid..." I took out a cheese ball and put in my mouth.

"Well, it's not me who's been laying her head on daddy's chest like a baby," he teased.

I chuckled. "Daddy? Really? Austin you're just twenty-four." I had to remind him, just in case he miscalculated and landed at fifty-four.

"It's difficult to remember that when you act like Lulu."

My jaw dropped. "Of all your siblings you compare me to the last one?"

"But aren't you the last?" He raised his eyebrows, then laughed as he turned around and started heading for the door when I frowned in defeat.

"Why do you always wear your hat backwards?" I asked.

He stopped and turned back. "I sort of live in the past."

I laughed. "Hey, I'm serious."

"No particular reason. It just suits me this way."

"It sure does," I said.