Eight-O-Eight (8:08)

Chapter Two

For the first time last night, after a long time, I did not cry to sleep. Yes, I still thought about Daniel, but I didn’t cry. I realized that I have to let him go. I don’t deserve a guy like him. Don’t waste your tears on that douche bag, I keep repeating in my head even though it sounds so cheesy. I smile.

I walk down the stairs of my house, then sat on one of the chairs of the kitchen table, looking down at my breakfast that Mom made for me: grilled cheese and a bowl of sliced apples. Just like everyday. Mom sits across from me and leans her elbows to rest her chin. She smiles and looks at me and I look back raising my eyebrow. “You don’t seem dead today.” Her smile does not disappear.

“Well.” I begin while pouring some milk in my glass. “I guess I’m getting over the whole Daniel thing.” I feel like I haven’t had a proper conversation with anyone since the break up with Daniel. I stayed in my room during the summer, not contacting any of my friends. I was pretty much depressed and wanted to my own space. Yesterday with Angus was probably the first time I made human contact since then, aside from my parents who I live with under the same roof.

“How’s Angus?” I jump from Mom’s sudden question. It’s like she can read my thoughts. “Have you seen or talked to him lately?”

First, I just sat there thinking what I should answer to her. But then I realize there is nothing to hide. “Um yeah. I actually ran with him yesterday.”

Mom stands up from her chair after glancing at the clock. She grabs her bag for work and stands in front of me. “I’m glad you’re working out again. Your belly is getting bigger.” She smiles and rubs my belly.

I quickly push her hands away, giving her an angry look. “Mom!”

She kisses my forehead quickly and says, “I love you” before she leaves. I watch her leave while rubbing my belly. I look down at it. It’s not big.

+++

That morning, Maya, calls me to tell to come over to her place. She screams my name when I answered the phone. I can already picture her jumping up and down with excitement. I haven’t talked to her or seen her over the summer at all. Also cause she had to leave the country. I can’t wait to see her and catch up.

On my way, I have to walk pass Angus’s house. Like always, I see him shooting basketballs right outside the garage. Behind him, I see his older sister, Grace, watering some plants. I wave at them both while he dribbles the ball. Grace briefly waves back. Somehow,  I always find her intimidating and I’m not sure why.

Angus’s family has gone through a lot through out the years. Angus and Grace live with their mother and aunt. When Angus was eight years-old, their father left their family and never came back. I never asked him the reason why he left cause I figured he doesn’t want to talk or think about his father. Whenever his father is mentioned, he changes completely to a person with full of hatred and anger. Even today he is still sensitive about the topic.

Sadly, Mrs. Walker, their mother, suffers from brain tumor. Angus believes that his father caused this on her. Right after his father left the family, Mrs. Walker was terribly heart broken and soon experienced terrible headaches and seizures. I’ve seen Angus during his bad times, but I’ve never seen him so broken while holding his mother’s hand in the hospital bed.

But he still wears his famous smile as he dribbles towards me. I shake the sad thoughts away from my mind and smile back. “Where’re you going?” He sings. In front of me he dribbles around the ball and through his legs. I don’t know how he does it so easily.