Exactly What I've Been Waiting For

Chapter 16

A/N: Who's the best? I'm the best. 💁

P.S. This is my sloppiest chapter yet. (Even sloppier than Chapter 1)

-not edited-

Just like what her father had said, her nephew was indeed at the cafeteria. He sat alone in the corner with his head down. From the trembling of his body, she knew he was still crying and must still be angry with her.

But they were family, so at some point forgiveness was in order, right? But she knew she needed to get herself together first before she went to talk to him. Karl only listened when someone was authoritative and had a stern voice. If her voice broke after every sentence, she would get nowhere with him.

But it still took her all of three minutes to calm herself down enough in order to sit down across from him at the table.

Baby Karl recognized his auntie's shoes. He was angry with her, that's for sure. It's not like this was the first time he got mad at her, but this time, it was different. This wasn't like the time where they all hid his toy train and wouldn't tell him where it was until a week later. This wasn't like all those times when they called him the 'baby' and he was angry because he knew he wasn't a baby anymore. It was different, and he intended to be angry like the big boy he knew he was.

"I'm sorry," Jade said. She knew apologies were in order, she just didn't know if it made any difference. "I should've told you."

"Is he still alive?" After this, he wouldn't say anything else to her, he promised to himself.

"He's not dead. And he won't be for awhile, bud."

"Stop calling me that!" He yelled, banging his tiny fist against the table. Even that made her jump. "I hate it when you call me that! I am not your bud. I won't be. I hate you."

Seven years old and he already knew the emotion hate. "Karl," she tried again. "I'm scared too."

"Well, I'm not scared because he's not going anywhere. He promised me he's never gonna leave me. Maybe he hates you too, that's why he told you that. He doesn't want you as his daughter anymore."

She grabbed his tiny hands in hers and squeezed them, not letting him go no matter how much he squirmed. "Stop it. I am still your Auntie Jade and you are not going to speak to me like that. Dad loves both of us."

"Just go back with your stupid girlfriend. Just go back and leave us alone. We don't want you here. I'm going back to Granddad's room, and I don't want you to follow me. Mom will drive me home. Go away!" Having enough of the conversation, Karl gathered all the might that he could muster and finally yanked his hands away from her grip. With that, he left.

Jade was a lot of things. She was never one to give up. She was never one to yell in a public place and make a scene. She was never one to get mad. Yet, here she was, nothing like the person she is.

***
For the next couple of days, every single day after work, Jade would visit her mother for an hour and then go to the hospital to visit her dad. It took a lot out of her, especially when the shop was busy with customers, but it was what needed to be done. She didn't have time for anything else. She hasn't even spoken with the others about what happened between her and Perrie, but was sure they all knew.

And the friends kept their distance, despite how hard it was. You see, Jade was someone different from the rest of them. She was the go-to person when bad things happened. When a tradegy struck, it was Jade who would get the call first. It was always her who said the right things and would comfort them. She'd stay while they cried and wouldn't leave until asked without making a fuss. But when it came to Jade, it wasn't the same.