Bubble Gum Kisses

Kapittel 3

Kapittel 3

Vanessa

I feel homesick and nostalgic at the same time. I didn't know why, but probably because I was starting to miss our old house, but I wanted to stay here too. Weird. But maybe I've gotten too attached to the people my family, and I had met and created friendships with at Washington, especially my clique. Not to mention that dad and I made lots and lots of what I consider the most remarkable memories that I missed badly. While here in Scarsdale, I've created a myriad of childhood memories and relationships that I had forgotten but badly want to revive, especially with Angie and Angel, my closest childhood friends and cousins. Sigh. If only I could live in two places at once.

Trying to kiss the morbid combination of feelings away, I raised my tired back, raised my arms, and stretched. Yesterday was tiring. We had a super long ride and had no time to waste unpacking and arranging stuff in the house. Good thing there was Aunt Rebecca and the twins, or else mom and I would have been a goner out of severe fatigue today. I looked out the window and witnessed the sun's golden rays seeping through the glass and admiring the breathtaking view outdoors. I rested my elbows on the window sill and admired the striking star's beauty, just like I always did back then. Just like I always did back then...

My lips slowly curled into a frown as nostalgia surged in my tightening chest. Not again. I groaned, slid my feet off the bed, and wore my fluffy slides. Standing up, I did a full-body roll stretch before fixing my bed and leaving the room, hoping that mom woke up earlier than me and had already made breakfast.

Much to my relief, when I arrived in the dining room, the delicious smell of bacon, sausages, and eggs invaded my nose as I laid my eyes on the table where hot and sizzling breakfast was already served. Mom was stirring coffee at the kitchen counter while Zach sat on his baby high chair, playing with his yogurt.

"Morning, mom," I greeted mom, sitting on the chair beside my little brother. "Good morning, baby." I pinched his puffy cheek and gave it a kiss.

He stopped playing with his food. "Mownin..." he struggled to say and reached up to give my cheek a kiss. Aw, this sweet boy.

"Morning, hon." Mom finally turned around and sat at the table with her mug of coffee in hand. She picked up her fork and knife, and we both had our fill, digging in harmoniously. "You know what to do today?" she asked me before chewing on a slice of bacon.

I raised my brows at her as I chewed my overly scrumptious breakfast. "Clean my room and sort out items, babysit Zach, find the forms that I need to present to the school registrar on Monday. After that, prep my stuff and self for a new day in school— as a transferee," I answered and turned to Zach to wipe off the yogurt on his cheek that I saw him smear through my peripheral vision, distracting myself from welling up again.

Since the accident, I had been absent from school for a month under the excuse of physical and mental recovery. I was not only physically scarred, the doctors then diagnosed me with acute trauma a week after I woke up. I spent the entire month coping with my sadness, blaming myself for the accident, and talking it to my therapist while recovering from my broken arm and legs. I missed dad's wake throughout the entire month and was only allowed to be released for a day, which was dad's funeral. That very day caused me another breakdown, and my stay in the hospital was extended.

Trying to get over everything, I thought I was gonna come back to school and be normal again, spend the usual restless days. But much to my disappointment, the day the doctors told me that I was good to go, I learned that we were moving out and I needed to transfer schools.

"Aw, my baby's all grown up," mom complimented, looking at me with starry eyes. I wanted to tell her that I was not. I was still depressed over dad's death, and talking to my therapist about all my dark, intrusive thoughts wasn't helping enough, but I didn't want to cause any more burden. I didn't want her to break and cry like how she did during the funeral. Aside from Zach, she was the only family I had left, and I didn't have any plans of losing them both. No. Never again.