When We Met

Forty Seven

|Martin|

THREE YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

"Deb, I don't want to get out of my bedroom and you have to stop trying to lure me out of it. It's not making things easier for me." I say for the hundredth time and sulk back into my bed. 

My sister kicks open the bloody door and I groan in complaint. Is it so hard to respect a poor little guy's need for solitude?

"Listen up, damsel in distress. I know you're hurting and I know that things with Dina are about to hit rock bottom." I snort at that. "But you don't have to sulk like a drama queen. It's mom's birthday and you know she likes to spend it in the lake house. Haul your dumb ass out of the bed and get ready."

Deborah is all too famous for spreading tough love on me. While people think it's absolutely necessary, I think it's just exasperating.

"I don't wanna go anywhere. And I know mother will make us meet some old friends who didn't even know dad that well, and then she'll make a spectacle out of it all with an emotional speech. As much as I love her, I'm not in that mood right now. Plus, I'm hoping to hear from Dina."

Deb gives out a sigh and sits on my bed. I know I've hit the nail on the head with that argument.

"Look, I'm not gonna say anything about Dina because I don't even know what you're fighting over. But the thing you said about mom..." She sighs again. "You're right. It's the same old story. But, we're all she has now, Lan. And it's her birthday."

"Do you really think we're the only people she has?" I raise an eye brow.

"What are you implying?"

"I don't know. Just asking."

"Dylan, come on. It's just one night. Not like everything will change suddenly, right?"

*******

Three hours later, I find myself opening the door to the passenger's seat and helping my mother out of the car. The lake house is sparkling under the subtle glare of the evening sun and I breathe in the ward of fresh air that flows between these huge trees here. The guests will be here in an hour and I still don't know who they are.

I check my phone again, for the seventeenth time since we left for the lake house.

No notifications.

Dina and I had a major fallout two days ago. It happened at the frat party we both attended. We were having fun until Dina's insecurities came rushing back the moment she spotted me talking to my ex. It wasn't that bad, to be honest. Dina was just being a little jealous, but when I leaned in to hug her brand new arch nemesis, she completely lost it. She ripped us apart like a freaking band aid and was about to slap the poor girl in front of me. I literally had to pick Dina up in my arms and pull her out of the house before she made a scene out of it.

I was furious, not because she almost slapped my ex, but because she still doesn't trust me enough. It bloody hurt. I know I had a reputation of indulging in casual college flings, but I tried my level best to make Dina believe that she's it for me. That I actually love her.

Well, too bad my efforts were not enough for her.

We had a showdown in the car, where I made it clear how much she hurt me by still not being able to trust me. Suffice to say, it didn't end well. I dropped her off at her place and didn't even wait for her to get inside the house.

That was the first time I didn't wait to make sure she gets inside and locks the door behind her.

I shake my head and open the glass doors of my room to reach the back porch. The lake looks like a calm surface of glass and it somehow lends me a little ounce of peace. I sit down on the wooden floor and close my eyes. The sound of the main gate opening and a rush of crowd noise disrupts my solitude and I let out a loud groan. Brilliant, just brilliant.