SOLACE

fifteen

Henry was busy training for the past week because of the semis game today. I wore his hoodie to cover up the scratches and bruises on my arms from my mother, who came home all of a sudden.

One by one our furniture started to lessen inside the house. We didn't even have a television anymore. She started selling them and we didn't know what she did with the money. I don't even know if she goes to work anymore.

She started to get even mad at us for no reason at all and violently threatening us. This was even far worse compared to when we were younger. She couldn't control herself anymore. It just made me more scared of going home. If it's still what you call it.

Cali wasn't mad at me when I didn't explain to her any further about me and Kai and she just chose to understand my situation since she knew I had a problem at home.

It drained me and it just made me want to fucking leave the house and never come back again.

Of course, I already told Franco and Cali. I didn't try to hide it from them anymore, just from the other people, including Henry. I didn't have the heart to tell him, I don't like making him worry especially in the middle of his training for a game.

"Hey! Good luck with the game later, okay? I know you can do it!" I said to Henry with a pat on his shoulder and a reassuring smile before they started on their warm-up.

"Thanks. I badly needed that," He softly says as he gave me a wide smile before he turned his back to me.

"I'll be proud of you no matter what, Henry!" I shouted, he looked back to me and jokingly blows me a kiss and bows his head to me.

I bit the inside of my cheeks as I sat back on the bleachers with Cali and Franco beside me.

"Aren't you just a supportive friend?" Franco teases, emphasizing on the word friend and Cali giggles at me.

"What? Is it bad to cheer your friend? I swear if you played basketball, I'd make a banner for you," I say to Franco, hooking my arm to his. He jokingly rolled his eyes at me.

A few minutes later, the other students filled in the vacant bleachers, and the first quarter of the game began. Henry was part of the first five and is also the shooting guard of his team.

The first half of the game had been won by the opposing team, they were leading with 16 points ahead of us. During the short break, Henry glances at me and gives me a small smile while he was hunched back and his palms resting on his knees. I gave him a thumbs up to cheer him.

The crowd cheered when the second half started and Henry and his team immediately balanced the points with the opposing team. It was a tie and everyone was already at the edge of their seats because it was only ten seconds remaining with the fourth quarter.

Henry received the ball from the other player and dribbles it, positioning on the three-point line with only five seconds left on the shot clock. Before the opposing player could take the ball from him, he maintained his composure and drops the ball into the basket smoothly.

I shot up from my seat along with other people as we cheered for the victory of our team. His eyes were searching for mine and I quickly went down the bleachers to go to him.

I stopped halfway when my phone vibrated and fished it out from my pocket, it was Mom calling me. I directly went to go out of the gym but Henry followed me behind.

"Hey, we won," He softly says as he panted with a small smile placed on his lips, his whole body was sweaty, his hair sticking from his forehead which made him look like a little boy, I chuckled lightly and went to give him a tight hug quickly.

"I knew you could do it! I'm sorry though, my mom's calling me," I cheerfully say as I gave him an apologetic smile before I dropped down my arms and backed away. His smile faltered when he saw I was already about to leave.

"We'll celebrate another time, I promise!" I say before I turned my back on him, my smile falling off as I rushed my way home. I didn't want to see his saddened face when I left as I just disappointed him.

For god's sake, he just won and I just left him hanging. What a great timing.

Guilt started to crawl on me and I didn't know how to make it up to him.

My hands started to sweat as I slowly opened the door. I could already hear my Mom's voice from the outside and as I entered the house, her whole state was in a mess. She was talking with someone on the phone while she was in the kitchen.

She was wearing a dirty shirt and sweatpants, her hair was in disarray but she didn't care anymore. I couldn't even recognize her.

"Can't you lend me some money? Since when have you been greedy, Dave?" It was one of my uncles she was talking to. Her back was facing me and so, I stood there waiting for her to finish with her business.

"I'm only asking for a hundred dollars, can't you give me that?" Her voice growing louder with each word.

"Amy, gambling isn't doing you any good," I hear from her phone, my lips parted in shock.

That's why she wasn't going home. That's why she was selling all the stuff. That's why she gets mad out of nowhere and blames us instead.

She ended the call and threw her phone and coincidentally, it hit my knee before it dropped on the floor. She threw the pan and everything she could hold on to near her. The iron pan hitting my arm and I just watched as it clattered on the floor.

"Why didn't you prepare food for dinner here? Were you waiting for me to do it?" She lashes out as she gripped on my arm tightly. I stood there silent, I couldn't tell her that I chose to watch a basketball game instead.

I heard loud footsteps from the front door and followed with Kai appearing in the kitchen. His hair disheveled and his shirt crumpled, looking like he was also in a hurry getting home or he got into another argument with someone.

"Let go of Adeline," He muttered in a low voice. My eyes started to swell as I bit back my cries. I hated crying in front of my mother because she didn't like the sound of me crying. It annoyed her.

"You don't get to talk to me like that, Kaiden," She chuckles sarcastically.

"Have you lost your respect for your own mother?" She added, her grip on me tightened even more but then her gaze turned to me again and she wraps her hand on my neck.

She wrapped another hand on my neck and I struggled, I was gripping on her wrists but she had a strong hold on my neck and I couldn't breathe properly anymore.

Tears continuously falling from my eyes and I tried pushing her off but it didn't even do much until Kai went to her and pulled her from behind.

I gasped for air as soon as her hands left my neck. My fingers digging on my palm as I tried to grip on something.

"Get your fucking hands off me, Kaiden!" She growls as she tried resisting from his hold.

"Please go now, Dela," He shouts but my legs were too weak, my mom started to slap Kai's face but she held mom's hands to resist her again.

"Just fucking leave!" He insisted and so, I turned my back as I ran out of the house as fast as I could until my legs gave up.