SOLACE

twenty-nine

       It's been three days since I've been back and forth to the hospital and to our house. I missed some classes but I couldn't leave Kai alone even though he insists I go to school. Henry wondered where I've been and I told him I was taking care of Kai in the hospital which, he understood immediately and didn't ask anymore.

Today, he was allowed to be discharged and let him rest at home. That's when I agreed I would go to school the next day. I just wanted to make sure it was safe to leave him alone.

Our mother still wasn't going home. We assumed she just returned to her old habits and I have no idea where she even gets the money. We didn't even try to contact her because it was the best for us if she didn't know anything that's happening right now.

"Are you still going to sell drugs, Kai?" I asked him when I helped him up to his room.

"It's what sustains our needs, Adeline," He replied without looking at me as he fixed the things in his room.

"It's not safe to continue doing this forever. Look what it just did to you,"  I reprimanded.

"So, you'd rather much have nothing than let me do this? I thought you'd understand me by now," He scoffed.

"I do understand but I'd rather have you alive and we'll both make this work," I countered. He slumps down to his bed as he glares at me.

"After graduation, I'm going to look for a full-time job. For now, I'll still continue with my part-time and this. I'll just stick to my regulars," He mutters, looking away at me.

I didn't argue anymore because I knew he already made up his mind. 

His right eye was still closed and has reduced its swelling but the dark bruise is still there. His stitches were still healing and might still open if he's not careful. The doctor recommended him to regularly to change the gauze bandage over his stitches. 

That night, after we just ordered our dinner, we were both at the patio. We seated at the two lawn chairs we had outside. He was smoking and I was drinking vodka. We were just quiet but of course, I broke the silence.

"Have you tried using drugs?" I asked hesitantly, afraid that he will get mad at me for asking stupid questions.

"No, have you seen me use it?" He scowled.

"I was just curious. Why don't you use them?" I asked again as I took a sip on the glass.

"Because I only sell them," He retorted like I was that dumb that I even asked about it.

"Is it safe to take it?" I timidly asked.

"Nobody died using what I sold them, nobody is suing me. They're still alive and buy regularly from me. Does that answer your question?" He arches his brow at me as he took a drag from his cigarette.

"Not that I'm going to tell everybody but may I ask if we're still going to hide the fact that we're related?" I followed up.

"We're already graduating. Why don't we just keep it that way?" He retorts, sounding annoyed. 

I huffed and tilted my head to look up the sky instead as I finished the vodka in my glass. The strong taste of alcohol and its warmth drawing in my throat as I squeezed my eyes shut.

       I dropped my bag on the counter as soon as I returned home from school. Henry dropped me off at my house and we also had a quick breakfast before going to school. I also got to update Cali and Franco what happened when I didn't go to school and it made me realize that I'm so thankful to have the most understanding friends I could ever have. 

Cali helped me catch up with the classes that I missed and Franco guided me in finishing the other stuff I needed to do. Considering I wasn't even gone that long but it was a lot of help already. 

I never got the chance to ask Henry if we're already dating, I think it's important for me to confirm where our relationship stands because, in this generation, relationships have lost its value. I mean we've admitted to each other our feelings, isn't it the next step? 

I suddenly didn't have a clue how a relationship works. I didn't want to overthink it, as long as I'm happy with him.

I knocked on Kai's room and opened it when he didn't respond. I saw him sitting at the edge of his bed, he had his shirt off as he was applying the gauze on his stitches.

"Have you taken your meds?" I asked as I leaned on the door and holding the knob on my left hand.

"Why are you home early?" He mutters, completely disregarding my question without glancing at me.

"Uh, to help you?" I slowly answered.

"I can handle myself. You don't have to go early just to take care of me," He sternly says.

"Just let me do this. You don't have to thank me," I countered as I rolled my eyes even though he's not looking at me. 

He puts on a shirt after putting the bandage and he stands up to fix the stuff he used.

I go out of his room quietly and went to my room to change my clothes. I waited until it was dinner when I decided to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner. As I prepared the ingredients, I heard stumbling in our front door. When I peered from the kitchen, I saw it was Mom.

I pretended I didn't see her yet when he came into the kitchen and saw me. She looked like a disaster. She had dark bags under her eyes, her red lipstick was smudged and her hair was very oily. She was wearing a sequined tank top with jeans and I'm really wondering where did she come from just now.

"Good, you're cooking dinner. Make it good, Adeline! The last time you cooked, it almost killed me," She demands with a tight-lipped smile on her lips before leaving.

My stiffened body only relaxed when she left the kitchen, she looked like she also had a drink and I'm really starting to worry about what she's doing to herself.