chapter 16 - family matters
friday, 28/8/2020
Mai had just finished doing her nightly routines when she heard a yawn from the living room. Perplexed, she placed her brush on the vanity and approached the sound.
Kineta gazed down at Mai's little sister, Thalia, who peered up at him earnestly. His features showed great discomfort but Thalia didn't seem to be deterred.
"Thalia," Mai called out. Her little sister's gaze drifted onto her. Mai kept her composure even if the girl blushed, looking down timidly. "What are you doing here?"
Kineta watched their exchange silently, taking note of Mai's reactions.
"I wanted to meet you," she answered reluctantly.
"What did mom do to you this time?"
Thalia's brows furrowed. "Don't you want to meet me?"
"No. You came to my space without my permission."
Thalia flinched from Mai's cold tone, her form trembling slightly. "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter. You're coming home."
Suddenly, Mai felt small arms embracing her. "I don't want to come home now. Please, Mai."
Mai attempted to push her head away until she felt soft tears on the side of her hip. With an exhausted sigh, Mai accepted her request. "But you're sleeping on the sofa."
Kineta walked to the garden where Mai usually was. He had knocked on her door in the morning but when no one answered, he assumed that she already went ahead.
Suddenly, he saw a guy he wasn't familiar with approaching her. Perplexed, he leaned on the wall quite nearby as he watched silently.
He didn't seem to be the only bedazzled one since Mai also furrowed her brows at the sight of him and ceased writing.
"Are you Maia?" the guy asked with a clenched fist.
She nodded hesitantly. "Yeah."
"I'm Rod's cousin. My school was nearby and I wanted to meet you."
Mai tensed but kept her composure. "Why?"
"I'm sorry," he suddenly blurted out. "Things weren't doing so good in our family but it shouldn't justify for the things he did," he explained.
"Seth," someone called out. Kineta recognized the guy who kept on following Vivi around. Must've been Ruel.
"I can't speak in his place but he's sending him away," Seth went on. "And I have no place to tell you that you should forgive him but-"
Ruel pulled him away softly and took him away. "That's enough, yeah?"
Mai stared at their retreating form, cheeks sucked. "I didn't think she'd go this far."
Kineta walked to her, brows raised. "You should've asked me before coming to her. Makin a deal with Azli is like making a deal with the devil."
"I know that you wouldn't allow me."
"Who said?" Kineta prodded.
Azli quietened. "Everyone told me not to tell you."
"And you trusted them?" Kineta questioned, lips quirked when Mai blossomed, pouting slightly. "You probably told her to do whatever she wanted and she did. If you want to tell Azli to do something for you, then you should've set some boundaries."
"Isn't that common sense? To not go this far?" Mai stressed out.
"Azli lacks in common sense, unfortunately."
"I need to meet her, then," Mai grumbled, refusing to meet Kineta's gaze in shame.
Sensing her discomfort and feeling pitiful, Kineta decided to change the subject. "Where did Thalia go?" he asked, sitting next to her.
"I brought her home on the way to school."
"You're a little harsh with her, aren't you?"
Mai clicked her tongue. "Do you expect me to baby her? I don't want her to turn out spoilt."
Kineta chuckled as Mai went on writing hurriedly. "And how about your work? Are you considering to go back?"
"Yeah. I'd waste my money from paying rent if I keep this up," Mai said begrudgingly.
"As I said, just set some boundaries. If they don't follow them, threaten them to leave again."
"But what if it doesn't work?"
"It will."
"Fine. Don't meet me more than two times a week."
Kineta furrowed his brows. "What?"
Mai scowled, her cheeks reddened. "You said to learn how to set some boundaries."
He poked her shoulder. "Well, it won't work on me."
