Ehaan and Azaiah were talking about worldly things that they were fascinated about. They are in his father's house, drinking tea. The woman beside his father during dinner was Ehaan's step mother. She's looking at the two. She was eyeing Azaiah.
She put her cup on the table. Azaiah's eyes drifted from Ehaan and it went to her. She wanted to give compliments on how proficient Ehaan's mother is when she placed the teacup back on the table.
“You're a lovely girl.” She told her that.
She smiled at her. Always lovely. She's been thinking about that words and she's been receiving it a lot. But then she remembered how she cannot trust compliment these days.
The woman nodded. As if she remembers something. She took another sip of the tea. She looked back on Azaiah.
“You should stay out of the mess.” She told her. She wasn't able to say it cleary.
“Mother.” Ehaan told her.
The woman smiled. “I'm glad you're calling me that now.” Her eyes were beaming. Her smile went to appear back on her face. And the light in her expression were on the glow.
“Your friend here needs to be very careful these days. You don't want to get tangled into things that you don't need to get tangled in the first place.” Her eyes went on Azaiah.
"Mother. Please.” Ehaan interrupted.
“She needs to know, son.” The woman said calmly with an articulated expression.
The flavor disappear and what once a delectable muffin on Azaiah's eyes doesn't looked that luscious for her to take a taste. Her taste bud went bland. She knew what Ehaan's mother is talking about. And it's about Galen's family!
Galen's father was involved in a crime and is charge of embezzlement. She knew about the news. And she had this puzzling opinion about this matter. She doesn't know whether she'll believe it or not. But it's Galen's father after all. She remembered the days of their interaction. She push the judgment she had in her head about him. She shouldn't think about it that much. It's not her concern.
———
Galen started to talk to his father about what happened. But he wasn't answering him and instead he stared at his son with a sense of proudness in his gaze.
He then opened his mouth. “That's why I was preparing you.” He finally answered him.
His eyes widened. “Are you going to be detained?” He asked him if he's going to jail.
His father just smiled and pat him in his shoulders. He didn't dismiss his question. And he left his son without saying anything.
Galen stated at the silhouette of his father who disappeared from his sight. He never fulyk understand the situation and he wanted to ask about it to his father but he didn't answer him.
He then touched his jaw, cupping it with a bit of force as he felt the tension that is building on it. He then walk towards the door and proceeded to go and check his mother.
He reached towards the room where she is in. He took a slight peak to see how she is.
Galen saw his mom looking like a wrecked.
Her eyes were puffy, under eyes were black. Her hair is ruffly scattered. She was pacing back and forth. Her eyes then passed the door and there she sees Galen. She hurriedly went to her son.
“She'll never going to get you.” She was staring at her son. “My baby.” She puts her hands on her face. “You're my baby.” She pulled him in an abrupt hug. “And you'll always stay by my side.” She was grabbing unto him tightly.
Galen stood there. He made taps on her back and lightly hugging her back. He can sense the fear she has. He's worried about his mom's behavioral problems.
———
Azaiah was getting ready. She was happily packing her lugages.
Ehaan smiled when he saw her. He doesn't had such experience like this that someone looked happy even for the fact she's leaving.
His eyes went to how big the luggage was. “Do you really want to bring them all? Isn't that a bit too much? What if your luggage burst?” He asked her.
Azaiah throwing her tee on his face. "Oh shut up, Ehaan. I can carry them all.”
Ehaan chukled in return and folded the clothe that Azaiah threw at him.
Gentle knocks came from the door. There stood Amelia. She's holding a tray, bringing them food for them to snack on. Amelia was smiling at them.
Azaiah and Ehaan exchanging glances.
Her mother continued smiling. "I'll leave this here for you too eat. This dessert is a bit too sweet. But I don't have to worry about you two gettinv a toothache or shall I?”
They both smiled at her. Their eyes went back to each other and both shook their head at Amelia.
Amelia's smile never leave off her face after seeing the way the two were acting. “I'll leave you two here.”
Ehaan after going straight to eat the candied fruit stared at Azaiah. “What do you want to do here for once last time?” He asked her.
Azaiah started thinking. She did tried to do all the stuffs she's been wanting to do. But then something came in her mind that made her eyes bigger. “I just want to say goodbye to a friend.” She answered at him.
Ehaan stilled and looked at her gently. “Him?” His eyes were making teasing gazes at her.
Azaiah shaking her head. “I'm not planning on meeting him. It's Cloud. I want to see him.”
Ehaan smiled. He immediately get his phone out of his pocket and waved it at her. "I'll call him.”
They met Cloud. She wanted to bid her friend a goodbye. She hugged him tightly and said her thank you to him. On how great he was as a friend.Cloud was not saying anything but he was just hugging her. He was silent until Azaiah heard him silently trying to conceal his sobbing.
She pulled herself back from the hugged and grasp his face.
“Cloud. You're making me cry too.” She's trying to stop herself from crying.
Ehaan's eyes were a bit wet as he stared at them.
“I'll miss you.” Cloud uttered. He looked at her with a sad expression. He went back pulling her back into the hug.
““I'll be back. I'll try to give you a call you everyday.” Azaiah assured her. She can do it. She can give him calls. She can talk to him and check him when she's away. She doesn't want to go and be uncommunicative towards a friend that has been a good one towards her.
Cloyds face lit up. “Really?” His lively expression took over the sad face that was on display a while ago. He handed her his pinky. “Promise?”
“I promise.” She was candid in her words. Sincerity flashed her eyes. She then intertwined her pinky finger to him.