Joan stood in front of the school's clinic door, glaring at it. Koty was in there and also his latest bodyguards; Francis, Beck and Jude. Koty was fine, he had come to the clinic for something and she found out and followed him. She had to speak to him whether his friends wanted her to or not; they weren’t his parents.
The door opener and Beck stepped out first. His calm look changed to an accusing one when his eyes met hers and he glared daggers at her, stopping his movement.
“I have to speak to him.” She spoke regardless, arms folded. It seemed like Koty was directly behind him because he turned back and said,
“Colton, no. You’re not speaking to this girl.”
“This girl has a name.” she interrupted rudely, her frown increasing.
“Yeah.” Beck turned back to her and eyes her, “But I don’t feel like using it.”
Someone snickered from behind, Francis.
“Koty.” She called out, “I know you’re there. I need to talk to you.”
No response.
“See.” Beck mocked, his arms spread out for emphasis, “He doesn’t want to speak with you.”
“Koty.” She called out again, ignoring Beck, “Please come out, let’s talk. This isn’t helping at all.”
“You’re the one who’s not helping.” Beck snapped, “You broke his heart and caused him to have an attack and then you just sat there dumbly, what if we had not been there?”
She became angry upon hearing his words.
“Sat there dumbly!?” she blurted out angrily, “I was caught off guard! I've never felt with a situation like that before. I didn’t even know he was asthmatic plus I didn’t break his heart. I clearly stated my reasons for declining; was I supposed to have accepted out of pity?”
Beck sstare at her without saying a word.
“You know what?” she asked, dropping her arms down, “Its fine. Koty, it’s really fine. You can keep standing behind the door, hiding behind your dear friends when you know what really happened. I’m sorry if I hurt you, it wasn’t intentional but you’re the one acting like a baby now, making me feel like the guilty one. I had no idea you were asthmatic and that intends emotions could trigger it, I’m sorry. You can choose to remain behind the door like a coward. That’s exactly what you’re acting like, a coward. This isn’t the boy who walked up to me and was offered me food because he saw I didn’t eat; this isn’t the boy who stares and smiles at me boldly even when caught; this isn’t the Colton Adams I know. What I see now is a coward and I don’t deal with cowards.”
She stomped off.
Koty didn’t walk up to her to apologize as she had expected and it made her even more furious; after her lengthy speech. She was more angry at his friends than she was at him; perhaps they had talked him off apologizing to her.
Perhaps the heartbreak was too much for him to handle and he needed time to heal. She would give him his space, it was for both their own good. It hurt her that he was avoiding her, he was someone she admired. Whenever he was ready, she'd gladly befriend him again.
She became worried when she didn’t see him for the rest of the school day but calmed down when she noticed his friends also weren’t in school.
Sisi surprisingly left school early that fay. To her benefit since she didn’t have to trek.
“I’m surprised.” She told Sisi as they drove home. Sisi laughed. She seemed more happy than usual.
“Before you ask.” Sisi spoke up quickly as she opened her mouth. She shut it back.
“The big deal.” Sisi continued, “My parents are back home!”
They both squealed.
“Seriously!” she exclaimed, “That’s great!”
“Yeah.” Sisi smiled happily, “After six months… Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long.
“Me too.” She chuckled, “I can’t imagine living alone. It’s weird.”
“Its fun.” Sisi interjected, “I get to do whatever I want whenever I like, go wherever I want whenever I like, bring in whomever I want whenever I like… but I miss them anyway and I’m glad they’re back.”
Sisi's parents were out in the porch waiting when they neared their residence. Sisi squealed, bouncing on her seat. As soon as the car entered into the driveway, Sisi jumped out without switching off the engine and ran into her parents waiting arms. Joan made to switch off the engine but realized she didn’t know the first thing about operating a car so she left it still running and stepped out.
“Joan!” Sisi’s father, Mr. Knorway, called out, beckoning unto her. He was a nice man, quite the opposite of Sisi and her mother in behaviour. They were all nice and friendly but Sisi’s mother was just like Sisi and encouraged Sisi's loose behaviour.
“Good afternoon, sir.” She greeted, coming up to them.
“Oh my darling!” Sisi’s mother, Mrs. Knorway, cooed, pushing Sisi away, hugging her next. She laughed, catching Sisi’s frown.
“Mum, I’m your daughter! Me first!” Sisi protested.
“Daughters get old, I need new ones.” Mrs. Knorway replied.
They laughed.
“How are you?” Mrs. Knorway asked beaming when she released her.
“Fine, Mrs. Knorway.”
“Oh… call me Jenny.” Mrs. Knorway waved her off.
But they all knew she wouldn’t. First names or nicknames didn’t go down well with her when calling elders. When they asked her to, she purposely avoided saying their names at all.
Mr. Knorway tugged at her cheek.
“You look so grown up.” He exclaimed, “Six months and you’re already adults.”
“Its remaining a year, dad.” Sisi informed, after recovering from her sulking phase.
Lengthy banter and lots of laughter they ventured into the Knorway’s home. She stayed with them and ate dinner with them before going over to her house. Checking her ohonet when she got to her room, she saw she had three missed calls from King. She called him back, fourvtimes, he didn’t pick up. She dropped her phone in the bedside table, deciding to call him later.
She dropped unto her bed, sighing. Watching Sisi being happy at her parents arrival had made her happy and also watching Mr. Knorway’s caring attitude towards his wife and daughter.
It had made her wish for hers, her father.
She didn’t know anything about her father, not even one detail. She had no memories of him. She had never asked her mother of him in the past because she has not been curious. Now she was curious, very curious. Was her father dead? That was the ultimate question on her mind.
Her relatives. She was also curious. Didn’t she have one? Does it mean her mother didn’t have any sibling? Parents? Family friends? Cousins, neices? It was hard to believe. All her memories of a family began and ended with her mother, it felt strange.
She was old enough even if she wasn’t eighteen, she was old to know about her family and find them if she had to. She wanted some other connection to family other than her mother.
She wanted to enjoy a father's love too like Sisi.
She wanted to have grand parents and grand relatives, uncle’s and aunts and neices and nephews that came over for Christmas and thanksgiving like Selena. If possible, she wanted to have little siblings too like Keisha.
She would ask her mother when she returns. She would find out why they always lived alone and what secrets her mother guarded do carefully and then she would unravel them ,one after the other.
She would find her family.