I slapped myself again. My lips were apart, my eyes glued on the dark sky and stars. My forehead was placed on top of the steel railing, and my hair being blown by the wind.
Words from last night were still etched on my mind. That night, Auton made me more confused as hell. He told me the same thing, but what surprised me the most is that I am still holding on to his words.
I admit that I've been hurt by the sight of him with another woman, and I know by then, that I am starting to like him. I am just not that convinced that I am easily attracted to a man when the only thing I knew about him is his physical appearance.
I sighed. Maybe I will just wait for a sign, then. If he continues in pursuing me even after telling me that he was confused...then maybe I can loosen up a bit.
For now, I think I will visit my brother.
"What brings you here?" The irritative voice from the witch partner of my Aunt welcomed my ears the moment I opened the door of our house.
I wouldn't have visited this place, only if Terren calls me from time to time. I would've stayed in my place and never bother to even check our own house.
I chose to ignore her, pretending that I wasn't able to hear nor see where she is. I can see the fat, old woman with thick lips and overdrawn brows right from my peripheral vision and I swear, the sight of it makes me wanna puke.
I shook my head and internally slapped my cheek. I shouldn't judge people just because I hate them. It's not right. I reapproached to myself.
I drag my foot towards the kitchen and searched for a pitcher o water.
"Where have you been all these days? Your Aunt is searching for you! You are no longer doing your responsibilities here! What do you expect from me? Clean this whole house every day while you are outside with–"
"Can you stop blabbering garbage? Annoying." With my already short patience, I forcibly put the glass down and wiped the leftover water on my upper lip, rolling my eyes as I carried my bag towards our old room.
"Terren!" I unzipped my bag and searched for the new shirt and some food that I bought for him. My heart was pounding loudly. The thought of seeing my younger brother after being away for three weeks makes me jubilant.
In my happiest and most cheerful voice, I called, "Terren!"
I opened the old, doorknob and entered the dirty room. Clothes are scattered all over the place, the bedsheets were all crumpled and put in the middle of the dirty foam.
"Terren?"
"Terren is not here. He didn't go home for days, he's probably in his friend's house, doing illegal things. Probably sniffing weeds?"
My smile faded when I heard the witch's voice. I turned my head towards the door and found her leaning against the wall. Her arms were crossed on her chest, her tongue touching the side of her cheeks, making a small bump.
I hissed.
Coming from the mouth of a dirty woman. I shook my head and decided not to fight with her.
I opened my phone and typed a text for Terren.
Tayla:
Where are you? I'm at home. I have things for you.
"What are the things inside that bag? Must be food. Don't be so selfish and let those things be with us. It's not like your brother is starving–"
"Can you move aside? I'm going out." I rolled my eyes and walk to her side, totally ignoring her remarks.
Not starving it is.
"You just moved out of this house and you are now looking so highly of yourself!" I heard her fast footsteps behind me, but I just shook my head and slammed the door as hard as I could, making a loud thud, and making sure that she would be startled enough to be more furious.
She kept on mustering things when she can't even afford to look through herself in the mirror.
How did she know that Terren is doing something illegal? Of all people, I know Terren the most. He wouldn't do something like that.
Maybe she kept on telling him those words, the reason why he didn't come home.
"Terren!" I stood up after being quiet for about an hour. After I left that house, I chose to just make him meet me here in the park. It was not too far from home, but I guess, he wouldn't want to see the witch.
Terren's skin tone became darker. His face was so thin, and his hair was longer than what it was before. I felt another pang in my chest.
Here I have been living in a good unit, with someone who's giving me food even when I don't need it...while my brother is probably in deep pain while trying to endure hunger.
I went to him. He was inches taller than me, even when I am older. Reminds me that he was growing so fast and that he is getting older.
"Terren, where did you go? You are not answering my texts, you're not even calling me..." I gulped. Seeing him right now in this state is again, tearing my heart into millions of pieces.
"I am Ryan's house, I don't want to see Helen." My eyes dropped at his arm. With my shaking hands, I felt how dry and thin my brother was. His skin was unhealthy, his lips are chappy, and his cheekbones more defined.
A tear fell from my eye.
"I told you, you can just go with me on my unit. You can eat and sleep there with no much hardships. I will work for both of us, you can study well..." In the most convincing voice I can make, I uttered.
Mom and Dad will probably get angry at me if they will see Terren in this state.
"Ate, my answers are the same. I will not sleep in our house and that dirty, storage room but I will still go home. I will never give them the full rights of my parent's properties. Never."