Hide & Seek

Questions Questions

Now, I could  say that the air ceased its course. Everything  stalled in the unfamiliarity  of my question and pivoted hazy except him and me. Silence filled the atmosphere like in a funeral room. There was a sinister  chill around us, much strange than the intrinsic. My breath waiting to break free from the confines  of skin send a explosion down my veins as the thunder  shook the sky and a sudden  gust of wind shot at me. Even the  people on the  streets awaiting  the reaction to eventuate.

But nothing  of these happened. Nicholas gave me a tiny smile after a moment beat. "No, I didn't." I waited. "She was great. She was great in physics. She loved physics. More than dad."

"So, you take after your mom?"

He chuckled, nodding. "Apparently. She even got me lots books on physics, her studyroom is covered with all these books and theories, its sometimes creepy."

I couldn't  help but laugh that. "Wait, until you see my mothers, her obsession with her blog thing ...God."

He laughed, a supressed one then fell quiet as if bracing himself. "A year ago, after we found out about her illness, one night she.......just left."

I remained quiet. He was unfastening up to me in ways he never had. I didn't expect him to go deep within that he had to live all the misery all over again. Yes, I couldn't understand what he might have been feeling but the feeling of losing someone was not alien to me.

"We had a feast the previous evening, she read me a fairy tale to sleep," he chuckled at that and I smiled picturing Nicholas tucked in his bed with his mother beside him reading him fariy tales. Damn, if that's not adorable. "And the next morning she was gone."

Without thinking I blurted. "So, did she ran off to hills and became a vampire?"

"What?" Nicholas gaped at me.

"Well, you know, Stefan and Damon's mother did that."

He palmed his face. "Yeah, a bad decision and can you  please, stop watching these things with Eshani? You are going crazy."

"Hey, its fun. You should  try sometime."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

We crossed the street to my block and I asked. "Where did she go?"

He replied slowly. "The Santorium Of Eternal Disease." That rang some bells. God, I hate place. Its beautiful, all butterflies and flowers but, the shallows and gloominess with the nurses hounding us to try and smile and play and whatever. Nicholas heaved a deep sigh. "We heard from her doctor two months after she left." An ominous pause, like one before the storm. "She was.......dead."

I shut my eyes, blinking back the impending tears. Oh, no. Not again. I had worked months to control the tremors of heart. This sudden whams were not taking over me again. I gulped. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't, please."

I faced him. "Nicholas."

He stopped and turned to me. Eyes just as calm. "Let's face it, she was the most epic mother but she didn't tried when we most needed her to." He raised his hands in surrender and dropped them. "There may have been a way, but she didn't."

I opened my mouth. Could I defend her? I had no idea. I didn't even knew her. How was I suppose to? Instead I stuck with the most obvious question. "And you blame her?"

He pressed his lips. "Partly."

I shook my head. And I was a fool to even ask him about it. His countenance had changed since he began talking about his mother. Behind the calmness of his eyes was a trepedition ready to burst open and I got the feeling he'd rather be alone now. 

"When  did she...?"

"Last summer. May fifteen."

I blinked. "Oh. I'm  sorry."

He clicked his tongue. "Yeah.....I think thats enough  for today. Can we go, get a cupcake or something?"

He looked so hopeful  that I hated to to break it up to him.  "About that." I cleared my throat. "Listen, I'm  sorry. I've to go. Its late."

He glanced at his watch. "Is it?"

"Okay, then, bye." I waved a him walking backwards.

He tilted his head. "You  won't.... invite me in?"

I bit my lip. Hard. "I'll  see you on Saturday." And I ran until I was inside my safe abode. As soon as the door closed I ran to find Baba. He sitting in the leaving room, sipping tea. "Baba?"

He glanced up at me from his tea. "You back shona?"

I nodded. I was about to sit then I realised my root of haste and stood right back giving a strain to my legs. Damn! "Yep. Nevermind. Quick question. What was the name of my donor?"

He frowned at me "Why?"

No time for his questions. I needed my answers. "Just...tell me. Please.

He blinked. "I cannot remember."

I clenched my fist. Not helping. "Oh, Baba, try."

"Wait...."

"Oh, I remember," Maa called from the kitchen, then peeked through, "you even talked to her."

I frowned at her. "I did?"

"Yes. Though, you didn't know her name or anything..."

"What was the name?"

"Reya William."

Its a marvel I stopped myself from staggering. Next thing I needed was a doctor over my head with IV inside my veins. I nodded, a little stupfied then ran upstairs with my parents yelling, "hey, shona, you okay?"

"Yeah!" I yelled back as I burst into my bedroom and locked the door.

"Hey there girly, don't tell me your boy dumped you already, I will give him nightmares." Reya was at window, squinting at me from behind her fingers. She raised her brows.

I rolled my eyes at her. If anything. I just wanted it to be coincidence. My heart pounded as I dialed Miha's number. It was at the brink of breaking it felt like.

Miha answered on third ring. "Hey? Missed me already?"

I took a deep breath steadying my voice. "Yes. Anyway, what was the name of Nicholas's mother?" I asked her with my eyes at Reya. She had lavender patels wounded in her hair. I looked away.

I rubbed my head as Miha answered, "Why?" Something dropped on her side. She cursed and I figured her going through her makeup box. Really? Now?

"Why do people keep aksing me that?" I muttered and said to her. "Just tell me, will ya?"

"Wait. Jeez. Let me see...."

"You don't remember?" I narrowed my eyes at her. From the corner of my eyes I saw Reya had stilled on the windowshil.

"I do. Wait."

I waited. It's wasn't like I hadn't been already. God, I hate it.

A drop of moment later I heard her slaming something on the table. "Ah! I remember."

I braced myself for the impending apocaclyps if not anyhting. "What is it?"

"Reya William."