CHAPTER 5. GUESS WHO

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(Two days has passed since Mavis had an encounter with the bookkeeper, she doesn't trust him to be a descent man but rather suspicious and strange. But she can't let her thoughts cloud what was at hand, which was Jerry's health, she is so engrossed in her thoughts, that she doesn't notice the knock on the door, but as the knock got louder it gets her attention and she rushes to open the door)

MAVIS: (Surprisingly) Michael!

MICHAEL: Hey Mavis.

(They both get inside and keep taciturn for a While, but then Mavis speaks up)

MAVIS: What are you doing here?

MICHAEL: I heard what happened to Jerry, i don't really know the hospital he is admitted, so I came home to see you.

MAVIS: This incident is almost a week now, and you're just coming?

MICHAEL: I wanted to take the next flight immediately dad told me about it, but I was working on a project, so I couldn't make it on time.

MAVIS: You shouldn't even show yourself, you hardly speak with us after so many years and now you show up when something tragic happens?

MICHAEL: I'm sorry, but I came for your help.

MAVIS: What can I possibly help you with?

MICHAEL: (Sighs) I can't face mom now, cause I don't know how she'll react to seeing me.

MAVIS: Why should I possibly help you with that?

MICHAEL: I know we haven't been the best of friends let alone siblings, but overall we are still family.

(Mavis decides to take Michael to the hospital. They both keep there distances, but Mavis' taciturnity seems to bother Micheal so he tries to associate with her but she declines. They get to the hospital and alight from the car. They head for the ward which Jerry is admitted, but Micheal waits outside to buy himself sometime to get ready for his mother's reaction)

MARIA: Mavis, what are you doing here?

MAVIS: I just came to see you.

MARIA: Your siblings, are they okay?

MAVIS: Yeah mom they are, I just wanted you to meet someone.

MARIA: Who?

(Michael comes inside, and Maria stares at him confusedly)

MARIA: Micheal?

MICHAEL: Mom.

MARIA: How long has it been?

MICHAEL: two years, I guess, since I came back to check on Dad's health.

MARIA: Of course, What are you doing here?

MICHAEL: I came to see Jerry.

MARIA: You just came today?

MICHAEL: Mom I've been busy and I didn't know how you'll react to seeing me.

MARIA: Well as you can see he's in coma, so I suggest you leave, and run back to your father.

MICHAEL: But mom won't you…

MARIA: (Cuts in) leave!!!

(Micheal leaves the room with a heavy heart, and Maria sobs. Micheal goes to the reception room and sits, then Mavis comes to sit with him, and tries to cheer him up)

MAVIS: (Sighs) I heard you're a big man now.

MICHAEL: (Scoffs) No I'm not.

MAVIS: That car, it's yours right?

MICHAEL: Yeah it's mine, but I worked hard for it you know, I tried my very best to be in the position I am today.

MAVIS: Yeah I Know, so how's Dad?

MICHAEL: He's okay.

MAVIS: And the company you're working for?

MICHAEL: Fine too, but it can be stressful at times.

MAVIS: I figured, (sighs) look I'm sorry for the way I acted towards you earlier.

MICHAEL: It's okay, I get it, you think I don't care cause I don't call or text and we've been apart for a long time, but sometimes i try to make time to call but it's complicated, but I still don't

understand why my own mother would hate me so much.

(Tears gently rolls down his eyes and Mavis tries to console him)

MAVIS: It's okay Micheal, you shouldn't be hard on yourself. I miss how we played together when we were kids, the thought of it makes me cry, cause I know that we can't have such experiences again cause things has changed.

MICHAEL: yes but I still remember everything that happened that night like it was yesterday. It was my tenth birthday, you were eight and jerry was five, he was sleeping, but we were playing in the living room when we heard mom and dad arguing upstairs. I told you to stay while I checked what was going on, I went upstairs and heard the door slammed shut, dad came out furiously and told me to follow him to the car, but I bluntly refused, I cried and tried so hard to stay, but he grabbed me and locked me in the car…

MAVIS: (Cuts in) Then I came crying to see you, i reached out my arms to hold yours, but mom grabbed me from behind, and dad drove off, i watched you go away that night, and you never came home again, until now.

MICHAEL: that was my worst birthday, but I tried sending mails to you.

MAVIS: It took you so long to do that. You know, after you left and didn't try to reach us, Jerry started getting the wrong impression about you.

MICHAEL: I know he hates me, it's all my fault, I've always been egotistical after that day, it wasn't a nice experience for me though, getting separated from my family and loosing the love of my mother. Dad had to take me to England to study for years, so basically I've been all alone ever since, so i made there my home, and I'll be going back to England on Thursday, i don't have much time but I hope we resolve our indifference as a family.

MAVIS: I hope we keep in touch after you leave.

MICHAEL: We will, more than ever.

MAVIS: But please don't say jerry hates you, cause I know deep down he doesn't, you're his big brother I know he loves and misses you so, let's pray he makes it out alive so you can show him how much you love him too.

MICHAEL: Yeah you're right, I've missed our cuddles, but it's actually kinda funny, after the incident, four years later dad invited mom over for dinner, and then after that night she got pregnant and gave birth to twins. I actually thought things would get better then, but unfortunately it made things worse.

MAVIS: yeah it did, but the twins are actually awesome.

MICHAEL: (Chuckles) sure? well, when dad told me that mom was pregnant, I was still in England and I couldn't call mom so I let everything slide, and I don't even know their names till today (sighs)

MAVIS: Don't be hard on yourself, if you wanted to know their names you could have just asked me.

MICHAEL: Ok, well Can you tell me their names?

MAVIS: Sure, Henry and anita.

MICHAEL: Wow nice names, and I presume they are the reason you were at home earlier right?

MAVIS: Exactly, oh they must be hungry by now, so we should probably get going home.

MICHAEL: And mom, is she gonna come with us?

MAVIS: No She'll be back later in the evening, or maybe in the morning.

MICHAEL: Ok so let's get going then.

(Maria comes outside and See's them both)

MARIA: Micheal! What are you still doing here?

MICHAEL: I….

MAVIS: (cuts in) He's taking me home.

MARIA: He's not going into my house.

MAVIS: Our house, mom!!

(Maria stares at Mavis and gets back inside. While Mavis and Michael leaves the hospital and heads home)

AT INN

(Rho wakes up with bandages on most parts of his face and chest).

RHO: (Coughs) what happened?

MAZE: You we're beaten to a pulp, that's what happened.

RHO: But did we win?

CYKO: You won the semifinals but almost lost the match, so I volunteered to fight for you, so technically, I won.

RHO: (Groans) But that can't be possible, I had him.

MAZE: You had nothing, the last opponent could beat you even with his eyes closed.

KUVLAD: But we won right?

CYKO: I won, I was declared winner.

RHO: I felt different back there, I did things I only dreamt of doing.

CYKO: That's the power of INN, here you can be Whatever and whoever you want to be.

MAZE: You both have a lot to learn.

RHO: Then I guess we have a lot of time to do that.

AT HOME

(They both get home, and mavis prepares a decent meal for them all, She then tries to introduce Micheal as their elder brother to the twins, but they get confused, and heads for the food. After the meal, Micheal keeps them company and they all have a great time he did these hoping their mom would be back early for him to head back home. But unfortunately she doesn't come back, so he sleeps over.

THE NEXT DAY

(Micheal wakes up and gets ready to go back home to his dad. Mavis and the twins sees him off, they all give him a big hug, then he leaves. He first heads to the hospital to see his mom)

AT THE HOSPITAL

(Michael goes to Jerry's ward and finds his mom sleeping on the chair beside him, he keeps the food stuffs he bought on his way to the hospital on the table, he gently kisses his mother's forehead, he smiles and leaves, but then his mom wakes up..)

MARIA: Micheal!

(He stops)

MICHAEL: Mom, i just wanted to let you know that I'm going back to dad, and I'll be leaving finally for England on Thursday.

MARIA: But that's just two days from now.

MICHAEL: Yes mom, (he pauses for a while) i don't know why you hate me, maybe because I remind you of the man that left you with his responsibilities, I just want to say I'm sorry for what happened to Jerry and I'm sorry if I brought you pain, bye.

(He turns and walks through the door. He walks down the hall and leaves, but then he hears a shout from behind...)

Micheal!!

(He turns and See's his mother running towards him with tears in her eyes, she hugs and holds him tight, he stands confused for some seconds because he has never felt his mother's warm hug for a very long time, then She says with tears in her eyes "i can never hate you, I'm just angry at the problems our family is going through, but i can't hate you, you are my son" he smiles and hugs his mom passionately, then his mom slowly retreats her arms and says "goodbye son, be safe" this made him cry not knowing when next he'll see his mom or his siblings he has long lost. He delays a little bit and then hug's his mother the second time and gets into his car, Maria waves at him, then he drives off).

TO BE CONTINUED