A Problem Child

"He's worried sick."

Those words kept replaying in my head. It kept repeating itself over and over again.

Today's Monday right? I left the house on Saturday night.

Why is he worried sick?

I'm at the bus station sitting, waiting for the bus, but I know my mind wasn't really on alert. The bus could come and leave, and I wouldn't know.

And now my twin thinks I have a problem. Two actually.

One, I keep running away from my problems, and two. I have this theory that with mom dead, we can't live our lives.

His words, not mine.

I sigh again and bring out my phone. My fingers hover on my dad's contact before I take a deep breath and tap it.

It rings and at first I thought he wasn't going to answer the call, but he does at the last ring.

"Hey sweetie." He says, his voice a little strained.

I look at the phone in confusion before bringing back to my ear.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask in concern.

"No, everything's fine. Everything's alright. What's up?"

I sigh. "Nothing...I-I-" I sigh again. "Can we meet up?"

"Sure sure sure." He says quickly. "The cafe near my office?"

"Sure." I nod. "I'll be there soon."

Guess there's a change in destination.

.....

Thirty minutes later, I was standing in front of the cafe. Suitcase in one hand, and my school bag in another.

I don't know why I was nervous.

Probably because my dad and I never fight. And whenever we do, it's always about mom.

And I'm always the cause of the fight.

Wow.

I chuckle to myself.

"I really do have a problem don't I?" I ask myself.

"Alex?" I turn to see my dad approaching the cafe. His steps falters when he sees the suitcase beside me.

"Dad?" I look at him before looking at the entrance of the cafe, then back at him. "I thought you were in there." I point to the building behind me.

he scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah, I was in a meeting when you called, so I just rounded it up."

Oh work.

"Wanna go in?" He quickly changes the subject.

I glance at the entrance again, staring at it for a moment before I turn back to him.

I shake my head. "I need a ride to Mia's."

"Sure sure." I follow him back to his office then to the underground parking lot. "You need help with the case?"

I shake my head. "It's fine, I got it."

After some minutes of walking, we reach his car and I enter. He's about to start the engine when I speak up.

"Am I a problem child?" His hands immediately leave the start button.

"What?"

I chuckle and stare outside the window. "Your son says I have a problem."

"He what?"

I turn my gaze to my hands. "He thinks I have this problem of running away from my problems. When I-" I pause. "When I face any hurdle, I immediately run." I give out a short laugh. "It's funny because it's true."

"Alexis."

"We just had a major fight. I feel he's mad at me about everything." I glance at him and smile. "He thinks I have this theory that without mom, we can't live our lives."

"What?" He looks astounded.

Even I was astounded.

"I can't blame him though." I continue. "Each time there's a major fight in the house, it's because of me. Majorly because of me. And it's always about mom." I add.

"But you know something dad?" I sniff.

Here the tears are again.

"It's not like I'm against your happiness. It's not like I don't want you to be truly happy, but..... it's hard." I sniff again. "It's been five years. Five years without her in our lives. Five years, then you come out saying you have someone you want to marry is-" I pause.

I couldn't voice out my thoughts anymore. I couldn't voice them out because I felt choked with emotions. Emotions I couldn't comprehend or understand. Emotions that felt foreign.

Mr Dalton doesn't say anything. Instead, he grabs me and pulls me in for a hug. A warm hug.

And that breaks the dam.

I let it all out.

He softly pats my back as I cry on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to say I understand you, because we all have different ways to how we feel. But honey one thing I do know is that I'd never ever replace your mom." He tries to explain. "I can't even imagine replacing her."

"You may think I'm leaving her just like that after five years, but it isn't the case. At all. I remember her so vividly like we met just yesterday. Your mom is always with me, and she'll always be with me okay? Nothing or no one, not even Tessa," I chuckle at that. "Can change that okay?" He says and I nod.

I pull away. "Thanks."

He gives me a big smile. "And about your brother, I'm going to have a word with him. No one calls my princess a problem child." He pats my hair and I laugh.

"It's fine dad. I did see a little reasoning in what he said."

"Even though. But will you guys be okay?" He asks, his expression suddenly serious. "You never fight."

"I'm sure we'll get through it." I sigh. "We should."

"I'm sorry I'm the cause of all this." He apologies.

I nod. "Yes you are at fault." I agree.

"Guilty." He laughs.

"But-" I continue. "You found happiness again after five years. I can't really blame you. I blame your heart." I point at his chest and he laughs again. "And I'm not yet cool with the fact that you have someone you like already, but at least the tension between us has cooled down."

"And I'm grateful for that." He smiles. "Ah that reminds me. Are you still staying at Mia's?"

I nod. "Yeah. I told you her parents are out of town for the week."

"So they are? I thought you used that as an excuse."

I gasp.

"Do you also think I run away from my problems??!!!!"

"I don't think you run away, I just think you like to give yourself space to think and-"

"Dad!!!"

"But it's a good thing right?" He quickly adds. "You always come back home and things always get sorted out."

"I can't believe you also think I have that problem." I mutter.

"It's alright kid. Problems always have solutions right?" He smiles and I roll my eyes.

"Before I drop you off at Mia's, have dinner with your old man?" He asks. "I won't see you for a week you know."

"Two." I correct him.

"What?"

I hold up two fingers. "It's two weeks."

He stares at it for a moment before glancing up at me. "Two weeks?"

I nod. "Yeah. I wanna stay an extra week. Can I?" I ask and he nods.

"Sure you can. But promise to come over for dinner during the weekend."

"Dad.." I whine.

"It's just that." He puts his hands up in surrender. "It's just that."

I roll my eyes. "Fine."

He smiles and ruffles my hair. "Great." He starts the engine of his car. "What should we have for dinner?"

"Chinese." I say instantly and he laughs.

"Chinese it is!!!" He repeats.v