She Came Back

{ARMANDO}

If it wasn't for the fact that yesterday I didn't have my morning run, I would have been in my bed sleeping, well not really sleeping, but wishing I could get even a little tiny amount of sleep.

I didn't want to use the gym in our house because I am sure my father would have come and ask me how the therapy went yesterday. I didn't want to talk about it, not that I want to talk to anyone about anything.

But knowing my father he will force me to tell him how it went, after all, he is the one paying for the session, not that I asked him to.

Anyways, the breeze outside here is refreshing and I don't regret it.

"Armando."

"Jesus!" I yelp at the call of my name. I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't even realize that I have company.

"Jeez! Armando relax, it is me. Arthur? Arthur Jaime?"

"Way to go, Arthur, why don't you tell me your second name? I don't think I know it."

"I am Arthur, Arthur... Wait, what? You don't know my second name?" Arthur asked me.

"Jeez! Arthur, relax, it is me, Armando. Armando McKnight."

"Haha, very funny," Arthur tells me and I smile at him.

If it was any other person I would have asked them to go away but since it is Arthur I can't do that, he is like a brother to me and I haven't seen him in a long time and I know he has been meaning to talk to me.

Talking?

"Argh!" I sigh as we continue our jog, "you alright?" Arthur asks me and I nod. I can't tell him I have sighed because I am thinking of how much I hate talking.

"Yes, you? How are you doing Arthur?" I ask him if there might not be the perfect time for us to have this conversation.

"Oh, I am fine. I missed you, I heard you arrived but…"

Don't hate me but as soon as Arthur said the second you, I had to cut him off, I know what he is going to ask and I don't want to answer him or anyone if the question related to me, the only thing I wanted at that moment was to hear about him and not him asking me how I am or how I was or how I will be.

But what am I supposed to tell him to make sure the focus is back to him and him alone?

Arthur looks up to me and I don't want to say something to disappoint him. He has been like that since he was born and since I have not been there for half of his life I don't want to make him feel bad.

"Arthur, how is your dad doing?" I ask him and he smiles at me, at least the question will give me a moment to come up with something else.

He stares at me and his face shines, "he is fine, at least he is going out. I am happy he is doing that." Arthur looks at me and I give him a sad smile.

Mr. Jaime had been closed off since his wife died and I think it is good for him he has decided it is time to move on, and I am happy for him and glad that Arthur too is happy too that his father is moving on.

"Nowadays, he is not that focused on his work alone as he used to be. And I think mother and father have helped that a lot especially your father because sometimes whenever he goes out he takes him."

I smile at the way he refers to my parents as father and mother.

"That is good, what does mom do?" I ask him and he starts laughing.

"Oh, mother? since he saw that dad was ready, he started mentioning the names of her female friends, I wish you to see how my father reacts to that. I will ask mother to bring it up during dinner so you can see for yourself."

I chuckle too, my mother is like that and I would love to see Mr. Jaime's reaction whenever my mother says one of her friends' names. Wait a minute did Arthur just say, dinner?

"Arthur, dinner?" I ask him and I hope I heard it wrong.

We are still jogging and I think Arthur was done with it, so he looked around and when he saw a bench he walked to it, and since he hasn't told me about the dinner thingy I decide to follow him.

Sitting down he grins at me and says, "yesterday, after you left, mother said we need to eat together breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Uh?" I can't think of any other answer, is my mother crazy or what? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oh, hell no.

This is why after I came back I didn't inform any of them till I was ready and now that I am here they think I have just arrived from my duty, and my mother wants to kill me with his idea of us eating together.

"Yeap. And she said if one of us missed we will face her wrath. And if you miss you will have to send her a text or something."

"Dad agreed to that?" I ask surprised that dad would agree to that, "yeah!"

I look at him surprised how did my father agree to that? He is always busy with work, and…

"Oh, I know what you are thinking. Mother said if possible we can go to a restaurant next to our company."

I look away, how am I going to get away from this?

"She even called my dad and tell him it was also mandatory to him."

Way to go, mom.

We sat there silent for about five minutes I look at Arthur and I find him already looking at me, "what?" I ask and he looks away. I don't ask again because I know what he will ask, it is the question I fear and hate the most, "are you okay?"

"Hey, Arthur why don't we go out today and you can tell me what you have been up to?" I tell him and he looks at me and smiles happily.

"Yes, I always want to do that with you. Party, and party and, some girls and, some…" He stops when I shake my head at him.

"No?" He asks.

"No!" I tell him shaking my head.

"Okay then, see you later?" He asks me and when I nod he stands and leaves me there.

I stare at him as he jogs back home. When I can't see him anymore I look down while holding my head with my palm. I feel sleep coming and I welcome it, I don't care if it is on the bench, I would love to sleep. But then luck is not on my side, my phone rings, I take it out of my pocket and see it is my father.

I pick it up and wish to scream at him for disrupting the sleep I really need.

"Armando where in the world are you? Your therapist is here. You need to get back here, now."

"She came back?"

"Wasn't she supposed to? Did you figure it all out after only one session? Get back here, now!"

The call ends and I look at the phone and shake my head, my dad still commands me and I don't know for how long I am going to take it from him, it is not like I am still a teenager, but do they say, we are still our parent's babies even if we are old enough to be called parents ourselves.

I sigh and stand up. I have to go or else my dad will send Mr. Jaime to come to pick me up, and whenever Mr. Jaime is in business mode, I don't want to cross his path.