I KNOW IT ALL

Kylie stands up and says to her parents. "Thank you ma, thank you sir God bless you."

"You are welcome." Lola replies with a smile.

"Thank God." Malik adds.

Kylie clears her dishes taking it to the kitchen and immediately holding her baby sister, they walk upstairs.

"So, what was Cassandra's reaction when you ended things with her?" Malik asks and continues eating his food.

"There was no reaction at all father, she just said 'okay' to the break up text message." Shamim replies not looking at his father just maintaining his gaze on his meal trying his best to hide his pain but it still showed in his voice.

"That good for nothing ratchet girl." Lola hurls.

"She is not worth it my boy, the right person will come and stay without any stress." Malik says trying to comfort his son.

"Thanks dad." Shamim replies with his eyes still fixed on his meal.

"Ella, how did yesterday go?" Lola asks trying to be sneaky.

Ella looks at her mom pretending to be confused. "What do you mean by that mom? It was just a normal regular day and sleep over at a friend's house." She replies still enjoying her food.

"A friend you say?" Shamim asks loudly with a brightened mood.

"Yes he is!" Ella retorts.

Malik looks at his family all discussing and he seems to be the only one left out. "Is there something I don't know about?"

"Dad, your daughter here now has a boyfriend." Shamim says with a tone of absolute mockery and sarcasm.

"Really?" Malik asks again with interest. "Who is the lucky guy?"

"He is someone we all know, we have been dying to see the both of them together for a while now." Lola replies

"Abdullah?" Malik asks again.

"Yes, of course." Lola says grinning from ear to ear.

Ella drops her spoon and gently hits the dining table. "You all should just stop this, you are making me so uncomfortable."

"I am so happy about that my love, you have no idea on how excited I am." Malik whispers cheerfully. "I really like that Abdullah boy."

"But why do you like him this much?" Shamim ask as he puts a spoon of food in his mouth.

"I think I just like him because he is a good boy."

"Why do you consider him a good boy?" Shamim asks again.

Malik stops eating and exchanges short glance with his wife, his son's questions were becoming too much. It was as if Shamim was interrogating him. "I just feel the way he cares For Ella seems to be so nice and cool."

Shamim drops his spoon just like his sister did earlier and faces his parents. "You mean how he kept Ella's real identity secret?"

At the same time, Lola and her husband almost choked. But if them coughed out loudly and sips water.

"Sorry, be careful." Ella says to her parents.

"Thank you." Lola appreciates and faces her son immediately. "What were you saying earlier on?"

"What do you mean by Ella's real identity?" Malik asks too.

"I already know the truth, there is no need to hide or pretend mom and dad." Shamim says and smiles."

Lola looks at her daughter for confirmation and Ella nods. "How did he get to know that?" She asks no one in particular.

"Didn't you want me to know at all?" Shamim asks.

"we want you to know, but we just feel bad that we have lied to you from the beginning." Malik replies.

"I felt bad at first, you all shouldn't have lied to me from the beginning. But what can I do? No matter wheat happens Ella is still my sister."

"Thank you." Lola whispers holding tears of joy in her eyes.

"I also now know the truth of what actually happened that night, that night that you were crying your whole eyes out. You cried for months all day without a break mom, but later you lied to me that you lost a friend."

"Yes." Lola nods and she couldn't hold back the tears again, they flow down her cheeks. "I lost my children to a car accident."

"I am so sorry about that mom, I promise to be a good son from now on and never make you feel bad. I promise to listen to all you say and always make you happy." Shamim's promises and winks at his mom.

Lola chuckles and wipes off her tears. "Naughty brat."

"I have told you to stop winking at my wife young man. I might get you arrested if care is not taken." Malik warns and the entire room echoes with laughter.

*******************

A young woman in her early twenties walks into a psychiatric hospital with her eyes burning red and her entire body reeking of alcohol. She is dressed in a pair of jeans and a polo, she covers her hair with a face cap which matches the color of her polo. She wears a pair of sneakers in her feet and holds a bag which seem to have a bottle of something in it. "Good afternoon ma'am." She greets a woman in her early fifties who is sitting at the receptionist table.

Instead of the receptionist to give replies to her greetings, she observes her closely even though she has her glasses on. She looks closely at the lady who greeted a while ago for a while and finally says. "Jessica?"

"I think you need to retire from work now, your eye sight is getting real bad." Jessica says and removes her face cap, revealing her face clearly to whoever cares to see.

"Where have you been? It's been close to a year now." The receptionist asks very worried.

"Is my mom still alive?" Jessica asks ignoring the woman rants.

"Do you wish death upon her?" The woman asks again.

"I just want to know if she is still alive or not." She says bluntly.

"There she is." The woman says and points to a woman who sits on the chair and is staring at nothing.

"Okay." Jessica puts her face cap back on. "I will see you next time." She is about to walk out when the woman asks her to stop.