CHAPTER NINE: New Life

Michelle POV

It's been almost two months since mom left and nothing has been the same. I thought that after few weeks passed everything will be back to normal but I thought wrong. Dad comes back home really late, I mean by 12 in the midnight or even stay overnight.

There was a certain time I woke up in the midnight to appease my dried throat, I went to the dinning which was joint with sitting room. The TV was on but mute, it seems someone was sitting on the floor close to the center table. I moved closer to see who it was.

"Dad?"

The person turned and smiled sadly, that's when I realized that I spoke out my thought. He was drinking and watching a muted TV, his lashes were wet but his eyes were not swollen, it was like he cried a tear or two.

'Chelly' He called out with  complicated emotions, I couldn't make out his expression.

'Go to bed, you have to go to school tomorrow' he said taking another shot of the alcohol. I heard  fast footsteps approaching so I turned to see who it was Ryan,

'Ryan, dad's drinking' I said immediately sighting him. Immediately he reached where I stood he hugged you tightly clutching my face to his chest. I knew something was definitely wrong. Since mom left, dad and Ryan hasn't spoken of her in any discussion even mistakenly, anytime I referred to mum, they go silent and moody that night, Ryan would stay with me until I slept that night and dad would drink.

'it's adult stuff' Ryan said using his palm to brush my hair. I nodded into his chest so as to reduce his worries. He led me back to my room making sure I don't turn back to look at dad. 'Don't come outside no matter what you hear'he command with a serious tone as he tucked me into my bed. He left my room and headed to the direction of the situation room. Soon I was heard him and Dad voice, they shouted at each other. I couldn't make out a word they said except from when Ryan said 'Put yourself together for Chelly's sake'. I was a bit shocked,

"Has he been trying to hold it together because of me?"

"Does it hurt inside?"

"Is he really bottling up his emotions?"

My room door opened bringing me out of mind thought. I immediately closed my eyes pretending to be as sleep. My room wasn't too dark even when the lights were off. It was full moon so the moon light lighten up my room from the window. I guessed it was Ryan that came in judging by the way he moved my hairs that were sticking to my face then he caress my cheek before kissing my forehead. A tear dropped on my cheek, I really wanted to open my eyes. By the time I made up mind to open my eyes, I saw Ryan closing the door behind him and I heard the opposite room door open, that was Ryan room, his room was opposite mine.

That night I knew that something bad really happened that led to mom leaving but I couldn't place a finger on it. I realized that mom was our family back bone and Ryan is trying to be the glue even though he is also broken. Usually dad comes back from work around 8pm and he jokes and teases mom, I always get irritated by it especially when they kiss at my front but now I really which to hear the teasing and jokes, I really missed our family game night, movie night cuisine afternoon and family cuddle. I heard dad telling mom about his boss and they mock the boss together that make me also laugh. Well now things has changed.

Two months seems to be enough to get our family on track without a back bone. Dad prepares breakfast with Ryan assisting him while I sit on the dinning dangling my legs waiting for breakfast. Recently dad has been trying to smile but occasionally and still those smiles says sadness no matter how wide it is. He rides us both to school, Ryan and I are going to the same school, I'm just a freshman in junior high while he is a senior in junior high. Ryan and I prepare lunch and order for dinner. He stays with me until I sleep and wait till midnight for dad to come home, I sometimes meet him sleeping on the chairs on my occasional drinking of water during midnight.

That's how our days goes day by day I'm still expecting mom to fulfill the promise she made to me by coming back.

"Mom, I'm still waiting."