Adjusting to the new normal

Clara glaced quickly over Chloe's face for once.

"Sure."

"Ok, then.. let's go."

Chase picked up his wallet and went out from his room, leading his two sisters towards his car.

The car was parked before the porch. Chloe went to open the backseat of the car, suddenly Clara spat.

"Oh well, brother. You don't have to drop me. Carl just messaged me, he's coming. We'll go together."

As soon as she finished, a car had pulled up to the main gate. They all turned to look, the car was very familiar to Chloe — it was of Carl.

He waved at Clara, a gentle smile spread across his face. Clara smiled back.

Looking at them, she murmured, "Bye!"

Then went towards the car.

Carl hadn't noticed until now, but now his eyes fell on Chase and him. He nodded at Chase, then his eyes fell on Chloe.

And suddenly,

The smile on his face... Disappeared.

Clara settled herself in the passenger seat.

"Let's go."

He averted his eyes from Chloe, and smiled at Clara.

"Sure, you're comfortable?"

"Yap. Very much!"

"Fine."

He started the engine, and in a few seconds, the car disappeared from their sight.

A pang of unease settled in Chloe's chest as she watched Clara take her usual spot in Carl's car.

Until today, the passenger seat of his car was reserved for her. Today, suddenly seeing someone else sitting in that place — to her, it was so foreign.

Though they had never been in love, but she spent fifteen years with him. The Millers were their business partner, their families often met. Since her childhood, she knew Carl, they were of the same age and had a good bond since then.

After that, they attended the same highschool, went to so many places with him. She got somewhat used to him.

Suddenly, she realised;

She was no longer needed in his place.

And...

The realization crept up on her like a slow-moving shadow, darkening her mood.

But something stuck on her mind. Maybe she was overthinking, but she couldn't shake off that feeling.

Carl didn't talk to her. He averted his gaze in a second. But again... His eyes!

She felt there was something in his eyes when he looked at her. Something that was unusual. Was it regret, sorrow or... Helplessness?

Or was it just an illusion?

....

"Are you okay?"

The chain of her thoughts was broken by Chase. She looked beside and saw him looking at her face with a serious expression. Did he read the thoughts going on her mind from her face!

"What! I'm alright! Let's go, or I'll miss the flight."

She smiled at him, and slid into the passenger seat. Chase got into the car and started driving towards the airport.

...

"Chloe..." Suddenly he spoke.

"Hmm?"

"You've chaged."

"Why!" Her attention was drawn to his face.

Chase smiled — a smile tinged with sorrow and pain.

"Remember, Chloe? When we were in school, you had a pancake that one of your classmates brought made by her mother to share with all her friends. When you said this to me that day, I don't remember how many times you regretted eating alone without giving it to me."

"Then, the first annual sports day. You tripped over a rock and hurt your knee. That night, you had a fever and didn't feel well. You cried all night, hugging me, saying.. the wound was hurting."

"..."

"Or the day, when you got your first love letter from Peter. You rushed over me to ask what to fo with this letter. You didn't even think whether you should say yes to him or reject him — the decision was left to me."

Chloe remained silent. She couldn't understand what was going on in his mind. Why he suddenly started recalling the memories from their childhood that even she herself almost forgot!

Chase sighed.

"I miss the old you. I was used to that Chloe, who had always shared everything to me — her joy, her pain, her regrets, her achievements — everything."

Chase stopped after talking for a long time. The pain in his voice — Chloe clearly felt.

"You used to share even the least important things with me, but now you are so closed off that I don't understand anything that is going on in your life. Am I really that unimportant to you Chloe?"

"Chase! — "

He glanced at her, and drew a deep breath before continuing.

"Chloe, don't change so much. I feel I'm losing you. No matter what happens to you, remember that even if no one in the world is by your side, I am. I'll always have your back."

"Just don't push me aside like this. I want to be your trusted person, as I had been for so long. I always wanted to be that brother, to whom you were always like an open book."

Chase stopped. He didn't utter a single word further. The quiet that followed was heavy.

Chloe sat silently, her heart aching at the pain in Chase's voice. It was a raw, emotional scream that only made her retreat further.

Am I really ignoring the people around me to think about myself? Those who are always by my side, take care of me, love me!

The car suddenly screeched to a halt. Chloe was startled. She looked at Chase.

"We have arrived at the airport."

She looked outside and the familiar building and signs appeared before her. She was so lost in her thoughts that she couldn't understand.

Chloe get off the car. Chase stood in front of her, tapping her head.

"Chloe, don't get caught up in tour thoughts so much, everything will be alright."

"I'll try." She smiled.

"Bye, have a safe journey."

"Bye." She hugged him.

Chloe grabbed the trolly and went inside. Chase stood until her figure was disappeared from his sight. He smiled. He felt relieved after spitting out his heart.

A sigh of relief came out if his chest — he knew Chloe was struggling, but he also knew that,

She was strong enough to endure everything that came on her way and walk forward.