Bubble Gum Kisses

**Kapittel 10** ***Vanessa***

**"Do you need someone to talk to?"** she asked as we walked to the staircase. I felt something gutted in my stomach when she asked that question, but I pretended that I didn't hear her instead of answering her.

"Vann?" she called for my name, and again, I ignored her. "Listen, honey, if it's about dad. It's not your fau_"

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm not thinking about it." I turned around and assured her. I didn't want to be reminded of what happened eons ago again. "It's just that..." I trailed off and made a small sniff. I'm sorry, dad. Let me use you as an excuse for a bit. "I just miss dad, that's all. I wasn't thinking about th-" I was cut midway when mom hugged me tightly.

"Sweetie," I heard her say in a small voice, "You still got Zach and me," she comforted. My heart melted in an instant, and all the heavy feeling in my chest evaporated. Mom.

I sniffed again and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her back. "I know. I love you guys."

The sweet moment ended later, and we both descended downstairs together, hand in hand and heart in heart. We found Auntie Rebecca, Angel, and Angie in the lounge, playing with Zach in his crib, seeming to get used to them. When they saw us arrive, we all went to the dining room and took our respective seats, with Zach sitting on his high chair. My mouth watered at the sight of the food offered on the table. Mom cooked a hefty, and most of the food served were my favorites. There was meatloaf along with roasted chicken, baked potatoes, spring salad, tiramisu, baked fish fingers for Zach, and strawberry limeade for drinks. Everybody immediately started digging in before saying grace. "So, Vannie," Auntie Rebecca started, cutting a slice of her chicken.

"Where will you be transferring school?" she asked, looking at me with curious and concerned eyes. I know she wasn't prying or had any malicious intentions and was trying to catch up. But for an unknown reason, the question made me feel bothered and uncomfortable. There was nothing wrong that would happen if I answered a harmless question, right?

I swallowed the meatloaf that I was chewing, then answered, "Trinity Knight High School," and then grabbed a forkful of salad for another bite.

A sudden gasp was heard. I turned my head to where I heard it come from and found out it was Angie, who appeared to drop her fork, seeming surprised by my answer.

Her reaction got me nervous. Did I say something wrong?

"What's wrong, sweetie?" mom asked her. She looked at Angie and glanced down at the floor.

My sweet cousin immediately shook her head in response. "Nothing, Auntie. I just remembered something." Giving what seemed to be a nervous smile, she slowly bent down to fetch the fork. Mom waited for her to get back up, then asked, "Tell us about it."

I saw Angel nudge her sister secretly with an elbow. The latter glared at her, and she took the advantage and leaned close. When she pulled away, I saw Angie give me a nervous glance before looking at mom with an excuse: "Uh, I suddenly remembered about the succulents that Angel and I left in our apartment. I forgot to water them."

"Oh right." Mom relaxed her back on the chair, her eyes looking upwards. "I remember you like to garden. Hmm, you were quite young back then and often went to the garden when you and Angel came to play," she reminisced, taking a bite of the baked potatoes.

Mom loved potatoes a lot which showed that she was glad when potatoes were presented on the table, and I'm pleased that she was enjoying this dinner. Over the past days after the accident and dad's death, we often ate takeout since she had been moping and often forgot about the time, so when it was time for a meal, and she hadn't cooked food, she'd offer to call fast food. Good thing I recovered hastily from my injuries after I was discharged and got to cook for my grieving mom and clueless younger brother.

"Haha, yeah. I discovered my love for gardening in high school," she replied shyly, lifting her glass for a drink, but I could still sense that she was previously uncomfortable.

Was it related to me transferring to Trinity Knights? I asked myself while digging in another cut from the meatloaf. I figured of texting either her or Angel after this dinner.

I turned my attention to Zach, who was beginning to play with his food, and fed him. I saw Angel sigh through my peripheral vision, making me wonder even more. Why did Angie act surprised earlier? What's up with Trinity Knight? Or maybe I was just overthinking, and Angie just really forgot her plants. Angel must've nudged her as a form of scold since she lost composure. Angel was the older twin and tended to look after her. Sigh. This overbearing my mind. I shouldn't ruin my mood of having a good dinner with them over my doubtful mind.

"Yes, that is true. She became the president of the Botany Club from tenth to twelfth grade," Auntie Rebecca said proudly, convincing me that I was just overthinking.

Dinner then went peacefully right after. It went lively when it was time for dessert, and we got to catch up with each other a lot more. Sadly, time flew by too fast, and it was getting late that they needed to leave. Carrying Zach, I accompanied mom walking them out the door. Mom and Auntie Rebecca shared their heartfelt goodbyes and began making a plan about a girl date that would happen God-knew-when. As long as it was with them, I'm in.

"It's nice to see you again, Auntie," I told Aunt Rebecca when I took my turn to bid them farewell. It was true, though. Aside from mom and dad, she was the only adult who witnessed me grow up and get to spend time with back then. She'd even let me do that things mom wouldn't allow me to. She was more like a second mom to me.

"Likewise, darling," she said, smiling sweetly at me. I felt my heart go mushy.

"I'd like to have some of your signature macaroons next time," I added. God, I missed those delish macaroons that she used to bake for us when I went to their house and played tea party with the twins. They were so fluffy and well-baked that I'd go crazy over them.

She giggled, her cheeks beating red. "Oh, of course, darl! You can visit me anytime you want since I'm all alone in the house now," she said, patting my arms. Somehow, I felt a little sad for her. Angie and Angel moved out to live in the metropolis since they were working on their respective degrees at a well-known university. It must be lonely for her to live all alone.

"I will, Auntie." I smiled at her and wrapped my arms around her for a hug. She stiffened for a second but eventually hugged back, patting my back as if she was comforting me, and said: "Everything will be fine, dearie." With a smile still plastered on my face, I pulled away. "Thank you, Auntie."

This time, the twins came to us, and Auntie finally pulled away and talked to mom about their plan again.

"We'd like to ask for one final hug," said Angel with a broad smile on her face. Angel rarely smiled, so this moment was like a blue moon to me.

"Yeah, we'll be driving back to our apartment since we have class tomorrow," Angie said with a sad tone on the last part. She was the cheerful and most emotional twin. She worked like a happy pill to me back whenever I was sad. She always had her mysterious ways of cheering me up while Angel would sit beside me and comfort me with her presence. They were such important people to me, and it made me sad that I spent the last three years with them only on the phone, never even sharing real experiences that we could have.

"You girls." I bit my lower lip, restraining myself from shedding a tear, and took a step towards them, reached my arms, and engulfed them in a bear hug. It was so sweet of them to clear their schedule and drive all the way here just to come and welcome us back. I'm gonna miss them.

"We gave you our number. Give us a call!" Angie said after pulling away, and I nodded.

"Good night," I bid, waving a hand goodbye to them as they walked towards the twins' car that was parked nearby and drove off, slowly becoming farther away from the house.

Zach fell asleep in mom's arms, and mom asked me to bring him to his room and tuck him in while she washed the dishes since she knew how I hated doing that chore. I willingly obliged and carefully carried Zach in my arms, careful not to nudge him, then went upstairs to proceed with what mom asked me to do.

When I finished tucking him in and turning on his toys that played lullabies, I hurriedly went to my bedroom and took a quick shower, excited to get to bed as I was feeling tedious and sleepy. Tonight may only be a simple dinner, but it was an emotional reunion. It set me in a good mood and swept away my tedious spirits out of lacking sleep and feeling homesick, which drained my energy most entirely.

**

Thank you for reading Bubble Gum Kisses! To keep up with my works, future works, and endless frustrations on Twitter: https://twitter.org/RiosMorpheus**