Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Angel's POV)

Hendrix and I had agreed to meet in the garden the next day during lunch. Having befriended the lunch lady, I was able to secure lunch for both of us and I took it with me to the garden because I doubt he had eaten. He hadn't shown up for breakfast and I was beginning to get really concerned for him.

We hadn't spoken all day, and I wanted to know if he was still pursuing his research despite my warnings. I knew how stubborn my stepbrother could be.

I was smiling to myself as I turned a corner, lost in thought. But my smile faltered as I saw someone coming out of Dr. Nixon's office. It was a lady who looked uncannily like Dilada, but I couldn't tell from where I was standing who it was. She was walking quickly, her eyes darting around nervously, and her face was pale.

I immediately hid behind a nearby pillar, holding my breath as she rushed past me. I watched as she disappeared around the corner, my mind racing with questions.

Oh my God! It was Dilada.

I hoped she wasn't in trouble. Rumour had begun to circulate in the center that whoever was called to Dr Nixon's office, something bad always happened to them. I was one who didn't really believe in rumours, but here I realised that in every word spoken, rumours, lies-there was an iota of truth in them.

What was she doing coming out of Dr. Nixon's office? Why did she look so nervous?

I stayed hidden, waiting to see if anyone else would come out of the office. But the coast seemed to be clear. I was about to step out from behind the pillar when I hesitated. Something didn't feel right. I decided to wait a little longer, observing the area to see if anything else suspicious would happen.

After a few more minutes, I continued heading to the garden.

But, I couldn't relax. I was on edge, waiting for something to happen, waiting for some answers. Maybe because I realised that among all my roommates, I didn't know Dilada well enough.

I couldn't shake off the look on her face, and the nervousness that was written all on them. But the determined strides didn't match the look. Something was definitely off.

Later that evening, when Dilada was back from disappearing off as usual, I approached her in our dorm room, I couldn't help it. I had spoken to the others about what I saw earlier and they had told me they had seen her on one occasion visiting Dr Nixon's office too, and she never says anything about it.

I was always too curious for my own good. I needed to know what was going on.

"Hey... Dilada, can I ask you something?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Dilada looked up from her book, her expression guarded. "What's up?"

"I've noticed you've been disappearing off to who-knows-where recently," I said, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Where have you been going?"

Dilada's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route. "I don't know what you're talking about, Angel," she said finally, her voice flat.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb, Dilada. I've seen you sneaking off multiple times. What's going on?"

Dilada stood up, pretending to fluff her bed.

Then she said slowly as if explaining something to a two year old, her eyes flashing with defensiveness. "Like I said, Angel, I have no idea what you're talking about," she said, her voice firm and assertive.

I was taken aback by her response. Dilada was usually shy and soft-spoken, never one to assert herself like this. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new side of her.

The others in the room seemed just as shocked, their eyes widening in surprise as they stared at Dilada. Cylan raised an eyebrow, as if to say "Who is this and what have you done with the real Dilada?"

They were all watching us, their eyes fixed on Dilada as if waiting for her to come up with a more convincing response.

Dilada's eyes darted around the room, noticing their reaction. A nervous laugh escaped her lips as she said, "I didn't realize I was being interrogated." she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. I knew Dilada was hiding something, and I was determined to find out what. I pressed her further, my voice firm but gentle. "Look, Dilada, we're your friends. We're just concerned about you. You can trust us. If you're in trouble, you should tell us. What's really going on?"

Dilada's expression faltered, and for a moment, I saw a scary look in her eyes. But then, her mask slipped back into place, and she smiled. "I told you, I don't know what you're talking about."

I thought I could get something from her that would give me a clue on what was actually happening in this center but her defensiveness threw me off. It was like she had something to hide.

Dilada then sighed and dropped the nook she had been pretending to be reading. "I don't know exactly what you're asking me this for, but just know that I've been busy attending my therapy sessions and doctor's appointments, like everyone else. Nothing special. That's it. So can we stop mulling over this and get a move on?"

But we weren't buying it. Hande spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "But Dilada, where do you go in between? You don't hang out with us anymore. You're always off doing... something."

Dilada hesitated, as if thinking of what to say or the lies she wanted to come up with.

Oh my goodness!

I really was suspecting her.

"I... uh..." Dilada's eyes flashed with frustration. "Fine. If you must know... I've been seeing a specialist. Okay? It's no big deal. I've been doing some extra therapy sessions. Yeah, that's it."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Extra therapy sessions? Why is that? Why do you get extra sessions?"

Dilada's expression turned defensive. "I don't know what you're insinuating, Angel. I'm just trying to get better, okay?"

Cylan intervened, sensing the tension escalating. "Hey, let's not jump to conclusions. Guys, if Dilada doesn't want to talk about it, she shouldn't be forced to. Dilada, if you're not comfortable sharing, we get it."

I said, "But just know we care about you. I know it's hard to open up..."

Cylan held up her hand. "Dude, seriously?"

"What? I'm just saying..." I tried to defend myself, but she cut me off.

"That's enough. Dilada shared what she's comfortable with. Let's drop it." Then she looked at me pointedly, "Angel. Drop it."

The room fell silent, and I could feel the weight of our collective curiosity. But Cylan's words were a reminder that we needed to respect Dilada's boundaries. We couldn't push her to reveal something she wasn't ready to share. With a nod, we let the matter drop, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Dilada was hiding something big. And I couldn't help but wonder what secrets she was keeping from us.

Cylan finally breaks the silence.

Anyway since everyone is interested in getting all up in each other's business, you guys should know that I'm going out... to see my therapist." She said, getting up from her bed and heading to the door. Hande smiled slyly.

"Yeah, we know your 'therapist'."

We all laughed at that.

Cylan hadn't been the most subtle with the girl she had been seeing in the center recently.

She immediately blushed and walked out leaving us.