8 Chapter 8: Dinner Dispute

Rose already starts eating using chopsticks. I feel proud she uses them well at young age. As I turn on the TV and scan for the sports channel, I take a bite of my tonkatsu. The UEFA soccer match begins. Just in time, baby.

After Aunt Maine microwaves the pizza, she takes a seat on the sofa with us. "Make sure you start packing after school. It's in a few weeks, you know?" She takes a bite of the pizza.

Rose babbled with a full mouth, "I'm really going to miss Winterville," I'm not. "Why are we leaving again?"

"Don't eat when your mouth is full, grumbly." I ordered, "And, we're leaving because we have to meet up with our relative because of the school advantages I'll get since they're paying for my school funds and enrollment. I also have to start employing or get an internship that I need to do during or after university. So much other great choices out there."

Rose glared at her noodles for a few seconds before blurting, "That is a lot of business crap."

Aunt and I looked at her while our eyes widen, "Rose! Language! Remember what I taught you?"

We both recite, "The mouth who curse is a mouth of dirt."

I'm such a hypocrite.

"And because you said that, I'm taking some of your noodles." I grabbed her cup and poured a little bit into mine and returned it, "Anyway, Aunt Maine. I know you just told us about this a few days ago. But you never told us which relative we're going to meet, just that it was someone on your side."

Her back stiffens while responding, "It's hard to explain. It's, uh, kind of like family members by heart, not blood."

"And we're back with the UEFA semi-finals, after the break!" The sports commentator greeted loudly before I turn the volume down.

"So, we're not related to them? Kinda like a family friend?" I interrogate.

"No, uh, we are related. Don't worry about it." She claims as I still don't properly understand. What's her deal?

The sports commentator announces, "We're on a tie breaker game between the Black Eagles and Ravens, tonight folks, with a 3-all pointer!"

"That doesn't make any sense." I say before taking a small bite of noodles.

"You'll just have to see when we get there. Surprise, y'know?"

"Are we not allowed to know anything about this relative of ours?"

The commentator continues, "And the game continues! Looks like we have a tough match, right now!"

"No, you are. Just hold on for now." Aunt takes another bite of her pizza.

"Not even one specific name? Seriously?"

"Later on."

"Why not now?" My voice constantly keeps raising since I'm not understanding why she's making me play a jigsaw puzzle. With no puzzle pieces. "Why is it a surprise? I feel like we have a right to know one thing about who we'll literally be living with for months or even years."

The commentator yells out, "Ravens start off with the ball! We can see right here that both teams are fighting over the ball, very badly, though."

I notice Aunt glancing at Rose, "Just because, okay!"

"Just because what?!"

"Ooh!" the commentator exclaims, "Hale from Black Eagles finally stole the ball and has an open field of the goal net!"

"How about we just finish eating for now?!"

"What harm does it do to say one name right now?!"

The commentator gasps and the audience go wild, "This might break the tiebreaker right here… the ball is kicked, and… and…"

"We're meeting your father!"

"Missed!" The commentator shouts, "And the crowd goes silent and it's still a tie!"

I stand up not believing what she was saying. My eyes furrowed as I was in between feeling enraged and extremely confused. Why would she do this to us? I look at Rose which paused from eating. She was also in disbelief and stunned.

Aunt Maine was just staring at her food, avoiding my gaze and was completely silent. I didn't know what else to say so I just left the table without another word. I stomp my feet while going back to my room.

"Whoops, looks like our Hale got a major injury. We're going to have another short break, folks! Stay tuned for the UEFA Semi-Finals!"

I enter my room and lock it. I drop on my bed suddenly losing the motivation to get up from it. I just wanna sleep and never wake up. But my eyes are wide open and what happened at dinner keeps replaying my mind. As well as everything that's happened to me since when I was a child. It's all flashing back to me. I roll to my other side and find another comfy position, but the memories are screaming like a banshee.

As much as I don't have any energy whatsoever to get up right now, I still wanted to forget. Distract myself from this entire day. I reached for my bag and tried to find the sketchpad.

What? Why is it not here?

I know that I put it right here after finding it down the trench earlier… it can't go missing, again. What if I dropped it on the way home? Shit. All those ideas are gone. Lost. Now some random guy has it. Or a deer ate it. Okay, that's worse.

Scratching my head furiously, I grunt and fall back to my bed. Maybe I'll just try even harder to get some sleep.

Yeah, no.

I look at my window contemplating whether I should sneak out and go look for it, and as well as leaving this house for a bit. Until I heard a soft thunder from outside. It's gonna rain. Great.

Can this day get any worse?

My phone dinged and I grabbed it from my bag.

1 new private message:

Cygoose: Bro, did you hear they're cancelling the UEFA Semi-Finals this month?