Decision

"It feels... heavy." I finally said it.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and I put my chin on her shoulder. My tears start falling from the sides of my cheeks.

"Why does he need to leave?" I said, almost a whisper. I felt my lips trembling.

We both stayed silent, I guess she's waiting for me to open up. I was about to say something but I heard my phone ringing. I let go of the hug and took my phone from my bag.

It was my brother... calling.

I excused myself and answered the call.

"Hello..."

"How are you, brother?" I asked, my lips formed a small smile.

"Can you... go home?" I heard his voice broke a bit. My tears began to accumulate at the corner of my eyes.

"Of course... I can go home now, wait for me..." I heard him sniff.

"Are you crying?"

"No, I am not." He said firmly even I can clearly hear that he's crying.

"Okay..." I laughed a bit. "wait for me... I'm going home."

"Okay, take care..." He said. I ended the call and went to Sab.

"Sab... I need to go home." She nodded and smiled sweetly. She wiped my tears away. "Everything's gonna be alright." She said.

"Thank you..."

"I'm home..." I uttered when I saw my brother waiting at our terrace.

"It's so cloudy today... the skies look so sad." He said while looking up at the sky. Yes, the skies look so sad. Just like us.

I looked at him intently, he looked pale and his eyes were swollen.

"How many hours did you cry?"

He looked at me. He shrugged his shoulders and pouted.

"Have you made a decision? you can stay here... if you want. I'll try to convince them." He shook his head.

"I'll... go." His eyes sparkled.

I shook my head and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry-" He cut me off. "Shh... it's not your fault."

"Looked like you're my elder brother, huh." I chuckled a bit.

He just smiled, we stayed silent, looking up at the sky.

"Once I left... please, don't ever think that it was your fault." He told me and looked at me with tearful eyes.

I became speechless now that I'm seeing him crying, "Why..." My tears fell. "Why do we need to be apart? why... why do you need to be far away from us?" I said as my voice shattering.

"You're still my baby... my little brother." I sobbed and covered my mouth with my palms. I slowly sat down, mourning.

He bent his knees to reach me, "I'm still your baby... don't cry, please..." He pouted his lips as his tears fells down from the sides of his eyes. I tapped his head and smiled at him widely, even if my tears don't stop from falling.

"Don't be stubborn there..." He smiled at me painfully, shaking his head. "I won't." His voice cracked.

"How many years..."

"Until we're stable," I cried more because of that. I know it's gonna be too long.

"Everything's gonna be okay..." I told him and pulled him again into a tight hug.

He nodded.

We stayed crying and let ourselves calm.

"How school?" I asked him.

"Still the same, still boring. It has no thrill." He laughed.

"Hmm, still no crush? how about the girl you told me about last year?" I teased him.

He pouted and playfully rolled his eyes. "She transferred, okay?" My mouth formed an ‘O’ and felt sad a bit. I smirked about the thought that he’s still thinking of her.

Won’t you find another girl?” He shook his head. Oh my god, this boy.

"I heard something about you…" He smiled widely.

My brows furrowed. "What?" I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Kindly tell me who your crush is." He commanded.

"Where did you hear that?" I asked, getting confused.

"It doesn’t matter." Then he giggled.

"He has thick lashes, right?" My eyes widened of confusion, how did he know?

"What?! How did you know?"

“I know your type, duh!” He laughed out loud. My mouth stayed half-open until and ended up laughing with him.

"Tell me about him."

"Okay..." I smiled.

I took my phone and showed Travis' picture.

"He looks nice, right?" I asked him, he smiled and nodded his head.

"He called me once," I said to him.

"Did he?" He asked, still smiling. I nodded as a response.

"We talk in person too," He nodded.

"Earlier, I was so sad and he asked me I'm okay. Not just once. He really looks concerned. What do you think?"

"Are you happy... with him?" Now that he asked, I need to think about it. Yes, I am happy. But I don't know how to define happiness, it feels something. I'm not just happy, but more than that. And I don't know what kind of happiness is that.

"Yes, I am." He nodded and smiled at me.

"Are you falling in love?"

"Maybe?" As of now, I don't think about falling in love, even with him.

He sighed. "Be careful... when it comes to love." He uttered.

"Dad told me some guys can fool you by their words... by their actions, guys can really be dangerous sometimes, but men weren't." He reminded.

"Dad told you that?" He nodded proudly. "He told me to be a man, not just a boy. When he explained that, I really saw a big difference."

"I'm proud that you know the difference between them." I patted his shoulders.

He looked sad for a moment. "Why?" I sought him.

"I'm concerned about Mom..."

"W-What? Why?" My brows furrowed.

"I heard her last week arguing with Aunty Bella on the call."

"They're arguing about what?"

"About the truth."

The truth?

"Huh? truth about what?" I got more confused. They are open about us... what truth are they talking about?

"It's for us to find out..."

"What did you hear?"

"I heard Mom crying... saying she wouldn't tell the truth."

"Let's not think about that... let Mom tell this to us. Let's understand her, maybe she was not just ready..." I advised him.

"You're right, they are open to us... let's not meddle with them, I'm sure they will tell us." I nodded.

The sky darkened and it began to mist that's why we decided to go to our own room and get rest.

I was about to lay on my bed but I heard a noise outside my room, the door was closed so I don't know who is talking.

I went to the door and I heard Mom...

"Please... Bella, don't say anything. I'll tell them! just... just shut your mouth."