What if?

Chapter 10: His unconditional Love

Nick

I have been sitting on my chair next to my desk because I am trying to process all my thoughts and courage to face Michael and ask him questions. “Whatever! I’m going there now, I don’t care what will happen to the both of us.” I said to myself. I went out of my bedroom and walked towards his door. Before knocking I breathe in and out to relax and calm myself. My hands are shaking. I don’t know why but I still knocked on his door. 

*Knock *Knock *Knock

“Michael, it is Nick. Please let me in.” I said as soon as I finished knocking. I don’t know if he heard me but I made sure that my voice was enough for him to hear from inside. I wonder if he will open the door or not. It has already been 2 minutes when I knocked on his door though. “Mic…” I was not able to finish what I was about to say because now Michael is here in front of me standing. “What?” Michael said. 

The way he said that word was a little too much to me to take so I wanted to shout at him, but when I looked at his eyes I saw how big his eye bags are. “I want to go inside your room.” I said instead of bad mouthing him. Did he really cry? Whatever! There is only one way to know, it is to ask him. “Hmm.” Michael said and just nodded. Michael then opened his door wide for me to enter. 

As soon as I entered his room, I sat on his bed. “Michael.” I called out his name. He looked at me and then I patted the bed at my side as if I am telling him to come and sit beside me but without any words. He walked toward me and sat on the bed right next to me. I turned my body to face him. “Michael, did you cry?” I asked in a caring voice. “I wanted to say no but I can’t lie because you can see the proof openly so yes is the answer to your question.” Michael said truthfully. 

“Michael, look at me.”said because I noticed that when he answered me was not looking at me, instead he had his eyes on my hand. “I can’t look at you straight.” Michael replied. “And why is that?” I asked. Maybe because he feels shy. “Because you are so serious right now, and this is the first time you wanted to talk to me… I mean like seriously.” Michael said. 

I want to scold him again but I think this is not the time for that because I can sense that what Michael said was true and it really came from his heart. He was not trying to annoy me like other times or what he used to do to me. “You are right. This is the first time I am like this because I really want to talk  to you badly.” I said. “What do you want to talk about?” He said and started to turn his attention to me. “Why did you cry?” I asked sincerely. 

Michael is not the kind of person who would cry because of that. “I cried because I felt sorry about you and disappointed in our parents for doing that to you.” Michael answered. “You know, you should let it go.” I replied. “I can’t! You don’t understand. They made a promise.” Michael replied.

This time he is about to explode with his feelings but I think he is still calming himself because I am here with him. “What promise?” I asked. When Michael mentioned the word promise, it made me more curious so I asked. “There is no use. They didn’t do it though.” Michael said and stood up. I grabbed his hand. “Tell me, so that I can understand and comfort you.” I replied. 

He turned his face back to me and then came back to his seat. “Mom and Dad used to break their promise to me. They used to tell me about their plans to go out here and there but all of those plans were not successful. When they told us about hanging out I already had the feeling that it will still be the same as what happens to me every time. But when I saw your face so happy that day I told myself that I need to let Mom and Dad promise that they will not let you down. Before sleeping, I went to their room and talked to them. They made a promise to me that they will not break it but look what they did? How disappointing.” Michael explained. 

So this is the reason for all this. Now it all makes sense why Michael was really mad because he was really expecting this to be successful because Mom and Dad made a promise to him. And he was not disappointed because he wanted to hand it out but because he didn't want me to feel bad. He was thinking about me, I wonder if all Michael is doing is because of me. 

I held his hands and looked at him. “I see, now it all makes sense to me why you are mad. I am sorry for getting mad at you a while ago. I should have asked you before doing that to you.” I said to Michael. “It’s okay. I was never mad at you the first time.” Michael replied. “But I don’t want you to be mad at our parents. Let it be, okay?” I asked Michael. “I don’t think I can do that.” Michael replied. “I see. I understand. Then don’t talk to them not until you are okay.” I said to Michael.

I told him to do that because I know that if he talks to them with madness it will not create a good conversation instead the opposite and I don’t want that to happen. At first, I was the main reason why we are in this situation. “I get it. i can do this.” Michael replied. What he said made me smile, at least I’m relieved that this will not go further. “Promise me then.” I said to Michael. “I will promise you if you will also promise that you will stay here tonight to sleep.” Michael said.

Again? Ughh! “You know what, you’re opportunistic.” I said. “Well, yeah.” Michael answered and smiled. Seeing him smile makes me feel good. “Fine. I’ll do that.” I replied to Michael. “What are we going to do now?” Michael asked. “I don’t know.” I answered. “We are prepared already though. So do you want to go somewhere else?” Michael said. “Yeah. But I don’t know where.” I answered. “Let’s go to the park where I first saw you, then we can play there too.” Michael replied. “Yeah, okay! But we haven’t eaten our breakfast yet. “Then let’s go already and eat so we can be there early.” Michael said. “Okay!” I said. I patted his head after saying that and ran toward the door as if I was teasing him. 

I can’t let this good atmosphere go so I teased him. “You! come here!” He said and ran toward me. Before he reached me I went outside his room and ran downstairs. “Janice, move!” I said because Janice was in front of me. I might bump into her, that is why I shouted. “What’s going on?” Janice asked as soon as she moved. But unfortunately, even Janice moved, Michael was still able to reach me. “Ughh! Are you an athlete? How can you run this fast?” I asked Michael. “Unfortunately, yes!” Michael answered. “What?! Really? Hey don’t joke with me.” I asked Michael again. “Yeah. But that was only for a year.” Michael answered. “What year were you then?” I asked again. “1st grade.” He answered.

We continued to walk to the kitchen and talk. When we reached the kitchen we both sat on the chair but because something curious me again, I asked Michael another question. “Psst! Why did you stop running?” I asked. “It was not for me. I didn’t like it. I just tried it because I thought it was fun but it isn’t.” Michael explained. “Wow! What a versatile person.” I replied. “Not versatile, I think perfect is the right word.” Michael said proudly. “Ehhh you’re giving me chills. stop it!” I said.  “HAHAHA just kidding.” Michael replied. 

“Boys!” Janice exclaimed. I think she is shocked to see that we are both on good terms already. “Janice, Michael and I would like to eat breakfast.” I said. I looked at Janice and saw her looking at Michael, so I cut her off by asking for breakfast. Janice then turned her attention to me then I gave her a sign that we are okay by doing an okay sign with my hand. Gladly, she was able to understand it. “I will get it then.” Janice said with a wide smile. 

Janice started walking. Within 2 minutes she arrived with two other maids with food on their hands. “Here is your breakfast.” Janice said without taking out the smile on her face. “Thank you Janice.” Michael said. Before they went Janice handed a piece of paper to me. “Read this.” Janice whispered to my ears without letting Michael here beside me. “Okay.” I replied. 

After Janice and the two maids left I read the piece of paper Janice gave me sneakily so that Michael won’t see it. “Go to the dirty kitchen.” This is what the letter says. Before going there I ate a little. “Michael, I will excuse myself first. I need to go to the toilet.” I said. There is a toilet near the dirty kitchen, so that is what I excused. “Okay, but please be quick because we still have somewhere to go and you aren’t finished eating yet.” Michael said. “I won’t.” I replied. s**t! He really knows when to act bossy. 

I left the table where we ate and went straight to the dirty kitchen. When I got there, Janice was already standing waiting for me to come. “What if I did not come? Ughh.” I said to myself. “So what happened upstairs?” Janice asked. “Michael and I are okay now. He explained everything why he got mad and I understood him.” I answered. “But is he still mad at your parents?” Janice asked. “Yes. He said that it will take time. But I assured him not to say anything to Mom and Dad not until he is not mad anymore.” I answered. “I see. I think that is better.” Janice said. “Yeah. I need to go now and finish my breakfast, if I stay long Michael will notice.” I said. “Okay.” Janice replied. 

I went back to the table where we ate and continued eating. “Janice?” Michael called her name. Janice then showed in front of us. “Nick and I are going to the park. Do you want to tag along?” Michael asked Janice. “The park?” Janice asked. I think she is confused. “The park where I always visited Nick when he was still in the orphanage.” Michael answered. “Oh! Okay, I want to tag along. I miss the sound of birds there though, it would be great to go together.” Janice replied. “Great!” Michael said. 

So Janice was there when Michael used to visit me too? I have never seen her before with Michael at the park, how come. “I will tell the driver to be ready.” Janice said and walked out. “Hey!” I called Michael. “Hmm?” Michael answered softly. “Janice. I never saw her at the park when you used to visit me. How come she missed the sound of the birds chirping?” I asked curiously. “Janice just stays on the other side of the park to look after me. I told her not to come near you though because she might steal our time, besides it’s awkward to have her around us while we are playing.” Michael replied. “I see. That’s why.” I replied.