What if?

Chapter 14: Waiting for them

Michael

I can sense that both Janice and Nick are nervous but I can’t make myself comfort them because the more I want to, the more I feel guilty. It all started because of me not because of Nick in the first place. From now on, I should be responsible for my actions because if not, I will continue hurting those people around me. Nick was right, I should be smart enough in decision making. 

I turned to look at them on the other side, I think they are getting better now. I can no longer sense the nervousness from them. Maybe they were able to control themselves now. As of the moment I don’t feel anything, I am just looking forward to talking to Mom and Dad then asking for forgiveness.  Being humble is not not bad sometimes. Fine, when it comes to discussions I don’t know how to be humble but I need to do it now for the sake of Nick or else he will be mad at me. He thinks that he is the reason why it all started and that’s what makes me more guilty. 

Now I am just looking forward to it. “Ughh! How long are they gonna come home?” I asked. I did not say any name but actually that question was for Janice. “I don’t know. But if you are okay with it I can give them a call and ask.” Janice answered me softly. Maybe she thought I would be mad at her advice. “Yeah you can give them a call. I hope they answer it.” I replied to Janice. “Are you sure? Okay then I will get my phone now.” Janice replied to me. She immediately stood up and went to the side of the sofa. There is a telephone next to the sofa so maybe she will use it to call Mom and Dad. She picked the telephone, dialed the number and it started to ring. “Maam, this is Janice.” Janice said. “Yes Ma'am, we are at home.” Janice added. “Yes, when will you come back?... Okay, yes I will. Thank you.” Janice added. She put down the telephone as soon as the call ended. “What’s the news?” I asked Janice. She turned to look at me and then looked at Nick. 

For a minute, I felt nervous. “Is there something wrong?” I asked again. Janice came closer to me. “They said that... They searched for us. And now, they are on their way here.” Janice replied. “Ughh! I thought there was something wrong. Next time please don’t be like that.” I told Janice. Now, I am relieved from the nervousness that I felt a while ago. “Sorry. I was just worried about them searching for us.” Janice replied. “Yeah. It was my fault.” I replied to Janice. “It isn’t your fault.” Janice replied. “Ughh! It wasn’t anybody’s fault so please stop it.” Nick said who was a while ago just scrolling on his phone and now annoyed the both of us. 

I turned to look at Nick’s direction and gave him a wide smile as if I was teasing him. After Nick saw me doing that, he put his tongue out. I smiled even more, Nick is really cute. “What time is it?” I asked. “You can just look at the clock in front of you.” Nick replied. What is wrong with him? I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that the time was already 3:14 pm. “3:14 pm. Mom and Dad will be here at least before 3:30 pm.” I said. “I think so too.” Nick said without looking at me and still continuing on scrolling on his phone. 

She picked the telephone, dialed the number and it started to ring. “Maam, this is Janice.” Janice said. “Yes Ma'am, we are at home.” Janice added. “Yes, when will you come back?... Okay, yes I will. Thank you.” Janice added. She put down the telephone as soon as the call ended. “What’s the news?” I asked Janice. She turned to look at me and then looked at Nick. 

It is still a long wait for me, so I decided to watch TV since we are here in the living room now. I searched for the remote control for the TV to turn on. “Janice, where is the remote control here?” I asked Janice. “It is inside the drawer under the table.” Janice replied. There is a center table here in the living room that has drawers where we can put things and actually this table has a fridge under it too. This is very accommodating because we don’t need to go to the kitchen and get some drinks for us to drink. But inside here are only colas and soft drinks, there isn't milk inside here. I don’t know why Mom doesn’t want to put milk in here. But I have no choice. I am not the owner of this house, Mom and dad are. 

“Ugh!” I heard Nick exclaim. It was very loud enough for the people inside the living room to hear him. After hearing him, I turned to look at him and I literally saw him rolling his eyes. I can sense that he is annoyed but I don’t understand why he is being like this to me. I mean, whenever I say something Nick always acts like this. Sometimes I just don’t understand why he acts like this to me when I don’t even know what wrong I did.

I just neglected what I just saw and turned on the TV. I searched for some channels and finally got to see the Korean channel. The show that is being broadcasted now in the channel is called WEEKLY IDOL where K-IDOLS visit their studio and they promote their songs and play some games and get to lose and win in order to get prizes. 

I have been watching this show since EXO came to their show. But nowadays, if I just feel bored I would watch it even though I am not a fan of the group that is in the show. Besides, the MC’s of the show are very funny and entertaining enough for me to keep watching. But of course it will be a lot better if I watch EXO again in this show. It is not just because I like EXO but EXO is so entertaining. 

I kept on thinking about EXO but the group that are now here in their show is Gfriend. This girl group has talented members but unfortunately they are not that popular unlike other girl groups. Well, the best thing is that they have solid fandom. “Whaaa! She has a great voice.” I heard Nick say it. I turned to look at him. I thought he was still scrolling on his phone so I was surprised that he was also watching. 

“You are watching too?” I asked Nick. “No I am not. What kind of question is that?” Nick replied. “Whatever Nick.” I replied. I don't want to waste my voice with him because I still have to talk to Mom and Dad later on. Janice stood up and went to the front door. After seeing her leaving I continued watching the show.

“They are here.” Janice said while running inside. “Really?” Nick asked. I turned to look at him. “Ehh?” I exclaimed. Nick and Janice turned to look at me after I said it. I only reacted because of Nick. A while ago he was being sarcastic because maybe he thinks that what I asked was common sense but now he is doing it. “Ahhh… I was surprised to hear that they already arrived. That’s why.” I explained while scratching my head. I lied knowing that because if I say the truth it will create a mess and I can’t afford to have that now. I still have something to clear so maybe next time. 

“I see. Then please be ready.” Janice said. What?! Is this some competition or what? That was funny. I covered my mouth using my right hand to stop myself from bursting out laughing. We all stood up and just waited for Mom and Dad to come inside the house. The front door slowly opened and I knew that it was them. Nick came closer to me. Close enough for me to hear his heart beating so fast. I was surprised at how tense he is so I looked at him. I can’t see it on his face but his heart beat says the opposite of what you can see. Wow! He managed his expression well. 

I held his hands. It was cold as ice. “Hey, you okay?” I asked Nick. I know he isn’t but I just wanted to hear it from him. “A little tense, but I can manage.” Nick answered. At first I thought he would lie to me but he didn’t. “Cool!” I said then turned my attention to the door back. 

Mom and Dad finally entered the house. As soon as their eyes saw us they ran so fast that it was enough for them to come in our direction for 5 seconds. They both hugged us. Mom, Dad, Nick and I are so close to each other now. “I am sorry.” Mom said while sobbing. “We shouldn’t have broken the promise we did.” Dad added. “I can’t breathe.” I exclaimed. 

Gosh! I exclaimed because I can no longer breathe because of their strong energy. Mom and Dad separated their bodies from us. “Sorry.” Mom said while caressing my hair. “It is okay. I did not die though, which is great.” I replied and got his hands off my head. “Come, let us all sit first.” Dad said after seeing me doing that. Mom’s face saddened more that’s why I think dad said that. 

I wanted to say something because I felt guilty for doing that. The thing why I got off Mom’s hand was because he was messing my hair. Mom and Dad extended their hands to lead us to go and sit on the sofa. We sat on the sofa but Mom and Dad didn’t. I was surprised they sat on the floor to level Nick and me. “Are you both mad at us?” Mom broke the silence and said. “No, I am not.” Nick answered immediately. Mom and Dad held Nick’s hands and nodded then turned to look at my direction. “How about you Michael, are you mad?” Dad asked. 

I know that this is the time that I should say the truth and let out what I truly feel deep inside my heart. I let out a deep sigh first and looked at both Mom and Dad’s eyes consecutively. I stopped looking at their eyes and looked down to look at their hands. I put both my hands on top of Mom, Dad and Nick’s hands. 

“To be honest, I am not that mad… I would definitely say that I am a hundred percent disappointed because I made you promise and I thought that it will not be broken. I never said anything when it happened to me but doing this to Nick makes my heart ache a hundred times more. I know that you know how much I care about Nick and I don’t want him to feel as if he is another person who came into this house but still not totally accepted.” I explained. 

I can feel Nick’s eyes are looking at me now and I can also sense that he has this feeling of guilt right now. I tried my best not to get off track and just focus on letting out what I really feel as of the moment. “But you know what, Nick told me not to because it makes him think that it is his fault.” I added. “Michael…” Nick said. I stopped him by adding more. “And it opened my eyes to look at your point of view. I know that you are all busy handling the business because you are only looking forward to our future most especially that Nick added to this family. And that made me realize that I should be grateful to the both of you. So… I am sorry for doing that and for saying and shouting at the both of you. Besides, about me and Nick going somewhere it was actually the park that I met Nick. I asked him to go there because we were already ready when the so-called family day was said not to be. It would be a waste dressing up, you know.” I explained. “HAHAHA.” Dad laughed. 

I saw Mom and Dad formed a smile after I let out and said everything I really wanted to say. “Oh. Thank you for understanding.” Mom said and hugged me. “Eyyy! Stop it. You know I don’t like this kind of thing right?” I said to Mom.