KUMA

I could stop drumming my finger on the table. My Maths teacher was droning in and on about quadratic equations and was trying to solve for x on the white board.

I ran my fingers through my hair and gnawed in my bottom lip. I shouldn't have left my mom alone with dada, I should have waited. My CGPA was a 4.5, so I could miss a few days of school.

Were they yelling at each other right now? I thought to myself. Were they shouting about us and divorce again?

What if my parents really get divorced? Would Lily and Lego go with Mom or would they stay with dada? Deep down, I knew I really missed my Dada, it's been a while since I sat down to talk with dada. It's been long since I had gotten a hug from her too.

I don't realize a tear had slipped down my face.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I feels someone tap my shoulder. I turned to the side and comes face to face with the person sitting beside me.

"Here..." The girl hands me a handkerchief.

I frowns. "Why?"

The girl looked around to make sure no one was looking before leaning sideways to whisper. "You are crying a little."

My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed the handkerchief. I quickly wiped my eyes and took several deep breaths.

I never cried. At least not since I was six. I had always been a happy baby, according to my mom. I had never really had a reason to cry and I could also push down the emotion until it was buried deep.

"Thank you." I whispered as I gives the girl. I used this opportunity to take a good look at the girl beside me. The girl had pale white skin and strawberry blonde hair with freckles lining her nose. Her eyes were a bright green with... was the blue in her eyes too?

"Mr. Manoban!"

I looked away from the girl to my teacher. I give the man a droll look and rests my chin on my hand, my elbow on the table.

"Do you have something you want to share with the class?" Mr. Jenner, the maths teacher, said.

"Yeah... Can I leave?" I asked. I don't even wait for Mr. Jenner to reply, I just got up and walked towards the door. I could hear my classmates murmuring as I walked out of the class.

I makes my way to the library, pulled out my phone and AirPods before taking a seat at the corner, far away from the door and windows. I pulls out my phone and scrolled through my contacts.

To[Mommie]

Are you okay? Is Dada still there?

I don't get a reply on time. I put on my AirPods and hit shuffle in my music app. BMIKE's Anxiety comes on. I thought about changing it to another song but the lyrics got to me.

'These days I Just don't feel shit I don't feel a thing at all, I don't feel like I exist,' BMIKE yelled into my ears.

The thing is... when I was little, I used to wish I'd grow up to be just like my dada. My dada was strong, my dada loved and treated mommy (years ago) like she was the most precious thing she had. I used to wish I'd grow up and settle down just like my parents. I used to wish I'd find love just like my parents.

Love was just a sham.

Something that disappears after a few years and after a couple of kids.

If you love someone, you don't treat them like they were nothing. If you love someone, you don't treat them like they don't exist. If you love someone, you spend time with them and try to make them smile and laugh. If you love someone, you make sure they only every cry tears of joy. If you love someone, you don't just abandon them for another person.

JENNIE

To[Kuku]

I'm good. How are your classes?

I had sent that text hours ago and now it's already three. I had busied myself with making supper for the kids and Rosé, who had gone to pick Luca.

I had already prepared a late lunch for all of them. Just a couple of sandwiches and a large salad. I was listening to Kesha's Praying when Kuma comes in with Lego and Lily.

I squats down and hugged Lego and Lily as tightly as I could. They hugged me back just as tightly.

"How was school my little angels?"

Lego doesn't speak, he just pulled his glasses off his face and clutched it in his hands. Meanwhile Lily had no qualms talking about her finger painting class.

"What about you Lego? How was your day?" I asked. I stared at my son with hopeful eyes and gently pushed my fingers through Lego's blonde hair. He looked just like Lisa.

Lego shrugged. However, I don't get a chance to ask more because Lego walked right out of the kitchen.

I looked at Kuma who also shrugged. "Lily, darling, why don't you go and wash up while I talk to your brother?"

"Will I get ice cream if I do?"

"I can give you half a scoop?"

"Two scoops."

"One scoop with sprinkles." Lily's final reply.

"Fine." I said dramatically, my smile so big on my face. Once Lily was gone, I reached out towards Kuma who goes straight into my arms and hugged me. I smiles sadly as I held my son. From the age of twelve, Kuma went out of his way to avoid hugs. Yet, here he is, his arms wound tight around me, his nose pressed to my shoulder.

"Are you okay, Kuma?"

"I will be."

"I know you don't want to but if you do need to talk about anything, I am here for you." I said softly.

"I know."

We pull apart a few seconds later and I asked. "Do you know what's wrong with Lego?"

Kuma nods.

"Can you please tell me?"

"Mieee.." oh no. Mie only came out when it was something serious.

"Please."

"He thinks you're going to stop loving him. Just like dada."

~~~~~~~~~~