LEGO

"Lego!" Mrs. Belcher yelled, startling me out of my thoughts. I blinked a couple of times before I remembered where I was. This was the last class I was having before lunch and everyone was staring at me, even the teacher.

"And what is the answer to the question on the board?" Mrs. Belcher asked, one brow raised and her hands on her hips.

I squinted at the board. For some reason, I couldn't see what was on the board, despite wearing my glasses. So instead of delaying the inevitable, I says.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Mrs. Belcher snapped. "Detention after school. Maybe you'll spend the entire hour reading instead of daydreaming." Mrs. Belcher said.

I tried to pay attention to her as she began to go on and on about something. I didn't even know what today's topic was about. I should really be listening.

The thing is, I can't.

It's like all the joy I used to have in going to school was sucked right out of me. It's been days since I saw my dada and not once has dada called or texted.

The bell went off and I got up and began packing my bag. I was still lost in thoughts but my hands were working perfectly. I swings on my bag and made my way out of the classroom. I was so lost in thought, I didn't notice the look Mrs. Belcher had given me.

Out in the crowded hallway, I decided I was going to visit my dada. It was just twelve and I knew my dada was going to be at work. I contemplates telling Kuma where I was going but my elder brother looked like he had a lot on his mind.

I managed to sneak out of the school grounds by using the fire exit. I ran all the way to the nearest bus station and waited for the next bus to arrive. I got on immediately and made my way to the back of the bus and silently hoped I would get to talk to my dada today.

It takes me twenty minutes to get to Insterscope Global, where my dada worked as the Senior Executive Accountant. I walked to the dark skinned man sitting on the main floor, behind a desk with the name plate receptionist on it.

"Good afternoon. I'm here to see my dada." I told the man, whose name ID read Martin.

"And who is that?"

"Ms. Lisa Manoban. I'm her second child, Lego Justin Manoban" I replied. I hands Martin my school ID. The man looked at the card and at me.

"One second." He said and then picked up the phone beside him. He hit a number and in a couple of seconds spoke again. "There's a Lego Justin Manoban who wants to see the SEA." Martin paused and then nods. "Okay."

He looks at me as he placed the receiver down. "You may see her. She's on the tenth floor." He told me who grinned and grabbed my ID back. I made my way to the elevator, got in and hit the button for the tenth floor after a few jumps.

I knew I could have called my dada, my phone was in my pocket for crying out loud but seeing my dada face to face after a couple of days was better. I knew what my dada did to Mom wasn't okay in any way but I had a couple of questions to my dada needed to answer.

The entire tenth floor was mapped out as my Dada's office. It was huge and wide and everything was made of glass.

I finds a nice lady waiting for me and I was sure this was her dada's assistant.

"Hi! Your dada is waiting for you." She said as she led me towards a glass door that had Lisa Manoban S. E. A on it. The closer I got to the door, my nerves began to rise and my palms got sweaty. Now that I was this close, all the questions began to leave.

The woman knocks and then I finds myself standing in front of my dada.

LISA

I rushed over to my son and knelt down in front of him. I placed both hands on Lego's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"Are you okay? Did your Mom bring you? Aren't you meant to be at school?" I asked.

"I-I came alone." He replied, playing with the sleeve of his shirt.

My eyes widened. "You came alone? Does anyone know you left school?"

Lego shook his head.

I quickly pulled out my phone, ready to dial Jennie's number when Lego spoke. His question chilling me to the bone.

"Do you still love us?"

I pulled him in for a hug, squeezing my little son a little.

"I love you all so much. I love you and I love your Mommy with all my heart and I am so sorry about how things are at the moment."

"You just... You never call or text and Mommy is always alone and we don't like it." He said, his lips pursed a bit afterwards. "Are you going to leave us? Leave Mommy? Luca is just two!"

"Sweety, I am not leaving any of you. You are my family, I'm not going anywhere."

"You didn't tell me if you were getting a divorce or not?" He said, his voice coming out quiet and soft.

"I don't know, buddy. I really don't want one but I hurt your Mommy so much that she might want me."

"Why did you do it then?"

"I don't know what to tell you and you're a little too young to be involved in this. Why don't I take you back to school? I'm sure your teachers don't know you left and if your Momny finds out, she'll have a heart attack."

"Can you take me home instead?" He asked. "I want Mommy."

"Lego..."

"Please, dada."

I don't miss a beat. I nods and called for my assistant.

[AP]

Lego was so lost in his nerves that he didn't hear his dada yell her name. Everything sounded muffled, like he was underwater. He only comes to when Lisa ran her fingers through Lego's hair.

"Let's go, buddy." I said and Lego nods, his hand coming up to push his glasses up his nose. We made our way to the elevator and got on.

"Did you tell your brother you were leaving?"

He shook his head in response.

"This is why we got you a phone. Don't you think Kuma is going to worry?" I asked and Lego sighed.

"Have you had lunch yet?"

"No. I just wanted to see you so I came straight here." He replied as honestly as he could. I hit the halt button and the elevator went still. I kneels down in front of Lego and adjusts his glasses.

"I need you to promise me something."

"What?" Lego asked, a little pout on his face.

"Promise me that you won't do something like this again. Promise me you'll tell your brother or your Mommy if you want to leave instead of just ghosting on them."

"I promise."

"And I promise to call and text you everyday."

"Pinky swear?" Lego asked, raising his finger up.

"Pinky swear." I replied as I wrapped my pinkie around him. When we get to the lobby, Chance informs me that my car had been pulled out front. Lego gets into the backseat and straps himself in while I got in the front.

"Why don't we stop for a quick lunch at Subway before going home?" "Can I order a to go? For myself and Mommy?" Lego asked.

I knew Jennie was going to freak out when she sees me standing beside Lego.

I agrees and made my way to the nearest Subway. Lego ordered for himself and his Mommy as well as two cups of Tango orange. I tried to pick up the conversation as I drove home but Lego was silent.

"Are you going to stay home with us?" He asked a few more minutes of silence. The question stunned me for a bit.

"I want to. God, you have no idea how much I want to but it all depends on your Mommy." I replied, I grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"I miss you."

"And I miss you too, sweety."

"You never read Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets like you promised." Lego said. "You missed Kuma's birthday and Lily's recital."

"I know..."

"We all saw you kiss another woman that wasn't Mommy." Lego adds. "You made Mommy cry."

"Lego..."

Lego lets out a sob and quickly opens his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. "I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have seen you."

I was tempted to look behind but I was on the road and could only look at my son through the mirror. Lego let his tears roll down his cheeks as he looked out of the window. Immediately, I pulled into the drive way of the house, Lego tore out of the car and made his way to the door. He banged on the door a couple of times and let out a cracked sob I carry him up.

"Dada..." he cried, his glasses in an awkward position on his face. The door was quickly pulled open.

JENNIE

When I open the my heart skipped several beats when I see Lego and Lisa. I quickly rushed to my baby boy and grabbed him.

"Lego. What's wrong? What's going on?" I asked, frantic. "What did you do?" I snapped at Lisa as I pulled Lego into her and pressed kisses onto Lego's face.

"I'm so sorry, Miemie." Lego bawled as he buried his face into my neck. I don't spare Lisa any more attention and just made my way into the house. I rubbed Lego's back as I walked up the stairs.

"You're scaring me, Lego Justin."

"S-sorry, Miemie." Lego sniffed, his head still on my shoulder.

I takes Lego to his room and placed him on the bed gently. I kneels in front of my baby and stared at him with worried eyes.

"How about you tell me what happened?" I asked as I wipes his tears with my thumbs.

"Mrs. Belcher have me detention and I ran away from school. I wanted to see Dada and ask her why." Lego replied honestly.

My eyes widened with shock. "Lego Justin Manoban! You left school?! Did you tell your brother?! You could have called me!" Lego drops his head, his eyes on the floor.

"I'm so sorry."

"Never do that again, Lego. You can call your dada or text her, that's why you have a phone!."

"I won't."

"Two weeks! You're grounded for two weeks! No tv, no comic books and no games!"

Lego doesn't say anything. I watched my son as he pulled off his glasses and dried his tears. My heart felt like it was about to beat right out of my chest. I don't even notice Lisa was leaning against the door until she spoke.

"I called his homeroom teacher and settled everything. Lego has detention tomorrow though." Lisa said, her hands in her pocket. I got on my feet and faced her.

"You should have called me."

"He told me not to. He wanted me to bring him home to you." She replied, standing up straight.

"You as an adult and his dada should know what's right and what isn't!" I snapped.

"Like you're such a great parent! You didn't even know your nine year old left school!" Lisa snapped back. My eyes widened as her words sunk in, before she could apologize, my hand reached out.

I slapped her as hard as I could.

"Jennie, Loveee.."

"You didn't have to rub it in my face! I am feeling so scared right now and you go and say stupid shit like that!" I gestures with my hands, my eyes bright with unshed tears and anger.

"I didn't mean it." She said. She cautiously took my hands in her and pulled me closer until I was in her arms, nose pressed into her chest. "You are a great mother, a lovely and brave mother. You are the best." Lisa said softly.

I don't cry. As soon as I was in Lisa's arms, my body began to relax and my heart beat began to calm down.

"He's safe. He's home. He's right here." Lisa whispered. I sighed. It strangely felt like I had her back, my old Lisa who knew what to say and how to comfort me like she knew all of my fears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~