I woke up feeling great. I wouldn't have to wake up early in the morning anymore. I told them about me resigning my job, and they said it's fine. I told my mom that I'm still going to contribute about the expenses in the house. I know money is so tight right now. I can't wait to join the League. Few more months and some balls dribbling. Almost there Rr. Almost there.
"What's up Con Con?" she's standing at my ajar door. She look at me smiling. I get up and rub my eyes. "What is it?" I say standing up.
"Ollie is downstairs." Ollie? I grab my phone and notice the five missed calls and three texts on the screen. I guess I slept greatly. "Okay, be there in a sec." I say then she runs back. I sigh, this kid won't listen to me.
I see Ollie is talking with Alex in the living room. Both eyes darts to me in an instant. I suddenly feel conscious under their gaze - it feels like I am a stranger before their eyes.
"Sorry I didn't see your calls." I say.
"It's okay. Do you have time?" he asks. Alex look at me in the eyes and smile bitterly. She stands and walk to the kitchen. "Mom, I'm hungry." she says while approaching the kitchen. What time is it?
"Yeah. What's up?" I ask.
He fiddle his fingers then went staring the floor like it's the most interesting in the world. "What's the matter?" I ask, slowly approaching him. I grab his chin with my fingers then I lift his face. Cheeks pink tinted by the weather. He breaths and I almost caught up with it. So mesmerizing.
"I..-" before he finish his sentence. I speak, "Let's talk somewhere else."
"Oh."
"Mom, we're going out." I say.
"Are you guys not going to eat breakfast first before going out?" she says from the kitchen.
"No probably not." I say.
"Bye Olivia. See yah Alex." Ollie says.
"Bye honey, take care."
"Hold on, let me grab my keys." I say running back to my room.
"Drive safely Rafael." Mom says.
"Let's go. Bye mom. Later Alex."
"Later."
We go to my car. I open the door for him. He blush clambering inside. I shut it and run to the driving wheel.
"Where to?" I ask as I insert my key to the ignition. He look at me, thinking where we could probably go. The weather is suprisingly great today. Although the stench of wet air still hangs in the town. Grey clouds scattered, sun rays beaming like a flashlight inbetween the clouds. Yep, it's totally a nice day the town could ask for.
"Anywhere, but here." he says. His whole demeanor is gloomy contrast to the nice weather.
"Okay." I start the car. It rattles; the radiator shakes uncontrolably like there's something wrong with it. Dark smoke came out at the back and I grimace feeling ashamed.
I pull out to the road. Thinking I haven't ate a thing this morning, maybe I should have grabbed the oppurtunity earlier. But Ollie got something bothering him, at least, that's the signal I'm getting from him. And I feel like I have to do something.
Maybe some peaceful place. The court is probably pack right now in the morning and same with the park. So I drive to the abandoned court just outside the town.
● ● ●
The old court is grassy, sprouting everywhere in the fenced court. Lots of trash are littered. I start kicking them in our way. The bench is suprisingly good although littered with some writings and funny drawings, mosses have grown on the seat board's seaming and arm rest since it wasn't used for years. The whole place is gloomy yet peaceful. Ollie seem to appreciate it. We sit down on the tattered bench.
"Would..-"
"I..-"
"You go first." I say.
"I wanted to talk to you." he begins. Eyes on the dirty pavement. My eyes on him.
"Hmmm." I hum.
"I, uh.." he's trying to find his words or trying how to tell me something. So I patiently wait. I grab his hands assuring him. He look me in the eyes and I gave him a weak smile.
"I almost gave in."
"No I gave in." he opens up. I'm yet to hear the whole thing so I let him.
"They were in my hands. One more move then I relapsed. If I move them into my mouth and swallowed, I won't be able to come back...anymore." his voice getting hoarsed. It's all new to me. It's feel new to me. I don't know what to do or to say. Should I say something? To comfort him? To ease him? To ease his pain? So I just sit here. Silently.
More silence. Neither of us talk. And I remember I haven't ate and probably Ollie.
"Would you like to eat something?" I ask. He look at me with a dewy eyes. They are so black.
He nods. I nudge my head and stand up. "C'mon." We go back to my car.
● ● ●
The restaurants and cafés here are nice but I prefer the food in my town. Jensen agrees with me. I pull in an empty parking space. The sign says, HuggaMug Café, I guess it's the establishment's name. I have been in a few cafés here but I didn't see this one before. We clamber out and walk inside. The air is chilly, pulling the jacket to my body. Every café got a bell installed. I swear, they spook me.
"Hi! Welcome to HuggaMug!" the counter attendant greets. Her name tag says, Sharon. "What would you like to order?" I ask Ollie.
"Whatever you order, I guess." he says.
I look up at their menu. Some regular drinks and foods. "What are your best selling foods here? I ask not looking at her since I'm busy reading the menu.
"You might want to try the original HuggaMug drink. And it tastes better with our original flavoring Butterscotch." she says with a genuine smile. "Two of those." I say. "Would you like to try our desert?" she queries before putting our orders. "Sure, why not?" She recites their list of deserts like she's been working here in a long time. Maybe she is.
I ended up ordering a two slices of an ordinary cake-dairy free.
"We will serve you in three minutes." she says.
We walk in the corner of the café. Secluded from prying eyes. Our order came in. "Enjoy you orders." a working teen-ager says. "Thank you."
I wanted to go to a restaurant but that was a bit too much. I am not a heavy eater especially in the morning. Ollie told me the same. That sometimes he only eats twice or once a day. Maybe that's why he looks skinny but I don't hold it against him. His body, his choice. As long he take care of himself, I'd be happy with it.
When we got out, I asked if him if where would else he wanted to go or to do. He wanted to just go home but he said that his home feels like it's suffocating him. Now we are sprawled in my living room. Television's on. Not paying attention to it. Just a background noise, an appreciated noise, at least, for me. Alex accompanied Connie to one of her bestfriend's birthday party. At least some of us are having fun. I look to Ollie who's busy burying his face on the couch pillow. Is he crying? No I don't think so. I let him. I put my hand on his back and started stroking it. My eyes darts to the television. We remained like that for the rest of the day. I pray for a sun. For Ollie.