I move my feet after hearing someone knocking outside the door. I swung it open and was not surprised to see Pete carrying their stuff in both of his arms together with Auntie. I tried to snatch the other bag in his hand when he moved it away.
" It's heavy, Sue."
" I can."
He said nothing else and let me carry the bag: then they made their way inside. That's new, he never hesitate to say no to me a thousand times. Even I beg him--I have immediately pulled down the floor as if a magnet was stuck on the floor to pull me down like this.
" Pete..."
I called him, struggling to lift their bag. What does he put in here? Rocks? Heavy Metals? I thought this only has their clothes and other stuff, not their whole house and furniture.
Well, he came back to me and took the bag from me.
" I told you, it's heavy," he whispered.
Then, Mom came running from the kitchen with a turner in her hand, " Oh my gosh, Sue. Why didn't you tell me?" she said while giving kisses to the cheeks of Pete and Auntie.
" Show their room to Pete, okay?"
She took Auntie away to the kitchen, leaving me with Peter alone in the living room.
" Let's go?"
I stepped ahead of him, and I could feel he was following me from behind. I opened the door of my room, where they'll stay, I let him enter first since he carries baggage that contains heavy metals.
I started moving away my things right after I got home the other day and after Mom agreed with my idea. She also feels excited about Peter and Auntie moving in with us. I also set the bed, and a mattress on the floor since my bed can only take a single person. The posters and other kinds of stuff found on my desk, I stepped aside. And also cleaned the other side of my cabinet where they could put down theirs.
" It's not your first time sleeping in my room, right?"
He stared at me: but didn't answer, so I gave him a soft laugh at him.
" Feel yourself at home, Pete. You could go down after you settle in your stuff unless you need some help?"
" No need," he responds.
I left him in their room and went downstairs to check on his Mom and my Mom--our Moms. I can say they're comfortable with each other and a real bestie like us. They're enjoying each other and act like a teenager while cooking. And I couldn't help but smile from afar.
" Aren't you going to join them?"
I jumped out of my place, holding my heart that almost came out of my chest.
" Ahh-Peter!" I slapped his arm hard, " You're so annoying!"
I walked away from him, and joined Auntie than entertain him. The way he unpacked their things, it seemed like I left him seconds ago.
" Hi, Mom, is the food ready?" I interrupted them.
" Yes, Madam," she sarcastically said, " Call Peter already so we can eat together."
I frowned at her and going back to Peter where I last left him. He doesn't move there a bit as if he's watching us with crossed arms. I signed him to come with me still with a frown that didn't fade. I heard him chuckle and placed one arm around my shoulders.
We finished our lunch together. And it never felt as if before, we were the only ones who were teasing each other, but now we have someone with us. Pete also helped me with Mom's garden, and they're like each other when it comes to plants. They both like to keep plants around their home: but Peter never got a chance to take care of one of his own, since his father doesn't like any of it. He calls them bad luck, so when Pete got his first plant, the cactus, it was never to be found the other day.
And as for dinner, Mom and Auntie cooked together just like a while ago. We enjoyed the night as a family, a real family.
" I'll just give this to them, Mom," I said, carrying a blanket and pillow.
I forgot to add this up to their bed. It weren't dry yet, so I didn't take it until I forgot. Peter will suffer from the cold atmosphere around my room. As much as I don't want to give it to him anymore, Mom will scold me afterward.
But before I stepped into their room, a swing was left open on the door that made their conversation transparent.
" I won't apply for college, yet until I get a part-time job to provide for us."
"Peter? I don't want you to give up your dreams for me,"
" I'm not, Mom... I-I'm just prioritizing you as my Mom, and soon I will go reach that phase too,"
Their words seem to start to argue.
" No, you're going to college. I may be away from you all those years but that doesn't mean I didn't think about this, about your future. I-I invest for your college, for your dream, I hope it's enough. And if isn't, I'l-I'll just come back to work-"
"Work over yourself? Mom, the Doctor said you need to rest,"
" Yes, but I don't want to give you a burden-"
" Stop saying that, you've done enough, Mom. Stop arguing-"
" It's better to leave that way-"
I interfered with them immediately before Peter would give another blow. I knocked on the door, and they both fixed their position. While Auntie lay down, facing the wall, and covered herself with the blanket.
" Did I disturb you?"
He shakes his head. It didn't take me long, and I handed him the ones in my hands. I smiled at him before leaving them. Their backs were facing each other based on my peripheral vision.
I sigh while walking back to Mom's room. I shouldn't have eavesdropped on their conversation. It feels like I've given myself another to think.
Family over his dreams.
He wasn't selfish to chose his family, his Mom. He's ready to let go of his dreams. But Auntie will think she'll be a burden because Pete did that for her. Peter will seem selfish, yes, to himself though...
I want to tweak myself to sleep.
AS I GOT MY TOWEL, I stepped foot out of the room. The aroma of coffee became even stronger when I came out. And I met Pete outside since the door of ours is facing front to each other. He's also carrying a towel on his left.
" Ladies first?" he sounded unsure.
Then, we heard Auntie's voice from behind before I could say no.
" Sue, can we talk?"
" I guess you're first," I said to Peter.
I watched him walk downstairs, even caught him stealing a look at me before going in. I just shrugged my shoulders and followed Auntie to their room. She sat down on the bed, and I grabbed the chair from my study table to have a sit.
She's rubbing her hand together before starting to talked, and heard her chuckle, "I'm gonna get to the point, and I want a favor."
" Sure, Auntie," I answered even though I don't know what is she talking about as long as I could provide help.
"... Can you talk to Peter?"
My forehead started to creased. Talk with Peter? Is this had something to do with the conversation I overheard last night?
" Wh-What? I mean why, Auntie? About what? "
" I don't want to see him suffer especially since he's going to college... both of you... you're going to have a lot of a hard time... He's letting his dreams a-away a-and I wa-want you t-to help him in track,"
I sat beside her as she started to stutter and tears... tears wanted to start streaming down her eyes. I rubbed her back to calm her down, which isn't good for her. Her heart.
" Auntie, calm down..."
She placed both elbows above her knee and covered her face with her palms, "Is this too much, Sue?"
" No, No, Auntie. It's fine, I'll try. I'll try, Auntie."
She wiped her tears while I still rubbed her back to calm down. We stayed like this until she calmed down. While I was thinking about how can I talk with Peter later? He's stubborn, he won't listen. It takes time for him to listen. But this is a favor, from his mom.
I walked out of their room after Auntie calmed down. I even caught Pete coming upstairs, massaging his hair with a towel, but I ignored him and goes straight to the bathroom.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I ASKED before I go over to their room, " It's almost dinner, and you haven't eaten your lunch the food is waiting downstairs,"
" Sue..." he recognized when he turned back at the door but immediately looked back to what he was doing on his laptop on the desk, " Just some... application. I'll go down later,"
" Application for what? You're skipping meal again," I leaned beside the table, watching him typing some words.
" Work,"
I pout at the same time nodded, " Shouldn't you be busy applying for coll--"
" Why? Do you need your desk?" he asked, looking straight at me, interrupting me from my question.
" No," I said, shaking my head," Uhh-You can use it... I'm not borrowing it," I smiled.
I pulled myself up and started to walk out of the room without any words traded between us. I stopped when I'm already holding the handle of the door. This is the perfect timing, right? Yeah.
" Can we--"
" Can you shut the door when you leave? Thanks, Sue." he requested, looking away from his screen.
Why is he keeping on clipping my words off? It's so frustrating for him. He keeps on avoiding the question.
My fingers were keeping on fidgeting before having the nerve to open my mouth, "I overheard your conversa-"
" Me too,"
I was not dumb-struck after hearing those words. That still makes sense: it does, " I want you to understand--"
" I understand perfectly,"
" Will you please stop cutting my words?" my voice slightly raised at him as I catch up on him at the desk and swivel his chair, facing me, " Sorry... but will you just listen?" I said in a calmed tone, not asking anymore: but it's a demand.
" Okay,"
He moved away from the desk and the chair squeaked when he leaned his back and lowered his hand, that reaches underneath the chair. He looked at me, blankly. Or this is just him when he's also serious, I don't know. His eyes never change it moods. But I don't care, I need his ears not his... ugly, cold face.
" Thank you... Okay-umm-first of all, I want to help, you know that."
" You're helping... a lot,"
" Yeah, and now we're in college: I want to finish this with you just like how we've done the other two graduations we had together. Do you get that?"
He nodded. I heard a sigh from him while using his hands to fix his position, so he rose a little from his seat " But Sue, someone needs me, my Mom needs me. And that doesn't mean I won't pursue college this upcoming school year, I will work and study at the same time. It's possible, besides it's going to be part-time." he explained.
And I hold the handle of his chair, reaching the level of his seriousness, " And my point is, I want to be there with you, for each other. Because I know you're having a hard time, I'm having a hard time too: we both are. And its going to be difficult on your part, so if possible I badly want to help for a thousand times, I don't care. Let's chase our dreams together, hmm?"
He seemed to fold from what I said: when he averted his gaze, " Promise?" I raised my pinky finger, seeking inside him.
" We're making promises this summer, huh," he said, then locked his pinky on mine.
" Ilike promises. And for your job, I think Mom has something to do with that,"
"That's a lot,"
" Come on, it's like your her child too,"
" Like mother, like daughter, huh?"
I came close to him, grabbed his head, and buried my fist in his hair to mess it up, "Of course," I answered.
" Sue, stop!"
I didn't let him go as I started to lock his neck on my arms, wrestling him to death. And he's trying to fight my arms off, " Don't skip your meals too, understand?"
" Ye-yeah, stop! I need to finish my resume!"
Because he was so strong against me, he was able to remove the arm that wrapped around his neck. He cough when he's trying to catch his breathe. Before he returned to the desk, I preceded him and peeped at his 'resume'.
" Susan, let go!"
He tried to push me away, but I held the table, tight enough: but it was struggling to read.
" Stop! Wait! Where did you get this template?"
He even tried to sneak inside my arms, but I hid the laptop from him. I swing my hips from side to side, blocking him from his laptop, "Really? Fluent in Spanish? Since when? A-and Ex-excellent in time management?" I chuckle at him.
When I turned my head on him, he managed to grab my waist and lift me off the table, " Get off, Sue!"
He landed my feet on the floor like a doll.
" Give me an example of your Spanish, Mi chica, " I teased in Spanish Accent. That's the only word I knew when I was Gr.9 from my classmate back then. And I already forgot what is the meaning of it but the only thing I know it's not a curse word.
" I'm not a girl, Sue!"
That made my jaw drop to the ground.
" Wait-What? Chica isn't-" I didn't finish my sentence when I covered my mouth as I burst into laughter. I keep on laughing until he turns around the chair back to the screen.
My hand transfer to my stomach when it's starting to hurt from my continuous laughter, " Chica, you're a chica!"