Kai, who was sitting across the room from the couple, was eating heartily, unaware of whatever was happening at their table.
Bentlee's phone vibrated, making her snap out of the trance she was in.
She jerked away from his touch and reached for her phone.
She stared at the caller ID in horror.
"What The Fuck" She swore forgetting about the twerp's presence.
"What?" Zeke asked.
"Shhhhhhhh" Bentlee shushed him and picked the call.
"What?" She said instantly.
"Is that how you talk to your family?" The lady on the other end snarled.
"Hm? Oh them? I'll just cut the call then" Bentlee replied.
"Wait, you bitch"
And Bentlee ended the call.
Her good-for-nothing cousin was calling her for a reason she didn't want to know.
The phone vibrated again and the scree flashed with the same caller ID.
"Talk" Bentlee said picking the call.
"I need some cash"
"No"
"I haven't even said what I want to use it for"
"I don't care, No... Since that's it, I'll be ending the call now"
"Wait!! I have a good reason"
"What is it then?"
Jenny was feeling pressured.
"Uhhh..... C-c-cancer! There's a cancer"
"Cancer?" Bentlee's interest was piqued.
"Who has a cancer?" She asked.
"M-m-mom, my mom does" Jenny said with silent forced sobs.
Bentlee adjusted her sitting position.
"When did you find out? What happened?" Bentlee was worried now.
"It's at stage two. The doctor said it's not critical yet, but we need to treat it because it's growing fast"
Bentlee wasn't convinced yet but her resolution to be hardened and nonchalant was failing.
"I'll call you back" Bentlee said and cut the call.
She took a deep breath and stared at her plate.
She decided to call her aunt and ask.
"Hello?"
"Aunt, is it true?"
"You still lack manners I see"
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"That you have a stage two cancer"
"W-what?!! I have a stage two cancer? Who told you that??"
"Jen"
"O-oh...uhhhh.. It's, its..... It's true. We found out not long ago. But.... Why did she tell you? It's not like you're grateful for being a part of this family"
Bentlee rolled her eyes so far back she could swear she saw he brain.
"Have you been going for chemotherapy?"
"Uhhh....no.... We don't have the money for such, you see"
"..."
Bentlee hated how much they depended on her while she lived with them.
She didn't want them depending on her while she lived away from them either, but This was different.
Her aunt was sick, and it felt wrong turning her back on them now.
"I'll pay half"
"W-what?"
"your chemo treatment bills..... I'll pay half of it.... So find a way to get the other half. You have 4 kids"
"My, thank you Niece" she added sobbing gently.
.....
Zeke watched Bentlee silently.....
She was on the phone with someone who annoyed her from the expressions her face made . He was sure she wasn't aware she was making faces.
He watched her roll her eyes several times.
She looked bored and tired until the person on the line said something.
Bentlee's face turned serious and her expression was attentive.
He wondered what made her so attentive.
In a few minutes, she was off the call, but she was on another one in seconds.
She still looked serious.
It was not that Zeke couldn't hear what she was saying, but he chose to focus on her unconscious reactions than what she was saying.
She was off the second call as well, and he asked her, " What's wrong?"
"My aunt...."
"What happened to her?"
"She....has cancer"
"...."
"I'm so-"
"Don't be.... We weren't close, and she never acted like I was her family so"
"You're obviously affected by that news Bentlee"
"I'm not..... It's just.... A surprise. That's all"
"....." Zeke was silent.
But he noticed something she did which amazed him.
She was still eating, very well.
She was obviously sad but her stomach knew what was important to it.
Zeke almost chuckled when he saw her physically fighting herself from enjoying the food.
His gaze shifted to the little twerp that was seated beside her.
The boy was heartily enjoying whatever he saw Bentlee eat.
...
"Dad!" The boy shouted, making the two adults at the table where he sat face the entrance.
"Welcome back" Bentlee said with a smile.
"Thank you" the man replied.
"Would you like to join us?" Bentlee asked.
"Oh that's okay, my shift is about to start so I have to go. C'mon bud" the man spoke in the little twerp's direction.
The boy frowned and sighed heavily.
Zeke could swear that this boy was really a 45 year old man by his attitude.
Toby got up from where he sat and walked to where his father stood.
"Well then, Bentlee, I'll see you again sometime. Will Come for my..... birthday next month?" The boy said
His face was red and adorable and Bentlee nodded, "sure".
Then she looked at his father and said, "I'll stop by the supermarket to ask about when it is"
The man nodded and held the boy's hand.
After saying their goodbyes, the boy and his father were gone.
Bentlee and Zeke were left at the table in a comfortable silence.
Bentlee was quiet, which was unusual to Zeke.
He knew the reason why and he understood her silence.
The information was a lot to process and he wouldn't disrupt the silence she needed.
*Beep beep*
Zeke's phone sounded, indicating that he had received a message.
He unlocked his phone and tapped on the messages icon.