It has been 2 years, since I saw family drama, sometimes too happy to sleep, sometimes a lot of worry, Bumi family is just another typical, normal family, that I almost never got to experience. Mr. and Mrs. Bumi provided me with everything I needed and I still hesitate to ask for things I just wanted. Margie always starts the conversation when we need something from school and we usually get them immediately. We have our own allowances but I don't actually use it. I keep it in the bank account they opened for me some time ago and I never use it for leisure. I just thought that it could be my emergency fund for events I hope that will never happen, like going back from where I came from. Even though I hesitated to use it for potential dating before. Barbie is now at the age of entering a university.
"Mom, you should let me go now" Barbie tries to get Mrs. Bumi to stop hugging her, Mr. Bumi is on the phone while saying farewell to her first daughter entering her new life.
"Remember, call when you need anything, even if you just miss us, call, all right?" Mrs. Bumi was acting clingy.
"Yes Mom, of course, Where should I go to, when things get rough?" Barbie said.
"Margie" Barbie turned to Margie and they gave each other a hug "Always be careful all right and pass your driver's license"
Margie is now 16, and now in the middle of her getting driver's license. She's not doing great though with her practices. We still hope that it does not get to a point that she has to redo it.
"And my brother, Grei" Barbie then turns to me.
It just has been 2 years since I got into this family. We hardly see each other for she is always in her room studying and we started to chat for a while now but not too much. So, I don't think we are on the hugging level yet. But still, Barbie hugged me, then shrugged while gripping my shoulders.
"I know you will be with me in the University before I know it, I will be waiting." Barbie held my hand and squeezed it so she knew what would happen.
Barbie got into her car and drove off, we followed her by sight, till she turned to the corner.
I continued doing what I do, Margie and I were graduating Junior high this year and I could see that she was on the verge of breaking down from all the pressure that we get in completing requirements and clearances to graduate.
"You need to teach me how you stay calm with all of this list of projects and get over with them" Margie mentioned while stocking herself in a pile of books and paperwork.
"I told you to organize your things and prioritize what needs to be done first," I said.
"But I know, all of this is important and urgent. How the hell should I choose what to do? I am doing this paper for Ms. Patty and another presentation that should be polished by now for Ms. Lily. I'm done for." She keeps contradicting herself on what to do next.
"I already helped you with Ms. Patty's paper. You already have the idea just finish that for now. I already saw your presentation and I think the idea is there, just organize it in a pleasing manner and you are good to go. Just do it"
Margie just shrugged then whine from time to time until she finished everything that night.
When I walked out of our study room, I saw the lights were still off in the hallway. Mr. Bumi is getting late a lot more often these days. While Mrs. Bumi is always with Mr. Bumi assisting him with the business. I just can feel when they are going through difficulties. But they always... Always get through them just fine.
"I think, they're late again tonight"
While I opened the stove to prepare dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Bumi entered the front door arguing.
"What now! What should we do now?! You sold our last batch at a price that did not even get to a profit, even much more to our expense. How the hell can we get through this time? Huh?!" Mrs. Bumi is yelling her throat out at Mr. Bumi.
This is very rare indeed; they usually argue in their room and not to the extent that Mrs. Bumi should yell.
Mrs. Bumi walked straight to the kitchen where I was, waiting for the water to boil before I put the noodles in. She saw me but her reaction could not change that fast. Her eyes were red like she was about to burst. She sighed when our eyes met and just continued what she was about to do, lifted a clean glass from the counter, and took a pitcher of water from the fridge.
I was about to say something when Mr. Bumi entered the kitchen and Mrs. Bumi stormed out and slammed their room behind her. Mr. Bumi just stood there.
"Mr. Bumi, I hope everything will be all right soon..."
Mr. Bumi looked at me and took a deep breath, and I could just see that he was about to cry.
"I will do my best son. It was just a mistake; I made a very bad mistake."
He said that in a very low voice and in so much pain that I could actually feel it too.
It did not take long before Mr. and Mrs. Bumi's Business was down to drain, it was all over the news. Every day became a lot less fun and a lot quieter. They get home late more, sometimes they take days before they see us. Margie is getting worried and I know it because when things get seriously rough, she drops her giggly self, and then becomes quiet, it seems that the Margie I know becomes so much different. Our study room feels like I am in it all alone most of the time. I know what is happening but I do not dare to talk about it unless they try to start the conversation.
I was in the zone of thought for nearly getting to finish my term paper. We even just have 2 months left, till graduation.
"But then, I heard sobbing across the room"
I saw Margie, head down on her desk and covering her face, breathing heavily and sobbing. This was the first time I saw her that way. I don't think I could let it be this time.
I rolled my chair near her and stroked her back, trying to comfort her. I fixed her hair to a knot that's going all over her wet face.
"...I'm scared Grei, what if everything goes down the drain?"
"I'm not sure... but you know your mom and dad, they always get through it together. Do not worry so much, nothing will be too serious."
"I hope so..."
"I feel it is different this time..." then Margie started to sob again. She turned to me, hugged me, then put her face in my chest. We stayed that way for too long that I could feel my lower back stiff, and hear cracks when I moved. My arms got numb from stroking her back and I think she dozed off a couple of times.
"Whatever happens, I know, it will be me whose hanging on a thread. I am scared too... I haven't felt this for a long time..."