The thing about losing conscious, is that you cease to exist, even just for a few minutes. No pressure, no expectations and no mind wandering.
Philip heard an eerie silence as he was gaining his bearings. It was weird because of how much big the house was, one couldn't expect it to stay that quiet.
But, what do you know? They put a cotton like thing in each of his ears and that's when the noise came back to hit him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" Philip heard a girl's voice before seeing a teenager in the doorway, peeking at him, "Should I call Aiden for you?"
Philip couldn't help but, chuckle at how silly she sounded just like somebody she knows. She was definitely Aiden's sister.
"I'm Philip by the way" Said Philip extending his hand and what do you know? the girl jumped to hug Philip so tightly.
"You're so big but, so fragile that its embarrassing" Said the girl simply making Philip gasp at the jab, "Thanks?"
"I'm Christina but, my brother calls me Tina. The only one who dares anyway and since you are his boyfriend, I don't see why not" Said Tina seriously making Philip smile. Christina was this chubby piece of heaven and Philip liked that vibe.
"So, I'm his boyfriend" Said Philip testing his tongue with the words.
"Yeah, but if you ask me you are more of a girl to be called like that" Said Tina, studying Philip.
"Well, I don't mind the scrutiny. How did you take it that your brother has a boyfriend?" Asked Philip curious. Was Tina apathetic?
"I had a choice in that?" Asked Tina, wide eyed just thinking about her fantasies.
"Sorry, I asked" Said Philip running from a heartbreak. He learned that when a person reply with a question means the straightforward answer could be brutal.
"Oh, you are awake!" Came Aiden's voice from the door before he went for a deep kiss making Tina feel like a third wheel.
"Okay, I don't want to know all this" Said Tina interrupting the kiss, upsetting Aiden, "Then leave!"
"Normally I would but, that would mean explaining to them why it's not Mia you are kissing right now" Explained Tina going to sit on the couch.
"Tina, Mia and I already broke up and now I'm with Philip, what's there to explain?" Asked Aiden cluelessly.
"It's not my business anyway but, your family will eat him alive" Said Tina thpughtfully making Philip scared.
"I guess that'd be a battle for another time because, we are going back home" Said Aiden getting Philip from the bed.
"What about the plan?" Asked Philip not really registering what he was feeling. Relief or disappointment?
"Philip dear, you had one awful panic attack and if it wasn't for Tina I wouldn't know what to do right now" Said Aiden kissing Philip again and again before he was pushed off by Philip.
"She's a doctor?" Asked Philip impressed
"A far cry... Too many medicine series in this head. But, you woke up and somebody didn't kill our sweet Debbie for that so, I rest my case" Explained Tina dryly. Doesn't Tina have emotions?
"She had that one coming" Defended Aiden, making Tina laugh humorlessly, leaving Philip in shock. What did Aiden do?.
"Darling, you should have seen this side of Aiden. It was pure entertainment!" Tina was telling Philip proudly.
"Darling?" Aiden raised his eyebrows at that.
"Come on! I love feminine men but, this one is yours so no line crossing here" Explained Tina making Philip stun. No scalding? Where was he? A family like that existed?
Philip couldn't even begin to process his surroundings before Aiden offered to carry her to their car but, Philip wanted to walk and they wasn't even two steps from the room when she saw a red head woman in the kitchen and remembered why they came that day.
"I want to help out before I leave" Said Philip pleadingly at Aiden who just sighed at that.
"Are you sure?" Asked Aiden pointedly at Philip who nodded vigorously.
"Where are the groceries?" Asked Philip when he remembered about them.
"In the car" Replied Aiden half heartedly.
"Can you help me fetch them?" Begged Philip before Aiden kissed his forehead and got a move on.
"That's not the best idea, Philip" Said Tina after Aiden went away, startling him.
"I wasn't one famous for sane decision making" Replied Philip with a smile.
"That's obvious but, let me be here with you just incase" Said Tina before flashing a blinding smile at the woman, "And here we are, at your disposal. To help you cook dinner"
"Hi" Greeted Philip awkwardly making the red head snarl at him. That was unexpected considering her humble face.
"I thought you were just leaving" Said the woman, disgusted. What was said between them and Aiden?.
"He was but, I held him back for this so, I can at last taste his cooking. Aiden sure knows how to brag" Said Tina with a chuckle.
"Whatever, I could use some lessons too on how beggars can survive in the kitchen" Said the woman simply. She wasn't a fan of Philip. That was obvious.
"So, what do they call you?" Asked Philip to the woman making her take offense at that. So, Aiden never talks about her? After everything that went down between them.
"Debbie, the mom?" Replied the woman curtly.
"Are these all your relatives?" Asked Philip to the lot of them in the living room, others outside in the pool and Philip wasn't sure but, some would definitely be in their rooms.
"I wish... most of them are Tina's stray" Replied Debbie with a shake of her head.
"Okay, I'm right here" Said Tina with the roll of her eyes.
"You pick up strangers, Tina?" Asked Philip in disbelief, baffled, confused, concerned and to think even Debbie let her? Something's going on in that family.
"They seemed hungry" Defended Tina like she was wronged by Philip's accusing tone.
"So, it's okay to endanger yourself and your family, like this?" Questioned Philip, unrelenting making Tina want to cry. What did she do that was so wrong?
"What's going on here?" Asked Aiden as he put the groceries down and took in the sight.
"Your freak, is yelling at Tina. That's what" Snitched Debbie casually but, Philip could tell that she was bitter.
"What did you do now?" Asked Aiden with a sigh, turning to his baby sister who resulted to crying. Aiden never cast his dissapointed looks at her. It was never her in the wrong.
"Well?" Pressed Aiden unfazed.
"It was my bad. I didn't know all sides of the story and went on accusing her harshly" Said Philip reigning Aiden.
"Need any help here?" Asked Aiden to Philip but was distractedly looking at his crying baby sister.
"I think me and Debbie got this" Said Philip making Debbie terrified. She snitched and nothing happened.
"You don't want me to stay?" Asked Tina sadly.
"I think it's better to catch up with your brother and hear him out" Suggested Philip before turning to the bunners.
"Why am I here?" Asked Debbie defensively.
"Because, it's your kitchen? And I wanted to have a chat with you" Said Philip simply starting to prepare the ingredients.
"About?" Questioned Debbie, sceptical.
"Why did Aiden leave?" Asked Philip on the question he was sure got all the answers he's seeking.
It was just so hard to imagine, Aiden moving to a-whole-nother region just to be learning computers? There was three prestigious universities in that region.
And there was Tina. They have the kind of twinning bond so, going and leaving her there says just how much in a hurry and desperate he was to escape it all.
And to have a kid that young think about standing on his own two feet? In this era? There was something underneath and if the face Debbie was making was any indication? It has something to do with her.