Minutes into breakfast, Sikara still didn't say anything and I was worried. Something was definitely wrong. Normally, she was always a talkative. Always talking and never listening to anything or anyone. It was hella annoying but at the same time cute. And today, she was quiet.
I had noticed earlier but let it go as I thought either mom or dad would notice and ask her what was wrong but I was wrong.
What parents. I scoff.
"Sika, baby, what's wrong?" I took it upon myself to ask her. Maybe she had a bad dream. Because what would make a little girl of six become so moody?
Out of shock, she dropped her spoon on the floor and everyone stopped eating and looked at her "I'm sorry" she quickly apologized, looking at dad who had a brow raised in curiosity. Although he wanted to know what happened to Sikara, his strict face failed him and Sikara was left stuttering. She feared dad most. "I am sorry" she repeated "Sara gave me quite the shock" She coughed. Her beautiful big green eyes looked at me with a glare but then they immediately softened. Let's just say I was her best friend and she couldn't afford to stay angry at me. I chuckled. "I am sorry" she apologized again, picked up her spoon from the floor, and started eating very fast. Stuffing cereals upon cereals in her mouth, flushed.
Mom cleared her throat and asked her with a soft voice. The only person she was always soft with was Sikara, and I didn't mind. At least, she loved one of us "Sikara did something happen? Or did someone say something you didn't like?"
Sika looked up "Nothing happened and nobody said something I didn't like, Mom"
Samuel sighed "Then why were you moody? You think I didn't notice?" Oh, so he did notice, wow. "Usually you never always keep quiet. The talkative Sika, but now you can't talk. I should give a testimony...or maybe sing about it or something" he muttered and I just smiled. I could tell he was trying to rid the air of its coldness but right now he wasn't helping matters because the frown didn't go away
"It's nothing big head, didn't I say so earlier?" She hissed.
"Okay, since your sister said so, everyone should stop asking questions. Eat up, you have schools to attend" Dad said and we continued eating. But, I just couldn't help but look at Sikara. Something was definitely bothering her.
"It is a dream" Sikara said after awhile.
"Hmm?" Dad looked up from his food
"About?" Mom asked
"A dream? Which made you so quiet?" Samuel grinned " if that is so, then I would like you to keep having that dream"
Sikara glared at him, with fresh tears in her eyes "Shut up Sammy. That would never happen, it won't happen, that dream won't come to pass, nothing is going to take you away from me... I would never dream of such again" Sikara flung her spoon at Samuel and cried and I became alarmed.
Bad things.
It was bad things...she had a bad dream. Samuel just didn't know how to talk.
"Shut up Samuel" I whispered
"Learn how to speak young man" Dad cautioned.
He rolled his eyes "How should I know she had a bad dream? I am not psychic!"
"Still" mom gritted and turned to face my sister.
"Sikara what happened in the dream?" Mom asked, more softly this time.
As I patted her hair, she inched towards me. Was the dream about me?
"Something bad...very bad" she answered still crying and holding into me, more tightly this time.
I shivered, was I scared?
Dad stopped eating "How bad?"
She dragged me closer again "Death"
Samuel stopped eating "D...Dea...Death?" He asked more softly this time " I am sorry, I didn't know"
Dad sighed "it's alright Samuel. I always knew you didn't have sense. Always talking without thinking"
Samuel wanted to say something back to dad but he withdrew himself. This wasn't the time, he knew. So he had brains? Wow, I never knew.
He picked up his spoon and started eating but the minute he heard Sikara speak again about the second part of her dream, he dropped the spoon on the floor, just like Sika did at the beginning.
"Wha...what did you say Sikara? What did you mean by Sara was possessed and that sh...she died?" He asked her, I could see that his hands were shaking Wow, I didn't know he loved me this much. My inner self smiled. What Sikara said didn't make any sense. Besides, it was just a dream anyways why would I be possessed and die?
"Control yourself, Sam," Mom said to him "It is just a dream"
"A horrible one" he fired "Take back what you said Sikara, take it back!!"
Dad moved over to where she was, took her from me, and carried her in his lap. "It's just a dream baby, don't take it seriously"
"Possessed? By whom?" Mom asked, ignoring dad in his attempt to die down the matter. It seemed that she was interested in Sikara's dream today.
"It isn't just a dream. I saw Sara, she felt so real" she cried out "I saw her. She was different, she looked like a changed person but at the same time, she didn't look like herself, but she was herself...Her eyes were not the same when they stared at me...they felt empty and cold" More cries, even louder than the first "My sister wasn't the same anymore...She..S...he...she looked...dead.!"
"Shut up! Sikara that isn't a nice thing to say about your sister" Samuel said.
I gulped. I died. That is just a dream anyways. But I was scared. Now I wanted to barf. The atmosphere suddenly felt cold. I didn't know what else to do, it was a lie anyways but I felt so shaken up.
Deep breaths Sara...deeeeppp breaths. Everything is fine, no need to worry. It was just a dream.
My parents didn't say anything. They were just as quiet as I was.
This house didn't feel comfortable anymore, I lost my appetite and now for the rest of my day in school, I will be thinking of myself in Sikara's dream...Dead and different. Empty eyes, no feelings.
Creepy.
I grabbed my bag from the empty chair which Dad has now occupied "I am heading for school now, it's almost time and I could be punished for late coming" I choked back my tears. Shut up, Sara! Cut it out!! Do you have to cry for every little thing?
Dad stood up and left Sikara alone as she curled herself in her chair. She looked up at me "Sara, I am sorry for what I said earlier please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you with my words"
I sighed and kneeled in front of her. Patting her foot, I said "It Isn't your fault Sika baby. It was just a dream. Don't think too much about it okay?" I reached for her hair, curling it back to the back "And besides I am not gonna die, see..." I stood up, doing a twirl in front of her "I am alive, healthy, and strong. I am okay baby. Now eat, you have to get fat and be healthy and strong like me okay?" I smiled at her and stood up, facing my parents and my brother, I didn't say anything and just started walking towards the door.
"Sara," Sikara called, and when I turned, I was covered in a huge hug "Be safe please, I am still scared Promise?" Her green eyes were so beautiful.
I kissed her forehead and smiled at her "Promise" and continued walking out of the dining and towards the door.
Mom called out "Sara" I stopped again
"Yes, mom?"
"Don't forget to specifically go to Dr. Chen for your daily checkup and also donate your blood before you come home. Samuel would be taking Sikara to school today. They would donate theirs later" Ahhhh... that was another weird thing I forgot to mention, the blood donation. Dr. Chen was our family doctor. And my parents always told us to go specifically to him for our blood donation.
That was one thing that everybody here at Pineville does, blood donation. Everyone, according to the government orders, donates blood to the Pineville hospital every day. And I wondered why that was. They said it's for the sick but I had my suspicions about that. Why was Dr. Chen made specifically to collect blood from us?
Sometimes, aunts 'false' tales always fit in
I just nodded and walked out the front door. Ready to face another round of torture at school. Pineville high was the worst! But my baby sis wanted me to be safe, maybe I can try that word.