Chapter 14

“OH… uhm, yeah. Of course.” Ace put the kettle down and exited the kitchen through the backdoor.
Sonja heaved a deep sigh ad picked up the kettle. She poured coffee into their mugs silently.
“You said you want to talk to me… Why are you so silent then?”
Confronting her was the last thing that she wanted.
If truth be told, Sybil was scared. Yes, it was kind of funny because she wanted to know the truth and was afraid of it at the same time. She didn’t know if she could handle it. Sybil might not be as strong as she thought she was.
She took a series of deep breaths while waiting for Sonja to speak.
“I have something to tell you, Sybil.” She met Sonja’s gaze. “And I want you to listen to me very well.”
Sybil swallowed hard. It seemed she was about to say it.
“G-go on… I’m listening.”
Sonja took a couple of sips of her coffee before she spoke again.
“I received a call from my aunt while helping at the diner last night.”
Her brows furrowed. Did she get the wrong idea?
“And…?” she probed.
“She said my mother is sick. Very, very sick.” Sonja clasped her hands and heaved a sigh. “She told me to come home and take care of my mother.”
“O-oh…”
Sybil felt dismayed. In the end, Sonja chose not to tell her. She decided to keep it a secret. But why? She couldn’t understand why she had to do that.
“I have to leave you here… Would that be okay?”
“Don’t worry about me. I-I’ll be fine.” She did her best to flash a smile.
“I was wondering if I’ll take you with me. But then… you might want to stay.”
“Well, yeah. I prefer to stay here. Besides, we can’t let Ace stay here alone.”
She saw how Sonja’s expression changed. It seemed that she didn’t like what she said.
“And now you’re thinking about him.”
Her remark made her forehead crease.
“I-is it wrong to think about his welfare?”
“I didn’t say anything, Sybil.”
“Well, that’s how it sounds to me.” She looked at her intently.
“You know, people always have a different impression about certain things. You and I aren’t an exception.”
She raised her hand.
“Stop. I-I think this conversation’s going nowhere.” She heaved a sigh. “I wish your mother well. Excuse me… I’m going to paint now.”
She left the table and went to her room to get her painting materials.
Sybil brought them to the backyard, her favorite spot—under that oak tree where she always basked under the sun. Ace sat up immediately when he saw her coming.
“You’re done talking?” He helped her set up.
“Hm.”
“That fast?”
“She just told me she’s leaving.”
“What?” Ace dropped her easel, making her canvass fall to the ground.
“Careful!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He immediately picked it up. “Where is she going?”
“Home.” Sybil let out a sigh. “She needs to take care of her sick mother back home.”
“And you’re not coming with her.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
“I told you before that we’re not real sisters.”
“Does her family didn’t know about you?”
Sybil shook her head.
“I haven’t met anyone in her family yet.”
“Even talk to them on the phone?”
“Nope.”
“Well, that’s odd.” Ace caressed his chin.
“What do you mean odd?” She couldn’t help but think about it. His words bothered her.
“Well…” He glanced in the cabin’s direction. “If I were her, I would probably tell my family about you. And you would eventually become my family’s concern as well.”
Sybil got his point. She also had the same thoughts during her first months living with Sonja. However, all those thoughts eventually left her out of gratitude. She tried to ignore all those negative thoughts that were coming inside her head. Sybil only thought of them again just recently after Ace came into their lives because she couldn’t help but wonder again and again.
She shook her head hard afterward.
“You know what… let’s just be grateful Sonja took us in. She could’ve brought us to the police or abandoned us somewhere. Whatever personal issues we have right now aren’t hers, to begin with.”
“So…”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“It’s going to be just you and me here.”
She plopped down on the wooden bed under the tree.
“Yeah. Why? Do you have a problem with that?”
“No. I… uhm… I have no problem. I’m fine with it.”
She glanced at Ace and found him smiling broadly. There was something with the way he smiled that she didn’t want to give a name.
“Hey…” She nudged his arm with the paintbrush.
“Yes?” He turned to her.
“Sit there.” She pointed the paintbrush in front of her. “And don’t move.”
“E-eh?”
“I’m going to paint you.”

SYBIL and Ace came with Sonja to the bus station. She wanted to take her to the airport, but Sonja told her not to because it would be a long and tiring trip for them.
“Call me when you get there, okay?” she told Sonja after hugging her. “I want to know if you get home safely.”
“I will.” Sonja turned to Ace. “This woman is a little stubborn, so you better keep an eye on her. Understand? I don’t want to come home knowing one of you is in trouble. Understand?”
She and Ace looked at each other and laughed. She sounded like a mother who was afraid to leave her naughty kids behind.
“Don’t worry. I will take care of her.”
Sybil flinched when Ace suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. She wanted to move away from him, but it was already too late because Sonja had already seen it.
“Oh! The bus is coming!” she said to divert their attention.
Soon the bus pulled to the bus stop, and Sonja hopped in.
“`Bye!” Sybil waved her hand. “See you soon!”
Ace waved his hand silently as they watched the bus speed away.
“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Ace said after a few moments.
She turned to him and nodded her head in response.
“There’s a park nearby. I saw it last time when we went out. Let’s take a brief walk there, shall we?” Ace entwined their hands.
Sybil was shocked by his gestures that morning. However, he didn’t give her a chance to think about it and tugged her in the park’s direction. Suddenly she was wondering what was waiting for them in the coming days. She just hoped things would turn out well.