NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
Tina and Dave always called Auntie Ella their Mom in the absence of their parents. They both believed the woman who catered for them, who was there in every fundamental occasion of theirs, to celebrate each of their life milestones, and was there even when Tina saw her first period, gave her sex-education, made her know that her body is a beautiful island which every explorer wants to traverse but she shouldn't grant just any explorer the permission; only the one she deemed fit. Auntie Ella was everything a mother could be to them. When Dave had his first wet dreams, when he was fifteen, he found it convenient to tell Ella who, in turn, explained to him how things function with a boy-child. He could have confided in her more if his dad hadn't sent him overseas because of his illness. Although, even Ella couldn't think of any remedy for him.
Tina had arrived home two days ago. Her parents weren't home yet. The workers, as usual, bowed slightly each time she walked past them. Two days ago, she raced in through the gate like Dave did, searching frantically for Dave. Ella calmed her down and told her Dave left for the airport few minutes before she came in. Tina broke down in tears. Like Ella, she wondered if she'd see him again, not even when his mentor had died.
Tina had woken up around past five in the morning and couldn't get any sleep. The memories of the early days of when Dave began to show symptoms flooded her head. She didn't try to block the flow. At 6am, she rose up to rinse her face and brush her teeth. After she was done, she sluggishly dragged her feet to the dining room where she sank on one of the crystal-embedded chairs. Ella peeped from the kitchen door. She came out when she saw her.
"Hey, hon."
Tina looked up and smiled weakly. She gave her a side-hug on her seat. Ella pressed Tina's head between her bosom, placed her jaw on her head and rubbed her shoulder gently.
"Morning, Mom."
"Hope you slept well."
They untangled the hug. "I'm not sure I did."
"Still thinking about Dave?"
She nodded. "The memories flooded in this morning and I couldn't sleep anymore. I'm scared, Mom. What if he remembers everything? What if he starts acting like before? What if he hasn't healed completely and..."
"Stop the 'what ifs', it's not helping. Let's just be optimistic that he's normal and won't be like before."
Tina exhaled heavily as she leant her back against the chair. "When he came back from America and I saw him, I was extremely overjoyous because he seemed perfect. I know he fell in love over there but didn't last. What if Dorcas knew about him and broke up?"
Ella sat down. "I've told you to stop the assumptions. Dorcas broke up for another reason. Besides, it lasted four years, don't make it seem like it was few hours."
Tina sat up abruptly, "did you know that he has fallen in love again?" Her eyes shone brighter. Elaa adjusted in her seat, inquisitiveness etched on her face. "En en? Tell me more."
"Okay, I don't really know much but from my conjecture, it's a mutual connection. Her name is Nancy, she's my neighbor but it seemed they've met before my brother saw her at my apartment. He was always eager to go to one mountain around my area. Turned out Nancy also loved going there. Aren't the dots connecting?"
Ella has a bright smile on her face. She nodded like a teenager at Tina's question. Then Tina's face turned moody. "Will she stay with him if she learns about him and his past?"
"Tina, what comes with love isn't just a feeling but a sacrifice. Even love itself means to succumb your heart to an ordinary emotion. You can try to defeat other emotions but love is undefeatable. If this Nancy loves Dave flawlessly, any obstacle will be conquered."
Tina looked at her, "how did you know all these when you never left us? You never had your own family, you stayed with us and us alone. Sometimes, I think we are the wicked ones, we tied you down with us, never allowed you had your own family. Quite selfish of us."
Ella took her right palm into hers and caressed it with her left palm. "Tina, I may not have my own biological family, but you and Dave already fill the space perfectly. I never regretted staying back to be with you both. I love and cherish you. Both of you are in a special place in my heart. I learnt about mothering online and everywhere. I learnt about love everywhere I could so that whenever you both arise with questions, there'll be answers. I want to be the one you both could confide in."
Tina blinked the tears away she she watched Ella spoke. This should have been their biological mother, not the Dora the Explorer traveling across the world. She leant forward and embraced her as Ella stroked her back gently.
"Now, let's be hopeful that Dave will return back to us normally."
She stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Tina stared blankly into the air and wondered how Nancy would react if she learnt about her brother. Would she still love him if she learnt that Dave has bipolar disorder and almost escalated to Mania depression. Imagine being fourteen and battling with such depression. Would Nancy leave like Dorcas did when she couldn't cope?