CHAPTER 7: Acceptance...?

Layla hesitantly walked out the supermarket, checking her surroundings to check if Nelle was still there. She has nothing against Nelle; however, her sudden appearance spooked her quite a bit. A glint of light pierced through Layla’s eyes, the once cloudy and stormy sky now clearing up almost like it was never there, but the results from the horrible weather could be seen on the streets as palm leaves wrecked the streets. Layla hurriedly picked up her shopping bags and began walking to the house to prepare for dinner, all her siblings ought to be home from school.

 As Layla walked into the house, she could see a pile of muddy shoes and umbrellas piled up at the door. She peeked over into the living room to find June and the twins watching TV, she walked back to the doorway to do a quick shoe count to see who else is home.

“Okay, so we have Tommy’s sports shoes... Lina’s flats... the twins in the living room...” she silently muttered to herself.

 After the quick shoe count, Layla took off her shoes and raincoat as she hurriedly carried the grocery bags to the kitchen. Seeing her sit with the twins made Layla realise it’d been so long since she talked to June or had a meaningful conversation with any of her siblings for that matter. With Linda rarely home, and when she is home; all the attention is always on the twins or Layla’s university talk. Tommy being her only son somehow got him more than just a glance, but it landed him the burdensome responsibility of “man of the house”, since their parents were undergoing a separation. Lina in Layla’s eyes was the “shadow” of the family, never at dinner, never talking to anyone (except Tommy), always getting average grades at school, somehow bypassing the wrath known as Linda. June, was the baby slowly growing up, barely fitting in with the twins as all her older siblings focused on high school. Layla realised how much she’d been in her own head. Linda is doing little to nothing raising the children except for providing finances and a roof over their head. Layla remembered she HAS TO step up and be the mother to her siblings, not focus on Aria or herself all the time.  

Layla called over June to help around the kitchen with dinner preparations.

“June! Can you come to the kitchen please!” Layla shouted from the kitchen.

Layla began washing the ingredients as she waited for June, till she felt a light tap on her shoulder.

“Ah! June, you scared me! How long have you been standing there for? You should say something.” Said Layla.

“Sorry… I didn’t want to bother your cooking… Did I do something wrong?” June asked as she slowly looked up at Layla, she seemed to be a bit nervous and apologetic.

“Noo… You didn’t do anything wrong sweetie; I just missed you and wanted to spend some time with you.” Layla said dejectedly, she’d felt bad since June sometimes gets neglected more than others due to her quiet nature.

“Really!” June asked excitedly.

“Really. How was school today?” asked Layla as she continued cooking up dinner.

June talked for what seemed to be hours about school life, her friends, fights she had with the twins or Lina, everything she had held in that little heart of hers streamed out with no stopping.

“Lala… why doesn’t mama see us anymore? She’s always with her friends and not us. Does she not like us anymore? Are we bad kids?” June sent a barrage of questions towards Layla.

Layla stopped cooking and turned towards her. “No, of course not sweetie, she still loves us. We’re not bad kids, especially not you my love, you- WE might be a bit naughty sometimes, but she still loves us. Don’t worry about all that, okay? I’ll always be here either way even if you feel like she’s not.” Layla said as she looked down at her small sister with pity and resentment filling her heart.

How could her mother leave these loveable kids behind to go play around with men? A heavy sense of responsibility began to overwhelm Layla, if her mother never changes, does that mean she’ll forever stay their mother? An unease began to arise, if Layla left for university, who would take care of her siblings? Who’d listen to each one and ask them about their day or fleeting feelings they may have? A heavy feeling gradually started to form within her, just as she was about to say something a knock was heard at the door.

“Anyway, June why don’t you – “

*knock knock*

“Why don’t you go check who’s at the door?” Layla swiftly redirected her question.

“Okay!” June ran up towards the door, attempting to see through the peep hole, Layla walked up and lifted her up.

“Who’s there?” asked Layla.

“It’s your friends!” June exclaimed as she wriggled out of Layla’s arms and opened the door.

“Lisa! You’re here!” June shouted excitedly.

“Hi Juneyyy!” Lisa shouted as she picked up June.

“Hi guys, what’re you doing here?” asked a confused Layla.

“We just wanted to see you. It’s been forever, and we missed you. Plus… we brought snacks.” Evey said as she pulled out some snacks from her bag. June jumped up and down in excitement, looking at Layla for permission to have some.

“Aww guys thanks for the snacks, I’m cooking up some dinner right now so we can have them after with a movie. Okay June, not right now.” Layla looked at June and gave a firm look.

“But where are my manners, come on in! Don’t stand in the cold anymore.” Lisa and Evey steadily made their way in. Lisa walked to the living room with June on her back to go say hi to the twins, everyone already knew she would play with the kids for the whole visit.

Layla and Evey made their way to the kitchen as Evey sat on the counter across the stove to watch Layla cook.

“So, what’ve you been up to?” asked Evey.

“Honestly nothing much, I’ve just been rotting in bed, eat, sleep, poop, repeat.” Said Layla, Evey let out a small chuckle.

“Haha, so apart from pooping you haven’t been doing much huh? Have you talked to Ria?” harmlessly asked Evey.

“Mm, no. Haven’t seen her, haven’t heard from her, and I don’t care.” Nonchalantly said Layla.

“Woah, what’s up with that reaction, did something happen between you two? Yo Lisa! Come hear this shit!” shouted Evey.

“Don’t curse in front of the kids!” angrily said Layla. Lisa walked up to the kitchen, urging the kids to keep watching TV until she comes back.

“Haha, what’re you guys talking about? I missed you so much Lay! How’ve you been?” exclaimed Lisa.

“She’s good. Anyway. Onto the important stuff.” Evey said as she interrupted Layla before she could speak.

“Layla was talking about how she hasn’t really left the house; she also hasn’t talked to Ria at all. And I quote ‘Haven’t seen, her haven’t heard from her, and I don’t care’. Can you imagine??” Evey said as she looked at Lisa. Lisa’s face turned from all smiles to a glimpse of confusion and worry.

“What? Lay what’s going on between you two? You’ve never said that about anyone before, much less Ria.” Asked Lisa worriedly.

“Nothing happened; I just needed some alone time you know?” Layla said as she started serving her siblings’ plates.

“No that’s really fucking weird, cause why are – “before she could finish her sentence Evey interrupted Lisa. Giving her an unapproving look as she shook her head. Layla noticed and grew curious.

“Wait, cause why are what? Tell me.” Asked Layla firmly.

Lisa and Evey began to look at each other, wondering if they should share what they’ve been holding in. Layla began to grow impatient as she pressured them both to answer her questions.

“Well… Ria hasn’t been online for like, 2 weeks or so. We tried going over to her house, but her mum just said she’s sick and needs to rest. We’ve been calling and texting but nothing, so when we came over today, we wanted to ask if you heard anything. Clearly not…” said Lisa defeated.

Layla paused serving and called June to pick up their dinner plates.

“June, I want you to take yours and the twins’ plates to the dining table. When you’re done eating, we’ll have a shower then I’ll come with Lisa, Evey, and some snacks for a movie. Okay?” Layla told June firmly.

“Okay! Should I call Lina and Tommy?” enthusiastically asked June.

“Yeah, go tell them dinner is ready and we’ll watch a movie after. Good job on remembering!” Layla gently patted June on the head. June ran off and Layla shifted her attention back onto Layla and Evey.

“I thought you and Evey would have talked to Ria. Since you guys hang out more often.” There was a slight hint of shock in Layla’s tone.

“What? Ria never tells us anything these days. She’s been keeping the conversations so superficial it feels like we barely know her anymore.” Said Evey.

“Yeah, she only ever tells you what’s really going on. Kinda like me and Evey you know. No offence.” Said Lisa as she averted her gaze from Layla.

“But that’s besides the point. What happened between you two?” Lisa swiftly redirected her piercing gaze towards Layla as she remembered the topic of conversation.

“Nothing happened. I asked her about the whole Nelle thing, then after she told me she went ghost.” Layla couldn’t bring herself to admit that they both had something to do with the argument.

“Anyway, let’s just have some dinner and think about it later. I have to make sure the twins actually eat.” Layla averted the conversation from Aria, yet at the back of her mind she couldn’t help but worry about her.