CHAPTER 3

Michael

I was in my room brooding over Khloe's amnesia when I heard the door creek.

" Not in the mood to talk right now Richardson" I said in a bored tone without even bothering to check whoever walked into my room.

" Just go away. Can't you understand that?" I said, still hearing clear footsteps which signified that my visitor was coming closer.

" Baby" I heard that very familiar voice call out to me.

" Mother!" I screamed before jumping on her like a six years old.

" Okay that's enough. You're stronger and I'm older, this position won't work out." My mother said, patting my back to get me off of her.

" When did you come in?" I asked cheerfully.

" When you were brooding over your lost girlfriend." My mother teased, smiling at me like a kid.

" Common mother. We both know I don't have a girlfriend." I said to her, unwrapping my hands from her shoulder.

" True, but you do seem like you plan on getting one soon." She further teased.

" Well, if you must know I wasn't brooding over no girlfriend. I was just worried about my best friend." I said to her, turning away my gaze to the wooden floor.

"Khloe? Oh my goodness. What happened to her?" My mom asked, rushing her questions.

" She forgot about me." I said, trying to fight back the tears in my eyes.

" Forgot about you? I'm not following." My mother said, seeming to not believe my words.

Just as about to shed more light on the matter on ground, my phone chimmed.

Uninterested in whatever had popped up on my phone, I simply tucked myself in my bed.

" Hunny, I still don't get you."My mother said, drawing closer to me as she finger-brushed my hair.

" It's fine. It's not that big a deal actually. I'm just overacting unnecessarily."I replied, trying to get her off the case.

" No baby, don't feel like that. Nothing concerning you and your brother has ever been a big deal to me, and would never." She assured me, trying to get me to look at her.

She kept on trying to persuade me to fill her in but all to no avail.

I was tired, disappointed, heartbroken and sad to explain anything to her. Trying to do that would just ruin the evening for her.

She was my mother, not an object. She would feel hurt when she finds out the reason for my gloomy nature tonight. 

Just because I was feeling like shit and she was my mother wasn't enough reason for me to let her share in my hurt.

" Well since you are in no mood to talk to anyone at all, I guess I'd just leave you but please you could at least check your phone. Who knows? That might be the solution to your problem."She said before exiting my room.

With one long heavy breath, I deepened my head into the pillow as I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning

Khloe

" Rise and shine sleeping beauty." I heard two loud voices squeak.

I had woken up to a family pillow fight by my mother and Jack.

" You look horrible Khlo" Jack said with horror in tone.

" That's strange because a minute ago, you were like 'rise and shine Khloe my beautiful sister'" I said, laughing as I mimicked Jack.

Of course, he denied and then series of arguments followed but then, pancakes solves all problems.

I had a pancake filled breakfast with my family. It felt so refreshing like it had been our first ever meal together as a family.

I laughed all through breakfast and even while packing up my stuffs for the vacation.

Two hours later***

" You're not singing along Jack, anything wrong?" I asked my baby brother who had been quiet all through the drive.

" I don't know the song."He lied, looking outside our family SUV.

" Really? Because, the last time I checked, this was your favourite song. You can talk to me if mom acts too old."I said to him, whispering the last part.

" You know I heard that right?" My mom said, driving.

" Why don't we all stay with Khloe mom. It doesn't seem fair enough." Jack protested, tears welling up in his eyes.

" Awwn. You look so cute." I said, admiring my baby brother moved to tears.

" Trust me baby I really want us to stay with Khloe but sadly, we can't baby. She needs space, a lot of it. But don't worry, we would come around every two days to check up on her." My mother promised causing my brother to smile.

" Mom, we've been driving for quite a while now. Mind filling us in on our destination?" I asked, getting bored of the long drive.

" It's a surprise baby. Just chill and enjoy the ride." My mother said, smiling and staring at me through the front mirror.

A lot of minutes later****

" Wakey wakey sleeping heads."My mother said tapping my brother and myself.

" We're here." She said looking very excited.

With heavy eye lids, Jack and I stood up and followed her into the old looking cabinet at the entrance of the woods.

" Wow" Jack marvelled at the internal decorations of the cabin.

Indeed, it was a very cozy cabin. The decorations and temperature it possessed was simply unearthly.

" This place really is cool mom. How did you come about it?" I asked with my hands in my pants.

" It used to be your father's. Back then, we would always come here to get away from every stress of work and the busy City we live in. When I was pregnant for both you and Jack, I spent all of my time here. Your father used to believe that was what made you both very healthy at birth. He just holds this scared respect for this cabin. Since it's been a while and we're already healed of the pain and hurt, I thought you would need a little bit of his warmth. Everything here in this cabin speaks of him. You should be able to feel your father again." My mother said with a cracked voice.

" Oh Mom."I ran to my mother and engulfed her in a hug.

" You shouldn't have." I said stroking her hair as she sobbed in my arms.

" I miss him a lot." She confessed.

" We all do Mom."I agreed.

" Well, the point is for you to be comfortable and this is the only cabin I know that can offer that." She said still in my arms.

" It's fine mom. Thanks a lot. At least I know I won't be alone; I'd have dad with me. Right?" I said, sniffing as I chuckled.

She only smiled at my remark.

We remained in that position for a really long time.

In the evening

Michael

I had been considering checking the message that popped up on my phone last night.

All I did today was stay in bed. I only went out to get breakfast. It was then that I found out Mom has gone out again.

It left me even sadder. I was rude to her, never gave her a chance to spend the little time she had with me.

" God I feel like shit." I said, squeezing my hair.

Whenever I felt like this, Khloe would always come to my aid but unfortunately she couldn't anymore. She doesn't even remember my name.

Finally, I decided to check the message who knows? It really might be the solution I need just as mom had said.

' hello bestie. I Know you're probably not expecting this and I Know you're feeling like shit because I failed to remember you. The doctor said I had short term amnesia. I must have hit my head hard on something. I still do not remember everything though, lol. But I hope you can help me remember and have fun while doing so. I don't know why but I feel like there's a movie we have to see together. Mind coming over so we could do so?'

Best friend,

Khoe.

I couldn't decide on my emotions as I read out the text.

" She remembers me, she doesn't remember others but she remembers me" I repeated to myself.

I have to see her tomorrow morning. 

Tonight, I went to bed with butterflies in my stomach and smiles on face. I was so happy, I slept off with my phone in my hand still wearing my casual clothes.