Untangling Strings

Chapter Four

It was a sumptuous meal. I haven’t eaten like that since I moved here. Of course I wouldn’t say it out loud to my brother because for sure he already knows. He keeps staring and smiling at me while I devour everything. And now, it’s time to get the bill. Could miracles happen in a snap? I highly doubt whatever’s in my purse would be enough for the numbers written on the receipt.

Gab’s looking at me. He’s studying me. This is bad. His superpower includes knowing instantly what’s going on in my mind with just a single look.

“Hey, Hopie. I got this.”

“Oh, no. Let me.” Really, Hope? That kind of confidence is just out of this world.

“I drag you in here. Just give this to me, will you?”

“If you insist.”

I am drowning in my own thoughts of how to spit everything out to Gab. I may be able to turn the conversation around over a meal, but this time, with Gab taking me to my apartment, I am completely doomed.

“Gab, where are you staying?”

“A couple of blocks from your apartment, which made me think, why are we walking in this direction?”

“Can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“Yeah. Growing up, I know every cell in you. But to tell you honestly, I can’t figure out the whole you. You really are different from the Hopie I grew up with.”

“Everything and everyone changes, right?”

Damn it! I knew this was going to happen. I just tripped myself which reminded me of my heel cap. Yes, that’s why I have been struggling to walk all day.

Gab grabbed my arm, “Are you alright? Be careful. Have you forgotten that I have always reminded you to look your way?”

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

He studied me from head to toe. Gosh, this brother of mine. “Hey, I’m not a toddler anymore, okay?”

“Yeah, you’re definitely not. But you’re bleeding.”

Great. I should put a curse on these stilettos. “C’mon, it’ll be fine.”

“No! I know how much you hate hind foot wounds. Here, I’ve got a band aid.” He always had band aids in his pocket since we were little. I used to call him a walking first aid kit. “Stop pretending you’re okay. I, of all people, know how much you whine over this. ‘A little wound that stings through the bones’, remember?”

“That was the little me.”

“Okay. I won’t argue then, young lady.”

“Shut it, Gabriel. It isn’t just the hind foot that’s bleeding.”

“What? Why didn’t you… you said you’re fine!” He’s twitchy with a dash of little anger. He hates it when I’m hurt –one of the reasons behind his profession.

I burst into laughter. “Okay, this is enough. Would you calm down?”

“What’s funny? A second ago you made me worried and now you’re laughing. You learned to prank here?”

“Hey, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to piss you off. It's just you’re already looking, eye-to-eye, at the one who's been bleeding for so long.”

“Hope…”

“We are going this way because I moved into a different apartment –smaller and cheaper. I have this wound because I can’t afford those high quality comfy stilettos. I can’t even treat you with a decent meal. I was so nervous up until now, thinking about what if you find out everything about the Hope who moved here. You caught me, and I’ve got no way out now. I guess I just have to spill everything.”

Gab called a cab. “I doubt you’ll be able to walk, it will just get more painful.”

He didn’t say a word until we reached the hotel where he’s staying.

“Stay here for the meantime. I know how much you hate my room back home, but now you have no choice. Make yourself comfortable. Size eight, right?”

“Size eight what?”I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Ah… your foot, young lady.”

I nodded and smiled a little.

“I’ll get you something comfy. I won’t take long.”