Untangling Strings

Chapter Five

Gab arrived with a pair of comfy flats, and... is that a Blueberry Pie?

"I passed through a café and thought you might be missing pie. But I bet it doesn't taste like mom's."

"Yeah, I do miss this. Thanks. Really." Oh, the feeling of being taken care of. I miss this. A lot.

With Gab being gone a while ago, I was able to muster my courage and decided to tell him everything. It's a lot easier if he'll be able to know first before anyone else in the family does because he'll be having my back –that's for sure.

"Is it alright if I'll get you home later? I don't want you stumbling alone on your way. Say eight o'clock? Just want to spend a couple more hours with my favorite sibling, if you don't mind."

"I thought I'll be staying here overnight? Is my own brother kicking me out?"

"Of course, not. I just thought of giving you enough time to rest and not be late for work tomorrow. But you are most welcome to stay here if you want."

"I don't have to go to work tomorrow... and for the next twenty-nine days."

His face is blank. Confused, I guess.

"My boss just gave me a month-long vacation. When are you going back home? Can I come?" Those words came out easier while having a pie than I thought. "Which reminded me, I don't have a plane ticket. So, I suppose you'll go home first."

He seems serious with his phone which I didn't notice when he grabbed. "Not gonna happen. You're going home with me. Shall we go to your apartment and pack your things?"

"I thought you'll get me home by eight."

"Change of plan, young lady. And you're spending the rest of the night here even if it means sleeping on the couch for me."

We headed to my apartment. I let him sit on the small couch, while he silently watched me pack all my stuff and study my crowded and messy apartment, which is the complete opposite of where we grew up, and unimaginably the place I'll end up.

"You might wonder how am I able to live in this place. A chaotic little bubble. I don't even have a television, it's a bit out of my financial capacity. Can't even have my hands tidy up this place. Truth is, I can barely breathe in here."

"Want me to give you a hand?"

What the heck is wrong with him? Since we got into that cab after the incident of me being tripped, he never asked about my life here in Phillis. Not the Gabriel I know.

"Why aren't you asking stuff?"

"Like... what?"

"Oh, c'mon. The Gab I knew before would pull my tongue out just to hear what's going on in my mind."

"Yeah. I really am dying to know everything. But I won't force you. Tell me when you're ready, I'm all ears."

"Maybe I'll tell you piece by piece. You already knew about my apartment and the vacation."

"Maybe it's better if you hurry up so we can go back to the hotel, and you can rest."

Every muscle and bone in my body seemed to be so relaxed. I haven't had that kind of sleep for almost four years. I always wake up feeling exhausted, but today's different. Then, the thought of going back home hit me. Where do I get the courage to show some face after being distant to them? Breakfast. I smelled breakfast.

"Someone's been up early."

"Yeah, I figured I should prepare something for my baby sis. Oh, I forgot, you're a young lady now, aren't you?"

I raised my right eyebrow.

Gab smiled, "Alright, mornings are for breakfast and not for a crumpled face. Here goes your toast."

"You know I don't have a good feeling about going home, right?"

He nodded.

"Do you think they can forgive me? I know I've been such a horrible daughter and sister." I racked my brain of what roles I play. "...and sister-in-law," I added and scrunched my nose. My care to Avery goes down to hell. It's just..."

Gab cut me off, "Everyone else back home is waiting for you. We're all wondering when you'll come back. We always felt your absence since you left, like there's a hole we can't fill whatever we do. We never got tired of waiting for you to call, even if you didn't. Mom always reminds us to let you have your own space."

My tears cannot be held for so long. Gab comforted me with a hug.

He, then, teased me, "C'mon, toast cannot be enjoyed if you're crying like a five-year-old. You want some milk to go with that? You know you can't have candies for breakfast. Mom's order."

"Why aren't you sharing that scrambled egg with me? Give me those berries. You're well-aware of gluttony, aren't you?"

After preparing ourselves to leave, Gab was doing a final look all over the room just to check everything's good and we hadn't forgotten anything, while I slouched on the couch.

"Gab."

"Yeah?"

"Can you examine my heart? I feel like there's something wrong in here."

"My diagnosis says that you have to let out whatever's causing the burden. You don't want to have an attack. Come on, we don't want to be late on our flight."

"Wait, do they know I'm going home?"

"I think they do... or don't?" He smirked, and it got on my nerves.

"I don't have time for a guessing game."

He walked himself outside the hotel room, "'Cause it doesn't matter. Will you come out or I'll lock you in here?"

"Great. Because I just lost myself here and I'm heading back home without being able to find it."

"And that is a story to tell."