Siblings Resort: Chapter 4 - Lonely Past

"Mommy!!!" A little blond girl with twin tails ran into the hands of a woman who looked just like her. She was waiting for her little one at the entrance of an elementary school.

"Hey sweetie, how was school today?" The mother embraced her before grabbing the child's hand while starting to walk away.

"It was great! And did you know? The scores came out for the test everyone had to do, I got a really really really good score!!!"

"Oh sweetie, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you..." By then, I could no longer hear them. They got too far away from the school gate. I was still by the school entrance, waiting for my own mother. She said she could pick me up today, so I was a little hopeful. As long as...

"Bzzt-Bzzt!"

"..." I cautiously flip my phone open, the screen reflecting my brown hair and big red bow briefly before lighting up. The text message icon had an exclamation mark, and I could already guess what it said.

Sorry Mylene. I got called in again for work. Walk home today as well, I left some food in the fridge. Mom.

My hopes were dashed, and my mood became gloomy. I was sad, but I started walking while disguising my true feelings. This isn't the first time I was stood up by my mother, but it still hurt.

"So how was your exam?" Another mother was asking her little boy this question as I passed them by.

"It was great. I did really good!"

"That's great, I knew I had a brilliant genius for a son! How do you feel about celebrating at the diner today, huh sweetie?"

"Really? Yay! Let's eat lots together!" They too, got too far for me to hear anymore. Still, they did give me an idea.

"Maybe my test score will make Mother happy enough to praise me...?" Despite being dashed mere moments ago, my hopes were lit up again,

*****

It was already well into the night, and I was in my red slippers and red nightgown that I use for sleeping. Sitting beside the table with a plain view of the front entrance, I waited for Mother's arrival. We lived in a small home with very little furniture, but it was comfortable enough. I was holding my test which had a 98% written at the top, hoping to receive praise for it. I smile and daydream a little about the words she may say.

"Maybe she will be so happy that she will make time for me...?" I let myself dream on, waiting for her arrival.

*****

"My little Mylene, you did such a great job on the national exam! I am so proud of you, I'm blessed to call you my daughter."

"Mom, stop, you're embarrassing me" I responded giggling happily.

"Oh my sweet daughter, this is too great to not celebrate. How about we go eat in a fancy restaurant? Just you and me?"

"Really? Yeah, that would be so much fun! Ah, but...?" I got meekly and looked at her cautiously to ask a question. "C-can I get a hug, please?"

"Oh, is that all? Of course, sweetie! Come here!" I couldn't help control my happiness at her response and jumped toward her with my hands up high.

"Mooom!!!" I expected a response from her, but all I heard then was a thunk on something wooden.

*****

"Ouch, it hurts!!!" I suddenly felt pain on my knees as I slammed them against something while unconsciously standing up. Soon after, however, my other senses began to clear up, and I immediately notice something was wrong. I was still beside the table where I waited for Mother, but didn't she come back already? Was it all a dream...? I couldn't stop myself from becoming gloomy.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp-chirp!" It was the chirping of birds that stopped me from spiraling into depression, and I realize that it was sunny outside.

"Wait? Morning...? Did Mother not come home at all...?" I took a look at my flip phone and saw a text. I immediately opened it up since the sender was my mother.

Mylene, I'll be staying at work tonight. Have breakfast at school and I'll make dinner when you get home.

"...So Mother did not come home last night..." After resting my head on my arms, I must've fallen asleep while watching television from where I sat. I couldn't help but get a little gloomy thinking about the wasted afternoon. "No, I can't let myself get depressed. I'll just show her the exam later today." I regained my composure, finding the exam in the middle of the table.

"Bzzt-Bzzt!" Another text came in, and I opened up to see it as it too was from my mother.

Mylene, confirm to me that you overslept. I've been notified that you are marked absent from school.

"Huh?!" I quickly looked outside and saw that the sunshine was too bright to still be morning. "Ah, no! I'm late!!!"

*****

"Older brothers are seriously the worst!" I was walking home from school behind a light purple short hair girl who had a hatred for older brothers. A blond hair girl who was wearing a purple flower headband walked beside her. "This morning, he used all of the milk for cereal and ate my pudding without even asking!"

"Is it really that bad?"

"Yes! I had to make a detour to the convenience store and ended up getting to school late!"

"...I don't really think that's bad at all. One time, Mom told my older brother to take me out to eat for my birthday. He took me to a fast food restaurant where his girlfriend worked and left me to walk home because he said he had to help her lose some calories. It took me 30 minutes to walk home!"

"...I guess I stand corrected? But the point still sticks! Older brothers suck! Their selfish jerks who just care about themselves!"

"...I mean, we reached that conclusion long ago, didn't we?"

"Yes, but we now have another kindred spirit!" The light purple hair girl in turn looked at me. "Right, Mylene?"

"Huh?!" I was shocked to see her include me in the conversation. The blond turned to look at me too as we continued to walk.

"...Right, Mylene has an older brother too, but they don't live together, Jolly."

"But she came in late today! And she had to stay behind at school yesterday! I'm sure she was forced to wait for her older brother who was visiting and was unable to get any sleep for having to put up with him, right Mylene? Right? Right-right?!" She got excited and closed in on me.

"W-well u-umm..."

"Stop it, Jolly," the blond girl said pulling her back. "Life isn't as simple as that. It was probably her mom again."

"Huh, her mother?"

"They haven't seen each other eye to eye recently. At least that's what you told me, right Mylene?"

"Ha-ha... right..." I responded with an awkward chuckle, getting a bit gloomy.

"Wait, is that true? Last time I saw her, she was a doting mother."

"That's because you haven't seen her recently, Jolly."

"Really? I guess it has been two years..."

"It's no wonder your so misinformed."

"Hey! Unlike you, Shirley, I started to help my parents! I'm not dozing off, leeching on my parents! I'm helping them in our candy store."

"...You trying to say something, Jolly?" Tension was obviously building around them.

"Come on, calm down," I said nervously. "Let's not fight, alright?" Both girls turn to look at me, and then look away meekly.

"Fine. Sorry Shirley, I didn't mean to imply anything bad."

"Yeah, I get it. I didn't mean to escalate the situation." Both apologized, but the tension still remained, until Shirley looked at me.

"But Mylene, are you really alright with your mother? She changed a lot in the past two years."

"I still don't understand. You should be experiencing those things with your brother, not your mother."

"You're still on that?" Jolly looked back at Shirley and was about to say something that could lead only to trouble.

"You guys..." I said sadly. This caused Jolly to hesitate, and Shirley just looked away as if it had nothing to do with her.

"Right..." Jolly let out. There was a pause, and we all kept walking awkwardly.

"Mylene," Shirley starts, "I'm only asking about your mother because I'm worried. She's been leaving you alone a lot recently, right? Why not try moving into your father's house?"

"...My father has my older brother living with him. I don't want to live with someone who's going to be mean to me."

"A kindred spirit," Jolly whispered, but we ignored her.

"And besides not knowing my father, I'm not interested in meeting him."

"You're not...?" asked Shirley.

"Whenever Mother used to talk about him, she would always become really sad. He must've done something bad to her, and I don't think I'll can get along with anyone who makes my mother sad."

"But being left alone a lot of time isn't good, Mylene. And she's making you sad now."

"...Mother, she... I'm sure she'll be back to normal soon. I mean, she's making sure I have everything I need. She just needs time to get... better..."

"..."

"..." By the time I finished talking, we were in front of my house. This was the part where we usually would separate happily, but the air was heavy. My two friends looked worried.

"Hey, Mylene," said Jolly, "if you ever need a place to stay, you're welcome to stay at my house."

"You told me so much horrible things about your brother that I don't think I would be able to sleep at night there."

"I would obviously make sure to take care of him first!!!"

"Your wording scares me," said Shirley. "Mylene, we're leaving now, but know we're here to help if you need it."

"I know. Thanks for caring about me, though." With that, they walked away together as I entered the house.

"...how could you..."  It was when I entered the living room that I heard a woman's voice muffled behind the walls.

"Mother..." She was home today. I excitedly got my exam and headed to her room."

"...why...? I waited for you, all these years... and now, you've abandoned me in life too...?"

"..." I stopped moving. Something was wrong, she's crying. My mother is crying. From the direction of her muffled whimpers, she was in her room.

"...Darling... darling... I was a fool... I was such a fool... I was just so stubborn... And now, it's too late..." Her whimpers continued, and I hasten my pace. When I reached her door, I tried to open it, only to be stopped by the locked handle.

"Mother! Mother, I'm here! Please let me in! I don't want to hear you crying anymore, so please let me in!"

"...Go to your room, Mylene.  You're the last person I need to see now..."

"...What...?" I stood in shock at her muffled voice.

"Stay in your room, Mylene. Grab whatever food you want and use the restroom if you need it, but don't talk to me until I see you tomorrow morning."

"...But Mothe-"

"DANG IT MYLENE," screamed my mother's muffled voice at the same time a table was slammed, "DON'T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF!!!" It took me a moment to process what was happening.

"Mother, why?!!!" I yelled while running away crying, accidentally leaving behind my exam that fell to the ground slowly.

*****

It was late at night. I have been in my room for the entire afternoon, my face with clear signs that I have been crying for a long time. Many times I have been tempted to leave and check on my mother, but her voice still ranged in my head. It hurt so much. Just why does she not want to see me? Just why has she been avoiding me as much as possible? We were so close up until recently...

"The door is not locked..." I was in front of my mother's room. Despite the horrible afternoon, I found myself wanting to see her most of all. I wanted to comfort her, and if I did, then just maybe...

"Thud, thud." I lightly knocked on the door and awaited a response, but no answer came. I did it again, a bit louder, but still nothing. Gathering my courage, I opened the door slowly.

"Mother..." I whispered. Where I expected to see my mother, I just saw an empty room. There was a messed up bed and table with all its contents on the floor or knocked down, and a couple of other essential furnitures. But what captures my attention is the cracked picture frame on the foot of her bed. Tiny little pieces of a picture that was torn apart and now unrecognizable. But on Mother's bed, there was a piece of paper that was not torn up. "My exam..." The one I lost earlier, she must've picked it up. And it wasn't ripped. Did it please her?

"Creeeak." The sound of the front door opening scared me, but then it sounded as if it was slammed closed.

"M-mother...?" I peeked to see who it was, only to see that no one was there.

"Vrooooommmmm." I heard a car leaving outside, and silence was the only thing that followed. Mother left me alone, but where could she go this late at night?

"...Mother, why can't we be together anymore...? Why am I always left alone...? Just... why mother...?" I went back to my room, sobbing quietly.

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