Tina did not know how long she laid there on the bed but when she finally shook herself up, it was after 8 pm. She intuitively threw her legs from the bed while she lazily sprung to her full length; her eyes still bugged from crying.
Without hesitation, she shuffled off to the washroom– resurfacing after a few minutes in her nightwear looking refreshed but still troubled inside judging from her creased brows tinted on her face which deeply told out her worry and foreboding. With all appetite lost and no interest in seeing anyone at all, she traced her steps to her study table; slightly dragging the chair back while it made a scraping noise on the hard floor– making enough room for her to settle behind her laptop.
Instinctively, she brushed her hand through her hair; sweeping the strands which found their way to her face while she clicked on the space key– lightening up the screen. Just when she was about to make a further click, she heard a hard sound like a sack of rice thrown to the floor from the balcony which made her turn deftly towards it on alarm.
She felt the rate of her heartbeat increase and her breath trapped as a silhouette of a figure fell on the glass window.
With her gaze still fixed on the shadow of the unexpected visitor, she traced her hand to any object on the table she could use to protect herself as anxiety welled up within.
At that moment, the figure sent the curtains flying aside – revealing Rowan who was almost sent rolling over in the process by some portion of the curtain which found its way around his leg. Someway somehow, he managed to gain his grounds without falling.
A distressful sigh of relief instantly escaped Tina’s lips while her eyes rolled in their sockets as she turned back to her laptop– her back facing Rowan at the moment.
“What are you doing here?” She questioned over her shoulders with some sense of indifference while she scrolled open her assignment file.
Rowan noticed the unwelcome gaze and tone thrown at him but was in no way pushed by it.
“Here are some snacks for you.” He stretched his hands over Tina’s shoulders; bringing to bear the snacks before her eyes while he avoided her question – pretending not to have heard.
Tina slightly lifted her eyes towards the stretched-out hand with disinterest and intuitively allowed her gaze to travel back to the keyboard ~ balancing it between the screen as well as the keypad.
The former sighed with a half shrug and pursed lips, the corners of his mouth quivered in the process as if to say ‘Whatever' while he dropped the snacks beside the laptop though the latter showed no interest at all.
“You should eat something. ” Rowan said, settling on the bed behind Tina without waiting for her permission. “I heard from Nanny Courtney that you've not had anything since you returned.” He hinted casually but tactfully just not to imply anything. “You just stayed locked up in your room even Lucas couldn't get you out. Come on, what's eating you up?” He went on to ask, setting his palms on the bed as if to press it – leaving his shoulders slightly hunched while Tina remained unmoved with her concentration fixed on what she was doing.
“Are you listening to me at all, Tina?" He inquired; feeling ignored.
Tina instinctively slammed her finger on the keypad with a sneer– turning to face her irritating intruder. “What do you want Rowan?” She threw the words rhetorically at him– pausing for a brief second with an intent gaze. As if on an impulse, she scoffed, “Don't tell me you were pretending to care just now.”
“I’m not pretending Tina.” Rowan snapped in, jolting to his feet with knitted brows which screamed out his worry and concern. “I know you more than you know yourself and shouldn't you think I should be more worried seeing you like this?” He blunted, pausing for a moment as he briefly looked away just to get hold of himself.
An undue silence settled between the two for a while– while the latter remained in her seat. It was clear that she was giving him a cold shoulder and not pretending to be civil about that.
“Not everyone is like your parents. ” Rowan finally uttered; breaking the silence which had engulfed the room while he allowed his gaze to travel back to Tina. “Lots of people care and worry about you.” He added, nettled by her indifference. “ You should look more to them before you send everyone away with your actions. And here is one thing you should remember; Don't be a slave to your emotions– control them.”
With this said, he made his way towards the window he had come from but suddenly paused in his tracks. “I don't know what you have against Phidelia” He muttered over his shoulders– making the latter glance at him. “nor what's going on between you two but whatever it is; you guys should talk it out and don't forget to have the snacks.” He affirmed, stuttering off.
Tina was left staring after him as she watched the former scale the balcony to the stairs leading down then glanced back at the snacks with feigned interest.
*******
Both Phidelia and Phidel had had their share of disappointment on returning from school but the former was yet to recover as she had high hopes of meeting her parents once again– she sat on the bed deeply engulfed with the frame in her hand which held a picture of her parents and Phidel.
“You’re still disappointed right?” A familiar voice interrupted, making Phidelia deftly lift her gaze to the entrance of the washroom to see Phidel edged at the doorpost with her shoulder against the wall.
“Well..yeah.” She hastily muttered, dropping the photo frame on the mini drawer beside the bed as her lips curved in a cheerless smile– her gaze traveling to her feet as she stared to the floor.
A sigh instinctively escaped Phidel’s lips and she glided over to her sister's end; settling beside her. “I know how you feel Delia.” She said, draping her hand around her sister's shoulders. “But Mum and Dad may have their reasons. It may be urgent as Auntie Emma said but trust me; they both loved you dearly. ” She affirmed and her sister glanced up at her with an unfeigned smile.
Phidel intuitively returned the smile – slightly rubbing Phidelia’s shoulder. “We should go to sleep now.” She added.
Phidelia bobbed her head; scaling herself onto one side of the bed while her sister glided onto the other side while they tucked themselves under the blanket; leaving both of them staring at each other.
Soon, Phidelia was left with her gaze intently fixed on her sleeping sister in the dim light. Narrowly, sleep also began to have its way with her. She didn't even realize when she slid into a deep slumber.