FATIMA’S MOTHER WENT TO visit their house again but found no one inside. The landlady carefully stayed silent as she stayed inside her house with Timothy. Since Fatima and her brother are away, the landlady happily stayed with Timothy since she loves taking care of kids.
After their mother left since no one was answering, she left the place. The landlady wants to call Fatima but she doesn’t have a phone so the landlady has no choice but to wait for her to come back home.
“Who was that?” Timothy asked.
“Some crazy lady in the neighborhood, don’t worry,” she jokingly reassured him as he doesn’t actually remember the woman as his mother. She left years ago that he completely forgot who she was since the last time she was there for them, he was still very young.
Fatima’s mother was walking down the road when she saw a coffee shop. She looked at it curiously before going forward on her day. She needs to find a way to get close to her family again.
AFTER THEY TRIED Dresses and suits, they decided to prepare some food. Since it’s Grian’s house, he got assigned to food duty while William helped him. Nikki and Philippe on the other hand, are watching the big-ass television in the living room, and Fatima is outside, getting some fresh air. Christopher, who had nothing else to do, followed her outside.
“Hey, Fatima,” he said and she turned around and furrowed her eyebrows before turning to look at the streets again. He stood next to her and they stayed there in silence for a while before one of them spoke.
“It’s been so long, hasn’t it?” he said and stretched out his arms.
“How have you been these past years?” he asked and she sighed and looked at him, trying to figure out what he’s trying to do.
“Shit,” she answered and he raised an eyebrow.
“Care to explain?” he insisted and she rolled her eyes before crossing her arms. “I’m sure you’ve done your research on me when you found out who I was,” she said and he chuckled lightly.
“Well…” he mumbled.
“I knew it,” she said disappointingly.
“I want to hear it from you though,” he said and she didn’t say anything. She sighed and sat down on the concrete ground of Grian’s garage.
“Accident, death, poverty,” she said and smiled sassily. He didn’t know what to say after she said that.
“I- I’m sorry for your loss,” he said and cleared his throat and she composed herself so her emotions were in check. She inhaled before going back inside the house, and he followed behind her.
Seeing the streets of this part of the country gives her so much nostalgia but she can’t figure out if the feeling is good or bad. It’s something in between the bad and good. Memories of her here are great yet traumatic.
“Can you come with me?” She turned around and saw Grian holding a wallet and looking at her. She raised her eyebrows in curiosity before agreeing to his request. “I’m coming as well,” Phil butted in and Fatima nodded while Grian smirked in amusement.
The three of them got in Grian’s car as he drove to the grocery store. Once they arrived, they went inside and Phil grabbed a cart. “If you want to buy anything else, just put it in the cart,” he told Phil and he nodded. They walk together while Grian is scanning the aisle they’re passing by.
“Care to grab vegetables at the end of the store?” Grian requested this to Philippe so he can get Fatima alone. Philippe eyed him before proceeding to go to the other side of the store. Grian laughed silently before clearing his throat.
“So.. how’s it feel like to be back here?” He started a small talk and she shrugged.
“Nostalgic, almost? It’s strange seeing the same things after about 7 years that are still the same. There are definitely changes in some parts though,” she said and he listened.
“Do you want to visit our old school?” Her eyes lit up with excitement but quickly turned to a frown. “Not really, maybe next time,” she refused and continued walking down the aisle.
On the other side of the store, Philippe was confused as to what vegetable he needed to get and decided to head back to where his sister was. As he was pushing the cart back, he stumbled upon a familiar face that made him be on edge. “Philippe, oh I missed you so much!” she said dramatically and as he caressed his face. He was stunned and was frozen in place.
“M-mom?” he confusedly uttered as he examined her face. Full of make-up, eye-bags, and a tired-looking face that’s been through so much. She smiled with a strange aura to it. “Leave me alone,” he uttered out of resentment towards her.
“I know you’ve missed me, darling.” He tried his best to keep his composure as her mother talked to him. She ran her hand through his hair and he pushed her hand away.
“I’ve been working so hard these days so I can provide for you and your siblings,” she said with a victim's face and her eyebrows furrowed. They moved away because of her, that’s why they moved to the house close to the coffee shop. Now she found her way to them again.
His jaw clenched. “You were never there for us.” He started walking away and she just stood there behind him. “Ever since your father died..” she uttered slowly and he stopped walking.
“Things have been tough,” she continued and his patience was wearing out. He turned around and walked in front of her and she tried to hold his face but he grabbed it. “Do not even speak about our father. I know you were glad he died, I watched as you celebrated it. Leave before I lose my patience with you,” he threatened and she sweetly smiled.
“I loved your father-“
“Loved my father? Then explain why you cheated on him, huh? After his death, you just threw the kid to my sister so she can take care of it! You made me and my sister go through hell, don’t wait before I do it to you myself,” he warned her before letting go of her hand and walking away.
Philippe furiously walked to Fatima and Grian laughing and chatting and grabbed her sister’s arm. “Let’s go,” he said and the two looked at him confusedly.
“We still have things to buy, Phil.” He breathed heavily and shook his head. Grian noticed distress in his face and asked him about it. “What’s wrong?” he asked and looked around the store.
“Nothing, I just don’t feel well. Can we just go?” he begged and the two looked at each other before following him outside. As they were walking, their mother was quick to stop them.
“Fatima, darling,” she greeted and hugged her tightly as if she missed her so much. She pushed her mother away and pulled Philippe behind her. “Why are you here?” she furiously asked and eyed her up and down. This is the first time in so long since she saw her mother.
“Don’t you miss me?” she asked with teary eyes and the siblings are not buying it.
“Let’s just go, Fatima.” Grian pulled her, sensing her discomfort upon seeing her mother. They all entered the car as their mother stood there in silence before uttering, “I missed you, my precious!” Grian furrowed his eyebrows before starting the engine and driving off. He looked over at Fatima who’s beside her and looked at Philippe at the back who were both silents.
She breathed heavily and tried to keep her composure. “Sorry,” she told Grian before inhaling and exhaling and putting her hair back.
“Are you okay, Philippe?” Fatima asked her brother and he nodded. The damage she did to him was not as bad as the damage she did to his sister.
Her eyes widened and realized that she could’ve gone to Timothy earlier or might be going there right now since both she and Philippe are away. “Can you bring us home? I need to check on my brother,” she said and he nodded. Grian called Christopher on the phone and told him he’s taking the two to their house and to make sure not to make any mess in his house.
“What do I do with the tall dude?” he asked, more like whispering through the phone in annoyance.
“Tall dude? Uh, William?” Grian asked and he answered yes.
“He’s annoying the shit out of me,” Chris whispered, making Grian shake his head. He chuckled softly before saying, “Drive him home later.” Christopher was about to complain but Grian ended the call.
As they drove home, Fatima took her time looking at the streets she once was familiar with years ago to calm her mind from overthinking. Timothy should be safe since he’s with their landlady, right? Nothing could’ve happened, right?
Her body tensed up as she thought of it. She was getting submerged in her own thoughts until she felt a warm palm on the back of her hand. She looked to the driver’s seat and saw Grian holding her hand and driving as nothing happened. She looked down at their hand and she exhaled heavily. Grian smiled and massaged her hand as he drove.
Once they arrived at Fatima’s house, she rushed to the landlady’s house and asked for Timothy. Once she saw her brother, she immediately hugged him and lifted him up. She inhaled and exhaled and her body relaxed. “Did anyone visit?” She looked over at her landlady and she nodded. She mouthed the word ‘mother’ and Fatima felt uneasy again.
Grian held her shoulder as Timothy hugged her and told her what he’s been doing all day. Her mind was submerged in thoughts and couldn’t even understand what he’s saying. “We’ll go to our house now, thank you again,” she said in the most genuine way and the landlady smiled before nodding.
“Want to come inside?” Grian nodded and followed behind them.
Once they were inside, she put her brother down on a chair. “Did you have fun today?” she asked and he nodded. She took a deep breath and nodded as well. Philippe watched them and he couldn’t help but feel some sort of anger at Timothy.
His hand clenched as he looked at their half-brother, but calmed himself down. While Fatima is talking to Timothy and Phil is standing there watching, Grian was looking around their house. There was minimal furniture and the house was small for three people. A picture frame caught his eye.
It was a picture of her, Philippe, and their father from when they were a lot younger. It looks like they were having a lot of fun in the picture. The differences between her life before and now are immense. He can’t help but feel bad because of her situation.
“Sorry I rushed you to take us home…” Fatima whispered and looked down on the floor. Grian turned around and shrugged. “I don’t mind. I know how worried you got,” he said and she sighed.
“Uhm, here, sit down.” He walked to the chair and sat down.
“Phil, can you change Tim’s clothes?” Phil looked at her and sighed before nodding. Once the two were in the other room, Fatima also sat down.
“You’re probably wondering what’s wrong with my mother, huh?” she said awkwardly and he smiled a little. He shrugged his shoulders before saying, “If you want to tell me, you can. If you still can’t, it’s fine.”
“I- I’ll open up when I can,” she answered and he genuinely smiled. He did take a look at what happened to her but it’s just the basics. It’s still a mystery to him what other things happened to her but he’s got the idea that it’s bad. What could’ve their mother do that this is how she is now?