I fell asleep in my room after lunch. Mom cooked us our favorite food. Maybe she was making Roland and I feel better because of what we saw on Alicia’s social media. And now I was staring at my blaring phone. Bram’s name was on my screen.
When it stopped ringing, I checked the time on my phone and it showed four in the afternoon. I placed it on silent mode and went back to sleep. But it was impossible because someone knocked on my door. I turned when it opened.
“Do you want to go for a drive? Or a walk?” Roland asked me.
“Where are we going?” I sat up.
“Anywhere, but here,” Roland answered me, “I’m suffocating in here.”
I nodded, “Okay, get out so I can change,” I told him then I removed my blanket.
We took Roland’s black Honda Civic and drove up to his friend’s house. Roland and his friend stayed in the garage while I was seated comfortably on a rattan cushioned swing chair. I was just watching the sunset. Roland’s friend’s house was built on an elevated area. We had the perfect view of the houses below and a few grasslands.
“Are you hungry, Emma?” Roland asked me.
I turned to him and said, “No, I’m good.”
“That was the fifth time you asked her, man,” Roland’s friend commented.
“That’s because my sister is pregnant, you ape,” Roland responded to his friend. And then they both laughed.
We left mom’s house with just cash in our wallets. Roland said that we should leave our phones to avoid checking it all the time. We used his friend’s phone to take a photo of the beautiful pinkish-orange sunset. Roland asked me to stand by the balustrade then he took my photo with the setting sun as my background. I reminded him to send it to my messenger so I could have a copy.
At around dinner time, Roland told me that he knew a shawarma joint just outside his friend’s village. When we got there Roland brought me to the back for an al fresco dining. My only problem was the smoking customers were here too. I was wearing a baby pink short-sleeved romper with pockets at the front and sneakers. While Roland was just wearing a white shirt, army green shorts and his low cut black Converse.
When we got seated we were given a menu and I chose chicken wraps. Roland went for the all-meat shawarma. When the waitress left. Roland and I stared and smiled at each other.
I sighed, “Thank you for today. I’m so glad I came with you,” I told him.
“I miss doing this with mom and dad,” Roland commented. He was lightly drumming our wooden table.
“You miss dad?” I asked him. His eyes were scanning the area.
“Yup,” Roland responded. Then he looked up at the yellow hanging bulbs that provided the place with ambient lighting.
“You can always call me if mom is too busy,” I told him. I suddenly felt a pang of regret. I felt like I was too busy with my own life and I did not even notice that my younger brother was struggling.
“The bastard won’t let me,” Roland said. He leaned back to his chair and crossed his arms to his chest.
“Who?” I asked. My eyebrows met in the middle, “You mean, Bram?”
“He thinks I’m a scum,” Roland added.
My jaw dropped. I did not realize that Roland felt this way about Bram, “He does not think that, you two don’t know each other that much. Maybe tomorrow, on your birthday, you two can spend some time. Give each other a chance.”
“I highly doubt that,” then he sat properly, “Because he thinks highly of himself.”
I was about to say something to defend Bram but our food arrived. Our meal was so good that we ordered another round for take out and for mom. During our drive Roland said that he wanted us to watch some movies and I immediately said yes. If this was a way for my brother to recover from what Alicia and Bram did at that yacht party then I would help him. When we reached home I yawned while I watched Roland open our gate.
Mom’s dogs started to bark when they saw Roland. I removed my seatbelt as we entered the garage. I opened my door when Roland switched off the engine. Then I closed it while I was removing my ponytail. Roland walked ahead of me towards the main door. I was watching my step because this area had poor lighting.
“Oops! Sorry,” I told Roland when I bumped into his back. He suddenly stopped walking. I looked at him and followed where he was staring at. Bram was standing by our main door. I released a heavy sigh and walked ahead of Roland, “Come on.”
I walked past Bram and entered our house quitely. Roland placed our takeaways on the dining table and sat on one of the dining chairs. I went upstairs to my room and decided to take a shower; because my hair smelled of beef and smoke. I walked out of my room with wet hair wearing sweatpants and a Spiderman shirt. Mom and Bram were both seated in the dining area facing each other.
Mom was already eating the food that we brought. Then I saw Bram watch me as I went down the stairs. I stood by the head seat, “Have you eaten dinner?” I asked Bram.
“I’m good,” Bram responded politely. Then he glanced at me and then at mom.
“Do you like it, mom?” I asked my mother with a smile. Because she looked like she was enjoying her meal.
“It’s good, just a little greasy,” mom told me. Then she took another bite.
I sat on the head seat and yawned again, “Where’s Roland?” I asked my mom.
“He’s taking a bath,” mom answered me. Then she stood up and went to the fridge, “I might need to drink pineapple juice for this.”
I turned to my right side and Bram was staring at me. I did not know what approach to use so I decided to play it cool, “How was the party?”