Tick Tock

I passed my first semester with not much trouble. Days went by, and life was not much trouble. The job went fine, and mom is stable but not anywhere near good. Dad got paid vacation and is resting at home and also doing his hobbies. He loves drawing, movies, and reading books. He is just doing it all for half the day; the other half he is with mom. The summer holidays have begun, and there is nothing to do at home instead of tagging along with dad to meet mom.

Part-time is over by the evening nowadays. Things between me and Senpai are getting weird. She sometimes won't look me in the eye, and sometimes these eyes won't look into hers. There is also a weird kind of feeling when we are together. It can't be explained, but the heart beats too fast. Whatever it may be, this is something new and important.

She sometimes dresses too nicely for work and also comes with the accessories I gifted her. It makes me happy that she loves it. Nowadays, she is smiling more than she used to. She looks happier, and her mom is doing well too. Her siblings are getting really active in school, which is great.

Today, there is nothing important to do. No book can help me in my journey, so Kuro and Kobayashi-san both love fantasy novels, games, manga, and anime. They gave me novels and manga to read, and honestly, they really are masterpieces. I found something really fleshed out and enjoyable. I might recommend some to Senpai.

Also, dad noticed the house hasn't been cleaned in forever. He gets me, and we start to first dust the house, sweep the house, then mop it, then sit down and eat a good meal. Go to meet Mom. She always reads the same novels; manga was cheap in a nearby store, as were some novels. Plus, she really wanted that new Zelda game. So I got that too cheap as an offer for buying at least a whole set of the same manga series.

"Hi mom, I got you a gift."

"Ah, hello, Teddy." How are you doing?"

She stared at me for a few minutes; it was really confusing.

"Is there something on me, mom?"

"You look different from the last time we met.

It's like you are improving."

Those words almost made me cry when no tears have shed from my eyes in the last 2 years.

Yeah, mom, I am improving."

"Anyway, you asked for that game, and here it is."

"Oh! Thanks, my teddy. This is the most anticipated game from Nintendo this year, you know. Also, what's in the bag?"

"You keep reading all these books over and over, so these were some recommended by my friends. This is what was most enjoyable to me, so I brought these. It's a whole series."

"Oh my God!"

"Why English?"

"It's to make an impact, Teddy." IMPACT!"

Yeah, I got it."

"Oh! Anyway, sit down here, Teddy, and please help me beat this level. I've tried like a million times already. Please, just kill that boss."

The whole remaining day was spent defeating that boss. Dad apparently gifted her a hollow knight. That radiance got to me so bad.

She was almost halfway through the whole series. That was insane. All good because she loved it.

"This series is so good. I need a new series by tomorrow."

Good thing she enjoyed it; I've got to ask Kuro and Kobayashi-san for some more.

"Oh! I forgot something important to do today."

"What's that, Mom? Is everything fine?"

"Come here for a second teddy."

She grabs me tightly, and yeah, she forgot to give kisses and hugs.

"Ah! Now I am fulfilled."

"By the way, why isn't dad here yet?"

"You don't know. He already came in and saw you so focused on defeating that boss, he just took it quietly."

Also, you don't have to go anywhere tonight."

"Why?"

"You are sleeping here with me."

"What? Not that I mind, but is there a problem at home?"

"Nope, no problem. I just asked your dad to let you stay here for a night. Look! He even got your stuff for you."

"Okay, mom, are you going to sleep now?"

"Last volume, then I will sleep."

She finished the whole series before going to sleep. The presence in the room kept me awake for quite some time. There was another bed for me to sleep in, so I was just hanging there, scrolling through the phone, looking at what anime to watch, when I heard someone talking. It was Mom in her sleep. She never does that, but she was talking quite a lot this time.

"Please give me some more time. Inoue is still really small, and I can't leave them both on their own."

"Please wait until Inoue graduates. I beg you—just enough time for me to see him grow. Please answer me! Answer me!"

I've got to wake her up before anyone else listens to her.

"MOM! Calm down."

"What happened? Are you fine, dear?"

Yes, mom, I am fine; you were dreaming about something bad. Probably a nightmare."

"Oh, I am so sorry. Come on, just go back to sleep. Why don't you sleep here with me? You won't be scared at all that way."

Okay, mom, I will just bring this bed towards you."

She patted my head while I lay down on the pillow and brushed her hand through my hair. She was trembling. To calm her down, I turned towards her, acted as if I were sleeping, and held her hand. The trembling stopped, and a timid voice came along. Opened an eye just to see what was going on. She was crying so badly. She didn't want me to see her; that was obvious, but just holding her hand tighter calmed her down. The clock ticktocking scared me more. Time was rapidly leaving from her grasp.

'She is only putting up an act of being strong; there will be a very unfortunate end for her'. These voices were in the back of my head, but I decided not to pay any heed to them. Those were some fearsome thoughts. The clock just went on with 'tick tock'.

'If she were dead, my life would have been so much easier; she is a burden. Kill her! Kill her! KILL HER!' Those thoughts kept me awake the whole day. The next day, mom was still sleeping; I didn't want to disturb her, so I packed up and went outside. Dad was waiting by the car and just came to pick me up. We were going to the beach for some fun, and dad also got these beach hut tickets for someone to make good use of them. It was clean, and nobody wanted to use it because of some ghost rumours.

It was a chance for the café to make a good name, and the boss was interested. Kuro and Kobayashi-san were bored, so I asked them too. They were really happy and wanted to go and help around as well. Kuro is famous and kind of a hot guy, and Kobayashi-san will just be doing the waitress job. Senpai also got her siblings to play and her mom for some sunbathing. The fun thing is, it's opposite the hospital, so mom can come out too. A doctor and a nurse will be with her. Dad got everyone in a rented van, and the next day we all went to the beach.