Geek Chic 7

Geek Chic 7

Who knew Adam would lock himself in the room the whole day because of one simple question?

He didn’t need to do that. But maybe if he didn’t, I’d never get to fathom how serious this is towards his (fragile) feelings. Oh wells.

“ADAM!” Dad called out, knocking hard on his door. The flowing guilt landed and took over me. I must have glowed with guilt because my dad had guessed it.

“What did you do, Winn?”

Me?

“Uhm,” my hands got clammy. “I asked him some stuff…”

My dad glared at me intently.

“Exactly what stuff?” He made quote marks in the air.

“His real excuse for transferring school?” My voice went one octave higher in the end.

I wanted to continue. But then Mum climbed up and pulled me away from Dad. “You what?” she asked, keeping her voice fierce and low.

“What is wrong with that question?!” I wrung myself away from her grip. Is my brother some kind of control freak that I have to tolerate his emotions all the time? Come on! I had to change school for my stupid brother’s dilemma. Oh, and guess what? I don’t even know what it was! How unfair.

“Mum. Please. He’s a guy, probably a man! Stop pampering him like this.” I said loud and clear, giving my mum a shock. I turned to look away when her tears begin welling in her eyes. Darn. Adam used to be strong and outspoken, not the other way round. Something’s gone bad, and according to the universal force, a sister ought to know what it was about. Correct?

“I thought you promised me that you’d never mention this again. Until he’s ready.” She whispered close to my ears, her voice wobbly.

Ready?

“When will he be ready, Mum? In a million years?” I didn’t rotate to face her this time. And I wasn’t ashamed of myself. My mum and Adam should be.

I walked away from my Mum and Adam’s room and ran down the staircase. Forget about the dinner. Forget about the Mum talk. I’m going out.

* * *

“Winnie?”

Bebe opened the door of her house, looking bewildered. She stood there, glued on the ground, the door open wide. I hadn’t packed any clothes or whatsoever. But I was not going home either to get it.

“Are you gonna lemmi in, or what?” I asked, rather rudely. Alas, Earth to Bebe as she invited me in and had me to sit on the sofa.

“My parents are out, and Chuck’s got a date so he’s out, too.” She walked over to the kitchen and got us tea.

When she finally got the tea done, she presented it on the coffee table with me slumped on the sofa uncomfortably. And more likely, unladylike.

“So what brings you here today?” she sat down across from me and stared at me, looking concerned.

I sat up and shrugged. “Just asking- how did your Chuck bro get a girlfriend?”

It was silent for a nano second before Bebe sat straighter and her face twisted in inconvenience like she didn't want to answer this question. She must have thought I was going nuts.

“What!? Y-you have a crush on him?!”

She’s gone overboard. Chuck was a pizza guy, bloated and 19. Who wants him, anyway?

“NO!” I shrieked. “Just – how did he get a girlfriend when my brother can’t.”

Bebe looked relieved. “Cash,” she boasted. “My bro, he works hard.”

And eats harder.

“Oh.”

Bebe got hold of the call receiver and punched in numbers. “Who are you calling?” I queried, getting up and sipping my cup of tea. Are mum and Dad worried about me?

“Dame. He should come see you, too.” Bebe replied, looking cheerful. Bebe’s smile made me wonder what was wrong with her? Her best friend just suddenly showed up, asking about her brother so randomly and now she picks up the phone calling Dame and is smiling like a moron?

“What’s wrong with you? LOVE-STRUCK?” I asked, after having a long sip of the chamomile tea. Gosh, Bebe makes like, the BEST tea. I felt instantly better.

“Er….” the phone still in between of her shoulder and ear, she looked up like she was pondering that answer.

* * *

“Winnie!” Dame hugged me, “I miss you so terribly much.” Dame had arrived and had hugged me immediately at the open of the door. He didn’t even greet Bebe. I caught a glimpse of her scorning. Was she actually jealous?

“Yeah, me too.” It suddenly felt great to be hugged willingly. From a guy, at least.

“How have you been?” he asked, stepping into the house with great delight. “And hey Bebe, thanks for calling.”

Bebe grinned.

“Ohh, not so well. Hey by the way Bebe,” I rotated to face her as her scorn got off as quick as you can say ‘what’, “I’m not actually here to ask about Chuck.”

“Really?”

“Heck, yeah!” We settled down and everyone lied on the ground, facing the ceiling, under the fan. “See, my brother got real mad when I asked him what he was teased for on the way home.” I explained, sighing.

“Oh.” The both of them voiced.

“And well, he really really got mad and locked himself in his room.” I explained further, now closing my eyes. It felt so cozy here. “And well, mum got a fit because of what I did. Then I was pissed, how could she actually tolerate him? It’s like-“

“He’s a girl brother?” Dame continued, finishing my sentence.

“Exactly!”

“Poor you.” Bebe uttered, a little queasiness in her voice.

“Can I stay here tonight?” I asked Bebe.

It was a whole 10 seconds of silence.

“Sure,” Bebe replied at last, “why not.”

At once I could sense the jealousy in her voice. No worries, I’ll be discussing this with her tonight. Thank God Dame didn’t come along, because I knew it was somewhat related to him. The phone rang after a few seconds I doze off. “I’ll get it..” Dame said, his voice sounding real tired. Bebe and I laid on the floor, still sleeping.

“Winnie!” I heard. “It’s your parents.” I slid my eyes open. My parents?

“Yeah, your parents.” Dame said, closing the receiver with his hands so my mum or dad couldn’t hear him.

“What do they want?” I asked, climbing up.

“Uhm,” Dame answered politely into the phone, “She’s sort of sleeping now.”

Stupid Dame. Sleeping?! What? with you? “Not sleeping, you idiot! I’m…uhm…on the phone, with someone else.” I hissed at him.

“I mean, she’s on the phone with someone else.” He said the words so exactly, that it felt as if it was scripted!

“Oh, okay.” He said, and let down the receiver.

“Your mum said that she thinks you’d rather sleep here tonight. And well, she’ll be bringing the clothes later.” Dame walked over to us. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was 6 already. Good thing it was a Friday or else I couldn’t have slept here tonight.

I turned and looked over at Bebe who was still sleeping soundly.

“You wanna talk?” he asked, grabbing me by my hand as I tried to get up. I nodded weakly.

We walked over to the sofa, a distance away from Bebe.

“So how’s school?” he questioned, crossing his legs. I realized he was blushing a little.

“Well, I met this guy. Actually, I bumped into him and he’s been acting a little weird.” Since he wanted the explanation, I’d give it with pleasure. “And before I came here, I had this slightest thought about bfs. Maybe I need one.”

He looked alarm. “A boyfriend? You crazy? You don’t need a boyfriend. You’re fully capable of yourself!”

I debated back, “Capable?! Yeah right! I feel so clueless and lost now you wouldn’t even imagine who Winnie is right now!”

“That’s why you have me.” And he added swiftly. “And Bebe.”

“Whatever, I don’t feel like talking about it. It makes me mad. Right now, I’ll just let everything flow. Naturally. Like in the Bible, don’t worry about tomorrow as it will worry about itself.” I smiled casually and assured him I was fine because he still looked a little shaken of what I had said.

“Winnie, promise me something.” He whispered, focusing on me. “Promise me, that whatever happens, and if you need ANYTHING at all – you have to tell me.”

Tears started to stream down my face, again. I cupped my face, full of shame. Great! Two in a million.

“I promise.” It wasn’t exactly my fault I had actually let go of my headstrong and pretend-to-be-strong self. It was practically his fault for pulling me into the water along with him.