C7 CHAPTER 07: I’m Sick, Literally

JINX. I don’t know if that’s the proper word to describe my day... Or my whole life, maybe. Today is supposed to be the day I’ve been waiting for. It’s Freeda’s birthday, and she wanted me to come. Mom already let me go, just because I lied. I told her that I need to go there for a school project. And maybe that was the reason why I’m on my bed right now, laying with an aching head.

Karma strikes that fast and bad. Now I got to add another rule on my manual, and that is, “Never lie to your Mom.” After denying my bestfriend, lying to my Mom, and wanting to be popular instead of being a goodie-goodie student, I can now conclude that I’m a sick person. And yes, that statement is both metaphorical and literal. I’m sick, literally.

“Nat? Why aren’t you waking up? Are you going to school or what?” I heard my Mom shouted from the other side of the door.

“Mom... I’m not feeling well...” I tried to answer her.

“What? Would you let me in? I want to check on you...”

I sighed. I grabbed my blanket to wrapped myself with it for I feel really cold. And also, it was for protection if ever I fainted or something as I stood up. Having a soft thing to crash onto is a must.

I stood up, feeling dizzy at the moment. I tried to took a step forward but I failed. I sat on the floor frustrated. Why did I even locked my door? What if something really bad more than this happened to me? Then Mom wouldn’t be able to save me or anything.

“Nat?! What was that, dear? Are you alright? Open this door now.” She pounded on my door several times.

“I can’t, Mom. I’m sick.”

“Okay, okay. That’s it. I’m going to get the spare key on my bedroom. Just wait right there.”

“S-sure...”

I curled up like a ball on the floor as a pang of pain strike on my head. I couldn’t even move just to get back in my bed. Until finally, after a minute or so, my Mom finally opened the door of my room. As it swings open, Mom came rushing towards me with a worried expression plastered on her face.

“Nat! What happened? Are you okay? What are you doing on the floor?” she asked, worried.

“I tried to open the door...”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Come, I’ll bring you to the hospital.”

That thought scared me to death. The ideas and images of seeing the doctor punched a needle into my veins frightened me the most. That’s why ever since I’m a kid, Aunt Jessica was the one who’s helping Mom every time that I am sick. It’s because she’s working on a pharmacy, and she knows some things Mom didn’t.

“No way, Mom... Please don’t bring me to the hospital.”

“Okay, okay. I know that. Let me help you up get back to your bed.”

I nodded, and she assisted me to come back to my bed. I lay down, feeling sorry for myself.

“You’re burning up. You need to go to the hospital, Nat.”

“Mom, please... I don’t want to. I mean, it’s better if I stay in here... I’ll die early if you bring me to that place.”

She sighed, before reaching out for my head. She feel the warmth of my body through there, before removing it as she felt that it was too hot and it wasn’t normal anymore.

“Okay. But at least let me call your Aunt Jessica.”

I thought about that for a second, and then wondered, will Nathan be worried for me or not? Maybe not, because of the fact that he still mad at me. And I don’t want him to think that I’m only doing this so that he will talk to me again.

“I’m fine, Mom, really...” I tried to act okay.

“Well, you don’t look like your fine! That’s it. I’m calling Jessica.”

“Mom...” I tried to talk but I couldn’t open my mouth to speak any words.

“Just take a rest, Nat. I’ll call her and I will be back later to take care of you.”

She covered me with my blanket and I didn’t answer her anymore. I decided not to mind my Mom’s decisions, for I know that she wouldn’t even listen to me. I just let myself take a rest, before closing my eyes shut as I slumber back into sleep.

When I wake up, it was already lunch. My door swing open causing me to be fully awake and alert right now. Mom is holding a tray on her hands with a bowl of deliciously appealing soup and a glass of warm water. I also saw some pills, making me lose my appetite.

“Do I really need to drink all of that medicines, Mom?” I asked, wanting to throw a tantrum for having this illness.

“Yeah. Jessica told me that this will help you become better and regain your strength. Now eat this soup that I prepared for you before taking these pills.”

“F-fine...”

I tried to sit up, but thankfully, Mom helped me up as soon as she realized that I cannot eat and lay down at the same time. She puts the tray on my bed and I started to eat. She patiently assisted me, making sure that I ate all the foods and medicine that she prepared for me.

I’m very lucky to have her as my Mom. She’s a very kind, loving, and thoughtful mother to me. I’m glad that even Dad isn’t here anymore, she’s still here to guide me and to make me feel like I have a complete family. I shouldn’t have lied to her. Every time that I remember that, I felt guilty for not telling her the truth.

“Mom...” I called her name.

“Yeah?”

“That thing...” I trailed off, my mind is half debating if I should tell her the truth.

“What thing, Nat?”

“About the thing that I’m supposed to be going later tonight...” I sighed, knowing that telling her the truth will save me from all the guilt and regret later. Also, I will be scolded only in limitation if I confessed to her while I’m still sick.

“What about it, honey?”

“I lied to you, Mom. I’m not going out there for a project or any school purposes. I’m going there for a party.”

She gasped, looking at me with a surprising expression plastered upon her face.

“Someone invited you?” she asked unbelievably.

“Uhm... Y-yeah?”

“Oh my God! You’re really not a kid anymore! You’re gonna make me cry! Did Nathan got invited to?”

I looked down, feeling guilty for what I’ve done to Nathan. I shouldn’t have denied him... Now I’m regretting it. I unconsciously frowned, and Mom caught it.

“Well I guess not. You know honey, I’m having a hard time fitting into high school before just like you. But as long as I’ve got your Aunt Jessica by my side, nothing could go wrong. We were both unstoppable... High school... Those good old days. I remember the first time I kissed someone–”

“Mom!” I cut her statement off. Oh, boy. This is going to be a long story. “I don’t want to hear your story about kissing another guy who’s not my Dad,” I complained and she chuckled.

“Fine, fine, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t tell you about it. Though I’m glad that you’re finally starting to have some friends of your own. Just don’t forget Nathan, of course. He’s your bestfriend.”

“I know, I know.”

“I wont be getting too tight on you. You can go to some parties like a normal teenager. But getting my permission doesn’t mean that you could do anything that you want. Put on a limit to yourself. And you shouldn’t have lied to me.”

“Sorry, Mom. Maybe that’s the reason why I got sick...”

“Please don’t think in that way. Coincidental things like this often happen. It’s just a shame that it had to be on the same day of your first party...”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sick... Literally.”

She laughed at my remark, before getting the tray and other things that I used in eating and filling my empty stomach with foods and different medicines. I know it wasn’t that much to do for a person like me, but if for Mom, she doesn’t need a sick patient for she’s always busy doing other stuffs besides taking care of me.

But I guess having a short, peaceful moment is as nice as having a million dollars as well. For now, let me savour this little peace of mind that I’m currently having while I take a good rest on my bed.