Restless

I ran back into the room. I decided not to protest to Uncle Matthew.

 

My heart was beating so hard that it made my blood flow like it was rippling cold. I went into the room and locked the door. My hands were shaking.

 

I quickly sat on the bed, rubbing my face roughly. "What did I hear earlier? There's no way the woman in question is me, right?"

 

I bit the tip of my index finger, feeling uneasy. I couldn't think straight. Right now, I was terrified of her.

 

I gasped in surprise when my cell phone rang. I grabbed the flat object on the bedside table, seeing who was calling me.

 

I stare at the phone screen, which shows the caller's name. "Selly."

 

She must have wanted to know whether I had protested to Uncle Matthew. I didn't want to talk to her just yet.

 

I watched the lit screen of my phone until it stopped ringing. I quickly texted him if Uncle Matthew still didn't permit me, and then I changed the ringtone setting to vibrate.

 

The flat object vibrated a few more times. I quickly put it down on the table. That must be Selly protesting to me.

 

My phone vibrated again for a longer time. She must have called. My head hurts even more.

 

I lay down on the bed, covering my head with a pillow to not hear the cell phone vibrations.

 

"Nyla." Uncle Matthew called out to me from behind the bedroom door. "Come downstairs. We're having dinner together."

 

I reached for my phone, looking at the clock on the screen. It was already 7 pm. I had overslept. I didn't want to see Uncle Matthew.

 

"Nyla." Uncle Matthew called me back while knocking on the door. "Are you sleeping?"

 

I was quiet, not answering. Just pretending to be asleep.

 

The atmosphere became quiet. I couldn't hear Uncle Matthew's voice anymore. Maybe he had gone back downstairs.

 

I exhaled, looking at the phone screen full of notifications of dozens of messages and dozens of missed calls from Selly.

 

I didn't reply to the messages or call her.

 

"I'm sorry, Selly." I put my phone back on the nightstand.

 

I'll talk to her in person later and apologize for ignoring her all day.

 

I looked up at the dim ceiling of the room. I haven't turned on the light yet.

 

I imagined Mom and Dad's faces. Did I not recognize them well? Everything Uncle Matthew said kept spinning and repeating in my head. Making me feel dizzy and nauseous.

 

"That sucks." I closed my eyes, trying to go back to sleep.

 

I moved sideways to the right and left, then on my back, stomach, and back sideways, looking for a sleeping position that made me comfortable, but my eyes wouldn't close.

 

The dinging clock kept turning.

 

I dozed off for a while, then flew back to sleep for no more than 30 minutes. I couldn't sleep well thinking about this.

 

Before I knew it, the sun was up, and I still couldn't sleep properly.

 

I woke up with a headache and sore eyes. My whole body was aching. I stretched the muscles in my arms and waist. My neck muscles also felt stiff from constantly moving to fix my sleeping position.

 

"Yes, my goodness. I'm going out of my mind thinking about her all night." I rubbed my face roughly.

 

Uncle hadn't been here for 12 years, and what information did I not know about my parents? This was draining my mind. The relationship between my father and Uncle Matthew was very gray. Were the two of them actually in a close relationship without me knowing?

 

"Ah, shit." I held my aching head. "I'm so confused. What's going on here?"

 

I lowered my legs from the bed, trying to recall their relationship. Far from being close, their relationship was very bad. I couldn't think clearly.

 

My head was so dizzy.

 

I exhaled. The sun had risen brightly. I couldn't leave the room. I'm afraid of running into Uncle Matthew. I'd better stay here.

 

"Nyla." I looked toward the door as Uncle Matthew called out while knocking on my bedroom door. "I've prepared breakfast for you. Hurry up and come down."

 

I was confused. What should I tell him? What if she had poisoned the food?

 

I swallowed my saliva. That man scared me.

 

"Uncle, just have breakfast first. I have something to care for and can't be left behind." I reasoned, casting my eyes around for an alibi I could use. And my gaze fell on the laptop on the study table. "I have an extra online lesson."

 

"Alright, I'll go first." I no longer heard Uncle Matthew's voice behind my bedroom door.

 

What should I do now?

 

I stood up, feeling anxious.  Walking back and forth in the room with a frustrated face. Occasionally, rubbing my face roughly and bite the tip of my index finger.

 

My gaze drifted toward the window as I heard the roar of a car engine starting up and then slowly pulling away from the yard.

 

Had he left?

 

I stood in front of the window, looking out. I saw that Uncle Matthew's car was gone. That means he left home.

 

"Thank goodness. I can breathe a little easier." I rubbed my chest. It felt like a stone inside my chest had just been released.

 

Even so, I was still not safe.

 

I exhaled, approaching the bed again to sit down. I still didn't want to leave the room.

 

My gaze was drawn to my cell phone, which was vibrating on the study table. I reached over and grabbed it. The flat screen lit up, showing Theo's name. My feelings instantly became happy.

 

I put the phone to my ear, picking up his call. "Hello, Theo."

 

"Hi," he answered from the other side. "How are you doing now, Nyla? Is your flu getting better?"

 

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied in a low voice.

 

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Theo asked me again, even though I had already told him I was fine. "There seems to be something you're hiding. Is it bothering you?"

 

I sighed softly. Since a long time ago, he had always been able to know what I was feeling. Even though right now, it's only through a phone call. But his sensitivity is still high.

 

I exhaled. "I'm debating whether I should talk to you about this."

 

"Just talk. I'll be ready to listen." Theo's voice sounded sincere. He had always been a good listener to me.

 

I stared out the window while leaning my back against the wall. "Where are you now?"

 

"I'm in the town of Counthill. I'm on family business," he replied. The town was quite far from here. "Did you miss me?" His question was punctuated with laughter. He was always joking around.

 

I smiled slightly. "Yes," I replied with some emphasis. "When will we meet?"

 

"I'll see you as soon as I get home." Theo's voice sounded a little noisy like the wind was blowing in his direction. "Maybe I'll go to your house tonight."

 

I nodded as I looked at the clock on the wall in my room. He would be back tonight, but it still felt like a long time. I wanted to see him soon and tell him what was bothering me.

 

I sighed softly. "Alright. I'll wait for you."