Chapter 4 Discussion With Big Bro

Michelle sighed out her worries and decided not to think about them anymore. She straightened up in preparation for sleep, positioning her body well on her bed. Of course, sleeping the right way prevented bad posture. During that period of her psychological and emotional imbalance, it was only Desmond who understood her actions and stood by her.

This made them closer than anyone else in the family. Anything Michelle couldn't tell her mum, she told Desmond, most of which Roland was also aware. Her big brother had strengthened her physically and emotionally with so many inspiring words.

She turned and tossed several times around the width of her bed, finding it difficult to sleep. The thought of going to discuss it with her brother crossed her mind. She stood up but changed her mind, saying to herself that it was nothing and she didn't need to bother him.

A knock on her door startled her. She waited to know who was knocking. Before she could ask who it was, she heard the knocker's voice.

"Mich, are you asleep?" Desmond asked when there was no response from her after he knocked the first couple of times.

"I know you've yet to sleep. May I come in?"

"Come in," she responded weakly. Desmond entered her room, closing the door gently behind him.

"I like your room fragrance. It's been a while," he said. Michelle sat bolt upright on her bed with a book in her hand. Desmond sat close to her, studying her facial expression.

She stayed silent and did not utter a word because she knew that Desmond would know something was wrong if she spoke. Except for watching a movie or reading, she would be asleep.

"Mich, what's the matter again?" he spoke softly, almost like a whisper. That voice! The voice she had missed so much for a long time. She nodded her head sideways, which was to tell him that nothing was wrong.

"That's a lie. You not saying a thing is a problem. And the fact that you've been thinking here ever since you ate dinner is also a problem. Michelle, talk to me. Have you forgotten that you have a shoulder to lean on when you're down?" he asked calmly, urging her to speak.

His cool, appeasing words melted all her faked courage. Desmond patted her back, assuring her that she would be alright. With time, she stopped looking sad and chuckled at his gesture.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"We'll be resuming school on Monday."

"So?"

"I'm apprehensive."

"Is this about Richard?" She nodded affirmatively in response.

"What about him?"

"Daisy told me she saw him the day before, and he might be up to something more hurting this time."

"If I get it right, you are scared he might bring you down again?"

"Something like that," she said, trying not to sound like she was scared of her classmate.

"Whatever happens, just be calm and follow the principles I taught you last time. Okay?" She nodded again. Back when she couldn't bear the torment from Richard and her classmates, Desmond had taught her to avoid superfluous discussions with him and to try to smile at all times.

"Also, I've told you time and again to control your temper and never cry in his presence. It'll only boost his ego," Desmond added, pinching her cheeks lightly.

"I'll try my best," she sighed, not sure if she could do as he said. She was emotional.

"That's my little angel," he smiled at her, and she smiled back, leaning her body on his.

"You see that smile? I love it," Desmond commented.

"Thanks to you," she replied and bid him goodnight.

Desmond waited in her room until she fell asleep, covered her with the duvet, then left her room, closing the door quietly. He managed to allay her fears.

*

*

Desmond finally felt good to be back home. Ever since he left for school, he had been worried about the welfare of his family. Not that his father and mother couldn't handle the affairs of the house, but he was so worried about Michelle. No one knew her better than he did.

She seemed to be strong on the outside every time, even when she was hurting, and she never liked discussing her problems with anyone, even him. It was because she never wanted to be a burden to anyone, and she didn't like people to see her weak side.

He hadn't met her at home when he arrived. There was no doubt she had gone to Daisy's, her best friend. He also confirmed it with Roland, his little champion. Roland acted like he didn't care about things, but silently, he tried to make things right.

While eating dinner after the ladies finished cooking, Desmond noticed Michelle was drowning in her thoughts. Definitely, something was bothering her.

Immediately after they finished their meal, he walked to her room after some minutes.

Her room smelled like heaven and still did, with a flower-like scent radiating through the enclosure. Her walls were a mixture of bright light blue and white, as were every other decoration in the room. Unlike other girls, his Michelle did not fancy the color pink.

He sat beside his sister on the bed, and she tried hiding her face from him. That was one of her habits whenever she was worried or sad. He soothed her with his words, and, like every other time, it worked.

She opened up to him about her worries, and it turned out she was scared of getting hurt by her classmates as they were about to resume a new term and session.

"Just follow the ways I taught you before," he said to her, and she nodded. He added that she should learn to control her temper every time she got annoyed, and she sighed.

With her sigh, he knew she might not be able to do that unless she had someone to aid her. It had not been easy keeping her anger in check, as she was quite hot-headed and temperamental.

Back then, he had already discussed it with Daisy to assist him in controlling Michelle whenever she flared up, and it did seem to be working.

"I have to find another way to control her temper," he mumbled and hit her playfully. She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder.

He so much loved her smile. It was always so beautiful when she smiled, and he deemed her smile to be priceless. It took a while before she finally learned how to show her happiness to someone.

Not long after, her eyes began closing, and he exited her room. Now thinking about it, it seemed he had to see this Richard of a boy in person.

"What does he want from my sister, and why is he targeting her?"