Two Hearts: My Heart Is Within Yours, Angela

|12 years ago|

"Today at New York city's biggest bridge, an accident took place and was said to be 'jump into the sea'." A young journalist inside the TV station announced.

"We found out that the victim of this accident is the mother of an eight-year-old boy who is recognized to be the only son of the Minister of Finance." She disclosed and proceeded.

"The little boy has watched his mother spring herself into the massive ocean and refused to leave the spot he has been standing on for the past few hours." She said and flipped over to the next page of her circular.

"The marine is yet to find the corpse of Mrs Albert and is still on the search." She paused.

"People confirmed it to be_"

Click. The TV went off.

"Shit!" Sideon growled and rolled his hands into a fist.

"Are you okay sir?" His secretary, Mr Ben implored.

He nodded without a word.

Though he never loved or wanted her, this was the least he was expecting. How could she do this to him? Was she making an effort to tarnish and destroy his image?

"No! That won't come to pass as long as I'm still breathing. Something needs to be done." He thought.

"Ben?" He called.

"Yes sir."

"Block out the reporters and do not invite anyone in, tell them I'm not in a good mood right now." He managed to declare.

"Consider it done sir." Mr Ben bowed his head about to make his exit.

"Make sure that boy is sent home." He commanded, stood up, and went to strut in front of the tinted reflector view inside his office.

"Yes sir," Ben uttered again before taking his leave.

"Mom!" Maths bellowed again, "Why mom?" He cried, gashes streaming down his eyes.

Hours passed before he could finally earn the courage to climb down from the block brick he has been standing on.

"Oh, Christ!" Those who have been watching and aiming to get him down screamed.

"He's finally moving away from that spot!" A woman yelled joyfully as they'd been trying to get him down but to no avail.

He sauntered through the crowd, absorbing all their consoles.

|Present|

"Get back here Dennis, you don't want me chasing after you, do you?" Angie shrieked at her eight-year-old little brother who was fleeing around the sitting room, playfully.

"Oh! That's what I want. C'mon, come get me if you can." He replied and kept running around.

"Gosh! Whose son is this? He's such a brat." She thought, getting fed up.

She has been struggling to get her bag packed from him for the past thirty minutes and now she was getting late, not to mention being stuck in traffic again. She sighed, aloud.

"Okay?" She called, "Can I know what you want from me?" She asked gently.

"Now that's easy." He said and stopped running to face her, "Give me a ride to school and I'll be satisfied."

"Oh, not today!" She thought, placing her hand on my head. "You know I'm late for school, don't you?" She asked, brutally.

"You're always late, don't give me excuses." He let out, shoving his tongue at her.

"Alright deal, can I get my backpack now?" She agreed so she won't consume more of her time.

"Until we get to my school." He countered and flew out of the house.

Seeing him run out, her emotion drifted to how long they'd been doing decently without their mother. Her brothers, Ben and Dennis have been the only ones she had, even though she knew her Mom had her motives for leaving them behind, she still loved that they were working out competently.

Ben is twenty-four and a final-year student in college while Dennis is thirteen, ready for high school. She's eighteen, a final-year student in high school. Everything worked out for good.

Although Ben was older than her, she still imagined herself as his mom. Silly right?

She has been the one taking good care of them ever since their mother left them at a tender age.

"What did you say again?" She asked Dennis as they rode to school.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked sheepishly, making her look awkward.

"Oh shut up! I was thinking about how to squeeze my time today. I have a debate class and I have to cook for the plus test."

"Liar."

"Whatever." She scoffed and focused on driving.

"Will you be able to make it to my graduation party?" He asked.

"Of course, who else will it be if not me." She answered back and ruffled his hair.

"Watch out!" He yelled and she twirled to see a tour vehicle trying to hit past her car.

"These drivers should learn to drive well before getting a license." She thought, decompressing the car's acceleration.

"When driving please don't fail to face the front, so you don't get me killed," Dennis uttered which made her gasp.

"Are you serious?" She asked bewildered.

"That wasn't my fault!"

"Well, you should have concentrated more on driving than making me look like a kid"

"How?" She asked, unable to grasp what he meant.

"I mean, stop ruffling my head like a five-year-old boy!" He snapped.

"Oh!" She mouthed and shut her jaws.

"Yeah." he mumbled, "Please tell Aunt Jane to bring along Zee."

She turned and gave him a cold stare. "Who told you Jane will be attending your graduation?"

"She's your best friend."

"So? Should I make her hang around my neck all the time? Do you have any idea she's also busy?" She questioned, taking the right turn into his school.

"I thought best friends do things together." He teased her.

"You wish, boy." She told him and hauled her car to an abrupt halt and faced him.

"I'll be late for school if you don't get out of my car."

"Please, bring her along with Zee." He pleaded one more time, revealing one of his puppy looks.

"Fine, fine I will. We shouldn't be having this conversation this early. We'll discuss things when we get back from school, now off you go".

"Don't tell me you love me because I won't return it." He shuddered as he unlocked the side door to go out.

She chuckled, reversing her car.

"Hey girl!" Angie called and ran up to my only best pal, Jane who was making her way into the school hall."

"What's up girl?" She asked and hugged her, "I heard you went to Dallas yesterday."

"Oh! Yeah, Angie, it was fun," she said, giving her a broad smile.

"Good for you, that naughty son of mine won't give me space."

"Is Ben at home?" she asked, unexpectedly.

"No, he never said he was visiting," Angie answered even if she knew it would distort her mood.

"Uh uh, I was just asking. I miss him a lot."

"There you go again, lover girl." She teased and they both chuckled.

Ben is Jane's boyfriend and they have been courting for a year and a half. As a college boy, he was giving her a tough time with his long-distance relationship and Angie knew they were both trying to endure it. Still, she felt pity for Jane and always tried to make her feel better when they talked about him because she knew Jane was the right girl for her brother. Jane was a lovely soul.

The lectures commenced immediately after they'd entered their various classes. But today, Angie was lost in her wonderland.

"Angie, you are called." Jane tapped her which made her return to where she belonged.

"Yes?" She answered facing Jane but she signals with her eyes, telling Angie who called her attention.

"Yes_yes ma." She stammered, getting on her feet.

"Today is not going to get better for you if you don't turn off whatever is going on inside that head of yours." Mrs Hudson let out, gawking like a lioness close to feasting on her prey.

"I'm so sorry ma." She pleaded and lowered my head in remorse due to the piercing eyes on her.

"Better off." Mrs Hudson scoffed and returned to what she'd missed, "Be certain to pair with each other before the demise of the day and task smoothly on the research." She concluded, giving Angie one more glare before leaving the class.

But she wasn't left out, she was asked to follow her back to the office.

"No please come back, don't leave me alone." He pleaded even in his dreams.

His nightmares are back. He had tried his best to stop it but it kept coming back. Even after the years, he has lost his mother, there was not a single day he wouldn't dream of her. She was always appearing in his dreams.

The dreams were always frightening and looked different from what he had once seen, making him tremble while asleep.

"Meow." His cat moaned into his ear as he saw his master pulling and ruffling the bedsheets.

Maths jerked and flung his eyes open patting heavily. "It's the dream again," He thought.

He sat down on his bed and tried recollecting part of what he had dreamt about this time around and he has seen both his Dad and mom.

He has seen them arguing and then he remembered the past incident again.

|Flashback|

"Happy birthday our awesome son!" Mr and Mrs Albert congratulated him, their faces beaming with joy.

"Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom." He returned his gratitude.

"Surprise!" They both exclaimed together.

He looked up at them and saw a caged cute cat lying down in front of him.

"You said you were never going to get me one!" He exclaimed, surprised.

"Yes we did, but now it's another option since it's a gift. We thought giving you this will make your day." Mrs Albert said softly, pulling my cheeks.

"I love you." He told them and hugged his new kitty.

"We love you too." They both chorused.

That was the last time he had his birthday party with both of them because that night they fought again.

He heard screams coming out from their bedroom, louder for the whole world to hear but he couldn't do anything. He just cried alone in his bed, the duvet fulfilling the duty of a shepherd. He couldn't sleep.

The next morning, his mom came as always to wake and prepare him for school. As usual, she pretended like nothing ever happened the other night and still gave him her warm smile.

She bathed him that fateful day. But instead of preparing him for school, she announced that he wouldn't be going to school and that they were going to visit his Grandmother in Orleans.

"But it's not a holiday so why should I visit Grandmother?" He asked, alarmed, knowing fully well that he only visits his Grandmother during holidays.

"Oh, little one." She said solemnly to him.

"Your Grandmother wished to see her Grandson." She told him and then stopped him from uttering any other word.

They headed straight to my Grandmother's place in Orleans, New York City.

Right when they started climbing the biggest bridge in New York, he could feel his mom distressed as she kept staring at the sea. He thought she loved the view and tried chilling her up.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" He asked but got no response so he kept mute.

After some minutes, his mom brought the car to a halt which made him wonder why they had to stop in the heart of the bridge.

"Mathias." She called and faced him.

"Yes, Mother." He answered.

"Stay right here in the car, I'll be back in a jiffy." She muttered, having a phoney smile curved on her lips, pulling off her seat belt.

"What are you up to?"

"I said I'll be back." She replied harshly this time so he kept quiet.

She got off and he saw her walking down from where she packed her car.

She was walking too far from him and he couldn't take it anymore seeing her just going further. He gets out and goes after her.

As he came across the edge of the bridge, he saw his mom standing on a brick block staring into the sea, her face looking all pale.

"Mom!" He shouted, making her turn to face his direction.

"Go to the car Mathias, I'll be back!" She shouted back with agony in her voice. Maths could feel it from where he was

"No Mom, I'm coming to you. Let's watch the view together." He said and hurried towards her.

As he galloped to her, I could see her teary eyes.

"Stop right there and listen to what I have to say!" She exclaimed and her words stopped him.

"Be a good child." She solemnly, tears streaming down her eyes, "Always listen to your Dad." She paused and continued, "Don't follow me 'cause I'll be back and always remember, I love you.'

Maths watched her say those words although they were confusing statements to him, yet he couldn't fetch words from his mouth to question her as nothing was coming in.

He couldn't understand why she was saying those words to me. However, all he could do was go to her. He decided not to listen to her any longer and started trotting to where she was but it was too late as a loud thud came in.

His mom already fell into the wide ocean.

She was already drowning when he got to the spot she stood at and watched her struggle with her life inside the deep sea and couldn't be of help.

His mouth was covered with his hands as he tried not to scream out his grief. Slowly her head was no more visible.

His knee got weak at the scenery and they went straight down to the ground. His mom was gone and he was left alone. At his younger age, he knew what she did. She has just committed suicide right in front of him.

His thoughts went back to the other night as he remembered she and his father had argued for the entire night. He blamed and cursed his father. What could his mom do to deserve this punishment? Why has the world decided to avenge in a wrong way?

Gradually, he began to fill his mind with hatred and guilt, not for only himself but most for his father. He would never forgive nor forget what his father has done to his mother and him.

"You've not been intact in school, Miss Thompson." Mrs Hudson complained as Angie followed her into her office.

"I'm so sorry ma," She begged.

"How many times will you be sorry? Huh, Miss Thompson? You are the top student in my class Angela. I won't tolerate any inefficiency from you." She warned as she opened the door to her office.

"I'll be more careful ma," Angie replied, guilty.

"Better be, I don't want you crying out your eyes later on." She said solemnly, adjusting herself on her seat, "You may leave."

"Thank you ma." Angie bowed and hurried out.

Mrs Hudson is like a godmother to her who always had this expression that says, DON'T MESS WITH ME! Though she looks tough. She is one of the most amazing people Angie ever had. Her personality is great and that's why Angie fell in love with her.

"Oops!" Angie exclaimed when she remembered she had music class to attend. Yeah, she's into music and loves dancing, singing, and showing my ability to others. That's just who Angela was.

Later that day, After some practice with her music group, she went home feeling so tired and weak.

As she drove into her house, she noticed her Dad's car parked in the parking lot. Yeah, it wasn't surprising because he visits whenever he's less busy or got some work closer to home.

She hurried out of my car and scampered inside because she missed him a lot.

"Oh, my sweet angel." Mr Thompson bellowed as he saw her entering the sitting room.

"Hi, Dad!" She greeted him, went ahead, and hugged him.

"How have you been?"

"We've been good. How's everything and Why the sudden visit?" She asked suspiciously and sat down next to him.

"Are you telling me that I can't visit my children?" He asked bashfully.

"No, no, that's not what I am trying to say. I know you are always busy."

"Well, you caught me. I came home for a reason, Angel."

"Don't forget, Angel knows all secrets Dad".

"You just guessed, Miss." Dennis came in climbing down the steps.

"I wasn't referring to you, Mr." She told him and huffed away.

"Can you continue what we were discussing, Dad?." She asked and faced her Dad.

"It's a good thing Dennis is also here." Mr Thompson said and tapped his back for him to sit next to him.

"I got promoted as a Major yesterday." Their father finally announced.

"Really!" They both exclaimed.

"Do you mean it, Dad?" Dennis asked and he nodded his head.

"Wow! That's great news. We should celebrate." Angie said happily.

"Yeah!" Dennis agreed, excited.

Then suddenly Angie's face turned into a frown. "Like, geez he got promoted again?" She thought, angrily. She remembered her Dad's work made him far from them. He has no time for them even when he was a captain and now he got promoted? He comes home once in a blue moon as a captain and this time when does he get to visit home as a Major?

She doesn't think everything is getting better. She was sure this post won't make him think or remember his blood any longer. This was what she saw coming in the future. But her thoughts were proved wrong.

"I'm not done talking, children," Dad muttered, wearing an unhappy face that made her worried.

"I was promoted and recruited." He proclaimed again.

"Recruited?" She and Dennis both exchanged glances.

"Geez, I knew it."

"Yes, recruited to New York." He said and palmed Dennis's hands.

"New York?!" They both exclaimed which made him flinch.

"But_" She tried to convey but couldn't utter a word.

"Yes, that's why I came to disclose the information myself, texting or calling won't be enough."

There was a sudden silence in the entire house. Each of them has different thoughts.

"So you are taking the recruitment?" Dennis asked, breaking into their thoughts.

"Yes, and you guys are coming along with me." He said and looked at their faces to read our expressions. Of course, they were stunned.

"Going along with you?." Angie asked bewildered and bash her eyelids, "No! We can't go with you Dad."

"What about school? My graduation is coming up soon." Dennis complained but that doesn't bother Angie. What bothers her the most was leaving California for somewhere else.

"What should I tell my pals? Everyone around me?" She asked and heaved a heavy sigh, "Sorry to say, Dad, that won't be possible. Come to think of it, Ben is in his final year, I will be through with high school in the next few months, and Dennis's graduation is on the way, no tell me this isn't true?" She relayed, giving her Dad a hard look.

"I'm sorry, but we have no choice." Mr Thompson said sadly.

"Have no choice? What do you mean we have no choice? I can't leave California. Even if I have to, not at this moment, no it's impossible. We better have a choice!" She snapped and stormed out of the sitting room into her room.

"What the hell does he mean by we do not have a choice? He can go wherever he wants to whereas it's not like he'll be needing us." She exploded her mind with these thoughts.

"Angel, are you okay? Can you please open up the door?." She heard her dad call from outside her room.

"Go away, I'm not going with you. Go far away and never remember us again. Just do as Mom did!" She screamed in a teary voice. She knows mentioning her Mom was going to be another story but that's what she felt. Her father was taking them to another place and abandoning them to his duty. That was how her mother abandoned them.

"I'm sorry." He said again and she heard faint footsteps.

She began to whimper. Why would she go away from California? From home? From school? From her friends? From everything she loved.

California was where they gave birth to them and where she has spent her entire life and she loved it. Why will she leave?

"Do they love us? Did they give birth to us? Why do I feel uneasy even when I know they are my parents?" She thought, bitterly.

She wept quietly. Thinking about the past and all that her father has come home to say. Trying to figure out how she can survive leaving California.

She loves California so much and doesn't want to leave for an unknown land. What will be her fate if she leaves California?

She believed that living her life here in California was her only way to fulfil her dreams. She doesn't want to know any more life apart from the ones she had here.

Her phone beeps.

She looked at her phone and saw the caller's name then she wiped off her streaming tears.

It was her brother, Ben and she did not hesitate to receive the call.

"Hey, baby girl." Ben greeted her from the other end.

"Hi." She replied whimpering.

"Not again, that tone doesn't sound good." He uttered knowing fully well why she has been crying

"I'm_good." She sniffles.

"Don't tell me you are crying over your Dad's success?"

"Success?!" She exclaimed, alarmed.

"Of course my dear."

"He told you?" She asked, trying to get her weary voice back to normal.

"Yes, he came to visit me in school." He answered.

"Oh!" She mouthed

"There are reasons why you should go with him." He continued.

"Reasons? What reason could that be? We are leaving California. There should be no reasons." She rushed out her words.

"Calm down Angel. I know it hurts but it's for the better. At least you've got to know somewhere else in the world." He tried explaining.

"Don't you think he'll end up like mom?" She let out

There was a pause.

"Is he? She asked again, sniffing her tears.

"I don't know." Was all he could mutter.

"But I'm very sure he won't, that is the reason you have to leave with him."

She kept quiet for a few seconds.

"I won't be going with you guys but I'll join you guys later. As you know this is my final year in college." He said and took a deep breath, "I told him to allow Dennis and you to finish this section, and then he can go on with his plans."

She was speechless. She couldn't utter a word trying to grasp what he meant by not going with them. She began to cry again.

"Be safe and take care of Dennis. Don't miss me too much." Ben tried to console.

"Explore the world and meet new people. Be good and kind to them, okay? See you soon".

Then he hung up almost immediately.

She cried, she cried out her eyes throughout the entire day.