~Alisa~

_ Home's never perfect. Our home's a special place, that only you and I know. We spent our childhood in this place, in this chaos and in this prison. But it's ours. And it's far from perfect, and yet, so perfectly imperfect.  _
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On Sunday, no one bothered going to church. The house was extremely quiet, and it felt like a whoosh of stiffened wind, kept blowing over the members of the house. An eery curtain of silence, wrapped us all in its deadly hands, and neither of us, had the guts to speak up.

I was in my room, that sunny afternoon, busy trying to get some homework done. Kambili was right in hers, and Mr. and Mrs. Ekwegh were both out. I didn't even care where they had gone to. Now, I was still busy, minding my own business, when I heard someone call out to me from downstairs. I groaned, and got up from my bed.

"I'm coming!" I yelled, and made my way out of my room, and downstairs. To my surprise, I met Queen, Christian, and Dub. The trio each shot me a smile, and I made to offer then one, but it felt like my lips were frozen and refused to comply.

"For f*ck's sake! Did someone die? This house is literally creeping me out. It's too quiet, and it's barely ever this quiet." Christian said, and I shrugged.

Stiffly, I walked towards them, and sat down. "The past few days, hasn't been our best." I muttered, and that familiar feeling of emptiness, came over me again.

No one said a thing, and Queen simply put a hand over my shoulder. "I won't ask what happened, cause the minute I heard Kamsi came visiting yesterday, I just knew it had to be one of the many dramas that comes along with him. You'll get used to it." I wasn't sure if that was supposed to make me feel better, but I nodded, anyway.

"Bili! Bili! Bili!" Dub yelled, frantically. He walked up the stairs, still calling out for a tired Kambili.

"Butthead, would you please leave her alone?!" Queen yelled after him, and he simply smirked and gave her the finger.

"I didn't come all this way, just to pester her, and not succeed. It's what I do." He said, and we all let out a snort.

Soon, Kambili finally came out of the room. "WHAT?!" We heard her scream at Dub, and Dub shrieked.

"Jesus! Is this you?!" He shrieked again. "You look like Medusa. Only this time, you look like a bus smashed your face and glued it back in one piece. Like gah! Looking at you is hurting my eyes!" He exclaimed, and Kambili hissed.

Soon, we heard descending footsteps, and Kambili soon came to the living room. "You guys really need to learn to quit bringing Dub here. He'll only make me run mad." She said, and Dub laughed.

"Madly in love with me, eh?" He grinned, wiggling his eyes at her. Kambili sighed, and didn't say anything else. It felt like everyone was afraid to say something, and I couldn't blame them.

Luckily, Queen finally broke the ice, and the conversation kept rolling. And for just a few minutes, it felt like everything turned okay. But I was pretty sure, that it was far from okay.

But before they left, Dub made sure to get me out of there, in private. "What's the matter?" I asked, and he gave a sheepish grin.

"I got you something." He said, and handed me the small bag in his hands. I stared at it, then at him.

"You sure there isn't a bomb in there?" I raised an inquisitive brow at him. He simply chuckled, and urged me to take it.

I sighed, and to it from him. "What's inside?" I couldn't help but ask, and he rolled his eyes.

"Madam, you're holding the stuff in your hands. Check." He said, and I eyed him, suspiciously.

"You sure you didn't put a bomb in here? Cause I feel like a bomb's in here and—"

"Would you freaking check first?" He chuckled, and I snorted, and finally checked what was inside. My jaw dropped, and I stared at him in surprise. I didn't think he'd remember.

"Surprise!" He yelled, cheekily, and I couldn't help but giggle. "I told you I'd get you a phone, duh." He shrugged, and I rolled my eyes.

"You never said that." I snorted, but a smile still graced my lips.

"So? I did say we needed to fix the fact that you didn't have a phone. That was secret code for, I'm getting you one." He smiled again, and I stared at him, then at the phone seated inside the pretty gift bag.

"I'm not sure I can take it," I began, and he eyed me, playfully. "It's so expensive, Dub. This is too much." He eyed me again.

"After I've wasted good money on it. I had to get money out of my account, to do this. So take it, please. The store that I got it from, doesn't accept refunds. So please take it." He said, and I stared at the expensive phone. It was one of the latest iPhones, and my hands shook, just staring at them. In my entire life, I never got to use a phone, but now he was offering me one? And an iPhone?!

"Please." He urged again, almost as if he could read through my thoughts.

"I'm not sure, Dub. Would my foster parents like that I took something this expensive from you? I can't do that to you. You really should take it back. Maybe you can sell it and get the money back. After all, it's still new." I said, still unsure.

Dub sighed. "It's the thought that counts, and not the money. Please, take it. It's the first gift I've ever given you. And I give Bili and the rest, gifts... Sometimes." He said, looking so cute with the way his eyes pleaded with me to take it.

I would feel bad to return such a fine gift.

"Please?" He begged again, and I stared, with uncertainty in my eyes, at him. His eyes still looked so hopeful, and I didn't want to hurt him by refusing his gift. That would be so unfair.

I sighed again, and smiled. "Sure. Thank you so much for this." I said, and he grinned.

"You're welcome." A warm smile played on his lips, and I grinned.

"I can't even believe you got me this. I'm dumbstruck, honestly." I muttered, more to myself than to him.

He shrugged. "What are friends for?"

Friends.

I really needed to get used to having rich friends, who could easily afford iPhones. And who could offer expensive gifts. This felt so surreal. I felt I was imagining all this.

"Thanks, Dub. I won't be able to forget this favor." I said, still shocked.

"You better not." He joked, and I chuckled.

"Well, I won't." I replied, with a big smile on my face. So this meant I now had a phone! And for starters, Dub's number was the first I added to my contact... Obviously. After all, he did get me the phone.

* * *

When Christian, Dub and Queen left, Kambili and I decided to hang out in her room. She told me she was still worried about Kamsi, and she had tried calling him, but he didn't pick her calls. I knew she felt bad, and I also knew she was trying to hide it.

"Would it make you feel better, if I say it's probably for the best?" I didn't know when those words left my mouth, but I knew Kambili wasn't expecting them. And neither was I.

"Of course it wouldn't.!He's my brother, Lisa. There's nothing that could hurt me more, than knowing he got hurt. He's my twin. And so, I can't even believe you just said that." I gulped, and avoided her gaze.

"I just felt this has caused enough trouble already. Everyone in this house is tensed. So it's probably best he stays with your grandparents for a while. That was what I meant." I tried justifying myself, and as much as I knew she hated to admit it, she still knew I was right.

"I miss him." She blurted, and I placed a hand on her shoulder, and offered a sympathetic smile.

"He'll come home, I know it. He just needs some time to cool off. And when that's done, he'll come home." I said, and she nodded her head.

Soon enough, her phone rang, and she stared at her phone screen like she had just gotten stung by a poisonous scorpion.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's... It's Kamsi." She said to me, and I instantly urged her to pick up.

"Hello?" She put the phone on speaker, and Kamsi's voice rang in our ears. His voice sounded a bit gruff, and extremely deep.

"Hel— Kamsi, are you okay?" Kambili asked.

"I'm fine." He replied, almost immediately.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine."  He replied.

Silence lingered for a while. "I miss you." His voice broke the silence. Kambili smiled, and I noticed the lone tear that fell out of her eyes.

Then just come him, Kamsi!

"I miss you too." She fought through her sobs, and replied.

"How's— how's dad?" Kamsi asked, and I wondered why he even cared. He had punched his own father, and it seemed like he hated him.

"Dad's... He's getting better." Kambili managed to say.

"I know you think I'm an arse. Won't say I blame you." He muttered that part, and his voice held so much sadness in them.

"I don't hate you. I'm mad at you, yes. But I don't hate you." Kambili said.

"I swear, I didn't mean to punch him. I swear, I didn't." His voice shook. "I was just so pissed, and I didn't even know what I was doing anymore. And the fact that no one believed a word I said, only made me more pissed. But I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..." His voice shook again, and I could tell Kambili wanted, more than anything, to give her twin brother a hug.

He was going through a really tough time. They both were. In fact, I was sure everyone in this house was. Most of all, Kamsi seemed to be the most insecure of all.

"Then just come home. Come apologize to dad. He feels awful." She said.

"I won't do that." Came his curt reply.

"Wh— why? You hurt him, Kamsi." Her reply almost sounded like a whisper. Like she was afraid she'd lose her control and cry.

"I know that, Bili. I know that. And that's why I feel like literal sh*t right now. But coming back... Coming back will cause more drama. And I do not want to be the reason for anymore drama, Bili." He said, and Kambili looked like she could give her brother a smack on the head, if only he were here.

"I don't friggin care! For once, Kamsi, just think about me! Just listen to me, just this once! I've had to endure a lot, and it feels like I'm all alone. You think I'm happy here?" She drew in a sharp breath. "I'm not! But I'm here cause I still want my family to stand, even though I know it's shaking at it's foundation. I'm here because of dad, and I'm here because of you. And I'm also her because of... Because of mom. She'd never be happy to watch her family grow apart like this. So please, Kamsi. If not for me, then do it for her. Just. Come. Home!" In all honesty, I'd never seen Kambili that authoritative, nor have I ever seen her that emotional before.

Kamsi let out an audible sigh. "Bili, if I come back then there'll be tension."

"It'll pass." She urged.

"Not so easily. You wouldn't get it. No one does." He said, more solemnly.

A sad smile played on her lips, and I watched as more tears slid down her cheeks. "Yeah. Just like you keep making it seem ever since mom died. For crying out loud! I'll never be able to get it, not until you actually tell me what's going on with you. Why not trust me? Why not just... Why not talk to me? Cause even if you don't, I miss those times when you were so free with me. You'd tell me anything. And it wouldn't matter, because I never judged you for it. Just talk to me, please. At least try. Share those pent up anger, and hurt, with me. Cause you're not the only one hurting, Kamsi. I am, as well!" She ranted, and as she did, more tears slid down her cheeks.

I put an arm over her shoulder, and rubbed her back, just to calm her down. Although, I didn't want Kamsi to know I was listening.

"I'm trying, Bili. But it's hard. It's way harder than you think." He said, and I watched her cradle her head in her palms.

"You'll never learn to trust me, will you?" Her question arose silence at both ends of the line. None of them seemed to want to say something.

"I thought as much." Kambili finally said, as a sad smile played on her lips.

"Don't say that, Bili. I'm your brother. Of course I trust you. If I didn't, I wouldn't even call you. You're the only one that truly gets me in that house. And I can't say I don't trust you, because I do trust you. But some things are way harder to share than you think. Some things need more time to heal first. Please... Try to understand." He explained, and Kambili heaved a sigh.

"Fine." She muttered. "But why shut me out? You did that for so long, and you only started talking to me, recently. I had to bear my grief, alone. I was meant to be mourning mom, all those while, but it felt like I was mourning my entire family, along with her. I hated that. And I hated the fact that you kept shutting me out, repeatedly." More tears slid down her cheeks.

"I tried talking, I swear. But the trauma from what happened... It didn't let me." Kamsi's voice shook, audibly. I knew he was trying not to cry, at the other end of the line.

"Promise you won't do that again? Please?" Kambili asked, with uncertainty.

"I promise." He replied.

Silence fell again. "But— but will you come back?" Kambili broke the silence again.

A few minutes passed, before Kamsi replied again. "If I don't, I'll make sure to come for you. I'll take you away from there. You don't deserve to be with them. You don't deserve to be with him." He replied.

"I don't wanna leave. This is my home, Kamsi. This is our home. And like it or not, it'd be wrong to let it fall apart." She said. "I just want you to come back. Maybe dad made a mistake, but we could try to patch things up. We can't change what happened," she drew in a sharp breath. "Even if we try. And we can't run away from our home. It'll never help ease the pain, nor the worries and sadness."

"I wonder how you can have so much faith in him. I wonder how you can even have so much faith in us. And how you can have so much faith in me. I honestly don't deserve it. How d'you do it?" He asked, and I watched as Kambili managed a small smile.

"When I think of mom, I just feel like I need to keep enduring it all. Like I can hope for a change. Even if it means enduring the tears and pains it brings." She said, and I heard Kamsi's soft grunt.

"I hate that this is hurting you. And I'm sorry for equally being a reason for the hurt, as well. I'm a horrible brother." He said, and Kambili let out a sigh.

"Don't be a bonehead, you're my brother. And nothing makes me happy than just knowing that you're okay. Sure, you can be such a brat, but I love you either way." Kamsi let out a chuckle. It was the first time I had ever heard him chuckle.

"If you just want to make me happy, then please come home. I miss you. And I know things will be better if you simply come home again." Kambili said. "And this time, don't punch dad." She added, and Kamsi chuckled.

Kamsi said nothing for a while, after that, and I watched as Kambili waited in anticipation. "I will. But just know I'm doing this for you. It's harder than you think. But I'll try... Just give me some time." A smile broke out on Kambili's lips, the second she heard his reply.

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It's been so long!! God, I'm so sorry. I had a really bad case of writer's block, and I'm so sorry for the long wait.

Anyway, how was the chapter?
And wat did u think about the phone Dub got Alisa?
Lately, I've had a question going on in my head. And that is; what do you hate the most about Alisa? I mean, both character wise and stuff.
For me, it'll be the fact that she poke-noses a lot. She seems to stick her nose into other people's business, a lot. But that is to show you guys that she CAN'T be perfect. Because, she is human — although fictional.
I let her be that way, because I felt it'd make this book more realistic. The main character is not always perfect, and all goody-two-shoes. I'm sure I made mention of something like this, in the first chapter.
Anyway, I'd really like to know what you're thinking. Please leave a comment on what you hate the most about Alisa?

And what you love the most about her, as well.
For me, it'd be the fact that she's got sweet comebacks. Plus, the fact that she's usually so positive about things.
Still can't wait to know what you think. Please comment ⤵ ➡

Please don't forget to;
Vote. Comment. And share.

Love you guys!
Next update: whenever I get the chance 🙈
I need to stop doing that!💔

But please bear with me guys, it's not easy. So I'll only be able to update whenever I get the chance. Sorry 🙊
Bye guys!❤