Chapter 12 — She Knew
“AUDREY?”
Startled, Audrey turned to her side and saw her Uncle Edward, looking at her in a knotted forehead. He switched glances between her and Justin. “Uncle Edward,” she said and ran to her. “Thank God it wasn’t Aunt Maria.”
Dr. Edward scowled at her. “Who is that guy? And why are you confessing to him?”
Audrey covered her mouth. “Please, don’t tell my mom that you heard me say that.”
Dr. Edward propped his hands on his waist and shot Justin a sharp gaze. “Not until you tell me who is he?”
Audrey went to Justin’s side. “Let’s talk inside your clinic; I don’t want Aunt Maria to see me here.”
Dr. Edward sighed. “Okay, let’s talk inside,” he said and lead them to a door just beside the stairs. As soon as they get inside, he asked who was with her again. “So, who’s that guy?” He lowered his gaze to Justin’s uniform, “schoolmate?”
Audrey chuckled. “Yeah, he’s my schoolmate. His name is Justin, from the Psychology Department.”
Justin offered his hand to his uncle. “I’m Justin Almario. It’s really nice to meet you, sir.”
Dr. Edward took his hand and nodded, but he didn’t smile. He just gave him a once over. “So, what brought you here, Audrey? Is there a problem?” he asked, looking worriedly at her. “Did something bad happen again?”
Audrey doesn’t know how to start. “Nothing bad happened to me…” she looked at Justin, and the man just nodded. “I came here because I want to ask you about my childhood,” she said and sighed. “I’ve asked my mom a hundred times, but she won’t tell me. She said that I wouldn’t understand, but how will I understand if she’s not telling me, right?”
Dr. Edward didn’t answer her. Instead, he motioned her to have a seat on the couch. He went to his mini cupboard and took bottled water. “Drink this, honey. And relax.”
Audrey took a seat on the couch. Justin sat beside her and held her hand. She smiled at him. “I’m okay, Justin,” she said, trying her best to control her giddy feeling.
“Hey, what’s that?” Dr. Edward blurted, looking sharply at their hands. “Why are you holding her hand?”
Justin let go of her hand. “I just want her to feel better, sir.”
“Feel better? Are you her doctor?” Audrey’s uncle asked with a scowl.
“Uncle, Justin’s just worried…” she paused, afraid that she might spill something.
Dr. Edward sat on his chair and looked at the two of them. “Does your mother know that you’re here?” he asked, then glanced at his watch. “Did you skip classes?”
“I didn’t, Uncle,” she defended, then heaved a sigh. “Mommy don’t know that I will talk to you. She won’t allow me if I tell her, and she might freak out.”
“I see…” Dr. Edward nodded. Audrey was expecting him to chuckle because what she said was intended to be a joke.
“That’s why I don’t want Aunt Maria to see me here; I’m sure she would tell it to mom,” she said, looking at his uncle with hopes that she’ll get the information she needs from him. “I’m curious about my childhood, uncle…It was as if a puzzle is missing in my identity.”
Dr. Edward heaved a sigh. “Audrey, I can’t tell you anything without your mom’s permission.”
Audrey’s mouth fell open in disappointment. “Why? I deserve to know my past, right? When I was a kid, I remember that mom brought me here for some talk. What is that for?”
“Audrey—”
“Why all of you doesn’t want to tell me about my dad?!” she snapped, startling her uncle and Justin on her side. She covered her face and started to cry. “I just want to know who he is, and what happened to him…Mom never showed me his pictures with me, but she often tells me that he was a good dad. How will I know if he was a good dad to me if I can’t remember a single moment with him?”
“Audrey, you were so young when he died—”
“What caused his death?” she cut off. “And, why all of you don’t want to tell it to me?”
“Sweetie, you’ll know when it’s time…” Dr. Edward told her. His voice was like coming from a distance. A couple of seconds, Audrey felt her head spinning. “For now, Audrey, you have to listen to your mom.”
Audrey brushed her hands on her face. “Is that so?” she asked, not looking at her uncle. “Why…why would I listen to her?”
“Because she’s your mom, and she knows what’s best for you,” she heard him said in a friendly tone, “but since you’re here. I’ll ask you few questions to make you feel okay. Is that alright?”
Audrey scoffed. She fixed her hair and looked up at her uncle. “You sounded like a doctor speaking to your patient, uncle,” she said sarcastically and stood. “We’ll go now.”
Dr. Edward knotted her forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?” he lowered his gaze to the unopened bottled water on the coffee table. “I’ll walk you out—”
“No, uncle, you don’t really have to because we know the way out,” she said and turned to Justin, who was already looking at her. “Right, Justin?”
Justin studied her face before he answered. “Yeah,” he said, looking at her uncle. “We’ll go now, sir. It’s nice meeting—”
Audrey stepped out of the clinic without properly saying goodbye to Dr. Edward. She strolled the hallway with her chin up and doesn’t look worried that her Aunt Marie might see her. A few seconds later, she heard Justin calling her name. She halted in front of the elevator and waited for him.
“Audrey, why did you just walk away?” Justin asked her and pushed the ground floor button.
“He’s not telling us what he knew,” she replied, staring at the digital numbers on top of the elevator door. “But it’s fine,” she added and looked at him. An evil smile formed on her lips, “because I already know everything.”
Justin’s brows furrowed. “Althea?”
Althea winked at him. “You got it right, baby,” she replied and reached for his lips. “Welcome back to me.”