Trouble At Home

I received two apology messages today. One was from that pesky fellow. At least he finally agreed to leave me alone, so good riddance! The other was from my second ex. He apologised for what he requested and said he had managed to make his girlfriend happy by buying her something else. Well an apology is an apology, so I accepted both, although I hope I will never have to go through trouble like these again.

Just when I thought my troubles are over, I have more worries on the home front. A typhoon has struck the southern coast of China, killing six people as a result. I am mighty worried about my brother, who happened to be around that area. He just called back last night before the typhoon struck, and while talking to him, I could already hear the wind howling very loudly. I really hope nothing happens to him.

Today our house phone had been ringing off the hook. Our relatives who heard the news all called and asked if he was alright. We have not heard from him after the typhoon struck. He is the favourite of all my relatives, so whenever anything happened, they would be concerned for him. My youngest brother is the favourite of my parents. I seem to be nobody's favourite. At times, I wonder if people will show as much concern if anything were to happen to me.

My youngest brother just told me terrible news that my mum is planning to file for a divorce. Why am I always the last to find out important news like these?! It seems like my mum is fed up with my dad for always not being around. Like he was not around when my first brother was hospitalised for dengue fever earlier this year, he was not around when all three of us were down with chicken pox few years back, he was not around on special occasions like my grandmother's birthday. He would always make it a point to be around for my youngest brother's birthday, yet he would never be around during my birthday. At times I seriously wonder just who am I to them?

But the straw that broke the camel's back was when my mum tried to call my dad and a female answered the phone. Then after that his phone was switched off and my mum could not get through. Needless to say, she was hopping mad. When she was able to get through the line again, she demanded for my dad to come back immediately and explain matters to her. My dad said he could not come back so soon as he had not settled his work yet.

Why do I feel a sense of deja vu? This scenario sounds so familiar! But perhaps there really is a good explanation? After all, my parents did not survive almost thirty years of marriage for nothing. Although if my dad really did something to betray the whole family, I will never forgive him. Even my youngest brother, despite being the favourite one, also declared he will stand by my mum if anything happened. We know who is the one who has been contributing more to the family, and showing more dedication, commitment and time.

Despite all our disagreements and her perfectionist and pushing ways, my mum is one great person. Since my dad is always away, it was my mum that almost single-handedly brought us up, while coping with a demanding job and taking a part-time Masters as well. I really salute her for this! I do not think I can even have a quarter of her energy and ability. I really hope and pray that nothing will happen. I have seen the problems from broken homes. At this age where my parents should be enjoying each other's companionship, they should not suffer like this. And all the more so for a growing teenage kid like my brother, he should not be deprived of a complete home.