Trapped In Her Heart

Garden.

They had already started walking but both of them decided to stay shut and not say a word. Both of them were feeling very awkward and weird. 

The sudden silence in their jolly relationship was too much for Sebastian to handle. He always complained about Ellie having a big mouth but now that she wasn't saying anything, he was missing her long stretchy talks. 

"You want to sit down for a while?" When she nodded her head, he started walking towards the nearby bench but stopped midway when she sat down on the grass. 

"You want to sit here, on the ground?"

"Hmm yes—" realizing that maybe he wasn't comfortable sitting on the ground, she was about to get up when he saw down beside her and sighed.

"We can sit on the bench if you aren't comfortable sitting here." 

"No it's fine, I like it here." Pausing for a while, he added, "You know when Ava and I were young, mom never allowed us to play in the garden or sit on the grass. She always told us that it's dirty and there are many germs on the ground which can make us fall sick." 

Ellie frowned and said, "That is not true, grass is a part of nature and how can nature be dirty?" 

"Yes but mom always thought it was dirty so we were restricted from playing in the garden but you know how Ava is right? Damn that girl is so stubborn and you know, she was more stubborn when we were young." Helplessly shaking his head, he continued, "And Ava loved playing with mud, in fact, I once caught her eating mud. She was literally making mud balls and eating them." 

When Sebastian laughed, she frowned and retorted, "Hey don't laugh, mud is tasty when one is young. I don't remember how it tastes like but I am sure that it's tasty."

He chuckled and nodded his head. "Yes, I am sure that the worms that breed in there are very tasty." 

"So didn't your mom say anything? I mean when Ava was eating mud?" 

"So one day my parents were out and we were supposed to finish the task that we were given but our typical Ava decided to go out and play with mud an hour before our parents were supposed to arrive. So I had to bring her in, help her clean and also help complete her assigned task so that she doesn't get punished. But at the end, I couldn't complete my task and ended up getting punished." 

Turning towards him, she smiled, "You are a great brother and Ava is so lucky to have you." 

Keeping quiet for a couple of seconds, he said, "I am sorry for snapping at you today, I know I shouldn't have but well, I did." 

"I am sorry too," She sighed and added, "I know you were concerned about my safety but—okay, I don't like it when you lash out at me like that. Your sudden cold treatment at the restaurant scared me and I completely lost it when you accused me for nothing."

Pausing for a while, Ellie pouted her lips and asked, "Can we not fight in the future? Because it makes me feel awful." 

Sebastian vigorously nodded his head and frowned, "Yes, it does feel weirdly awful and promise that I'll never accuse or lash out at you in the future." 

"I promise that I'll never shut you out like that." 

Smiling at her, he asked, "So are we good now?" When Ellie chuckled and nodded her head, he added, "I want more sandwiches on Monday for shutting me out." 

"Yes sure, I'll make as many as I can and bring them for you on Monday." 

Seeing her bright and beautiful smile after so many hours, made his heart feel at peace and his mood lightened up again. He was ready to give up anything for that smile on her face. 

"I don't know whether I should get into that but ummm—"

Sensing her hesitation, Sebastian flicked her forehead. "You can ask me anything you want to."

Rubbing her forehead, she smiled. She was so used to him fl.i.c.k.i.n.g her forehead that she had long stopped complaining.

"Remember my interview day?" 

Pretending to think for a while, he chuckled, "You mean the day you made a fool out of yourself?" 

Rolling her eyes at him, she continued, "That day, I saw your mom outside the company. Mel and Noah were praising her alot." 

"Yeah, they don't like them but that is totally understandable because not everyone can handle her dominating nature and attitude. It needs years of practice and patience." 

Looking at him, she added, "They told me that your childhood wasn't bright and colorful like it should be."

Looking at the dark sky, Sebastian said, "You see when a person is used to doing something or living in a particular environment, they always think that it's perfect and comfortable. I spent my entire childhood living by my parents rules and trying to fulfill their expectations so I always thought that it was comfortable and perfect. There were times when I saw Noah playing with his dad and felt very sad but I always brushed it off thinking that people live their lives in different ways and I shouldn't compare mine with him."

Keeping quiet for quite sometime, he added, "I don't blame my parents for anything. Yes, I do feel disappointed at times because their way of parenting wasn't the most convenient one but at the same time, I also feel that if not for the unhealthy environment I grew up in, I wouldn't have been where I am now. Their strict parenting forced me to work harder and harder. It's not that I am justifying their behavior or attitude but no matter what, they are my parents and I can't think lowly of them right? Good or bad, they are the ones who brought me into this world and I will forever be grateful to them."

Sebastian was about to continue when he felt a soft hand on his.

…..