Down System

Chapter 14

At the balcony, the arrival of the sun could be seen clearly; it came as free-spun laughter to the land, igniting a jocund glow. The trees oscillated with the mellow wind, making the day classic.

I yawned.

It was ironic to think that the morning was lively, yet my soul was dull. My eyes could close anytime. The last night, I had been scrutinizing the 1578 photo album. Everything about it. The purpose. The message. The reason. Why was it stolen from the underground but brought back after a day?

To count the hours of my sleep, it was only four, and that was inadequate for a twelve-year-old girl like me. I had no class, and that was why I chose to stay up late but ended up slipping in my mind the promise I had made to Mommy- to watch the sunrise with her. I'd like to stick on my bed in a torpid state, but I could not since I had to be true to my words.

I listened to the chirping of birds as I was sipping milk, but hearing those just made me more lethargic. I put down my mug and lightly slapped my cheeks for me to be merely energetic.

"What are you doing, my baby girl?" Mommy Morrigan asked, giggling.

Nothing could be seen in my mother's face, except for a beam of ecstasy. She had always been stunning in her smile, but this was different. Her eyes that were like the ocean, were twinkling at me. Also, the fact that her curly hair waved gracefully, turned her a goddess.

I let out a sigh, wishing I was as cheerful as her. Not giving off the same energy to someone was grossly indecent, I knew. However, somnolence was something hard to battle with.

"Nothing," I replied, shaking my head. "By the way, Mommy, where is Daddy? Since I got out of my room, I haven't seen him. I thought he would be seeing the sun's uprising with us?"

"Oh, you're daddy... he's actually packing things. I haven't told you yet about the trip, so I asked you to be here."

I knitted my brows. "Trip?"

"Yes, a trip. It's honestly a piece of good news, my dear. Tomorrow, Mommy and Daddy will be leaving Hades," my mother said that made me gape at her. "You know, we're really working hard for the company, and it's just so happy to tell you that we'll be starting to build a branch in Sekaida."

I nodded knowing the reason behind Mommy Morrigan's wide smile.

Our family had owned a clothing company, and that explained the tons of apparel inside my wardrobe. According to Mommy, the business started a decade ago, after two years of my birth. It all started with a mini building shop until it grew and collected constant consumers not just from Hades, but in different countries.

Despite my parents' hectic schedule, they would still find time to see me before and after school. Their work didn't hinder them from taking good care of me.

Hearing the good news from her made happiness bloom in me in emotional warmth as flowers opened in spring. I could not help myself grin perceiving the truth that Mommy and Daddy's diligence was being paid off little by little.

"One week is a bit long," I said. "I will definitely miss you two."

Mommy put down the coffee she was holding and came near me. "We just need patience, my baby girl," she hugged me. "No worries, we'll be back with lots of stuff for you. What do you like?"

I expressed hesitation. "Can I request a backpack?"

"Of course! But, why? Don't you like the bag we bought for you?"

"My likeness for that bag couldn't be explained by words, Mommy. But no matter how much I like it, I couldn't use it anymore because of that Keevan."

"Keevan, who?"

"The boy I met in the bookstore. He just bought the same bag as mine."

"How cute," Mommy smiled.

"Cute? Are you kiddin', Mommy? What's the cute thing about him? He's just sore to the eyes. He's annoying!"

"Kids will be kids. But time will come, you'll realize things and just laugh at yourself."

I gaped at her; what was she saying?

"But anyway, sure, we'll buy something blue for you 'cos we know it's your favorite color."

"No. Not blue. Not again, Mommy."

"It's your preference, isn't it?"

I nodded. "But I don't want blue this time because his bag is blue. We couldn't be having the same properties. Just buy me yellow instead."

"Alright, as you said."

"And by the way, can I ask something if you don't mind, Mommy?" I inquired, and she nodded. "Why do we worship animals when in fact, we, humans, are the highest for of them?"

"How do I say this?" she glanced at the brilliant sun. "Well, we worship animals because they symbolize different traits that we, humans, should have- the lion for bravery, bear for protection, and panther for wisdom. But praising them doesn't mean them being gods. We only have one god, and he's Gandor."

"Gandor?" I creased my brow.

"Gandor is the dragon. Don't you know him? Didn't I tell you something about him?"

"I don't think so..."

"Perhaps you can't just remember because as far as I know, you were only seven when I introduced him to you."

"Can you tell me again about his persona, Mommy?"

"Not today, I guess. Let's just have this storytime when we return."

I nodded drinking milk.

The dragon occupied my mind until my parents left the house. If I was not mistaken, I had already seen that creature before at the temple. So his name was Gandor, but what made him a god?

Still stuck on my own thoughts, I accepted the sandwich Namika handed me; since Mommy and Daddy wouldn't be around for a week, she was appointed to watch over me.

We were at the rooftop, witnessing the luster of the stars like exquisite gems. The wind was even more algid there, making the gaze interesting as ever.

"Namika, I'm just curious..." I said, chewing the food, "where do you live?"

"And you seemed interested, too," the old woman giggled. "Well, I live in the mountain."

"Mountain?" I gawked. "You mean the Mount Marrior?"

Namika nodded.

"But, that mountain is towering. How are you able to walk every day with that far distance?"

"My house isn't located at the peak of the mountain anyway. Besides, walking has been my habit, so I don't find it exhausting. If you want, we can visit there one day."

"I do!" I beamed at her. "Do you have your family there?"

"Uh... no. I don't have a family. I live alone, and it's all good."

I bowed my head a bit. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to open up about that thing. Swear, it's just because of curiosity."

"There's no need to be sorry," Namika smiled as she touched my hands. "I told you, living a solitary life is good. It doesn't mean when a person is alone, he is sad. Sometimes, soleness can make a person happy... happy with his own company."

"But, are you not afraid when you get sick, there's no one by your side to take care of you?"

"Why do I have to be afraid? Having a family doesn't mean relying on them but caring for them because it's your responsibility that they live. It isn't their choice to exit, but yours, so you have to take liability. They don't owe you in the first place.

"If I get sick one day, I won't cry of fear of losing my life because I know I've experienced enough. I loved myself enough and the way that I wanted. It's life, young girl. You don't have to be with someone else to assure a beautiful daily encounter. Yourself is enough to prove life is still beautiful even when alone."

My lips widened at the very well claim of the old woman- solitary was not equal to melancholy.

When the time stroke at eight, Namika delivered me already to my room. After hearing her bedtime story, I acted asleep because if she would see me still up, she might report me to my parents.

When the old woman was finally gone in my square, I locked the door and headed to the underground. Wrinkles creased my brow when I noticed the photo album was gone again on my desk. I wandered around the corners, thinking I might have just misplaced it. But, no. I couldn't find it anywhere. Where was it?

As I exited the quarter, I had a glimpse of Namika who was in the living room, sitting on a couch and reading something. I silently steered towards her and peeked over the back of the sofa to see the bound she was holding; as soon as I recognized it, my eyes grew bigger.

She was holding the 1578 photo album.