Down System

Chapter 54

ALEERA VERNIZE

It was a winter school day again. It was flooded by snow outside, that you could already swim on it. The wind could still touch my skin even though my coat was so thick.

I walked going through the building of my room while wandering my eyes all over the surrounding. So, this was how it felt attending school during the winter season? Not bad though, but I still loved summertime more than this.

Just by the moment I entered the classroom, Ferelith greeted me with a smile and a warm hug, which lasted for about two minutes. It was me who didn't let go of her right away since I missed her damn much. Always.

"You seem so happy today," I told her as we went to our seats. "Care to tell me what's the matter?"

"Oh, yeah. I was about to call you last night, but we had a family dinner. So, I just planned to tell everything to you on this day."

"Wait... what? Did I hear it right? Family dinner?"

Ferelith beamed. "Finally, Mom and Dad's relationship is now restored. We can live again together!"

I was happy for Ferelith, but I couldn't take to show off a smile, knowing that this decision was still uncertain. Yes, every person could change, but how about his father? Would they be willing to undergo the same situation again, if ever?

I looked straight at Ferelith's eyes. "I thought he's in the jail now. How did he come back?"

"I forgot to tell you, we didn't really continue warranting him an arrest. We just can't do it because no matter what he has done to the family, he's still the father."

"Even though he almost ruined your entire being?"

Ferelith looked down. "I admit it, he has really done terrible to me. But I don't want my anger to rule over me forever. I forgave him because this is what I want and this is what I feel to do. Do you judge me?"

I let out a sigh and held Ferelith's hands. "I'm not in the place to judge you," I told her. "But I want you to know that I always care. So, if anything goes wrong again, just tell me and I'll be there for you."

"I can't pay all the goodness you've given me, Aleera. Tell me, how would I give back everything to you?"

"You don't have to," I smiled. "So, you wanna tell me more?"

Ferelith let go of her hands and moved her body to face the window. "This is where Mom could be happy. She just wanted me to grow up with a father by my side. Besides, Dad had promised he won't hurt us again and that he will do his best to change."

She stood and looked outside as she continued spilling the tea. Since no one was still in the room, except for the two of us, she didn't mind stopping to talk. But when the teacher came, that was also the time that she shut her mouth and went back to her seat.

Until the discussion started, I was secretly observing my best friend. I couldn't say Ferelith was really good about this setup because I could still smell the stench of fear in her; she was afraid, but perhaps thinking of her mom's pleasure, she was trying to be happy. Nonetheless, eyes could not still hide the true emotion of a person— the real thing inside her heart.

When the morning class was done, I made sure to check on Ferelith. Every time I would call her name, she would display a wide beam at me. I just couldn't understand why she had to make her cheerful personality a facade to hide her real feelings. I was her best friend and there was nothing to keep from me, unless if it was really private. But her feelings— they were valid; she didn't have to fake them just to tell me she was all fine.

I was worried of Ferelith, so I asked her to be true to me. I couldn't take it when she was trying to portray another person; it was like we were just fooling each other.

We were at the cafeteria, but not with our friends this time since I told them to give us some space just for a moment. When I noticed Ferelith was about to cry, I immediately looked for a towel inside of all my pockets, but I couldn't find one, not until...

"Here, give this to your friend."

I lifted my head to the one who offered me a handkerchief. I wasn't mistaken though when I thought it was Ferno, because it was really him. I didn't still have the plan to accept it, but when Ferelith cried, even more, I abruptly took the hankie and gave it to her.

I was still about to thank Ferno but he was already walking away. So, I just set another time to say my gratitude to him. I wouldn't pass this day without speaking any word to him.

Ferelith was controlling herself to produce any kind of noise because all the people inside the cafeteria would surely look at her. She seemed uncomfortable enduring the pain, so I pulled her out of the place and took her in the field.

"We still have an hour. You can still cry here out loud. No one will hear you, except for me," I told her when we were finally seated on the ground.

We were at the very edge of the field, and that was why there were no plenty of people there. It was only the two of us, actually, who was in this spot. We were fortunate enough, especially Ferelith, to bring out the burden inside her.

"I'm not really happy," Ferelith said without looking at me. "I'm afraid instead, Aleera. I'm scared to undergo the same situation again. I'm so done with this. I don't want this again. I don't want my mom to suffer once more with my dad's heavy hands."

I embraced Ferelith and just let her cry all the pain. I would rather see her like this than know she was hiding and faking everything from me.

After some time of wailing, Ferelith invited me already to go back to the room. She told me she would just accept the fact that it was happening to her, and that she would just hope that her dad would show changes one day— even just little-by-little.

My mind couldn't be in peace, especially that Ferelith was being bothered again. Whenever she felt weary, I felt the same as well. But as long as I could, I would not show it to her for her not to be discouraged. I just cared for her too much, that even in the time of dismissal, she was all that I thought about.

I had the plan of asking her to let me escort her going home, with Mommy and Daddy, but as we headed out of the campus, her mom and dad showed up; they walked towards us, and as soon as they saw me, they thanked me for the reason that I didn't know.

"Wanna come with us in a bit, Aleera?" Ferelith's mom asked me.

"Uhm... no, but thanks, auntie. I still have things to do in the house. Mommy and Daddy are also coming now to fetch me."

"You sure?"

I nodded. "Speaking of, they're now here!" I told her when I saw our car stopped at the side of the gate. "I'm going now, auntie and uncle." I also said my goodbye to Ferelith before running towards Mommy and Daddy.

"It's Ferelith's dad, isn't it?" Mommy Morrigan asked me as soon as I got in the car.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding my head.

"They are together again, huh? They look happy. I hope it will last long now," she said. "How's your friend, by the way?"

"She's fine, Mommy," I lied.

"Good to know. But it's you who doesn't look alright, my baby girl. What's the problem?"

"Right, sweetheart," Daddy interfered. "Something seems to bother you. What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I answered. "I'm just tired... maybe."

"Alright, Daddy and I will be going to treat you." Mommy smiled at me.

I wasn't in the mood to go out, but I couldn't just refuse this offer, anyway. When we finally arrived at one of our favorite restaurants, I did my best to fix my mood since I didn't also want to ruin this quality time.

I thought I would escape from thinking about Ferelith's family problem, but I was wrong when Mommy and Daddy opened up about this again.

"Let's just quit talking about them, Mommy and Daddy," I told them. "It's their business, not ours."

"She's right, honey," Daddy said. "Let's just start talking about our family instead. It's way better than gossiping about them."

"I can't name this a gossip," Mommy said as she rolled her eyes. "That's very cheap. We're just concerned, and that's why we are asking. But anyway, alright, I'll stop now."

After that, the two of them never asked again about my best friend's family issue, instead, they began talking about their plan for my birthday.

I was just listening to my parents while eating since I didn't know what to say or suggest. I honestly didn't have my own plan for my upcoming celebration. I just wanted it to be simple if possible, but I was sure they wouldn't let it be that way— they loved elegancy.

"You should invite your classmate Keevan, alright?" Mommy told me, which made me puke.

"Seriously, Mommy?"

"Do I look like joking?"

"No, but didn't I tell you he's not my classmate anymore?"

She puckered her eyebrows. "What do you mean, huh?"

"He moved out about six months already. I don't think so I didn't tell-" I didn't continue talking when I thought of something. Definitely I hadn't told them about Keevan's moving out because why would I?

"That's sad. When will he come back?"

"He won't come back again."

"That's more saddening," Daddy mouthed.

I just shut my mouth. Why the hell did they like to invite that arrogant boy? But anyway, how was he doing now? I just hoped he already had changed.

After some time of staying in the restaurant, we didn't go home yet, but wandered first all around the town and witnessed the exquisite beauty of the night sky while riding in the car. It was a long night trip, and it was fun indeed!

The brilliant stars were making my eyes shine as well. I just couldn't get used to their beauty. Every time that they would appear up above, it always felt like the first time meeting them.

"How is the business doing, by the way?" I asked Mommy and Daddy; it just popped up in my mind, so I dared to ask before I could even forget.

"Good, sweetheart," Daddy answered. "You should visit there one day. But don't you worry, at the end of this month, we will surely roam you around there."

"Guess what, my baby girl, the ratings are still doing good!" Mommy mouthed. "Success is still in us, and we thank Gandor for that."

"Nah, you should be more grateful of yourselves," I said.

"Shut it," Mommy told me. "You should always be thankful to god. We don't teach you unpleasant behaviors, huh!"

"C'mon, honey," Daddy uttered. "There's nothing wrong with what she said, we should also glorify ourselves for this victorious deed. She should've made it more precise to avoid misunderstanding. But as an adult, you should be the one to comprehend."

"I know, honey, and that's why I am correcting her."

I already slapped myself secretly for how many times for their nonsense argument. They were indeed crazy about believing in the false god, and it was me, who turned out to be rude.

I just let my parents fight over this crazy thing until they finally stopped. Even though how much I try to convince them that the red dragon wasn't a good god, they wouldn't believe me, so I just stayed quiet.

After some time of driving, Daddy stopped the car and told us to get down to see clearly the beauty of the full moon.

The way was too dark, and that was why I had a hard time realizing that we were near the ravine. The light of the car was a good thing that it helped me recognize the way, or else I would surely fall. But kidding, my feet were not that close to that chasm.

"Why here?" Mommy asked Daddy. "It's too dangerous here."

"Just be careful with your steps and I'm sure you'll not fall," Daddy said. "This is the only spot where you can clearly see the moon."

Daddy was also a selenophile like me. He would peek over the window every night or go to the rooftop just to witness the moon. Sometimes he would visit me in the room just to invite me to watch the night sky with him because Mommy won't go with him.

On the contrary, Mommy Morrigan didn't really like the moon as well as the stars, and I didn't know why she had such poor taste.

My father Perseus was really the best I could vibe with! I had high expectations of him. I had big hopes in him that someday, even when the world turned upside down, he wouldn't follow with its waves and would still choose to stay with us. If I didn't give my best in the mission, perhaps someday, my dad would be included with the wicked men ruling the land of Hades. I didn't want that to happen. I had been too attached to him already, and I wouldn't accept it when he turned his back at me.

"I still can remember before I court your mom," Daddy Perseus uttered as we lean our back to the back of the car, "I asked a sign to the moon if I'm going to pursue her or not."

Mommy looked badly at him. "So, after all, it isn't your choice to pursue me? You just ask for a sign, huh?"

"Wait, let me finish my statement first," Daddy told her, which made her stop talking. "That night, I said that when the moon appeared to be half-quarter, I won't continue courting you, but when it's whole, I'll pursue you."

"You probably had seen the calendar before that night, Daddy," I said.

"Of course, not! I won't spoil myself, sweetheart. But going back to the story, I was disappointed because the moon didn't appear whole."

"But-"

"I know, sweetheart," he cut me off. "You're thinking now how we ended up together if the sign I was asking didn't happen. Well, that's because I followed my heart, not the sign I asked for. On that night as well, when the moon didn't appear whole, I decided to continue pursuing your mom because I already love her and I couldn't do anything to stop this feeling."

My heart melted after hearing that. How sweet!

"Now you know, Mommy," I said, winking my eyes at her. "Daddy really loves you, and that's why he ruined the deal."

"Shh," Mommy uttered, placing her pointing finger on my lip. "You're still a kid. Shut it."

"Let her hear our love story," Daddy said. "So, when the day comes that she will also fall in love, she'll make sure that man is like me— handsome, sweet, caring, and everything."

Mommy chuckled. "He really mentioned handsome first."

"You look disgusted," Daddy said. "Stop acting 'cause you don't fit it. I know you fell for me because you also find me handsome and... cute." He smiled and lifted her eyebrows continuously.

"You talk a lot, why don't we just go home?" Mommy glared at him. "It's going late now. Aleera has still class for tomorrow."

"Wait a minute, I didn't speak yet my last words."

I giggled at Daddy for acting so ridiculous. Was he preaching about love?

"Okay but, seriously and honestly speaking, when the time comes that you will also fall in love, my sweetheart-"

"She's too young for that advice," Mommy cut him off.

"Shut up, Morrigan," Daddy told her as he also rolled his eyes at her. "Don't listen to her, okay? Just pay attention to what Daddy will say. It's an advanced instruction and recommendation for you, in case something unlikeable will happen one day.

"When the time comes that you'll give your heart to a man, make sure he's already the right person for you— the one who won't wait for a sign, but that one who will eagerly pursue you because he followed his heart."