Down System

Chapter 5

Dazzling sunlight that was passing through the window had greeted me as I opened my eyes. I was awakened by the numerous knocking on the door and by the voice who was calling out my name.

Still wiping my eyes, I walked towards the door. And as I opened it, it spat on Mom who was in a casual red dress.

"Where you goin', Mommy?" I asked her right away.

"We're going to the bookstore," she answered. "Take a bath now and I'll be waiting for you in the verandah."

I still had the plans to speak, but she already walked away and left me standing there, gawked. What would be our business in the bookstore at this point? The sun was still fresh and I was supposed to be having my breakfast.

"Argh..." I groaned.

I stretched my arms before going to the bathroom. Even when I was already showering myself, my eyes were still sleepy. I could close them at any time because I didn't get enough sleep thinking of my purpose in this past time.

Since my mother was waiting for me and I didn't want her to be wearied, I made it faster to get togged. When I proceeded to the balcony, she was still there, with Daddy Perseus.

"She's here," I heard Mommy told my father the moment she saw me. Not wasting the time, she went to me and grabbed my hands going to the car.

"She seemed surprised," Daddy chuckled as he started the engine. "You didn't tell her about this the last night, did you?"

"I was supposed to tell her but when I visited her in her room, she's already asleep. So, I didn't bother her anymore," my mother replied.

I hemmed. "Excuse me, Mommy and Daddy, what's exactly about this thing?" I asked, putting my seatbelt on.

"As far as I could remember, I've told you already about the next school year's update," my mom answered. "You'll be attending school again, my baby, and it would be next week."

My eyes grew bigger. "N-next week?"

"Uh-huh. You didn't know?"

"I didn't know."

"Really?" Mommy turned around to see me in the backseat. "Or did you just forget about school for the two-month vacation?"

"U-uhm... I really don't know."

The folded brows of my parents didn't escape from my sight. They were probably thinking if I was suffering from amnesia without any reason, or mayhap, they were assuming I was out of this world.

"Just kidding!" I laughed, which fortunately removed the pucker in their eyebrows.

"I knew she's really joking about it," Daddy let out a soft chuckle. "Didn't you notice, Honey, starting the day she lost herself from the lake, she also commenced being crazy?"

"That's ridiculous," Mommy said, laughing her ass off. "Really, what's happening to you, my dear?" she asked, glancing at me at the rear-view mirror.

"Nothing's happening, Mommy and Daddy," I answered, still thinking of what should I say. "I guess, I'm just starving 'cos I didn't eat breakfast before we left."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry for not telling you, dear," Mommy mouthed. "We're just gonna eat in the restaurant before going to the bookstore, that's why I didn't let you have your breakfast in the house."

"It's okay, Mommy. I'll just make sure to satisfy myself," I giggled.

I peeked over the car window and wandered my eyes to the view outside. Feeling the mellow touch of the wind, I asked myself, how would it feel to go to school?

Way back when I was in my present time, I didn't experience taking an apprenticeship. Since the day I was born, it was already King Ferno who was ruling over Hades. At that time, Hadessian women were prohibited to go to school for them to stay uneducated because, in that way, they could be easily outwitted by men.

My fellow women remained blinded by things that surrounded them. They had the idea about what was wrong from right, but they didn't know how to conduct certain actions depicting such ideology. Due to a lack of knowledge, they missed the opportunity to know their rights against the abusive Hadessian men.

I was no different to other women in Hades; I was also illiterate, but I didn't see that as a stumbling block of me being a woman. Throughout the years, I learned by myself how to defend myself contra violence. Unfortunately, my power was nothing compared to the authority of men.

Notwithstanding, it wasn't an endpoint for me. I had passed a line and not a segment. I mayhap came to an end of that present time, but it was for me to inaugurate a new beginning in the past. I wouldn't just be resurrected without justification.

After minutes of driving, we had finally arrived at the restaurant. The tantalizing aroma of the food and drink welcomed us as we entered.

"Tasty," I uttered, just by smelling the food. In all fairness, the serving was fast that it had stopped me from churning at the thought of eating.

"Your fault for making her eat like a horse," Daddy told my mother, giggling like a seven-year-old child.

"Such a teaser you are, Perseus," Mommy glared, dragging her fingers through her hair. "Suit yourself."

I didn't mind the two quarreling in front of me. They were like kindergartens fighting over a nonsense thing. So what if I ate like an animal? It wasn't their fault, they should know that.

I paused to swallow noisily, burped, and then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I couldn't hear anymore even the softest groan of the monster in my paunch because I had already satisfied my cravings.

While waiting for Mommy and Daddy to finish eating, I had taken time to look outside through the glass wall. I was living in the verdant countryside, so in every corner, there was always a color of green. Even inside the restaurant, there were greenish leaves that were decisively pleasant to the eyes.

Green was new to my sight. In my present time in Hades, all I had seen was red: suffering, death, and never-ending abuse. Wherever you go, there was a stench of fear. Even the eyes of the king were literary red.

I turned my gaze at Mommy who talked and told me we were now going.

Since the bookstore was just nearby, we didn't bother to ride the auto. Instead, we took time to walk and in less than two minutes, we had finally reached our destination.

The store was pretty big; it was plain outside that I didn't expect the interior to be saturated. The hue of the walls didn't seem obscene; however, it didn't contradict the colorful supplies exhibited in every corner.

"Excuse me, girls. Can I just look for the comfort room? I feel like nature is calling me," Daddy said as we walked in the lane.

"Sure, you can go," Mommy mouthed. "We'll be waiting for you here. Just be right back after, alright?"

Daddy nodded. "Don't worry, Honey, I won't be hunting girls. There's only you in my heart."

"I didn't say such a thing!" Mommy said as she slapped Daddy on the shoulder. "You're the one thinking that, so perhaps you've planned that already before I could speak that to you."

"Of course not!" Daddy mouthed. "Just told you 'cos I know that's what you're thinking. But anyway, I'm going now."

Mommy didn't speak anymore, thus, she just watched Daddy exited the place. "Your dad is crazy. I don't even know why I've married him," she told me.

"You're not kidding, Mommy, are you?" I asked as wrinkles creased my brow.

Mommy chuckled. "Of course, I'm kidding. I love your daddy even though he's acting weird sometimes."

I was able to breathe freely with what she had said. "Anyway, this place is beautiful, Mommy," I told her as we continued to walk and started collecting materials in the basket.

"We used to go here before summer and you still haven't got sated?" Mommy asked. "Seems like we're going here every day because you have tons of projects in school. That was crazy."

"Oh..." I whispered in midair. "By the way, can I ask you something? I was bothered every day, Mommy."

"What's bothering my baby girl?" Mommy asked with her face worried.

I took a pen and put it on the basket before speaking. "Where did you last see me before at the lake?" I interrogated.

"Just a little bit more and I'll believe you're under amnesia," Mommy chuckled. "You were with me that time and I should be the one asking you a question. But anyway, we were at the boutique, buying dresses for you. Don't tell me you can't remember that?"

"Yeah, I can remember," I said, but honestly, I was still trying to comprehend the logic.

If I was with Mommy Morrigan before I found myself at the lake, then why couldn't I remember? If I had lived with her and with Daddy Perseus since the day I was born, why couldn't I keep that in mind? Was I unconscious for the past twelve years and just got cognizant on that very day?

I took another pen and placed it on the basket before collecting notebooks. I was almost to complete my materials, so I had decided to look for a bag.

"Can you manage?" Mommy asked.

I nodded. "It's just in the next lane, Mommy. I promise to not go away again," I told her.

"Okay, but if you need something, call for me immediately, alright?" Mommy said. "I'll be looking for books on the other hand."

"Got it, Mommy!" I said with a grin before wandering to the next lane.

There were numerous bags displayed and they were all exquisite, seemingly expensive. My sight was steering in a zigzag way. I didn't know what to pick since all of them were giving my eyes sparkle of glee.

I moved from my place when a blue bag from the left side had caught my attention. I took it and examined every part of it, making sure it would suit me. But as I was still admiring it, a boy who was likely the same as my age, came close to me.

"Wow," the boy said in astonishment, "this bag is beautiful. This is for me!"

I hid the bag behind my back as the boy tried to take it from me. "Excuse me," I said, "who are you?"

"Do I still have to say my name just for you to give me the bag?" he asked. "My mom will buy that no matter how expensive is that. Who are you, eh? Are you one of the sellers here?"

"Me?" I pointed out myself. " A seller? Do you think they would allow me to sell here at this young age?"

"Oh, so you're not a sales lady?"

"Of course, I am not!" I shouted, still looking at him. If I wasn't mad, I would find him cute.

"Okay, whatever, give me that bag," the boy said, trying to steal the bag again from me.

"And why would I give this to you? I saw it first. You should find something for you."

"But that's blue and it doesn't suit you. Blue is just for boys. You should pick a girly color. Well, if you're not a lesbian."

"I'm not a lesbian," I said firmly, clenching my fist.

My eyes burned because of this annoying young boy. I wanted to punch him in the face, but I was trying my best to control my emotions. The childishness in me couldn't be managed easily since I was still young and that was a fact. I knew I was matured at some things, but there was still a behavior of a kid that I possessed.

The way he told me I was a lesbian for choosing blue had crossed the border. How would he base gender on colors? That was shallow.

"Give me that back or else..."

"Or else?" I crossed my arms, raising my brow to the boy.

"Or else I will punch you," he smirked.

"Do that and I'll give you a double punch."

The boy's eyes were also set ablaze and it looked like he had really the plan to give me a blow. "I said gimme that ba-"

A jitter shook my spine as blood started dripping from my clenched fist that causes the boy to stop talking. I just punched him before he could do it.