Down System

Chapter 6

The boy gave me a scathing stare, somehow a look of disbelief, after receiving a kiss of my fist on his cheeks. Did he think I couldn't do that?

"Momma!"

My eyes widened hearing the boy called his mother. My eardrums were almost to break as well when he started creating cacophony inside the bookstore which made the people surround us until it became a crowd already in my place. I had planned to leave when a woman approached the boy; perhaps she was the mother because the kid cried even louder when he saw her coming as if he was trying to be the victim.

"What happened?"

I turned my gaze at Mommy Morrigan who just arrived and asked me that question as she winded her arms around my waist. "That boy tryna steal this bag from me," I said, raising it in front of her face.

"What happened to his cheeks?" Mommy asked as wrinkles creased her brow. "Don't tell me..."

"I punched him," I said in an affirmed manner which made my mother gawk.

The boy continued wailing as he told his mom what had happened, pointing me out for his red cheeks. But since blood started dripping from his face, his mother chose to bring him to the clinic than argue with me.

When the young boy with his mom finally disappeared from my sight, Daddy Perseus arrived. Noticing the crowd that still encircled us, he asked what was the matter.

"Did you see the woman with her kid who just exited?" Mommy asked.

Daddy nodded. "Her child seemed to have joined a fight," he said.

"That kid really was into a fight, and worst, with Aleera," Mommy said that made me bow my head a bit. "So, we must leave here now and follow the two. I wouldn't let this end without closure."

People started gossiping, so we had left already. We looked for the two even though Daddy was still surprised by what I had done. Since the moment we departed from the store, his eyes were as big as the moon.

While wandering our way going through the clinic, my hands didn't stop shaking. I couldn't look directly at the road since Mommy's eyes were guarding me through the rear-view mirror. I was guilty of punching the boy, but if I didn't do that, I would be the one who ended up with blushing cheeks and I didn't want that.

As we were heading closer to our destination, the trembling got even stronger. The car was airconditioned, yet I was sweating horribly. I just hoped that boy was doing fine or else, this incident would bother my mind all night and until the following days.

"Let's go," Daddy said when we finally arrived at the clinic. He stopped the car and opened it. "I'm sure they are here."

Seeing the building gave me an ineffable thrill. "I'm good here," I told Mommy and Daddy, forcing a smile.

"Aleera, just come out of the car," Mommy Morrigan said. "Don't be afraid, we are here with you, okay? So, c'mon now."

"Let's go, baby," Daddy Perseus followed.

Still shaking, I got down and went with them to the clinic. I wasn't sure of what would happen next, but I had to face the trouble I created.

As the three of us steered ourselves in the room, the sound of a kid's lament rang into our ears. We were not mistaken, the young boy and his mother were really there. So, Mommy and Daddy immediately entered, but on the other side, I hid on the wall.

"Ma'am, how is he doing?" I heard Mommy's voice.

"His cheek is hurting too much. He won't cry like that if he's okay," the mother of the young boy replied. "May I know who are you, by the way, if you never mind?"

"U-uh... we are the parents of the girl who punched him," Mommy answered. "Actually, our daughter is here. She wants to ask for pardon. Aleera..." she called my name, "can you please show up?"

I took a deep breath and from the wall, I slowly revealed myself to the woman whose eyes were already teary after hearing what Mommy had told her. "H-hello?" I said awkwardly.

"Finally, we meet again!" the boy shouted as he saw me, trying to resist the nurses who were treating him. "Ah! Let go of me! Let me punch that girl as well and after that, we're quits!" He continued screaming and escaping from their hands that made me feel like giving him a blow once more. What a rude.

The woman went to her child and hugged him. "Keevan, stop it," she said. "Your wound will hurt even more with what you're doing."

"But, Momma, she punched me and it really hurts. Are you okay with that? You've taught me to be strong, right?"

"I'm guilty of that, but you don't have to try being brave with this kind of situation. Can you talk to her with politeness, so that this will end already?"

The boy didn't talk anymore, but his nose was obviously reeky.

"I'm sorry," I said. "Ma'am, I really punched your son but that's because he tried to take the bag away from me. I saw it first and he told me it's his? Besides, he warned me he'd punch me if I didn't give it to him. So, I did it first before he could do it to me."

"Oh, my bad, Keevan..." the young boy's mother whispered and let out a deep sigh.

"I'm really sorry, Ma'am. I didn't want it in the first place but your son's head is a rock. He didn't even decently talk to me, and that's why I'm not giving him the bag no matter what happens."

"Aleera..." Mommy mouthed my name, trying to control my mouth.

"But, I know I'm responsible for his wounded cheek," I added. "So, what can I do, Ma'am, for you to forgive me? Just not the bag, please."

"I should be the one who's receiving that question!" the boy said. "You punched me and not my mamma, so I'd be the one who will give you punishment."

"Keevan, shut it," his mother told him before steering again his sight at me. "What's your name again, young girl?" she asked.

"Aleera, Ma'am," I answered.

"Can I speak to Aleera, Ma'am and Sir?" the woman asked then to my parents. When she was already given permission, she sat in front of me to level my height, touching my shoulders. "Aleera, Keevan is my son and that doesn't mean I'm with him this time, neither I'm with you, okay? The two of you have done it wrong and I want you to realize your mistakes. We are forgiving you, but please don't do it again, okay?"

I nodded and smiled at the woman. "Everything is noted, Ma'am. I'm really sorry." I barely looked at the young boy who was still sharply staring at me. I knew he wasn't fine with this deal and it wasn't my problem anymore.

The woman stood and went back to her kid. "Keevan, we're done with this, huh? We should focus on healing your wounds. Don't be stubborn, okay?"

"Okay, Momma," the young boy smiled, but I caught him still clenching his fist.

"I'm sorry, this might sound rude, but can you please accept this?" Mommy Morrigan walked towards the woman and offered her an envelope with money inside it. "You can use this for treating your child."

"No, just take it," the woman smiled. "We're fine."

"B-but..."

"I insist."

Mommy had nothing to do but take back her offer since the woman insisted. The duologue was done, so she had invited me and Daddy to go back to the bookstore.

We didn't last too long in the shop because my parents had still things to do in the house. With regards to some of the store's products I had unintentionally destroyed during the fight, Mommy and Daddy paid for it.

I faced myself in the mirror while tears shed down through my red cheeks. I was already home, but I couldn't feel the home I had always wanted. The way Mommy Morrigan spoke my name reminded me of my mother in my present time. Seeing the custody of the mother of the boy who I punched gave me a feeling of longingness as well.

I was always missing my mother Priscilla.

Being resurrected in the past with such kind of parents was a blessing to me. Mommy Morrigan and Daddy Perseus were actually good, and they were doing their best to raise me. I didn't have any problem with them, but I just couldn't deny the fact that Mom Priscilla was still everything to me.

As the cold wind touched my skin, I wailed even more. The breeze was like embracing me and wiping my tears. I loved the air, indeed; no one in this house had heard my cries, except for the wind. Even the softest whisper I would make, the air would hear it.

I stood and walked towards my bed, wiping my tears. But as I was to lay myself, the earring I was holding that I had just removed, fell under the bed. Since it was dark there, I looked for the flashlight and when I was done, I lighted the spot. In just seconds, I had found my earring, but something under had made me pucker my eyebrows.

"What's that?" I asked myself, still looking at the doorknob attached on the floor.

I tried reaching out the doorknob, but my arm was too short. So, I moved through until I was finally able to touch it. My eyes grew wider when I had an epiphany that it wasn't just a doorknob that was placed here, but an entire door. What did this door have to do under my bed?

I whirled the doorknob around and to my surprise, the door was opened. A wrinkle creased my brow when the inside had greeted my eyes. An underground?