A Childhood Relationship Chapter I: THE BEGINNING AND DISTANCE

Chapter 5

CHAPTER V: A NEW BEGINNING

Usually, I go home right after class as I'm a part of the going home club. But, today was different because the class representative is absent. Apparently, she caught a serious dengue fever from her overseas trip last weekends. Now, I have to take over her duties as the vice representative of our class. Today is the first time I'll take part with these so-called class duties and honestly it is really tiring. I can't believe it actually took me a while doing my duties as the class vice representative before I was able to go home. However, at least through this I wouldn't be able to walk with him home as we live in the same district. After finalizing the report, I proceeded to go home. Looking around at this hour, not much students aside from club members and class representatives are still at school. More so for the sports clubs who are practicing every single day to join their respective tournaments which are like huge dreams to them. Not that I'll know what they feel as I quit doing sports right after I entered High School to focus on my studies.

Soon, I reached how without an issue. After all, I thought that there will be a rain since the weather forecast said there would be one today. It would be troublesome for me since I forgot to bring my umbrella. Inside, I was surprised that my father was home really early. My mother on the other hand didn't make dinner even though it was already late. I wondered why is that until I noticed that they're both wearing formal clothes. My mother then motioned for me to change into a formal attire which I did. As I went down, my father already started the car and my told me that we'll have a dinner outside. Even though this would be something exciting, it felt weird since we only always eat at home. So, I can't help but feel that something seems wrong. But, I decided to keep quiet for a while until they tell what it is to me. Eventually, we arrived at the city and we took an elevator inside a huge building. Inside, it was quite dark and people in suits talked to my parents before we were guided inside. Apparently, it was a luxurious five-star restaurant. I immediately realized that perhaps my father was promoted and so it was a celebration for it. Soon, we started eating and we began to talk. I then congratulated my father which actually surprised him. He then laughed and told me how I had a sharp mind to know what actually happened at his work. Really, spending quality with my family outside is different compared to just inside our home. It seems to me that we can talk about different things when we are not inside the protection of our home. Afterwards, we went straight back home and I went to my bedroom. I took my phone from my pocket to connect to the internet, but for some reason I couldn't get a connection. Thus, I wasn't able to post the picture of me and my family at the restaurant on my Slowstagram account. I thought that perhaps there was just a problem at the internet service provider so I disregarded it and just went to sleep.

The following days, I noticed how we stopped eating at home. Although, not literally as my mother just doesn't cook food anymore. From breakfast to dinner, we would always eat food delivered from restaurants and other food establishments. I thought my mother felt tired from always cooking every single time, so it was a good diversion, at least for the time being. Eventually, my mother started putting away all our tableware so we had to resort to using ones straight from where we ordered our food. However, there still seems to be no internet connection so I don't know what is happening on my online accounts. The only thing that kept me from asking my parents regarding the internet connection are the food from each and every restaurants which made me taste several different new food. Also, I forgot about this, but I felt thankful since I need not deliver food to him at the moment which is really good for me.

Eventually, a week passed since my internet connection broke down. I finished my duties and proceeded back home like usual. I entered my room, but I was surprised when I saw that all the stuff inside my room disappeared. My room turned into virtually nothing but an open space without a single object in sight. I thought that perhaps we are moving to another place or that my room needed some repairs since my parent's room still has everything inside. To have a clear-cut explanation, I approached my mother whom was preparing stuff. She then mentioned how she forgot to tell me about how my father had to move to another branch of the company which was located at a city to the north at another prefecture. I was surprised and it was then that I realized why my mother no longer cooks and how the internet connection was terminated. I asked my mother if we'll sell our house due to this, but it wasn't the case so I felt relieved as we wouldn't have to permanently leave the house where I grew up. I then realized that I was still in the middle of school before she told me that I'll be living at his house for the time being, at least until we graduate. She told me how she'll accompany my father to aid him since he'll be working in a far away location and that leaving me alone at our house wouldn't feel alright to them. I felt hopeless since I'd have to live with him from now on with his family as if I'm a part of it. If this is what would happen, it would have been better if they'll take me with them and just transfer to another school over there. However, I guess it would be impossible since I have a company scholarship at this school since my father's company once donated a large sum of money to the school I'm currently studying at.

Even though I still had mixed-feelings regarding the matter, there was nothing I could do. No matter how close I may be to my parents, I cannot simply ask them for the selfish demand of mine since tuition fees are really expensive. Eventually, my mother guided me to his house as my father arrived in our car. We talked inside the car for a while and they told me their goodbyes as they still have to traverse a really long stretch of road to my father's new job. Then, they told me how I need to take care and to not inconvenience him. At this time, I wondered why they did not tell me not to inconvenience his family. Eventually, they rode away as if everything was okay and normal.

I thought it was only natural for me to be entrusted to his family for they are close friends ever since they were young. So, I thought about how I need to be a good kid for the next three long years with this new family of mine. The door was locked so I used the keys and entered the house. What greeted me was him so I asked where his parents are as I'll tell them about how I'll be under their care for a while, but I realized that they are still at work. However, he told me how they were also relocated together with my father. Thus, we'll be left at their house for three years or so that is what his parents told him. It took a while before everything sunk into me before I finally realized that we'll be living under the same roof and only the two of us at that. It would be okay if we are either both boys or girls, but that isn't the case.

I obviously didn't want something like this to happen, especially since I'm worried for my own safety as oppose to living alone in my own home. However, my parents already locked our house for good and now I have no other choice but to live in his house. This was really sudden, but I never actually thought that my parents would entrust me to him. They don't realize how doing something like this would only spell trouble as is the case with most television dramas. But, I think that the only thing going on inside their minds is that we are mature enough to know what is right and what is wrong. Still, something like this isn't really wholesome no matter how I look at it. I just stood at the doorway, speechless with whatever just happened before I sat on the sofa. It was already night time before I came to my senses and gave up and accepted what my life situation would be for the next three years with him. My stomach growled after all that thinking, yet there was nothing to eat. With that, he volunteered to buy food at the convenience store and so I waited for him. As he got back, we ate dinner together for the very first time. Afterwards, he prepared the bath and told me to take one. Thus, took a bath and gladly nothing surprising happened. Soon, he guided me to my new bedroom. I went to the room prepared for me and the good thing was that there were two locks. I immediately double checked them the moment he left since I don't trust him. It took a while for me to prepare what I needed, good thing everything was where they are supposed to be. Eventually, I slept without a worry after making sure that I locked the door.

The following day, I woke up from his shouting as he was calling for me downstairs. It was then that I noticed that it was already quite late that I hurriedly put on my uniform which I prepared last night before going to bed. I wouldn't even be able to eat breakfast, now that my mother is no longer at the house to cook food. As soon as I went down the stairs, I saw him cooking food and the table was already prepared. He asked me to sit down which I followed. After a while, he served the food and we ate breakfast together. The food tasted good and it saved me from having to buy something from the convenience store while on my way to school. I waited for him out of courtesy before we proceeded to the school shortly after he washed the dishes.

Beginning today, we will now walk to the school together since we are basically living under one roof. Then lunch came and I was about to buy food at the cafeteria when he motioned for me and brought something out from his bag. Apparently, he even prepared a bento for me to eat. I thought to myself how he was considerate to prepare food for me and so I wondered if he'll also cook dinner. Perhaps I even took him for granted as I never helped in preparing the food, notwithstanding the fact that I told him never to talk to me ever again. Actually, the following days arrived and with regards to our laundry, he did them without any complaint while at the same time he wouldn't even talk to me aside from the important things which are necessary. I was glad that he respected my decision yet it felt awkward seeming that he was the one who is pretty much taking care of me, as if he is my parent. The only difference is that we're basically the same age.

Since I live near his house, no one found out that I was now living together with him. Thus, I didn't have any problem with the issue of being teased at school at all. I looked around his house which seemed smaller than it was when I was younger, although it is larger than any normal house. Actually, it is the largest house at the neighborhood that the people admire his family for their immense wealth. His parents are high ranking officials at the number one multinational company at our country. Due to this, his parents were chosen to head the branch at the north as its new general managers. They also chose my father to go with them to make things easier. This is what led me to live with him at their house and I guess his parents asked him to take care of me in return for taking with them my father. They really are close friends, no wonder my parents trusted him in taking care of me. The only good thing with being forced into this life situation was that my parents upgraded my cellular plan for me to contact them whenever I want or in case of emergencies.

Seeming that I'll be living at his house for quite some time, I looked around the house for the first time and all I can say is that navigating it was quite tiresome. Good thing he still wasn't around as it would be embarrassing if he found out I was taking a tour of his very house as if I'm mesmerized by it. While looking around, I entered a room full of training equipment and then a staircase to the basement. Beneath, there was a huge open area with flooring fit for karate. Now that I think about it, I saw him join the karate club back in middle school which was a first for someone as weak as him. I then wondered if it was to strengthen his self, although I did not realize that it was so that he can protect me, the one he loves. Seeming that I was taking my time there, I hurried upstairs and continued to look around. Eventually, he arrived and then went back to his room after greeting me with the words that he was already home. Well, it is his house after all so I cannot just ask him not to say it as it would be rude no matter how I look at it. Still, I cannot believe that I'm now living at this new house and alone with him at that.

Author's Note: I purposely replaced i********: with the word Slowstagram for some dry humor, if it could even be considered as such. By the way, "bento" is similar to what you call packed-lunch.