THE MOON OF MARS

EPISODE ONE PART THREE

♀♀

4:44 pm

A child coughs violently in his twin-sized bed. Sweat drips from his straight and dark hairline. The boy struggles to breathe. When he does, he sniffs in globs of snot. "Kaa-san!" He calls with a cry. "Okaa-san!" The half-Asian child whimpers.

The boy's fully Asian mother enters the room. She's half the height of the door and has a fancy bowl of hot soup with bits of egg and green onion in her palms. Her eyes lower to her son pitifully. He has another coughing fit as she sits on the edge of his bed. "You poor thing." She sets the bowl on the nightstand and rests the back of her palm on his wet forehead. "You're burning up, Moko-Bo." Momo Koe gently picks the bottle of children's Dayquil and a spoon from her robe pocket. She pours the orange goo and hovers it to his mouth. The boy whips his head away with a pout. "Moko-Bo, take your medicine or you won't be able to play with your friends for a while." The corners of his lips dips further. "Mo'Reese Koe! Open your mouth, now." The boy aggressively folds his arms, popping his jaw open. His mother happily shoves the spoon in his mouth, just as the front door opens and slams.

Ita barks from her bed in the corner of Mo'Reese's room. She speeds out of the bedroom to her owner's feet. Moeko Kaye slips off her snow boots and switches to the green loafers next to slippers of different sizes. She greets the dog with head pats and a kiss before rising. Off the welcome mat, Moeko tosses her black grocery back and bags on the couch and takes off her coat just as her mom emerges from the kitchen. "How was school, Moeko-chan?"

I pause, looking down at my belly, and kept my coat on. Covering myself quickly, I turn around and smile. Before I could reply, I hear my brother hack his lungs past the kitchen. "Good." I c**k my brow as Ita hops on the couch, sitting on her hind legs and waving her tiny paws. I hold them as I ask, "Ototo is sick?"

"Yes. He came home with a cold." Kaa came closer to give me a kiss on the cheek. My heart stops, though I knew she wouldn't notice. She breaks away as she says, "I'll be taking him to the doctor on Monday, if he is not better." She spoke with elegance that matches her decor style as she disappears down the hall.

The gentle lighting of paper-covered Andon lamps complements earthen walls. A Japanese home primarily features nature. Kaa chose water-colored paintings of birds and bamboo to decorate varying walls. White, stiff furniture with different wood shelving and tables. The style is called 'Kanso', an overall soothing, peaceful, and calm is supposed to eliminate any stress in the air. It would have more of an effect in Japan, where the house structure is open and not closed and contained like in the West. I look around the decor, allowing it to soothe me as I take my bags and yell, "I'm dying my hair with purple highlights!"

"Okay! Have fun, love! I can't wait to see it!" Kaa shouts from Ototo's bedroom.

"Thanks." I shout back, heading up the wooden stairs. A sharp left turn and I'm to my bedroom door. Kaa wouldn't allow me to decorate outside, as it would ruin the Japanese theme she was trying to emulate. Inside was a different story. A faint pink paper coats the walls, having yellow plastic stars plastered about. Posters line up next to each other perfectly, varying from Sailor Moon to Nirvana, Metallica, or other different rock groups. White Christmas lights dangle from the bumpy, unpainted ceiling. Plushes of Pokémon hang from the center of the slowly rotating fan.

I go to my vanity, plugging in its lights and plopping down on the soft, white cushioned stool. From my school bag, I grab my AP Calculus book stuffed with homework, study guides, and a thick binder dedicated to my English class. I set them both before me. On top, I place the plastic bag. My eyes glance at my record player underneath my tall bookshelf filled with dark novels. I fall to my knees gently, carefully lifting the needle off its holder and onto the record. One of my favorite albums by Marilyn Manson, 'Holy Wood', spins steadily, and the first song, 'Godeatgod' plays. I hold the vinyl sitting by the player, studying its blasphemous caricature of Jesus Christ on the cross. It's one of the many rock vinyl's I've bought secretly that criticized God and His followers.

"Dear John and all the King's men, can't put your head together again. Before the bullets, before the flies. Before authorities take out my eyes." I turn down the volume before mouthing with Marilyn, "The only smiling are you dolls that I made. But you are plastic, and so are your brains." My lowest shelf holds only part of my vinyl collection. I have over a fifty so far, but I had to put the rest in my closet until I can buy another shelf. I stand, eyes locking on the twelve books of 'A Series of an Unfortunate Events'. Specifically, book five, 'The Austere Academy', the book that made me fall in love with Goth. I still love colors, especially pastels. Isavella told me there's such a style called 'Pastel Goth' which I absolutely adore the moment she showed me her morbid Alice is Wonderland cosplay. However, the clothes are ridiculously expensive compared to the thrift shop items I put together.

I rise on my feet, going to the mirror to play with my hair. It's smooth, shiny, and strong naturally, even without conditioner. Asian hair usually has low porosity, which means my hair basically feels the same wet or dry while being stiff and stringy. I'm bleaching my hair first, then applying the purple highlights. As I snag my comb through my long length, my Omnia buzzes continuously. I peep the caller ID and read my coworker's name, Denise Lewis. I answer, "Hello?"

"Hey, Moeko. It's Denise." The older woman sighs. "I saw on the schedule you're off Tuesday. Do you think you can take my afternoon shift? Reyka put me on a f*****g double again and my back is killing me."

I blink as I think, "I don't know... I stopped working afternoons for a reason."

"I know you're pregnant, but I called everyone else and no one even answered."

My eyes roll. "Right."

"Honestly, Moe, I may go to the emergency room. Just this once. I'll owe you a huge favor."

I lower my sight to my homework and let out a sigh. "Okay. What's your out?"

"Second. You shouldn't be there long."

"It's Boneless Tuesday, too." I groan.

"It'll be fine. The Superbowl is over, so it'll be normal again."

"Fine." My eyelids pinch closed. "Okay, Denise."

"f*****g amazing!" She exclaims. "I'll let Ed know."

"Okay. Feel better." I fake a smile and hang up with a sigh. In the mirror, I try to mess with my hair again, but I give up. Instead, I opt to sit and start on my homework to the sound of Marilyn Manson.

♀♀

6:49 pm

Forty volume lightener turned Moeko's hair orange at first. The second time she was able to turn her black hair yellow. Took her an hour each time. Once she applied the purple, she applies a plastic Kroger bag over her coated hair to retain the heat. She didn't need to use foil; those are more for kids to not touch their hair. After she applied the purple, Moeko lets it sink into her cubicles for another hour before taking a shower. Scorching hot water drips down Moeko's neck. She stands under the rushing stream with her head tilted back. No longer having black hair, it's a mauve purple with light streaks to her trimmed ends. Her protruding collarbone is red from the still steam of heat. The red expands down to her brown n*****s. Aside from her round pouch, she's tiny and slender. Before pregnancy, Moeko almost achieved a six-pack. Now, she feels fat, never breaking a hundred and thirty pounds until her daughter joined the game of life.

She finally brings her head down, folded eyes locking on Eilish's cocoon. Her hand cups the water upward to rain it down her extended mound. Butterflies flutter inside ever so softly. A smile grows on her empty face, followed by twinkles in her dull eyes. Her body is clean, these extra five minutes was spent with silence and connection. Once she's out the shower, her hand wipes the mirror free from fog. She opens the mirror door, revealing rows of pills and liquids both prescribed and not. Her three orange bottles stand on the top shelf. Zoloft, for severe depression. Seroxat, for dissociative symptoms from her PTSD. Risperdal, for the manic bipolar. All taken once in the morning. Soon, a night antipsychotic called Seroquel may be added due to her sudden insomnia.

Her eyes looks at the orange, translucent bottles with pity for herself. She slams the mirror shut and looks in. The purple has taken well, tinting her raven locks with violet streaks. She used a professional shampoo and conditioner to improve the porosity in her strains, leaving her hair smooth and soft. Moeko smirks at the result, checking the length of her straight bang above her thin eyebrows.

She goes to her room, straight for her tv to turn on. A slender white Wii sits below next to a black Xbox 360. Moeko turns the Wii on, snatching the purple-covered remote. She hears the jingle as she plops on her bed, immediately on the spacious main menu. It's all white and pristine, a contrast to the game she puts on.

The Legend of Zelda's world was introduced through a long intro where Link meets an imp wearing Majora's Mask in the forest. The mask is so evil gods and goddesses sealed it away to prevent it from falling in the wrong hands. When they died off, a mask scavenger picked it up to hold. Now that the imp as stolen the mask, he sets off the moon's gravity, causing it to fall gradually towards Clock Town. A perfect place for Link to use his Ocarina of Time to go back three days to prevent the moon from falling. Moeko has played this game at least seven times. So many so, she considers herself a 'speedrunner', someone who blasts through a video game quickly as possible. Her quickest to finish Majora's Mask was ten hours, her quickest on any Zelda game. Luckily, it was summer break when she decided to take on a gamer challenge. One that was introduced to her by Vehren.

As of now, she plays to enjoy the scenery. Adventuring through the imaginary yet playable world of Termina. Every time she plays the game she learns something new about it, especially when she's doing a randomizer; a feature that extends the game by randomizing items needed to move further in the game. She only puts it on when she just wants to kill time. And so she does, running through East Clock Town with a bodiless fairy orb above her and transforming Link into 'deku' with the mask he got from the happy salesman who clumsily lost Majora's Mask. It's 'Dawn of the Second Day', one more until Clock Town is crushed head-on.

Her eyes gaze down at her phone. She patiently waits for a text message she'll never receive again. The only other person who would play this game with her and leave her amazed by his knowledge of the lore. He lives in Hyrule just like she does, and he's currently in a deep nap alike Link. She plays for three hours before shutting the game off.

Outside the upstairs bathroom, she passes under a lantern wearing only a white nightgown. She makes a sharp turn down the wooden steps, looking to her left once she reaches the ground. Her father sits on the couch watching a recap of an episode on Dateline called 'Flesh and Blood'. He sees his daughter and smiles. "I love your hair, Moeko-chan."

"Arigato." I say, plopping next to him on the couch. "Is this the first episode?"

"Yes. Have you seen it?"

"I have. It's a great start."

"What happens?"

I look at him. "I don't want to spoil it, but it's good, I promise."

"I'll trust your word." He smiles softly, stretching his arm over the back of the chair and resting his head on his palm. "How was school?"

"Long, as usual. I literally just learned how to do traditional highlights today. Thought I'd try it on myself." I showcase my hair.

"I love it. Do you like doing hair?" Tou tilts his head.

I nod. "I would like to pursue hair as a career."

"That means cosmetology school. I'm okay with that. But first, handle your core classes at Madonna."

Again, I nod, adding a soft grunt. "That's the plan."

"Dinner is ready." Kaa stands at the entrance of the kitchen.

Tou and I stand. I lead the way to the circular table in the breakfast nook by the back door. Ita's paws tap on the tile, sniffing on the ground for loose chicken. Kaa has made Oyakodon for tonight. Tender pieces of chicken, onions, and eggs simmered in an umami-rich sauce poured over a bowl of fluffy steamed rice. It smells incredible. I'm excited to sit with my back against the angled window, clapping as Kaa drops a decorative bowl of the Japanese cuisine in front of me. Tou plops across from me just as Kaa drops a bigger bowl for him. Ototo drags his feet from his bedroom. His eyes are red along with his cheeks and puffy from crying. Mo'Reese coughs hard into the air, right near my food. I push my bowl towards the window and pinch my eyebrows in. "Cover your mouth, Reese." Mo'Reese coughs again, this time purposefully near me. I scream, "Yo, what the hell?!"

"Moko-Bo, that is inappropriate." She points to his door. "Go to your room. I'll bring your food to you."

Mo'Reese doesn't budge his face, turning to drag his bare feet back to his bedroom. As Kaa speeds after him with a matching but smaller bowl than mine, Tou puts his hands together. "Father God, we thank you for this food tonight. May this chicken's sacrifice nourish our bodies. May your love continue to bless us on our journey back to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Amen." I say, uncurling my fingers and holding the chopsticks.

"Amen." Kaa returns, sitting in front of the counter and trash. The chicken melts in my mouth, rice cushioning its chew with a plain but simple flavor. A brothy, meaty taste comes from the Unami, one of the five key taste profiles. "How is it?" Kaa asks looking at our bowls. Her bowl size is bigger than mine, but smaller than Tou's. She also put significantly less food in hers than both of ours combine.

"It's amazing." I say mid-bite.

Kaa pokes the chicken with her chopstick. "Good. I didn't put in egg because I forgot to buy some more at the store this evening." Her head shakes. "I'm usually better at remembering groceries."

"It tastes good, no worries." Tou smacks his lips.

"For you birthday, Moeko-chan, I will be making shabu-shabu."

I look at her, "How about we get fried chicken?"

She smiles. "You want fried chicken? Homemade or takeout?"

"You can never go wrong with Popeyes, Kaa-san." I join her, grinning from ear to ear.

"We will do both then." She holds her jaw. "I can't believe you are seventeen now. Where did the time go?"

"I don't know, but I'm done with high school. I'm ready to go to college."

"That's my girl." Tou nods. "My smart girl. Are you still on honor roll?"

"I am. We get report cards soon. All A's. Wasn't hard with only four classes."

"We're very proud of you, Moeko-chan."

My eyes lower, but I try not to sadden my face. "Thanks." I pick a chunk of chicken with the sticks. "I have a doctor's appointment Monday, and I work afternoon Tuesday."

"What are the times?"

"The appointment is at noon, and I'm second out, so maybe around eight? I hope so anyway."

"I do as well. You know how I feel about you working at a bar."

I lower the chicken as I stare at him. "Tou-san, it's a family restaurant. I don't have access to alcohol. I have to be eighteen to be a server."

"I'm aware." He makes a heavy sigh. "I just believe you should pursue your hair career. I can tell you really like it."

My smile genuinely returns. "I do. I enjoy helping people feel confident in themselves."

"That's a good thing to enjoy. You've really bloomed into a lovely young woman, Moeko-chan."

"You're going to make me cry, fufuu." Kaa chuckles as she eyes me softly. "We have a very special present for you."

"What is it?"

"It's a surprise, dear." Tou says. "Just know, it's big and very important to you." He smirks. "You'll love it."

I nod. "I can't wait." I continue eating. We all fall into a silence, only ototo's coughs fill the empty conversation.

As soon as I finish, I wash my bowl in the sink. While I do, Kaa comes up to me with her bowel. She stares at me for too long for comfort. I look at her and frown. "What's wrong?"

"You've gained weight, Moeko-chan." She frowns.

So do I. "It's a good thing I didn't ask for seconds, judgmental."

She smiles and kisses my forehead. "You're glowing, hun."

"Thank you."

♀♀

10:41pm

Moeko's eyelids fell heavy for the first time in three nights. She reads the middle of The Chronicles of Narnia, captivated by the children's story her mom has read her a million times. The teen hoped reading a sentimental story would put her to sleep, and she was correct. Her body sinks into her bed as the heavy book steadily slips from her thumbs. She closes the book, dropping it by her side and flipping right to flick off the bedside light. Darkness blankets her room, only the moonlights softly shines through the open window. It was then, Moeko's Omnia buzzes on her nightstand, charms clacking on the wood loudly. She sits up and groans, snatching the phone and answering without checking the ID a sleepy, "Hello?"

"Hey." A tenor voice buzzes in her ear. "You busy?"

"Vehren?" My shoulders relax. "I'm trying to sleep."

"It's only nine, baby."

I check the time, "No, it's..." I frown. "Did you just call me 'baby'?"

"Stay up with me, MK." His sentence slurs off his tongue.

I huff a laugh, realizing what he's on. "You're drunk..."

He blows a raspberry. "Barely."

"No, you are. You wouldn't call me sober." I sit up in bed, eyes out the window across my room. "How much have you drank?"

"Not enough." He chuckles lightly.

I sigh. "Vehren, I don't like talking to you when you're drunk. What do you want?"

"Do you hate me, MK?" His voice drags.

"No, Vehren."

"I hate me, too, baby."

"Stop calling me 'baby'."

"Why? You are mine."

"Um, I'm single, remember?"

"You're carrying my child." I don't respond fast enough. "God, I'm so stupid. I had to... I... I feel bad."

"Why?" I c**k my brow. "Are you about to apologize?"

He pauses before answering. "I'm being sincere."

"And you weren't when you broke up with me?"

"I was."

"So what? You're remorseful? You can feel that?"

"I'm feeling regret... calling you, MK." He drunkenly laughs.

"I'm hanging up."

"MK, wait! I'm so-" Click. I toss my phone next to the book and fall back on the pillow. My eyes stare at the dark ceiling, where they will remain for the next five hours.