BRAIDED BROOD

Chapter 5

In the parlor of Chris's family house, Darus and her daughter, Yara, sat hunched over a laptop. They were checking Yara’s college admission status. Darus was so anxious and nervous about the whole thing; she couldn’t help but bite her knuckles as Yara hovered her mouse over the green bar that read: “CHECK ADMISSION RESULT.” Finally, Yara clicked. The screen refreshed, and the bold letters popped up: CHRIS YARA, NOT ACCEPTED.

“Gosh…” Darus sighed in heavy exasperation.

“I told you, I didn’t want to go to college," Yara responded shamelessly. "I said I’m going to be a singer.”

“I sent you to an expensive prep school and got you all of the rich kids’ tutors so you could meet Kyle Huxley!” Darus shouted in a fit of anger. Since that didn’t work out, the least you could’ve done was to get into college. I want a return on my money.

“Whatever! Why are you taking all of this out on me?” Yara whined.

Just then, the front door opened, and Emily walked in. “Good evening, Mom. Good evening, Yara,” she greeted them warmly.

“Why do you keep wearing your school uniform when you’re graduating soon?” Darus snapped, ignoring the greeting entirely. “If other people see you like this, they’d say you’re from a poor family. That’d direct their insult to me, not you.”

“It’s just... this uniform is comfortable.” She answered calmly. Yara smirked. “Oh, is it now? I’m sorry.” Emily apologized immediately, wanting to avoid a fight.

“Check it just one more time,” Darus whispered desperately to Yara, pointing at the screen. “Why? It’s not worth looking at again…” Yara groaned.

“Mother! Can I use the computer just this once?” Emily asked quietly.

Yara chuckled sheepishly, exchanging a look with her mom. “Did you apply to college by any chance?” Emily nodded slightly. “Fine, go ahead and check.”

Emily went straight to the laptop and typed in the search bar: University of Education.

“University of Education?” Darus asked, surprised. “Yes, I want to become a teacher. That was my mother’s dream,” she answered softly. “Gosh, what’s the use of raising you when all you care about is your dead mom? Darus scoffed.

That’s not what I meant, mother…”

“Whatever. You shouldn’t dream too big, you know. If you do, you’ll only end up being disappointed. Know your place and have a dream that suits your level.”

Before Darus could finish her lecture, the webpage had finished loading completely. A green tab popped up: “CHECK ADMISSION RESULT.” She clicked on it after putting in her details.‘CONGRATULATIONS! CHRIS EMILY, YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED.’

An instant wave of joy flooded her heart, though her stepmom and Yara were practically consumed by a wave of pure jealousy. Darus glared at Yara in fury. Trying to salvage her pride, Yara sneered at Emily. “Well, it’s not like just anyone can go to college, you know... You need money to go.”

“I’ve saved up enough money for the initial deposit, and I’ll pay the rest with part-time jobs while I’m in school,” Emily replied while leaving the laptop behind.

The moment she reached her room, she screamed joyfully. “This is amazing! Gosh! This is so amazing!” She kept her voice down, careful not to let the noise reach the sitting room where her stepmom was stewing.

“Man, I had a pretty rough day, but this makes up for all of that.” She pulled out her silver pendant that had her mom’s picture engraved in it.

“Mom, I’m a college student now. I got in, Mom…." Her eyes welled with happy tears. " Very soon, I’ll fulfill your dream of me becoming a college student. Your daughter is totally awesome, right? I miss you, Mom. I'll come see you soon.” She kissed the cold metal happily.

Meanwhile, at Jupiter’s Mansion, Chairman Kyle and Secretary York were walking briskly through the grand halls, alerted by a frantic emergency report. When they entered the primary living room, they stopped dead in their tracks. The place was an absolute disaster. Secretary York immediately called out the caretaker, “Mr. Kee,” as they walked through the house.

“Damn it,” the chairman echoed, his blood pressure rising. “Butler! Are you there? Mr. Kee? Why is the house such a complete mess?”

The Chairman's anger flared when he saw a lady’s underwear over his prized, custom-framed artwork. They walked to the general dining room due to the little floppy noise that was heard.

“What’s that noise?” the chairman asked.

“But there’s nobody here,” York murmured. Before they could realize what was happening, Mr. Kee was literally duct-taped and glued to the ceiling. He was desperately trying to cough out a piece of paper that had been taped over his mouth, so he could speak.

“Over here, sir. I’m over here, on the ceiling!” he cried.

After being brought down and explaining the psychological torment that his grandsons inflicted on him, he decided to quit. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m quitting! Your grandsons are devils! Real Devils!” He screamed aloud, then apologized when he realized it immediately. “Well, sir… That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s fine,” Chairman Kyle responded while working away in a huff. “It’s hereditary after all.”

“Well, Sir… not a single day goes by quietly. This was expected when you called the boys together, wasn't it?” Secretary York noted, trailing right behind him.

“Even so, it’s been a year since those three boys have been living together. I can’t let them act like this any longer,” the chairman snapped.

“I’ll find a new butler as soon as possible. York reassured him. Just use the money to get someone. I’m sure someone will be willing. And if they quit, we can hire a pricier one.”

“Yes, sir!” Secretary York bowed.

Still worried, the Chairman asked himself quietly. “Gosh. Who can I hire that can knock some sense into all of them?”

Later that night at the convenience store, Emily was staring at her pay stub tirelessly. “I can pay my tuition deposit when I get paid tomorrow!” She cheered loudly. “Ahh… I have finally saved up to two thousand dollars. Two thousand! Yes!”

“I think you miscalculated,” a voice interrupted.

Huxley stood in front of her, looking delighted.

“Excuse me?” She asked, dumbfounded.

He brought out an ice cream cone. “Does this thing really cost two thousand dollars?”

Emily blinked, snapping back into cashier mode. “I’m sorry, that’ll be $1, Sir…. This one is a Buy One, Get One Free item.”

Huxley looked confused. “What?” Emily repeated herself, “Buy One, Get One Free.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you get another free ice cream,” she answered.

“Is there such a thing? Whoa… amazing. But what should I do? I’m only planning to eat one,” he teased her.

A few minutes later, they sat at a small side table that was meant for customers. Emily gobbled her ice cream like a hungry kid, while Huxley stared at her in surprise.

“Gosh! You eat so well,” he remarked.

“It’s free, after all,” she responded with her mouth filled with ice cream.

Huxley raised an eyebrow. “Are you dropping honorifics and speaking casually to me?”

“Well, you started it… Besides, I am the customer here,” he countered.

She smirked, wiping her mouth. “But you’ve already made a payment, so technically, you're just a loiterer now.”

Huxley let out a disbelief-filled laugh. “Look at this punk. How thuggish. Whatever, I think someone like you will be perfect.” He leaned closer to her with his ice cream. “Let me ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?” She asked instantly, cautious.

“Give me some of your time tomorrow from 9:00 pm to midnight. Just three hours.”

She gave him a rictus and returned to her desk, but Huxley followed her like a lost puppy. “Please, just leave, okay?” she signed.

“Hey! I’m still talking to you.”

“If you want me to listen, say something that actually makes sense.”

“I’m not asking you to do this for free. I’ll give you $700. Okay. How about $1400, then?”

She sneered. “Was that ice cream spoiled? Are you out of your mind?”

“I have money,” he insisted.

“People who say that are usually untrustworthy. Are you trying to imply that you can buy people with money?”

He nodded slightly. “Yes, why not? Using money to solve problems instead of arguments or violence. Isn’t that a lot more pleasant and peaceful...”

“You mean using money to cover up your problem instead of actually dealing with it?” She countered.

He smiled at her cheerfully. “You definitely know what I'm talking about.”

“Prove it, then,” she challenged him. “Prove that you have that kind of money to buy my time.”

In the blink of an eye, he ordered everything that was in the store and handed over bundles of cash to Emily.

Emily froze, her jaw dropping as she stared at the bundles of cash. She was so astonished to a point that she couldn’t say anything.

“I’ve proven myself now, right?” Huxley smirked.

“Yeah… hhhh. Do you want… a receipt?” She stammered.

“Give me your number.”

Emily went quiet, completely stunned. He smirked at her silence. “Hey, come on….. You see? You’re at a loss for words because I'm just way too cool, right?”

Before she could protest, he reached out, grabbed her forearm, and uncapped a marker, scribbling his phone number in bold digits right across her skin. “Call me.”