Fate and We

Secret burden

FEW YEARS LATER...

'

Somewhere in the United States...

Entering into a large room that was arranged and decorated like a master's bed room, elegant enough to be called one, a man called out softly.

"Mr Cole..." Patiently waiting, he stood quite close to the entrance, waiting for the other party's reply.

Judging by the man's dress with his actions, it was professional, something close to a personal assistant and without a doubt, he is one.

The man being spoken to could be seen lying nonchalantly on a giant chair. Lazily, he sat up, removed his glasses, cleaned them, wore them back, then spoke;

"Speak!"

Without slacking off for a second, the man standing away quite close to the entrance professionally replied.

"Sir, we have a boring news and a good news. Which one should come first sir?"

"Report them as you see fit." The man known as Mr Cole replied. Hearing this, his personal assistant reported;

"Mr Patterson called, complaining about the last job, sir, demanding a makeup for it." pausing for a few seconds before continuing;

"And the good news is, we found an interesting unexplored area quite far off in a deep forest. It's located 50 KM away from the abandoned site we named 'Vacuum' sir."

While standing for a few seconds without getting a reply, he explained;

"Vacuum, the site our vehicles suddenly went dead, sir"

Mr Cole slowly raised his right hand forward gesturing at his personal assistant to hand over something. Seeing this and knowing what was demanded, his personal assistant quickly walked over steadily, and politely handed over a tablet to him which Mr Cole gently received.

After a moment of going through some credentials, Mr Cole dropped the tablet on his bed then sighed.

"Go check it out with the boys" Saying then paused before continuing.

"....And report every single step you take, don't rush things. I repeat, don't rush things"

With a polite bow, the personal assistant left the room, closing the door behind him, then got to work immediately!.

'

In a serene environment, a place made of nature. The sounds of birds flapping their wings happily, chirping away could be heard quite far off in the distance. The lush green view that filled the environment seem to clear worries off of the mind of man, and, at the middle of this expanse area of greenery that span kilometres far off, was an eighteen year old adult, full of smiles on his maturing young face which without a doubt mean one thing, he is happy.

Today is his birthday, why won't he happy, differently happy.. a day he turns eighteen.

"Hehe son, how do you like the scenery." The voice of a middle age man came from the background, prompting the young adult out of his reverie before moving closer to his father. All this while, the smile never left his face.

"Dad, I am so excited right now. I'm happy being with you all day today haha. uhm don't forget the grilled meat and others."

He opened his eyes wide in pleasant realization while he kept flinging his dad's hand excitedly.

"Wait, I haven't open my gift yet too. I can't believe I’m finally eighteen.!"

His dad couldn't help but laugh out heartily. Suddenly, he felt nostalgic, lost in a memory. There was someone that does that to him when she's excited too. Without noticing, his eyes became teary as a tear dropped from his left eye.

The boy who noticing his father's mood suddenly turned silent.

"Dad, what's wrong?" As far as he could remember, his dad's mood do turn sore sometimes on a happy day such as this. He couldn't help but hug his father, Borden.

Borden, feeling his son's soft embrace, quickly came back to his senses. This is an happy day, not exactly for him but for his only son he cherish undoubtedly, he shouldn't ruin it with the painful event of the past that this day reminds him of. However, he couldn't forget even if he wanted to.

At 9'0clock PM in a seclusive area. Faraway from bustling noises of people in the city where calmness prevails was a small bungalow, big enough to fit a family of four or so due to the width and structure.. sitting on a two persons' sofa was Borden, and his son. Sound of an happy chattering could be heard after having fun all day.

"So dad, what's your sobriquet when you were young as me!"

Smiling wider, his dad replied slowly, remembering the good old days;

"I had so many nicknames when I was young but, the most popular one back then was uhmm.. Night Prowler!"

Borden mentioned, nodding his head while smiling proudly. It appears he really likes the name.

"Wait, what!? Why were you given a name like that hahaha but it really sounds cool, dad"

"But dad, I don't wanna talk'bou it but it seems you are a scholar who walks the night or more. You should be called the Nightwalker" He jokingly smirked.

He couldn't help but chuckled at his own remark but his dad secretly partially agreed. He was someone who really enjoyed his childhood with the rugged style that comes with it, and he likes the feeling that comes with night.

Before Borden could find words to retort, he had notice his son staring at him, teasing him with his hard glare but his son's expression suddenly turned serious which was unusual.

"Don't forget your yearly words to me.. Uhm I feel like you're communicating with my future self when you speak words like those. It never fails to resonate" He could see his son's expression were serious, an expression he doesn't see much. Continuing;

"Father, I know I'm still young. Too young to share your worries but, we have no one else but ourselves, dad... I just want to remind you that I'm growing, remember the young does grow too dad. You always have me."

Silence!!

'

He's known his son to be smarter than his age and even now, he could feel the aura surrounding his teenage— young adult boy when he said those words, its like that of a brother instead of a son.

Being raised by a single parent has its own upsides too even if it's little... sigh!!

Borden couldn't help but keep quiet for a while, staring off into nothing in particular, it's pretty obvious he was deep in thought.

The silence went on for how long that seems like a decade, before he finally blurted out.

"Morncloud.. Morningcloud Ikladi!!". Borden called out his son's full name, using his wife's family name. Ever since the death of his wife, Amy, Borden had always called his boy using his wife's family name.

Morncloud's entire figure shook, hearing his full name called out by his father in that manner..

The atmosphere seemed tense, feeling goosebumps so strong like he has never felt before, tingling all over his skin, making his whole structure shiver.

"Father...". He subconsciously blurted out, all this while, keeping his head down.

Silence!!.. took over again but was cut short this time.

"Some things are better left unsaid.. while some things.. unknown"

"Some words, once said, turns a burden to one who heard it, causing distraction to your very mind.. making you look at one side, and one side only"

'

"Dad...." Morncloud mumbled out under his breath but quickly kept his silence, listening to his father's very word.

He could feel his heavy mood. He had always know something does bothers his father deep down, even though he hides it well,but Morncloud is quite observant not to take note, he reads his father like a book.. sigh!!

"I will ask you this, my son.. you are a human so am I, your father. But do you believe, fate.. can be defied!"

"Can you defy the laws of heavens and transcend the shackles of the Welkin plane?"

Staring at his son intensely for a few seconds before he continued;

"I don't expect you to answer now. You answer the questions yourself and to yourself.. Morningcloud Ikladi!"

Even though his dad was talking in parables. His dad seems to be a whole different person as he talked to him in an heavy voice but at the same time, he felt closer to him. Like an imperial adviser, talking deeply to his emperor.

His dad shared a little of his worries with him for the first time and he noticed it was so little compared to the overall picture of it, like just a drop of water in the ocean but at the very least, he trusted him.

Morncloud doesn't dare ignore his words. His dad was his role model afterall.

Standing up, Borden stared down at his son that seem to be sinking his words at the moment. With a smile, he said

"Good night, boy"

...

"....."

"Good night, dad". He finally found his voice to reply

"...and thank you, dad.. for trusting me so much with those worries". He concluded with a small smile.

He only got a simple reply; we’ll be okay

Late in the night, the bungalow that was naturally silent became more silent. Borden was in his room, rolling in bed. He was deep in thought, he couldn't sleep, his main worries at that moment were unknown.

'Can he really do that? Can he really change everything? I hope Grandfather is right this time too. Sigh!! what am I even thinking, he is too young for all that scuffles. Scuffles that seem endless'

Shaking his head hard, clearing his thoughts that he deemed crazy, he tried so hard to sleep and eventually, nature calls.

Morncloud on the other hand dozed off on the sofa after thinking hard for too long.