The Blood's Elegance

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

ASIER MEANT “THE BEGINNING.”

I can still remember the day when doctors cannot identify my mom’s disease. At that time, I was busy in my academics and school activities that I wasn’t able to accompany her even for once on her check-ups. She advised me to go to school than go with her to the hospital. One reason was that I was studying, and I might get distracted. Of course, she did not worry about my perfect attendance like any other parents. I believed she wanted me to attend my lessons, but I knew I can learn it even if I take an absence. I am not the fast-learner type nor the slow-learner student. The second reason, she told me, was that I hated the smell of hospitals ever since I was a child. She said, every time I go there, I would feel sick and get really sick when I go home.

How I wish I accompanied her.

Different doctors, different diagnoses. Brain cancer. Stomach cancer. Some said they cannot tell what it is specified as the symptoms confused them. How I wish I accompanied her to scold those professionals to get their freaking job right. My mother’s life was at stake. They don’t know how frightened I was especially when my mom broke the news that one of the doctors said that she might possibly get brain dead soon. I do not know if I can handle that.

Then, by the end of the school year, I was sixteen years old, she finally understood what her sickness is. Gall bladder stone. Still, I think she was hiding a more serious disease from me. Something she cannot tell easily for it will possibly affect me big time.

She was getting old. Her sickness―sicknesses,­ for me―might get worse, so we had to transfer here. It was planned a year ago. We were meant to arrive here before my eighteenth birthday.

“Elysea!”

I suddenly removed my earphones plugged into my ears. It was a mistake to use this every time I call my best friends.

“Happiest eighteenth birthday! What are your plans?” Rose asked. Andy pushed her and showed me her grinning face. “b***h, move. Just join our call.”

“Shut up,” Andy commented. I noticed they were in bed, in Rose’s room to be specific because of the pink walls I see behind. She successfully pushed the owner to the side. Rose rolled her eyes at her.

Rose, in her pajamas, finally settled lying on her stomach with her big teddy bear acting as her pillow. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” I uttered as if it explains already my overall experience of stay in this not-so-big village. The first day was good, but it did not end well like what I expected. It was far from my imagination. The party, the villagers, and the letters. Those threats. They were alarming, but as long as no one is harming me, then, I think, there’s nothing to worry about. Still, I am scared that I will find myself dead one of these days. I don’t want to have an untimely death either by murder or accident or by gun or knife.

By the way, how can you tell that death is untimely? When someone dies in an accident? When you know that that person has still a lot to accomplish as a leader or as a person with goals in life? When you’re just talking to that person yesterday, and then, you would hear the news of his or her death?

What a nice day to talk about death, Elysea, really.

“Have you got your apple of the eye?”

From spacing out, thinking about my possible death to come one of these days in this Marcadel Village, I looked at Rose.

Andy nudged her with her elbow. “You’re not her.”

“I’m not her because she’s Elysea, duh.”

I laughed at the scenario. How I missed this kind of harsh conversation whenever I’m with them.

“So, girl, any hottie in your area?” asked Rose in a voice coated with indescribable excitement. Her eyes twinkled. She placed her chin on her palms and made puppy eyes, bragging her long eyelashes. “Hmm?”

I stilled and stared at them. It is still six in the morning, and this is our topic. Usually, when we go to school at seven, Rose and I immediately search for a hot guy in our school. We barely saw all the students in our university especially last year that we had half a thousand enrollees, and our batch was separated into three buildings.

“Oh, my gosh! Who is he? What’s the name?”

I grabbed my laptop and rose from my seat to transfer to my study table. I placed the laptop on the mahogany table and laid my back, enjoying the comfort I receive from the chair.

“Seah! What’s his name? We’re curious―”

Andy cut her off. “Only you were curious. Don’t drag me into your hobby.”

“I don’t know his name,” I said to stop them from exchanging sarcastic lines where they were good at. “He must have forgotten to mention his name when he talked to me―”

“You two have talked already?” Rose screamed. “That’s my girl!”

“But I wasn’t able to get his name, though, because someone called him.”

Her face saddened. Andy groaned and closed her eyes. “Poor you, Seah.”

“It’s okay. At least I know that he’s just living here, and we can meet again some other time.”

“Isn’t he your neighbor?”

“I don’t think so, didn’t see him last night.”

“What are your plans today?” Andy spoke with her eyes close. “Bar hopping? Drag racing? Party? Movie watching?”

“Like I can do that here?”

We were fifteen when I first drank alcohol under the influence of my classmates.

Sixteen when I first entered a bar. I was underage. My mature look helped me.

Seventeen when I controlled my alcohol intake and bad habits.

“I’ll just probably have a party with them. Heard mom organized a party in our house.”

“Was it meant to be a surprise?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. “

Afternoon, when the rays of the sun entered the windows of our new home, it brightened the designs hanging on the walls. The designs hanged on the wall accordingly, giving life to the plain white walls. I went down on the last step of the stairs, hand still gripping the guardrail. I roamed my eyes around and found my mom arranging the foils on the walls.

“When’s the party, mom?”

“At 6.”

“Who are invited?”

“Our neighbors.”

She ran to the couches. I saw her grabbed something. Her hand held a red dress, and she placed it in front of me. “This will look good on you.”

“When did you buy this?” I asked.

“Before we left. I bought this as a remembrance. "

I hugged the dress and sniffed its scent. Reminds me of my childhood... my place. Reminds me of everything with this single piece of cloth.

The time came. I wore my dress and rained myself a perfume with a sweet scent. I tied my hair in a bun and curled its ends before putting on my earrings and bracelet. I danced in front of my mirror with a wide smile on my face.

I video called my best friends to show them how I look. "Charan!"

"Uh, excuse me, but where's my Seah?" she asked. Her eyes wandered and tried to see what's behind me. I moved to show that there was nothing. She looked back at me. "Where's Seah, Miss?"

Andy joined the call.

"You looked decent,” she commented in a smug manner.

I rolled my eyes. "You, guys, are definitely rude."

"Girl, you looked gorgeous!" Rose's voice echoed in my room. "Come on, I heard from Maurice that your party is at six. Go down there and welcome your visitors."

"Okay."

"Also, don't end the call. We're here to party."

That's when I noticed what they were wearing. Rose was on her long sleeves tucked inside her high waisted denim shorts. Andy wore a black top and cargo pants. Behind them was a party light. They showed what's on the table—paper cups and liquors. On the wall said a birthday greeting.

"In the count of three," said Rose. I stopped just when I was about to go downstairs. "One, two, three!"

"Happy birthday, Seah!"

I covered my mouth, shock in their surprise. Together with my two best friends were my former classmates and other friends. Full of enthusiasm as they threw cut papers in the airs. The loud noise in the background hyped them. The camera went back to my girls.

"Oh my gosh!" I wiped my eyes carefully to avoid messing my make up. "You surprised me! I didn't think..."

"Of course, you wouldn't know, that's why it was a surprise," answered Andy. She drank a beer straight from the can and tossed it somewhere. "Happy birthday, loves."

"Thank you." I was getting emotional, but they just laughed at my reaction. "I really didn't expect it."

"Don't cry, babe. You still have a party, so show your freaking arse down there before people think that the birthday girl is nowhere to be found on her special day." I nodded. "And don't end the call. Click the back camera, and tell us if you met the guy you were referring to."

"At the end of the day, it's still flirting that's in your mind," Andy murmured. I giggled. I plugged my ear buds onto my ears.

My eyes looked around our living room. People from our neighborhood were gathered. This was for a semi-formal party. In the backyard, as far as I know, where our pool is located, will be for the pool party later. I felt nervous. All of them, elders and teenagers, were looking at me. My palms were sweating.

As I took the last step of the stairs, they all screamed, "Happy birthday!"

I smiled and thanked them. They led me to the table. A cake was resting.

"Make a wish before blowing the candle."

I closed my eyes.

I hope, everything will be alright for mom and for me. Her health, my friends, my life as a student.

When I opened my eyes, just when I was about to blow the light of the candle, the doorbell rang.

Someone held the doorknob to open the door. She went back with a box of what I presume was cake in her hand. Then, the door swung open, and Seth entered.

"Let's open that later," mom said. I blew the candle and the party started.

It was one of the best days of my life.

"Girl! Where is he?"

I remembered my friends. I clicked the back camera. From the distance, I saw him standing at the end of the staircase. I walked towards him and asked about the party.

"Great," he uttered. "Though I expected it to be... you know."

My brow rose. "Wild?"

"Yeah?" He chuckled. "Because you're a city girl."

Rose was already screaming in my ears. I clicked the front camera and showed him how my party in the other place looked like.

"What do you think about this?"

Rose was still screaming. I bet she covered her mouth, embarrassed to see the guy I was talking about earlier.

My friends were dancing wildly on the other line. I heard some cheering. I bet they were doing ball pong or body shot.

"Wow."

I smirked. My gaze dropped down on the table of drinks, and my hand tried to reach for one. He stopped me.

"I am warning you, Elysea."

It halted me, yet it did not stop me from drinking the liquid. I quickly vomit after tasting its horribleness. “That was a shit.”

He laughed. “I warned you.”

“How did you know my name?”

“Everybody knows the name of the new beautiful lady in the village.” I blushed. “I am Seth.”

“Do you want to eat?” I asked. I guided him to the table. The first cake was already finished. It’s time to eat the second one. I grabbed the scissor and cut the ribbon. Slowly, I lifted the lid of the box. It was as if Seth’s words echoed in my ears.

“I warned you.”

My high pitched scream disturbed everyone in the living room. It caught the attention of the party people in the backyard. They rushed inside, and we were all terrified to see what was inside the box of what I thought was cake.

It was a skull covered with leaves and worms.

#