Thirteenth of The Blue

II

WAKING FROM THAT DREAM, Geiki found it hard to get back to his sleep. He spent hours staring at the ceiling of his bright room. He preferred his den well lit. The darkness is affecting him like he was being choked by an unknown force and being enclosed tight by unseen moving walls. But the light did not help at all; it kept him awake until morning.

He got a class at 7:30 AM, but he went down to the kitchen at 7 AM catching, his mother preparing breakfast. "I smell onions and eggs," his voice, a low one with the unique effect of a ground glass and somewhat accompanied by frost. "I also guess fried rice is in the house." Then pulled one of the four chairs around the round glass table and settled down.

"Breakfast is simple enough this morning, my prince," his mother uttered laying a plate at his front before giving him a kiss on the forehead. A few dashes, and on the plate were two cups of fried rice, omelet and a slice of toasted bread. "A few seconds pork chops will be served too."

Geiki just eyed her as she went back to the stove to attend on her cooking. Mary, his mother, never seemed to had aged a day since he can remember. Long straight black hairs, white complexion, a great body shape belonging to those who has not yet born a child, a tall built, and a face which was seemed to be borrowed from the angels. She was a single mother and raised Geiki alone since his father died days after his birth. She was also an exclusive owner of a textile company.

"Nah, I am in a rush," he said as he begin spooning the food, flatting the hills of beckoning rice but never wanting to taste it any sooner. He played on the food, slicing the omelet to pieces while scattering the rice over the plate then tries to build a heap of it again the way a child might play on sand. He was lost in deep thought but he fought hard to shake whatever that is bothering him and jumped back to reality.

"Because you have a class at 7:30 and you are running late," his mother shaking her head, but not mad at all."And what is the reason this time?" She is placing a well toasted slice of pork on his plate just when Geiki officially started to dine. She noticed the omelet in pieces and the rice scattered about the plate like it was stomped by a boot.

"The egg is great!" He tried to change to subject as if it is his first time to eat one.

"The answer, please," Mary laying down a plate with her own food across Geiki, a smile awaits to cross her face. He knew Geiki well, and had always kept a good eye on him as he grew up. His son has this peculiar attitude, good and bad in a well balanced equation in one body. A fire that could either be a friend or foe.

"I decided I want to enter the class a little late this time." Then there was a pause as her mother rose from the table, then he came attacking again. "Do I know myself well, mother?"

"Where did that question came from?" Mary asked picking up a spoon from a nearby tray.

"Before my birthday," Geiki's voice has this trembling effect as if accompanied by drum rolls that sends chill to his mother's spine. "I always dream of angels... and a demon calling me brother, and every year the details are getting clearer. It is only this dawn that I realized they were angels and demons, yet cannot see their faces. And someone called me, Arkinobar."

Mary may have felt that a car crashed against her chest and down came the spoon from her hands, her body in a mild shake. And before even Geiki could notice, she picked it up and chose another one from a nearby shelf.

"It is just another dream, son," Mary sitting down yet Geiki traces uneasiness from her. "There won't be any connection of it to your real life. There mustn't." The last two words were merely whispers that seem to fade towards eternity.

"It was just dream," but there was uncertainty in the wake of his voice.

"Eat your food," Mary dodging the issue. "You have to catch that class."

"Yep," Geiki casting a silly smile and Mary knew that something crazy is boiling in his son's mind. "Because I am not attending any tomorrow."

"And why is that?" Mary forcing back a smile. Deep down her heart, it felt like a thorn that causes too much pain has been pulled free. The topic had changed and she felt better.

"Ma," Geiki went along the game his mother is playing. Everyone close to Geiki knows nothing can make him attend classes during his birthday. It is a self-proclaimed national holiday.

"Yes, I know it is your birthday, but it is not a holiday. You or we can celebrate at night."

"I am going out with Leigh, ma."

Since childhood, any activity that involves Leigh never received a no for an answer. Geiki loved it that way while Mary cannot explain why she trusts nothing will go wrong when the young lady, that was already treated a family member, is around his son. There are few occasions Leigh had taken well of Geiki. She had saved him from drowning when they were kids and had pulled him out of brawls on their early teenage years. She can now even imagine the two as a happily-wedded couple giving her grandchildren that will run around like a couple of Geikis or a young copy of Leigh sitting on her lap while listening to some kiddy stories.

"You know well how to drive me," Mary finally approved with a smile that may be envied by Hollywood stars.