Stars appeared to meet the eyes and elevate both head and heart to the heavens. Nights of the richest blues that fade to the purest darkness touch heaven's eyes so tenderly, the ones that sparkle so brightly. There was a star in every direction; if someone were to soar into the universe, any path would be the proper way. Kenneth inclined his head, staring skyward, his eyes wider than they could be in the middle of the day, not looking at a single star, but seeing them all at once. Above, he beheld a serenade of heaven's darkness backing stars.
They were almost at Kenneth's residence, which would they arrive half a kilometer away. The car's flag flew furiously in the wind. It was adorable in the city, however, on the freeway, it swung so fast and loudly that Kenneth pondered if it would break free from the pole. The wind pressed on the vehicle, but it had little effect. Nothing short of a divine event could derail their progress. The tires hissed monotonously across the rain-soaked roadway, and the air that passed through the filters was meadow-sweet. Fields could be seen all about through the tinted windows.
"I guess you will be absent later at school,” Travis said, breaking the silence, ”Me as well. I will be absent in the afternoon also." He gripped his hand on the steering wheel and then turned to the right road. "You have to worry no more about your conduct grade in school, you know. Once there's a teacher that will attend in the classroom within several executive days, the class will be free and will be in the teacher's hands directly. That means the school is no longer authorizing you, but the teacher only. The school was just playing with you, and then the problem was you played along as well. They underestimated you thinking that the class would have no teacher in the future. But don't worry, I will make sure all of you will face proper justice. And I will make you go to your dream school."
The car drove along the highway, lights on full beam, oblivious to the rain. Kenneth saw how the discolored but bright light danced in the raindrops, revealing the outpouring, the torrent from the sky, in seemingly lonely drips. Sighing, Kenneth rolled his eyes, looking at Travis, "What do you mean? You're just a mere teacher. How could you be in more power than the school itself?"
The school became dreadful to the Class 11-5 two years ago. Because the school had complete control over this class, the students began to fear their brutality. However, the class had no clue that the other students in the school had become terrified of them. Since the school's administration lifted the prejudice against this class, they went to whatever length to ensure that the class would be put to no justice. As a result, the students in Class 11-5 were driven to become wary of the school officials, forcing them to participate in certain misdeeds.
"It's because I know the CEO of the company, the one handling your school," Travis responded. The CEO and the Headman — their organizations' disagreement had yet to be resolved. Travis, as the Headman, should be held accountable for what an Elite had done wrong. To punish this Elite, he needed to acquire all of the required information about him, as well as his underground organizations and employees. Many people had died as a result of the terrible intentions of the first, third, and fifth Elite. With so many lives sacrificed on the line, the Elites deserved harsh punishment, as must the Headman, who was liable to account as the head.
"Wow," Kenneth expressed, showing no facial expression aside from being all plain, "— so you gave him money and had a deal with him? Was that it?" He was being pedantic.
Fortunately, Travis did nothing to react to it and replied, "No, dear. Our meeting was all a coincidence."
The droplets allowed the moonlight to pass through them and reflect it back, but on this rainy midnight, the thoughts ran wild. The landscape would be as starlit as the dark skies if one could glimpse the light of the heart. The town, like the skies, was an exquisite melody of dark and a bright light came dusk. Raindrops arrived to leave the blacktop pavement with a million silvery crowns. Kenneth yawned as he felt woozy. Travis glimpsed him and became concerned.
"Don't push yourself too hard, love. You're exhausted and appeared to be on the verge of collapsing. Please take care of yourself." He knew his student must have been exhausted after what they had all done in class yesterday, the training and stuff, him studying and prepping, and their midnight journey. Despite Kenneth's hostile and crabbed demeanor, Travis understood every motive he had for being such.
Kenneth breathed out the words, "As if I would," and sighed.
"Yes! You should, honey!"
"Well, whatever." Kenneth shifted to the seat's back corner, behind the passenger's seat, and set down to close his eyes as if napping.
They were at ease while driving in the rain, from the melody of each moisture linked to the nature that had become vivid art. Travis pressed a button near the steering shaft to make the situation more pleasant, and he started playing jazz classical music produced in the inside speakers. It was tranquil. The abundant rain on the blacktop road brought back thoughts of snap oversteer and the importance of careful driving.
The road stretched on, embracing the terrain and adopting each bend with ease. The roadway was embossed concrete in a grey with a blue accent. As such, it was always immaculate and neat, with holly trees growing on either border. The road was like a smooth black river, with wheels that glide smoothly along. As the limo car moved steadily along, the vista took on a pensive air, the moonlight illuminating the colors of each tree and dwelling.
The car wheels screeched minutes after going through the park near Kenneth's house, and it came to a complete halt at their destination. Travis' attention was drawn to the shifting landscape, so this was his student's house. Kenneth had already awoken, wiping his eyes as he realized they were now out in front of his home.
Kenneth shook his head and stepped outside the car, closing the door without saying anything to Travis. The money was hidden under his shirt, which he intentionally kept under to prevent getting wet in the rain. He dashed into his house, one hand over his head to avoid getting drenched from the rain. The jacket he was wearing wasn't helping, so he used it for the money rather than to protect himself from the rain.
"Take care, dear!" Travis shouted, his hand beside his mouth to have the words utter louder. Unfortunately, Kenneth wasn't able to hear his words because of the heavy rain. Luckily, Travis stopped the car almost near their house so Kenneth really didn't catch too much rainfall.
Through the front door, Kenneth entered his house but without a second, he discovered his elder brother, Kent, nervously seated at the bottom of their stairs (which was near the entrance door). His legs were plainly trembling, and his hands were stuck to each other as though praying. He was sweating and his mouth continued pumping out air. He was quite anxious about Kenneth arriving late. He was worried.
As he caught Kenneth gazing at him at the entrance, Kent sprang up and sprinted after his soaking wet younger brother. "Y-You're far too late, Ken. D-Did something happen?" He clutched Kenneth's face as if unconcerned with the damp on him, till he gripped his shoulders and shook them off until he nearly fainted from how cold Kenneth became. "What happened?" He was relieved that his younger brother was still alive. He was able to touch him, indicating that he was not dead.
Kenneth kept a straight face and looked annoyed as to what his brother had just done to him. "Nothing." Hardly glaring, he shoved Kent's hands off of him, turned to the left, and strode upstairs. The floor was stained with water from his footprints, but Kent didn't bother, but rather followed his brother upstairs. Gripping the doorknob of his room, Kenneth came to a halt after not noticing his father's existence somewhere, despite him arriving home late.
"Oh, dad is now asleep," Kent voiced as if he knew what Kenneth had meant.
"That's strange," Kenneth thought, glancing at the doorknob he was grabbing, "I had no idea he slept first without checking on me. This is the first time and it's strange. Father's not acting like usual."
Kent continued striding upstairs to catch up with his brother. "I didn't sleep yet since I'm so worried sick about you." He looked at his brother worriedly and Kenneth glimpsed at him as well. "You're not hurt, right?"
Staring at his older brother's eyes, Kenneth profoundly pondered, "Maybe this idiot put sleeping pills on his coffee? The time before I went out was the moment I saw my father going inside his room. So that means that was the time he felt sleepy? Hmm. Makes sense. Usually, he would scold me for stepping outside my room. Now that I think about it, Kent handed me juice and bread before too." Kenneth looked down to his feet to check if the tray of bread and juice was still in there, but he discovered nothing, so he glanced back at his brother again with a dubious face, "Did Kent want me to put in deep sleep? Was that the same thing he did to father today — that's why he's not up this time? I mean, Kent always leaves food at my door, which wasn't really that suspicious. But how father acted today was suspicious to me. Fuck. I don't understand."
After quickly pushing the doorknob to open the door, Kenneth spoke, "Yeah," and slammed the door shut right on his older brother's face.
"O-Oh I guess, you're sleepy now," Kent stated, worried still, "Goodnight!"