"Ezekiel, wait for me!" She half-shouted. "I'll surely get your ears if I catch you!" She began running before me, and I did run faster.
After a few moments, I reached Kate and Kiko. They were holding each other's hands, which made me curious if there was something between them. I know that Kiko didn't want to tell Kate about how he felt about her, but sometimes the air blows inversely.
"Hey, why are you holding each other's hands?" I asked while removing their hands from each other, but they were glued to each other, and I couldn't remove them. They did it by themselves.
"Do I think rightly that you have a relationship?"
"Dude, you're not right, but you're not wrong either," Kiko replied.
"Yes, Kiko and I have a relationship, but not as what you thought. We're just friends, and you're also our friend," Chocokate added.
"Can you stop pretending that you don't have a relationship? It can be seen clearly. You can't make a monkey out of me, because I've known you both for a long time."
I felt someone's presence beside me. It was not someone else, but Liza, who'd also listened to our conversation.
"Ezekiel is always right. You both have a relationship, unlike your friend, who doesn't want to admit that he had a crush on me, right, Kiko?" Liza asked, which made me feel a little bit ashamed.
"Oh! Liza, how did you know?" The two simultaneously asked.
"Dude, don't be mad at me, because it wasn't me who told Liza about that thing, and probably not Kate, because we're always with each other since you were with each other too," Kiko said.
"Kiel, don't believe Kiko. He was the one who told me about your feelings, and there weren't any other people who knew about it except for him, so he might just be lying to you," Liza told me.
This is the part that I didn't want to enter. I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea of thinking about who told the truth between Liza and Kiko, so I just continued walking and went first before them. After a few moments of thinking, I arrived at my house.
As I opened the door of my house, I saw Magdalene, who was sitting on the couch. She seemed to be waiting for someone, and I knew that it wasn't me but my father. I tried to be calm and put it in my mind to mind my own business and perhaps to think that the world is huge, but I couldn't really do that, because it's just making me more narrow-minded, thinking I shouldn't think about them.
I went near the couch while Magdalene was just staring right at my face, and I'm to her. My hand was shaking as I touched her stomach, which is getting bigger every day. Someone is kicking my hands just like it's so mad at me, and I know why.
"Do you want to listen to him?" Magdalene asked and opened her loose shirt. I saw her white skin on her abdomen, which was almost shining from being expanded by my secret son.
"Just consider him your younger brother so that you'll forget everything that has happened in the past. By the way, what name do you want to give him?" Magdalene asked.
"Elliott!" someone exclaimed after the door opened. It was no one but Edward, who seemed to be in haste. I currently realize that the duty of a father isn't as easy as I thought before.
"Oh! Love, you're home. Elliott is a nice name," Magdalene said and immediately lowered her shirt.
I stood up while my father went towards her. He lowered his knees and listened to Elliott's silent guffaws. It made me envious, but for my sake, I didn't mind them. Instead, I got inside my bedroom. I locked the door and got naked to change my clothes. With a little touch to my tool, to find some solace from life's boredom.
What the heck? Stop, stop remembering those rides, because that's already happened, and the one who could turn back the clock isn't even born yet. Whatever I do, I won't be able to undo what I've done wrong in the past, so I'd better enjoy life, as my mother advised.
Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence, my father would lift me high, but he can't do it anymore. He dances with my stepmother and my son. Then spin him around until he falls asleep. Then up the stairs he will carry him, and he'll be loved.
That song will always make my tears drip, but I will prevent them from falling. My tears are falling down with some Versace on the floor. So I'll just put on my clothes and open the door, because my son doesn't need me anymore.
It's not so easy for me to forget what happened between me and my stepmother, especially since we are just staying under one roof. But although I was hurt, I chose to fight rather than fight them.
Magdalene and Edward aren't here in the living room anymore. If I'm not wrong, they're in the dining room, eating their dinner, although it's still early. I don't know what could happen to Elliott because of their practices. I can't forgive myself if he was born in poor health.
The upholstered couch pressed down as I sat on it. The remote was a surprise when I got it. The television woke up as I turned it on. Hell on Earth is a thing that was exposed on the television screen. Many people were missing, not only in the other parts of Sequijor but also in Cordillera village, where we currently reside.
The situation is getting worse. Previously, it was just troubles that appeared, but these days, rumors about invisible people are spreading. They're believed to be the culprits behind people's disappearances.
It's not so scary after all. Only cowards would prefer not to get out at night, but I'll still get out of my house at any time, even in the middle of the night when there's no moon, and if there's someone who'll get me, like a sexy ghost, I'll choose to go with it.
Don't think that I'll just be going with a ghost if she's sexy, because I absolutely like to be surrounded by those scary ghosts. Before, I was afraid of seeing dead people hanging on the ceiling, crucified through the trunk of a tree, showered with dark red blood, etcetera.
Someone suddenly entered the living room. "Oh! Don't you want to eat your dinner?" Edward asked. He's using the toothpick to remove the bits of food lodged between his teeth.
"Dad, I can feed myself if I want to eat. Don't mind me because I'm not a baby anymore, but Elliott, my brother, may be born in poor health if you're not taking care of him," I replied.
Edward got the broken mirror from the shelf and complimented it. "You're such a good brother, son." He turned around and faced me. "So, how's school?" He asked while picking something from his teeth.
I smell the foul air and the weirdness of my father's question. He hadn't asked me like this before. Is he now concerned about my studies? Don't worry, Dad, I'm not the same as those students reading this who chose to hang up rather than answer their activities in school.
My father would be proud of me, so I just simply said, "Fine."
"Uh, when is your semester break?" Edward asked.
"My adviser told us next week, why, Dad?" I replied.
"Will you spend time with your brother? I'll be having a lot of work next week, so I hope that you can watch for your stepmother."
The remote in my hand fell to the floor. I didn't know what to say to my father. It's just okay for me to watch my stepmother for my son, but not to watch my son for my stepmother. I sighed because I couldn't hang out with my friends next week. However, I can't refuse to help my father with his responsibilities in our family.
"So, what's your take? Will you watch your mother, Magdalene, or do you want me to hire someone to watch her?" Edward asked.
"No-no, you don't need to hire someone; that's just a waste of money. I can watch my stepmother and my younger brother. Just leave them to me if you want. I'm of age; I know how to take care of them," I said, then got the remote off the floor and turned off the television.
"Thanks, son. Don't worry, I'll pay you for taking care of them."
He didn't receive a reply from me. I stood up, turned, and went inside the dining room. Honestly, I'm not accepting any money from my father because he's sometimes boastful about using that help to mock me and make me do work, but if he insists, then I'll accept it.
Magdalene is sitting on the chair beside the long table. She's looking at me with those eyes that sparkle with unpredictable things. Perhaps she's worried that I can't take care of them. I continued walking and sat down in my favorite seat.
"You don't need to bother yourself, Ezekiel. I can take care of myself if Edward isn't here. I know that you'll be going somewhere too, but don't worry. I'll convince your father—" Magdalene said.
I don't know how she knew that I didn't really want to stay here next week, especially since I have a racket to earn money for college. I'm thinking too far in advance again, but no one doesn't have a plan for their future. It's better to prepare for the future than to go woolgathering.
"No—I can excuse some paranormal activity for my brother. Those things can wait whenever I'll go for it," I insisted, but hesitantly.
"Son, please don't bother yourself anymore. You're always doing something for us even though you don't really have to. So please don't insist on helping us, especially if you don't really like to." Magdalene stood up and got the empty plate from the table. She continued walking towards the sink and put it there.
I heard her light and slow footsteps, which were going out of the dining room. I didn't mind her. I know that she'll find a way to get me out of their duties. I seemed to be a drunkard who didn't know what to do with that big, fat girl. It's still early, and there'll be many things that may happen before our semester break.
After I engulfed my dinner, I washed the dishes by myself. I don't want to bother them anymore. Magdalene is tired of carrying my son. She must rest before doing household chores. A few moments elapsed, and I found myself lying on my bed, and someone was calling me again.
"Ezekiel! Ezekiel!" A girl's voice called my name several times.
I searched for where the voice came from; above the ceiling? Though I'm scared that someone is hanging there. No one. Below my bed? In spite of being afraid, no one but a white sock hops. Lying beside me? No, it's just a long, lonely bolster. Inside the closet? The cabinet? Goddammit. She might be in the toilet bowl.
"Ezekiel!" The voice sounds close. "I'm here!"