CHAPTER 1;
AND SO, THE STORY BEGINS
"Do we have to move again, mom?" I groaned for the millionth time this past week.
The moment I heard that my mother was promoted, I knew that we'd be moving closer to HQ. 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGduxVdtVJ
I can't be happier for her but that requires yet another move- the second one this year.
"Yes, love. We gotta move ASAP. They are expecting me to show up in two weeks." Her voice was void of emotions.
I knew that she was trying to hide her very angry displeasure with the situation in such a method. When I was younger I thought that she was angry at me every single time her expressions turned stiff and her voice robotic and void but later, I found that that was not the case at all, and she was just trying to not worry me or make me anxious- that didn't exactly work out well.
The pressure was above the clouds for this woman. I don't exactly know what she is doing for a living but this job takes my mother away from me- I rarely see her home.
I see her so rarely that I learned how to cook on my own, it had been decided that I am in charge of preparing our meals now as well, and how to properly take care of a two-story house.
I am the housewife while she is the hard-working husband who returns home late for suspicious reasons.
"But we just got here! And what about school? This is my last year of High-School." I finally managed to make some friends and get adjusted, only to move away again.
Mother dropped whatever she was doing- stuffing the boxes with the things that we definitely won't be needing for the next few days, among a few other things- her A.D.H.D self is screaming when she is nervous, then wrapped me in a tight hug.
Kissing my forehead, she brought me even closer- crushing my bones.
"M-mom... Hurts..!" She immediately released me from her inhuman hold but kept her arms around me.
"I am sorry." She mumbled. "-I know it's hard. I know this household had seen better days but you know that I don't have a say in this. The HQ wants me to start as soon as possible- on the brighter note, they will pay for everything."
"What do you mean?"
"Our living expenses, your school. They'd even get us a car. They managed all our paperwork and you'll attend school in the city." All for the price of working for them?
This situation is more suspicious than a cheating husband who returns late home every day.
"Mom..." I looked at her like she was out of her mind. How can she trust people so easily? What if it was a scam and we- she- was played with? Made a fool out of for believing that she could obtain riches that she never had the luxury of having?
If my mother would have let me have a job, I'd be confident enough to say that I'd manage us both but that is not the case.
"I know that look... Listen well, son- Life gives you opportunities, even if they are difficult to believe. Most unbelievable opportunities get you thinking: 'Uh, this is too easy and simple, there has to be a catch...'- Yes love, some things come that easy so can you please trust me?" Looking into her eyes, there was not even a shred of doubt in them, I nodded.
"I never said I didn't trust you. I just don't trust those people."
"What people?"
"The ones that rarely let your return home," I mumbled. The sudden overwhelming feeling of sadness rushes over me. A tightness bubbled in my throat, one that made it difficult to swallow, knowing that if I lose even an ounce of self-control- I'd start bawling my eyes out.
I have been in such a strange mood lately. Things that never bothered me before, definitely bother me now. Things that have never made me cry before, now can easily make me depressed and huddle in a dark corner for a week.
Mother pinched my cheeks painfully and cooed. "Is that the reason for this doubt? You should have said so earlier, love. You know I'd do anything for you. If you want me to return home more often, I'd do the best to my capabilities to return home every few days."
The fact that I have no idea what is her occupation makes it ten times scarier. What if one day she doesn't return? 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBrbKE3lFu
I felt tears prick at the corner of my eyes.
Mother cupped my cheeks with her soft and warm palms as she scanned my eyes with a very worried expression.
"What has gotten into you lately?" I felt the puddles of water grow as my vision blurred. "-Come here, love." She gently wrapped me in her arms again.
"Wanna talk about it?" Mother whispered gently as I quietly cried into her shoulder. I shook my head. The embarrassment of a soon-to-be nineteen years old crying on his mother's shoulders slowly settled in the center of my heart.
How can I talk about a phenomenon that I don't know the explanation to? How am I supposed to explain these sudden urges and feelings when I, myself, don't know what they are and where they come from.
Am I sexually flustered? Or is this depression season? Maybe my hormones are playing tricks on me.
It took only a few minutes for this mood to disappear into thin air, and mother stayed by my side this entire time.
I am never letting this lady disappear from my life.
"Are you Ok? Need anything?" She mumbled, still hugging me close. Shaking my head, I wiped my running nose on her shirt. "-Hey!"
In hopes that I have lightened the mood, I laughed and rushed to my room before she could catch me. I locked the door before breathing a sigh of relief.
"Are you sure that you are ok, love?" Her soft voice was muffled due to the door between us.
"Yeah, mom. I am good."
"Scream if you need anything... We are leaving in two days."
"Got it." And so our long and emotional rollercoaster had died down until dinner.
<---- DINNER ---->
"Love, dinner's ready!" My eyes flutter open. When have I fallen asleep?
I sprung from my bed in horror. If it's dinner time and I have been asleep then who prepared the food?!
I rushed out of bed before running to the dining area. A table big enough for four was situated in the middle of the small kitchenette as my mother carefully prepared the first course onto our plates. The second course seemed to be cooking in the oven.
I don't see fires, the house and kitchen were still pieced together and the soup seemed to be smelling of its appropriate ingredients and herbs.
"Why are you looking around like that? Were you expecting an explosion?" She caught my attention so my eyes drifted to her hands- two plates of warm soup adored her palms as she set them down.
"I remember your cooking and it was hideous. It was so bad, I couldn't sleep for two nights because my stomach was digesting your abominations for that long."
She gasped before crossing her arms in her chest, faking hurt. "For your information, I never got to experience the calming luxury of cooking back then, until I saw how quickly my absence made you grow up." That shut my mouth.
Most of our discussions end up serious and deep. That's how it's been with my mother. Can't hide anything from her and in return she makes you shut up and question your traumatizing experiences throughout your childhood.
She is a very good listener, one that gives amazing advice but speaks her mind without remorse.
That's a Scorpio for you, alright. 109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi6HFG9C0O
An undetectable small smile lifts on my lips.
Uh, I thought- already making plans for later- after dinner, I am going to be depressed and huddle in a corner crying for the next few days or at least until we leave.
"Oh boy, I didn't mean it like that, love..." Her voice softened. "-Before the food grows cold, let us enjoy it, hmm?" She quickly changed topics. I nodded.
"Yeah, I am starving." I chuckled. Food is a good enough distraction.
"I'd be worried if you wouldn't." She laughed. "Uh, a mail arrived for you." Mother handed me the envelope.
I pulled the letter out of its confines and the first thing that caught my eyes was a weird-looking logo with bold letters underneath it that said;
THE PHEONIX ACADEMY
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T O B E C O N T I N U E D
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