Wow… This story only has one more chapter to go before it's finished. I hope you all enjoy this one as I hope you have the others. Thank you for all of your love and support. Feel free to leave a review and happy reading! ^^
Chapter Twenty-Five: Mend
Months have gone by, meaning my Sophomore year is well underway. Our break went by quicker than those before but life still found a way to cram a crap-ton into the time.
I live with Kai in the mansion. It was devoid of any homely feel, but we soon fixed that by cleaning and hosting a Welcome Home party for the free man. Agatha's aunt guided him inside because it was night out, and I thought he was going to faint when he laid eyes on all of us. From old teammates to childhood friends, and then us, that massive front room was packed.
Once congratulations were given, Lionel decided to finally present what we'd all been waiting for, and as we half-expected Kai cried the moment he saw the moolah. It touched his heart in many ways. I don't think he ever expected such kindness from anyone, let alone a former student. I say former because Lionel dropped out of school. He only had a semester left before graduation, but he felt he had more important priorities than his education. While I believe one should finish school, sometimes it isn't what works for them.
I took some time off of work and school for the big move. The adjustment hasn't been easy, no big change is, but Kai and I are making do. We spent the off-time fully learning each other while settling into some type of routine.
Kai and I are early risers and enjoy our coffee with the news. Papa stops by every afternoon to check in as well as offer some help to the newly mobile Kai. He uses a cane to get around but I expect that will be tossed to one side by Winter.
Agatha is living on the other side of the city with her aunt Julia in a fancy apartment. This means papa resides in an empty nest now.
It's early on a Monday morning in September, around five o'clock. Kai and I are getting ready for the day, a drizzle drifting through the area. More rain is expected to fall in heavier batches later.
I straighten the red tie encircling my neck and white button-up, the bright overhead lights of my en suite bathroom making an easier job of it. I finish up and proceed to grab my bags before leaving my huge bedroom. It's twice the size of my old one so there's still a lot of space left to fill.
Coming down the polished staircase, I look ahead at the heavy, real wood double doors beyond the foyer to see an oddly sleep-deprived Kai waiting patiently with his suitcases, walking stick, and two dark blue umbrellas that seem brand new.
We drive ourselves to the school, Kai in front of me, but we park in our designated spaces. While he heads inside to get ready for his first day back, I take a nap in my car.
In two hours, I'm bolted awake in fright by my car starting. I then grimace upon realizing what's happened. I got my car upgraded before the move and have some new features, including but not limited to, Remote Starting and a censor-activated trunk and hood. Why did I have to give Kai the spare 'remote start' key? I hope I'm wrong but something inside is telling me he might abuse that button.
Still questioning my decision-making skills, I get out of my car, shut it off before locking it and lug myself into the building with my stuff. As funny as Kai may find this, I'm far from amused. (Not that I won't appreciate the gesture later, I'm just being a grinch at the moment.)
Stepping into the gymnasium, I spot someone I dare not be around for threat of murder charges… Emmitt is back and appears to be getting his new uniform from our Physical Education teacher.
The taller teen turns away with his packaged uniform and not a minute later makes eye contact with me.
"Can I help you?" Emmitt says in the fakest nice-guy voice I've ever heard, that false but still creepy smile on his face.
Leaning one shoulder on the open doorframe, I say, "Yeah. Leave my girlfriend alone,"
Emmitt smirks smugly before audibly scoffing, making it clear he hasn't learned even a smidge of his lesson. "A high school boyfriend isn't a husband, he's an obstacle,"
"No, he's a war-zone, and if you don't watch where you step, you'll set off a bomb,"
I then move away from the doors and walk away. Turning back to him, I say confidently, "Remember my promise and tread carefully,"
Emmitt, now riled, opens his mouth to say something but is stopped by the blow of our coach's whistle. In mere minutes, class is underway and the game of the day is dodgeball, of which I am very competitive. Luckily for me, the redheaded butthole isn't on my team, so he's getting an "accidental" bruise. Hey, legally, I can only get away with so much.
The day is done, and I'm finally able to poke my head into Kai's class to check on him while Agatha is catching up with Makoto and Lin. Rachel is staying behind to try out for a part in a Shakespearian dramedy called, The Absence Of A Cello.
Peeking in through the small crack in Kai's door, I spy Emmitt talking with him and hear something about being moved to a different seat, one closer to the board. When Kai inquires why Emmitt brushes his combed-over bangs aside and shows the shiner I gave him. Given all the kids getting hit, it looked like any other in-game casualty.
Kai looks at it in suspicion before pointing to the desk at his right and saying that Emmitt can sit there until his eye heals. I duck out of the way when Emmitt leaves, stepping into the room after.
"I'm guessing you've had people fake injuries for sympathy?" I ask as I enter, leaving the door ajar.
"That was a private matter," Kai informs me, "And no. No one's ever tried to fake bruises in front of me. They knew I wouldn't fall for that crap,"
Going behind his desk to gather his things, Kai glimpses at me and asks, "How was your day?"
"Ordinary. Yours?"
"Exhausting but fine. Got questions about my wounds, if I was doing okay today, and what I was going to do with the money,"
"What'd you tell'em all?"
"Reluctantly, I told them It hurts, I'm still healing, and trying to rebuild my life,"
"Nice of you to answer them,"
"I guess," he says, sounding rather irritated by it.
I ignore it and help him gather his things before we head home. Through my car's speakers, I chat, rather one-sidedly, over what we should have for dinner. In the end, he agreed to some convenience store takeaways.
I learned from the party that Kai isn't one for eating a lot as of late so papa tries to make sure he shoves something in at least once a day. I'm hoping that will change with time. Alas, my gut knots with the impression that things will probably get worse for him before turning toward better. I'm praying my gut is wrong.
By October, the weather has become gloomier, cooled significantly, and presently it seems to rain almost every day. The seasonal shift doesn't help with the frequent mood swings and sleep deprivation Kai has been enduring.
I knew he wasn't eating much if any at all unless made and was hardly sleeping but it seems to have amped up. He's now starting to jump at any sudden, loud noise. Particularly, lockers and doors slamming.
Most of the students who noticed the drastic change in his character have done their best to keep others informed and his classes as calm as possible, but they can only do so much.
One day, during my lunch break, I choose to do some research in the library on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and soon see that Kai checks some of the list.
Insomnia, Weight loss or weight gain (it can fluctuate), Night terrors, Staring off into space, Random fits of rage or bouts of sadness, Moodiness, Migraines (usually from compounding stress), Dread of loud or sudden noises, Being left alone (most commonly found in females), Forgetfulness, Lack of emotions or little emotional control, Impulsiveness (binge drinking, smoking, eating, etc,…), Phantom pains of the afflicted areas, Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Reluctance to go out, particularly where the event occurred, or if there is a crowd, Saying they hear things when nothing is going on, Avoiding any sort of media related to the trauma.
I screenshot the symptoms list and save it to review later, and once the bell rings I head to my next class. (Rachel decided to take Agatha today.)
She's getting better at mapping in her head, recounting her steps if turned around and telling places apart by one thing or another (think posters or the oddly decorated door). Come next month she may not need a guide of any sort anymore.
Walking the empty halls, I spot Kai talking to a substitute teacher, exclaiming that he'll be back in a day or two, and the kids know to listen to whoever sits behind that desk. (Whether they will or not is another thing entirely.)
The second the substitute heads inside I make a b-line for Kai and rapidly ask what's going on.
Kai informs me that he collapsed from a splitting migraine in the middle of quizzing his third period, and was advised by the nurse to go home if it happened again. Thankfully, no one was around when he collapsed the second time.
"Do you want me to drive you home? I can get my car towed later,"
Kai ruffles my hair affectionately before saying softly, "Much appreciated, but you need your education. I'll be fine,"
I'm left by myself after that and finish my day despite the inability to concentrate on anything else but him. He's trying to play it cool, but I can tell he's not doing well and that terrifies me.
A week after Kai's collapses, he makes a doctor appointment. He's soon put on some powerful pain killers as well as stabilizers for the day and two relaxants to take at night.
Upon seeing the two paper bags atop the unused bar by the kitchen, I do some digging and discover that they aren't particularly addictive pills but every person handles prescriptions differently. Hopefully, Kai will be like papa and have little to no issues.
Yes, papa is on lifelong medicines too but those are merely for pain and immune support. If he doesn't watch his health though, he'll have to add diabetic medication to the mix.
My eyes gradually flutter open to the glow on my nightstand, the date of October 18th greeting me. While the sudden burst of light always makes me squint, I can still read the large text on my tablet's good-sized screen.
Giving the screen another read, I jolt upright and bolt out of bed.
"Oh shit, I'm a dead man,"
In a panic, I throw my covers to one side and proceed to zip around my bedroom for the necessary uniform and bags. How did I sleep in until 10AM on a school day? My alarm is so loud it wakes Kai up?!
Skidding to a stop outside my shower, I think with a start… Wait, why didn't Kai wake me up?
Forgoing that thought, I freshen myself up in record time and dash for the door once done.
Catching sight of something, I freeze mid-run and stand there in stunned silence.
"Hey," indifferently says my older reflection from the couch, a mug of steaming coffee in his ghostly pale hand.
"Hey?!" I repeat rather heatedly, "The day's nearly half gone and all you can say is hey? Shouldn't we be speeding off?! What happened to 'needing my education'… Why aren't you more upset about this?!"
In the time it takes for me to catch my breath, I notice the still stone-faced Kai point his thumb to the kitchen and I groan before heading in.
Reaching for a cup in the cupboard, a party blower gets blasted into my ears. I clutch my ears and holler in protest as the cup shatters at my feet.
Gathering what remains of my nerves, I turn to shoot daggers at the colorful paper horn, only to become bewildered. What is papa doing here? Shouldn't he be working?
"Happy 17th! I was hiding behind the curtains. Now stop aging, you're making me feel old," half-jokingly says the blonde, a wild grin on his face.
Blinking for a moment, it hits me… Today is my birthday. I'm seventeen. This makes the second time I've forgotten about it.
Bashfully smiling, I utter, "Thank you. What are you doing here?"
"Kai called me this morning after turning your alarm off. This whole thing was so worth it,"
It clicks and my face goes red at remembering my earlier outburst. Kai called in so I could have a fun day off. But why did he call in?
That intrusive thought causes me to rush into the front room, papa quick to follow me, his strides much more level than mine.
"Are you okay? What made you call in? Do you have another headache?" I say in a breath, hands gripping the arm of the sofa.
Kai places his mug on the table and looks at me with a straight face.
"I'm fine. Took a personal day because I've got somewhere to be and errands to run,"
My stomach drops hard and sinks into a painful pit of ice, the thought of him leaving me to do "whatever else" bothering me for some reason. Is this feeling because of something from my childhood? Most likely. I learned in Psychology that we can carry over many subconscious entities from that time and they can impact us long into our adult years.
Papa, sensing my struggle, puts a comforting arm around me. Kai's face falls into an apologetic frown. In a flash, he's up from the couch and holding me in a strong hug.
"Gou," he gently says before he lets me go, slouched over somewhere between a squat and standing.
Looking me in the eyes, he says, "The place I have to be is right here with you, and the errands are for your party tonight. I'm not going anywhere, not like before. You will never interact with that man again,"
He's not speaking to me, so much as to the little boy inside me, the child he'd hurt all those years ago.
I hug him back while relief surges through my entire being, forcing the tears to save themselves for another, more joyous, occasion. Maybe I need to drop the mask and start listening to that little boy in an attempt to give him the healing he seeks.
We officially start my birthday with a drive to my mother's resting place. (They asked me beforehand and I agreed to go, stating that I'd like to place a bouquet.)
Papa appoints himself the chauffeur. I don't object to that and neither does Kai, who I know isn't going to have an easy time of this.
I understand these days that papa would go see mama if I was at school on my birthdays. The times that I was off, he'd spend with me, and go see her the next time I was away learning. I wonder how often he went to see her last year.
On a lighter note, those parties were small but the best in my opinion. I will always look back on those days with a warm smile.
We arrive at the gravesite within several minutes, however, the way there seemed a lot longer.
At the base of a small hill, beneath an imported weeping willow, stands the stone statue of an angel who has seen better days. The yard behind the church is old but maintained. Its grass is currently overgrown thanks to all the rain.
Crouching down to place the wrap of varied flowers, I hear sniffling and small sobs. Kai is trying to keep it together, having not set foot here in thirteen years, but papa isn't fairing so well.
Once I see home videos and more photographs beyond a yearbook or dance team photo, I may be joining them in the mourn-sessions. From what I know, Charlotte was excited to be a wife and even more so a mother. There's no doubt she would've loved me as any great mother should, and would have been ashamed at her late husband's actions, but also proud of her big brother for taking on the impromptu responsibility of raising me.
She was a freckled beauty who looked more American than Asian if I do say so myself and is where I get both my backward shyness as well as my nerdy nature.
Once hellos and life-update stories are given, I inform mama that I'll do my best to visit from time to time, but I can't promise it'll be a lot. I'm not that strong and don't handle death well.
Papa gives me an encouraging pat on the back and Kai exclaims that I'm her son so I have more strength in me than even I realize.
Papa half-jokes that I had better come to see him when he goes because it's lonely enough at the house, and he knows the ground will be worse, and he just can't take anymore. I laugh at that but promise that I will, telling the same to Kai as well.
Kai and papa are doing splendidly with all they go through, and I'm relieved my intuition was mistaken.
As expected, the grocery store is packed, and we two Hiwatari's hate it but deal with the tight aisles anyway. We make our trip of foods and party supplies quick and drop it all off before departing again for a lunch of grilled barbeque and sides.
While waiting for our raw meat and other orders, seating ourselves in a corner booth, my cellphone rings. I answer it without looking at the screen.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Heeeyyy, I'm using Agatha's phone. We both say happy birthday!"
"Thanks," I say with an appreciative smile, "Is that the only reason you called?"
She goes serious, "I wish, but no,"
I jump from my seat, my heart racing as I ready myself mentally to leave.
"What's happened to Agatha?" I ask quickly, trying to keep my aggression under control.
Rachel chuckles lightly, some nervousness and amusement in her tone. "Uh, Aggy's fine. Very fine actually,"
My eyebrows knit together in confusion, "Ok?"
I sit back down slowly, the two adults around me appearing more confused.
"She did what?" I say with a bright smile, laughing after because I'm trying to hide how turned on I am.
The conversation ends not a minute later and I know I've got to tell my folks.
Agatha let Emmitt have it in Gym. It was girls vs boys of all classes today, but she didn't do what I did, oh no. Our dumbass coaches pitted them against each other in a baton race going from one side of the gymnasium to the other.
Before Agatha could reach the marked-off Finish Line, Emmitt tackled her but refused to let her up. While Rachel attempted to yank the guy off, something snapped in Agatha and she began her bombardment.
Somehow she found a way to get on her back and then kicked him in the groin a few times. The impact was enough to knock the douchebag away but the jockstrap made it less painful.
When he went back for more, Agatha was already on her feet and moved in for a punch. She missed her shot, and he went for her ponytail, but she swiftly ducked and ended up headbutting him in the stomach, knocking the literal wind out of him.
Emmitt gasped for so long that he went to his knees and puked. Rachel was quick to grab ahold of her and take Agatha into the locker room to cool off and clean up.
Her classmates' testimonies helped the inevitably called police see it was truly self-defense, and Emmitt was arrested for a second time while Agatha received a week of at-home suspension and three months probation. I'm sure the camera footage will be reviewed in due time, proving the truth further, but that doesn't change the fact that I am proud of her. And, I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.
Our trays of meats and the like arrive, and we chow down. While eating we remark on the splendid food as well as Agatha's win, and papa ponders over how she may need a stronger glasses prescription soon but we all hope otherwise.
The rest of the hour goes on without any more calls, and in time we pull back into the manor's driveway for party prep and chill.
Because of work, Lionel and Sinead's family couldn't make it, but Agatha and her aunt could along with Makoto and Lin who said their folks were also too busy but they send their best wishes.
In lieu of music and dancing, we decide to watch Makoto's gift to me, which is the complete Inuyasha series: box set with films included. I've never seen it personally because it's mega-long, way before my time, and has way too much "demon of the week" filler from what I hear. Makoto keeps bugging me too so, if you can't tell, I'm doing this by light-hearted force. Come on, this time he knew what he was doing.
Like most teenagers, we end up annoying the living daylights out of the adults with trivia about the show, but in the back of my mind, I'm starting to think it's because of how loud we are. They don't mind it to a point, but I can tell the constant noise is getting to them. They may be more tired than bothered though.
I end up laughing so hard at the "Sit boy" scenes that I frequently fire my chocolate milk out of my nose. It ran all over my fresh plate of food and lap. Thankfully, no one is sitting in front of me anytime it happens, and the television is well out of shooting range.
Anytime Makoto or Rachel knew that line was coming up, one of them would yell out, "Shot guard!" and promptly shove the H monogrammed towel in my face. Owwww, my head, nose, throat, and upper back burn so bad! I'm aware I'll be in some type of pain later, but right now I'm too happy to care.
I quit getting refills of the delicious dairy after cup number five is sent soaring and am simply given water because, as funny as we all find it, Kai stops seeing the humor at around hour four.
The party is told to wrap up come two o'clock the next morning. While I, the caboose of this train, drag my exhausted booty to bed, I acknowledge that all these memories will be in my Best Of top five forever. This has been the best birthday bash and sleepover ever.