The familiar scenery made me all warm inside. My eyes followed the rolling images of trees and buildings standing side by side. In a distance, I can see the center of the city of Amouria materializing slowly. Sweet Amoris High School was deserted at this time of the night. The travel from the camp to here took several hours that we arrived in the town proper late at night. Either ways, I didn't mind. It means my mom would be comfortably up and about while she fusses over dinner for the three of us. Well, assuming that she knows that I'll be coming home. Sometimes, Dad forgets to tell her important things like this so I'll only be half-surprised if she doesn't know. Our car passed by the looming buildings before we entered the residential area in the city. I now feel excited because I'll be seeing Mom for the first time in months. My mind immediately started conjuring up hilarious reactions that can only come from her.
The car suddenly skidded to a stop and I looked out to see that we're already parked in front of our house. I immediately climbed out and grabbed my things before running up the porch, leaving Dad behind. I knocked on the front door and waited as I heard Mom's shuffling feet inside the house.
"Coming!" she said in a sing-song, raised voice. I waited for a few more seconds before the door finally swung open and revealing my flushed mother.
"Hey, Mom!" I greeted cheerfully. I can't believe I have to look down at her a little now that I've managed to grow a few inches. We used to be of the same height before military camp. She looks like she can't believe it either because she keeps on blinking repeatedly and just staring at me.
"Yes, Manon, that's your son. You can hug him if you like" Dad suddenly said from behind me and he caught Mom's attention for a moment before his words sunk in. Mom grinned so wide I thought her face was going to split and lunge at me, engulfing me in a massive hug.
"Oh, Kentin! I missed you so much!" she whispered, sounding like she's close to tears. I rubbed her back in a comforting way to help her calm down.
"Aw, don't worry Mom. I missed Amouria City, too" I told her. Suddenly, she pulled slightly away, just enough to look up at my face.
"You mean Arya?" Mom said in a fake angry tone. I laughed and pulled her back to me.
"You know I missed you too, not just her" I said, not bothering to contradict her because it's true. Even though I'm not the same lovesick puppy always following after her, I still feel something for her, that's sure enough. And before anything else, she's the closest friend I have. So it's just reasonable that I would miss her.
"Come on in, you have a lot to tell me about your life in the military camp" Mom said, sighing as she pulled away and let us in to the door.
"Oh good; I was starting to fall asleep while standing here" Dad said as we trooped in.
Dinner was a robust event. Mom cooked a meal worthy of a town feast and asked me questions as we ate. After dinner, I volunteered to do the dishes as she catches up with Dad about his recent field assignment abroad.
"Hey, Mom? I'll be heading straight to my room. I sure do hope you didn't leave your laundry there" I teased her as I entered our living room.
"How could you accuse me of that? I just sleep there during nights but I do not dare leave my laundry there!" Mom answered in a mock hurt tone, knowing that I was just kidding. I laughed and shook my head before kissing her cheek and went up the stairs. I walked the familiar hallway and stopped in front of a familiar door. My hand rested lightly on the cool doorknob, my mind wondering if it's still messy or neat. Finally, I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.
Everything was still in the same position and order, except for my bed. It looked like it was just newly-made and I bet it was because my mom recently slept here all by herself. I chuckled as I strode the threshold and sat on the bed. The bed still bounced although it creaked a bit due to my added weight. I suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia as I looked around and inspected everything I own.
This room was purely decorated in nerdy, geeky, low self-esteem Ken. From the indescribable color scheme that ranges from blinding red to black, it's just a room of mess. I managed to acquire some kind of obsession for order when I was training in the camp. It must be because of the discipline lessons. There were also action figures, techy gadgets and other nerdy, geeky things that old me possessed. I decided that tomorrow morning, I would redecorate my room. Laying my whole body on the bed, I curled up and slept.
The next day, I woke up early in the morning. I changed into a pair of jogging pants and a black shirt. Going down to the kitchen, I bumped into my mom.
"Hey mom!" I greeted her and kissed her cheek.
"Hey, honey. Where are you going at this time of the day?" Mom asked as I took a slice of leftover pizza I found in the fridge.
"I'm just going to jog around the neighborhood. Maybe see if there's anyone up and about that I know" I said, shrugging as I ate the slice. Mom looked at me weirdly that I can't help but ask her why.
"Nothing. It's just... back then, you never woke up at this time of the day just to jog around the neighborhood. I mean, it's crazy to see how much things have changed for all of us" Mom said, shaking her head a bit as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. But I know that gesture. I know that she's trying to pull herself together so I wouldn't see how much she's trying to cope up with all of this. Smiling softly, I finished the last bite of my pizza and moved over to give her a bear hug.
"Mom, I'm still your old Kenny. And no, I won't allow you to call me that in public. But the point is, I didn't change. Okay, maybe a little but it's for the best. I'm not suddenly going to turn into one of those ungrateful children who leave their families behind once their done and legal. I love you guys too much for that" I told her. "No, I'll let you go to let you breathe and because I'm running a bit late on my schedule. Old habits in the camp die hard."
Mom chuckled and said, "Okay, okay! Go and jog your way around the neighborhood, Sergeant Murphy!"
I gave her a salute before walking out of the house. It was strange how this neighborhood changed for the past months I've been away. Good old Jerome now has another bicycle sitting on his front yard aside from his rusting old one. Miss Lamprey has another garden of tulips growing around her house. But the old couple living next to us moved down a few blocks and a new family now lives in their old house. I can hear their baby screaming as I started my jog. I jogged around aimlessly for a while before deciding to pass by the local park. I jogged past the gate and stopped in front of the lake. I sat on the bench and just let the quiet wash over me.
Suddenly, I heard a rustling of leaves to my left. I turned my head around, only to see nothing. And then, I saw a dark figure shift among the trees. I jolted up to my feet and ran towards it. However, I didn't get to catch it. I tried going out of the park entrance and looked around to see if there's anyone around but it was deserted since it's just the crack of dawn. I sighed and went back home.
I ate breakfast with Mom and Dad. It was quiet when suddenly, Mom said, "Kentin, you'll be going back to your old high school."
"You mean, Sweet Amoris?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes, the very one" Dad answered.
I shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Cool. When do I go back?"
They looked at each other and said, "On Monday after this weekend."
"Okay. Fine by me" I told them. The subject was dropped by then. My mind wandered to my life in Sweet Amoris before military camp. I remembered Nathaniel. He's a nice lad but very uptight. And then, there's Castiel who is always hanging around in the courtyard. Don't get me started on him. And then there's Iris who is always cheerful and nice; Amber, who bullied me back then and the very reason why my own father sent me to a military camp; and...
I felt myself smile slightly when I thought about her. Arya. I'm finally going to see Arya after a very long time. I know we have no communication while I was in the camp but I've heard a few things about her through Iris who kept in touch. I wonder what's new with her.
I finished my breakfast and spent the rest of the day just idly watching TV and helping out a bit with the chores.