INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

Two weeks passed with several sleepless nights. There were parties every day in every classmate or friend’s house but their house remained peacefully. Nate liked it like that. Tomorrow was their graduation day. Everyone was enthusiastic but he couldn’t help but be nervous of his mom’s reaction to his final decision. He thought it through and he won’t back up now. His talk with his sister, on the other hand, was nothing but calm. He expected it but he couldn’t shake the image of her crying face in his mind. In the end, they made a promise, which became several promises because of her insistence. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he remembered her jumping on his bed. He sometimes wonder if she was really a 17-year-old but he knew that she’s mature and stronger than what she usually shows to people.

He was currently cleaning his desk and cabinets. Books and clothes that he no longer use were placed in a box for donation. His bedroom was actually spacious but he placed several shelves for books and tools. But all his experiments and creations were made in the adjoining room, which he calls his workroom. It wasn’t an office but a place where he can work with machines. The only persons who can enter were him and his sister because of the nature of his work.

When he finished his cleaning, someone knocked loudly on his door. He chuckled then sat on his chaotic grey bed. The person’s knock became more urgent and fast when he didn’t acknowledge her.

“Nate! What are you hiding there?” she shouted outside his door. She wasn’t patient, that one.

“Hmm what could it be?” he shouted back. Without warning, the door opened revealing his sister in a grey short skirt, white polo shirt, and black knee-length boots.

“Where are you going?” His voice sounded accusing but he didn’t mind. His protectiveness was showing every time his sister is involved. He wondered if she was seeing someone again. Her last boyfriend dumped her because she was graduating. That jerk.

His sister suddenly laughed. What?

“What?” he asked her. His frown deepened. When she was finished laughing, she placed her hands on her hips.

“A guy asked me out two days ago. He proposed yesterday so today I will buy a wedding gown,” she stated with a straight face. He suddenly stood then glared at her. What kind of guy does that?!?

“WHAT.THE.HECK,” he whisper-shouted. She snorted then laughed again. She was clutching her stomach. Nate blinked several times, trying to understand the situation. He moaned, defeated, and then sat down.

“I can’t believe you forgot.” She was now the one glaring at him. Today?

“It’s my friend’s party! She wanted you to be there, remember?” She sighed loudly. Oops. He vaguely remembered their conversation about the party. A week ago, her friends visited her then asked both of them to come to a friend’s party in the same subdivision. He didn’t exactly accept nor reject the offer.

“I asked you last night,” she added, a frown on her face. Her palms pressed together beside her cheek. He groaned but stood up, defeated again. I can’t with her cute sad face.

“Alright,” he muttered.

“Yey!” She squealed then clapped. After changing into a pair of black pants, white shirt, and grey rubber shoes, they walked four blocks from their home. He glanced at his sister who was humming while watching a car pass by. She had her own chauffeur so she didn’t bother learning to drive. Their mom insisted that Nate should have his own driver too but he refused so he take the bus every day.

They neared the house when his sister cut the silence. It was rare for her to talk about the topic.

“Do mom talk to you about them?” she asked. He glanced at her but her eyes were fixed ahead.

“Rarely but she did several times after the last day of school.” He glanced at her again but her expression didn’t give anything away. “Why?”

“She gave me the talk too.” She laughed lightly. “Because we’re already turning to an adult, she said.” This time, her eyes showed sadness.

“HEY!” They turned to the voice. Two girls and two boys were walking towards them. One girl was waving at them. Nate recognized his sister’s friends and his former teammates. Just a few feet from them was a house with illuminations outside. Loud music and muffled voices were heard.

“You’re here!” the girl who was waving, Claire - he remembered -, said to his sister.

“What’s up Nate,” Glen said to him.

“Glad you made it,” Stephen commented. They both slapped his shoulder. Nate only grinned at them.

“Let’s go party!” Claire waved her hands above her head after she said this. The others followed her in the house, which was already messy. Two persons were already lying on the couch and some on the floors. Less than an hour inside, Nate was more than ready to go. It’s not because he doesn’t like parties but the people were already drunk so they can’t hold normal conversation. He went looking for his sister to ask her if they can leave. When he couldn’t find her anywhere inside the house and pool, he panicked. But Claire, who was already swaying while walking, directed him to the front door. He found her sitting beside the road.

“Been looking everywhere for you,” he told her when he stood behind her.

“Didn’t particularly like the party?” She had pulled her wavy blonde hair from its bun.

“They’ll already drunk,” she replied. He somewhat felt guilty. If it wasn’t for him, they wouldn’t be late coming to the party.

“Sorry. It’s my fault.” She stood up, dusted her shirt, and then faced him. He felt it again. The feeling of looking in a mirror. Her drowsy green eyes were unfocused.

“Okay. Let’s go home.” He brought her to his side so that she wouldn’t feel cold. Good thing she didn’t forget to bring her coat.

“I know that they’ll be proud of you if they can see you now.” Her words slurred. Did she hear my talk with mom?

“And you, of course,” he added. He felt her shook her head.

“No. They’ll be very disappointed in me.” Then she rested her head on his shoulder.

“No. Never,” he whispered.

Morning came and he was awaken by someone jumping on his bed. He rolled so that his face was on the pillow.

“Wake up! It’s 10!” His sister stopped bouncing on his bed to shake him. He sighed then peeked at her. She was smiling widely at him. Guess the headache wore off.

“Alright. I’m getting up,” he muttered. After 10 minutes in the shower and 10 minutes fixing his tie, they walked downstairs. When he entered the receiving area, he stopped near the door to admire his favourite girls. Dressed in a sleeveless purple dress that ends just below the knee, his sister’s hair was loose and ended just above her shoulder. Their mom wore a long sleeved white dress with her hair in a bun. His sister turned then grinned at him.

“You are so handsome, honey.” His mom beamed at him with unshed tears. They entered their car and their chauffer drove them to the venue. The ceremony lasted for four hours. Everyone was congratulating and hugging their friends. Their mom was continuously crying so he awkwardly patted her back.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” someone asked behind him. He turned and saw one of his sister’s friend smiling shyly at him. Is it about my sister?

“If that’s okay, Ms. Ashworth.” She looked at his mom for approval who smiled and nodded. The girl led him behind the crowd, near enough for him to see his sister and mom.

“I like you,” she said without a warning. He was taken aback but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t the first time someone confessed to him but it was just out the blue. He didn’t remember talking or hanging out with the girl.

“I was secretly loving you,” she added when he didn’t say anything. She looked directly at him then smiled.

“We’ll be going our own separate ways so I wanted to tell you.” The girl didn’t wait for his reaction or reply and turned to leave. “It’s Alice, by the way,” she called without looking back. Her pink dress disappeared in the crowd. It was much later when they went home that he realized his answer to the confession. That girl also knew what his answer would be so she didn’t wait. I can’t. I have her.

He was so engrossed with his thoughts that he didn’t immediately observe his mom’s change of mood. When they ate their celebratory dinner, she wasn’t as enthusiastic like earlier. His sister didn’t notice because their mom was laughing, giggling, and cheering with her. But Nate knew that she was uneasy that she kept looking around them or staring at the opened windows. After their dinner, they sat on the couch and talked about what Nate and his sister want for vacation. His sister was very enthusiastic to visit her very own yacht, their mom’s graduation gift to her. Nate still kept quiet about their mom’s odd behaviour. She was worried about something. It was half past eight when she hinted her distress.

“Honey, can you pack for…a trip tomorrow?” she suddenly asked out of the blue. She smiled sweetly at her two children. She was fidgeting that his sister noticed her nervousness.

“It’s a late announcement. Where…are we going?” Nate asked. Are you ok, mom? He wanted to ask but when she turned to him, her eyes said not to ask further.

“Somewhere…new,” she replied slowly.

“Is there something wrong? You seemed nervous,” his sister commented. Their mom turned to her then smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I just want you to go somewhere. It’s…my surprise. A gift. So I’m a bit nervous about it.” His sister’s eyes lit up when she heard the word ‘gift’. “Pack clothes and everything important to you.” Then he noticed that his sister hesitated a bit. He kept his eyes on his mom. Once his sister was out of the room, he will ask what’s wrong. Is it…? No, it can’t be. They were really careful.

“One travelling backpack. Nothing more,” their mom told his sister who groaned but nodded.

“Go upstairs first,” he told her. At first, she hesitated. Did she notice their mom’s behaviour? Then she stood up, waved at them, then went upstairs.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked when he was sure his sister’s out of hearing. Their mom sighed then faced him.

“There’s a problem with the company. It’ll be stressful for the next days. People will be coming here so I thought you and Hanne can go somewhere for a week, maybe,” she explained. He sighed, relieved that it wasn’t what he thought it was.

“It is serious?” he asked her. She shook her head then placed her hand on his cheek. Her sad eyes studied his face.

“I will miss you and Hanne,” she softly said. He smiled then said the same to her. After their short talk, he immediately pack his travelling backpack. Mom said we’re be going to her friend’s house near the mountains. When he mentioned it to his sister, she wanted to bail out. She doesn’t like the woods or hiking. In the end, she agreed to go because she didn’t want to trouble their mom. He went to his workroom to grab his tools for fixing engines. He was picking up his red toolbox when his eyes drifted to the other metallic tools on his titanium desk. He walked towards the desk then lifted his hand. Just once.

Before he could reach it, he heard glass shattering below and felt dark heavy auras around their home. What the heck. He quickly grabbed his toolbox then adjusted his backpack on his back. As he closed the door to his workroom, he glanced at the tools and desk suspended in the air. They slowly descended to their original places when he finally closed the door. His footsteps were heavy as he run downstairs. The auras were closing in.

“What happened?” he shouted when he entered the chaotic kitchen.