JADEN AND I [AVAILABLE ON GOODNOVEL]

JADEN AND I [AVAILABLE ON GOODNOVEL]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: YOU CAN DEFINITELY SKIP THIS CHAPTER AND MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DARK SIDES.

“Andie! Where are you? Son? Oh God, where is that kid?” Asked the woman to herself, looking for her son. She has her right hand rubbing her temples as she made her way to anywhere her feet would lead her. “God, where is that kid...” She sighed.

Tiredness was traced on her face, showing how managing a small house and six children made her look like an old woman.

From a small room inside their small house, a small kid walked. He had his head curiously turning side to side, while his sleepy eyes were looking for his mother. Sleepiness was etched in his face, revealing that he had been laying on his bed, and it made his button nose red. 

A yawn suddenly escaped from his soft thin lips, as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. He didn't wait any second and he started walking to their little kitchen where his mother's voice was ringing. He was just a kid who didn't mind if some drools were visible in his mochi cheeks.

“Mama? Were you calling me?” Asked the kid when he saw his Mother's doing something. That time, he knew that his Mother was going to tell him to buy something so he willed his tiny feet to their sink. He then wet his hands before rubbing them to his face to remove the trace of his sleep.

After some minutes, he heard the sound of coins clicking on their dining table so he immediately dried his hands, along with his face.

“Go to the store, and buy some eggs there. I'm not sure how many eggs these coins will get. Let the lady count, I'm busy.” His Mother rambled, as he picked the coins one by one and mentally counted.

After wearing his slippers, he immediately stepped outside, as the bright sunlight welcomed his still sleepy eyes, causing them to close. It was 8 in the morning, no wonder why the great sun was beaming so bright.

He then shakes his head before he starts making his way down the street. Lots of kids were happily playing outside without paying any heed towards the bright sun. 

There was a sudden pinch of jealousy in his heart, as he remembers that he didn't grow up playing outside and being happy like any other kids. Unlike the other kids, he didn't get the chance to run, shout, and play.

The happiness that he would hear in every laugh and the happiness that he would see in their faces, never in his life he thought that he wouldn't get those. Nonetheless, he understands that his parents were just being protective towards them.

Because of watching the other kids, he didn't notice that he already reached the store that his Mother told him to go. Unfortunately, due to his small height, his tiny voice was the only thing that made his appearance noticeable.

“H-hello? Anyone? Is anyone there?” He called. There wasn't any response when his first call and no one came to open the tiny door from the counter of the store. And so he decided to call again.

“Hello! Anyone!!” He repeated, louder than before, but got nothing as response. His hope started to run out, as he thought of just going to the other stores. 

He was about to walk away when an old Lady came out from God knows where. 

It seemed like she couldn't hear the tiny voice from the kid, that's why she didn't notice him at first. “Oh, son. What do you want to buy?” Asked the old Lady.

"Eggs, please. Here are the coins, Auntie. Um, Mama said you count them first.” The old Lady just shook her head and smiled before he looked for the eggs. 

A sudden frown had dropped in her face when she remembered that they ran out of them and didn't notice it quickly.

“Oh, son. We're sorry, but we already ran out of eggs. Here's your money.” Sighed the old Lady. 

The kid was too naive to care, so he beamed his bright smile to the old Lady and nodded his head. “Oh, okay!”

He immediately walked after the old Lady handed him his coins back and started to make his way to the other stores. And there, he didn't notice that he had been walking to anywhere his feet would lead him and accidentally went far. 

And when he reached a store, he immediately called on the counter. “I want to buy eggs, please! here's my money.”

A maiden came out. She has a towel placed on her shoulder with her hair still wet, showing that she just had taken a shower. The maiden crouched down to see the cute little kid and smile.

Carefully, the maiden took his coins, as she counted them. “You have 30 pesos here, kiddo.” She smiled and immediately looked for the eggs.

She carefully takes six of them, and put them in a plastic bag before giving the handle to the kid, which Andie took in a quick.

He was just rushing his way back to their house when a Huge house caught his eyes. He stopped and looked at the house. It was indeed way larger than theirs. There was something that made his hair stand as goosebumps traveled through his skin.

It was an abandoned house where some rich and middle class people used to live. And there was a rumour that there was a ghost inside of that huge house. Like any other kids, It made Andie scared and confused.

Unexpectedly, a dog came in front of him. The dog looks like it has no owner and the dirt on its fur made it look dirty. Andie on the other hand got shocked when the dog barked at him as if he did something bad.

 He suddenly got scared, and his body shook in fear. He remembered a dog chased him when he went to the store to buy something. The dog barked again and barked again.

To his reflexes, he positioned his hands in his front like he was telling the dog to stop, but the dog just growled and showed his sharp teeth. Andie slowly stepped back in trance, as the dog continued to bark and growl at him. He did not know what to do, but to shout for her Mother. 

“Mama! Mama! Help, please! No, shoo! Go away!" Andie shouted in fear as if his mother would hear him. The look on the angry dog made him shake in fear, as he started picking up some pebbles to throw at the dog.

He was about to throw a pebble on the dog when three dogs came, and started shouting and growling at him. And there, tears started forming in his eyes while his body was shaking in fear. “Mama! Mama!”

Because of fear, he accidentally dropped the eggs that he bought. His eyes widened in fear. “P-please! Don't hurt me! Mama! I wanna go home, please! Help!” Andie sobs desperately. 

The other kids noticed his condition, but no one cared. The others even found the strength to laugh because of Andie's cries. Barks after barks, an Idea finally came into his mind. “I'll run.”

He slowly and carefully took his slippers and caged them on his hands. Someone told him that if someone's chasing him and he wants to run fast, he should do it. He takes another breath before he finds the strength to run. “WAAAH!”

He didn't get a chance to count and he ran as fast as he could, as the dogs continued to chase him. He was very scared and nervous as he imagined how the dogs were so angry at him. The barks just got louder and louder as if they're hungry beasts who didn't eat for years.

Because of fear, he did not pay any heed and he ran and ran to anywhere his feet would run to. Even if it means running towards that huge eerie house. He knew that stepping inside of other people's property was bad, but he was very desperate and scared.

The gates luckily have no locks and they were wide opened. He then reached the front door that was also wide opened, as he immediately closed it with force. He pants and stops by, his hands on his knees, as he chases his breath. 

He was dumbfounded when he realized what he had done and where he got himself into. He rubbed his nose before he let his eyes wander around the huge house.  

“Hello?” Asked Andie while looking at the furniture that was covered by white covers. He knows that someone's there because some lights were opened. Things scattered on the ground. “Um, Hello? I'm sorry for entering your house. There were d-dogs chasing me. I-I will leave immediately. Sorry.”

Seconds after, a yellow cat came to him and rubbed its head on his knees. Andie smiled at the cat, and he was about to shoo the cat away when a thud echoed around the house. His eyes widened in fear, and his knees went wobbly at the eerie sound. He thinks that it was the owner and got mad at him for entering their house without their permission.

“I'm really sorry. I promise I will leave immediately when the dogs go away.” Said Andie, but no one answered him. The barks from the dogs are starting to fade that made his heart calm for a bit.

But just as he was about to go, a huge rat ran in front of him. A scream erupted from his mouth, "AAHHH! MAMA!!" He rushed his feet until he reached the stairs of the house. He did not mind the owners anymore and ran inside a room.

He was just apologizing for entering the house without their permission, but now he found himself stuck inside a dresser where a cat was sitting on the top. There were seconds of silence before he realized that he made a mistake. A lot of mistakes.

First, his Mother told him to buy eggs, and he dropped them. Second, he was chased by angry dogs. Third, he ran into someone's property and got stuck inside a dresser. Last, he doesn't have any idea how to get out there without getting chased by animals.

But the thought alone of the wasted eggs was the ones that made him scared the most. Those were probably for their lunch and he dropped them on the ground. There, he started sobbing while hugging his knees. He sure wants to go home, but he also doesn't want to get scolded by his Mother.

On the other hand, a black truck was hitting the road that was being driven by a middle aged man, Carl. He has his beautiful Wife, Amanda on the shotgun seat, enjoying the passing scenery. Unlike the two happy lovebirds, they have their Son, Jaden, on the backseat of the car; mind flying in the air.

From their former house, they reached the city of Caloocan where they bought a classical house. The house that they were expecting was fine and got nothing to fix, but they were aware of some garbage and waste from the former owner. Carl let out a sigh of relief as he continued to hit the highway.

“We're almost there,” Said Carl to his family. He heard his wife breathe loudly, almost like a whining sigh before she spoke. “Finally, we're gonna have a quiet life.”

Finally reaching the said House, he pulled his car on the garage on the side of the House. Carl along with his Wife and Son heard the barking dogs in front of their now House. Carl managed to shoo the dogs away, using the car's loud honk with its blinding lights. He immediately switched the car off before he leaned back to his seat and let out a sigh.

Carl noticed his Son's quietness when his eyes accidentally landed on the rearview mirror of his car. He has his head ducked, eyes impaled on his limbs and anyone can tell that he wasn't excited about anything that's happening right now. Carl took a glance at his Wife, who's also looking at him with full of admiration, making the man smile thinly. They sure noticed their Son's silence.

“Hey, Son. Don't worry, 'kay? I've heard that there are plenty of kids here, that means you can have new playmates and friends, yeah?” Explained Carl with enthusiasm, “But for now, you go inside with Mom while I wait here for the helpers so we can settle our things. Is that okay with you, Son?”

Jaden on the other hand nodded nonchalantly. He didn't mean to open the door with force before jumping out of the car, but none of his parents got pissed. They shared looks, but said nothing.

“If you need help, Love, just call me, huh?” Said Amanda to his husband before following their Son. 

To his reflexes, Jaden clutched his right hand on the end of the hem of his mother's shirt before they made their way to the door. Amanda was about to turn the knob of the door, but she noticed that it was locked.

Her brows furrowed in confusion before he looked at her Son, “Stay here, Baby, yeah? I'll go look for your Dad and tell him about the keys. Don't go anywhere.” She said before pinching Jaden's cheeks.

When his mother started walking away, Jaden decided to push the door with full force, and because of its oldness, the lock loosened quickly until it opened with a creaking sound. He remembers his mother's words, but due to his curiosity, he quickly stepped inside the old House. The light from outside made its way to the opened door, as it illuminated some things and corners of the House.

A shadow suddenly walked inside the house, so he quickly turned to look at his back to see it coming towards the inside, more like towards him.

“Oh, I thought the door was locked?” Asked Carl before he walked towards his Son. “Hey, Son. Let's go walk inside so we can see if this House got some goodies.” Said Carl with a grin.

“Dad, is there a ghost here?” Asked Jaden out of the blue, making his father's forehead crease.

“What ghost? Ghosts aren't true, Son.” Shrugged Carl before he walked towards the large clock that was beautifully placed on the wall.

Jaden on the other hand walked to the opposite way and started examining their house. He continued to walk until he reached a door that was opened unlike the other doors. He didn't expect to hear cries when he stepped inside, but he still decided to follow its direction.

Steps after steps, he noticed that the cries are coming from the dresser that was closed, and so he walked towards it. He doesn't have an idea what's in there, but being a kid he is, he decided to open it carefully.

And there, he unexpectedly found a kid, whose hair was damped in sweat, while hugging his knees. The sobbing kid looked up to the unexpected new comer with terror in his eyes. His body shook in fear before a scream erupted from his tiny mouth.

“Wait, who are you? Stop screaming, kid. You're not a girl. Who are you?” Asked Jaden with a calm voice, but the sobbing kid just cried louder.

“P-please, don't s-scare me! I'm s-sorry for g-going inside your H-house! No, please!” Cried the sobbing kid while clasping his hands. Jaden doesn't know what to do at the moment, and he's slowly getting pissed, so he decided to run back towards his Father to tell what's happening and what he had found.

He found his father, busy working on his phone, so he quickly started pulling the hem of the shirt of his father. Carl got surprised and curious, and looked at his Son. “What's up, Son?—Wait, where were you? Didn't I tell you to stay with me?”

“But, Dad. There's someone crying inside the room!” Explained Jaden to his father.

“Huh? There's someone what?—You know what, Son? You might be seeing things. Don't worry, Dad's here.” Shushed Carl while patting his Son's head. “And that must be just a cat. Whatever, I'll just shoo that away later, Son.”

“But, Dad!—” The pissed Jaden didn't finish his sentence, and he quickly pulled his father's wrist before he led him towards the said room. Carl on the other hand did not stop his Son anymore, tho he's quite stressed about moving to a new House.

“Where is that thing you're saying?” Asked Carl, again until they reached the said room where Jaden found the sobbing kid.

Just when they reached the door of the room, he stopped in his trance when he found out that his Son was telling the truth. The sobbing kid on the other hand immediately shook in fear when he saw a huge shadow coming from the door and one smaller. The sobbing kid knew that there are Ghosts there, living inside the old House because of the endless rumours passing through several mouths.

“M-mama! I w-wanna go home!” Screamed the kid in despair, as the following footsteps got louder.

Jaden looked up to his Father, “Dad, that's it! Look!” He said with excitement, which made the man look inside quickly. He got surprised when he saw the look on the kid's face. He couldn't help but look at him in pity. Carl immediately reached out his hand for the kid, but it just flinched and cried louder.

“Please, sir! Don't scare me! I-I wanna go home, please!” Begged the poor kid, which Carl responded with a nod. Jaden looked at the kid, as he couldn't help but feel bad for the kid. He started thinking that the kid is homeless, and has no parents.

“Hey, kid. Don't worry, we're not bad guys. We won't hurt you, I promise.” Said Carl, promisingly before carefully tapping the kid's shoulder. “I'm Carl, and this is my Son, Jaden. What are you doing here? How did you get stuck here?”

Seconds of silence had dropped between the three of them, patiently waiting for the poor kid. Carl and Jaden shared questioning looks to each other because the kid continued to ignore their presence. Seconds passed, Jaden walked near towards the kid before he extended his hand, “Hello!”

The poor kid looked at Jaden and shakily accepted the hand. He doesn't know what to feel at the moment his hand touches Jaden's, and that time, he's completely sure that he's not a Ghost. It's because he could feel his hand and he's not floating in the air, just like the other Ghosts on the Televisions. “H-hello…” Said the kid between his sniffles. He slowly started standing from the ground, as he ducked his head down in embarrassment.

“Not scared anymore? How did you even get stuck in here, kiddo?” Asked Carl, again, making the poor kid look up to him before he sniffled.

“B-because—The dogs were chasing me, sir. Mama told me to buy eggs, but I-I dropped them when they started barking at me. I-I'm sorry, sir.” The kid mumbled before ducking his head again.

Carl nodded in trance before clicking his tongue, “How about we walked you back to your house? Or maybe we could call your parents to fetch you here?” Said Carl, suggesting, but the kid was fast to decline. 

“N-no, sir! I can walk by myself.” Said the poor kid, as he rubbed his eyes, wiping his tears away.

“Oh, okay. What's your name, lil guy? You haven't told us your name...” Asked Carl before he crouched down and carefully tidied the kid's crumpled shirt.

“Andie, sir. My name's Andie.”

AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANK YOU FOR READING!