CHAPTER 8: A Dream For Their Son

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THEON

George was already waiting in front of the library when I finished reading and conceptualizing about the project in one of my subjects. He even raised his hand holding a book, he was quite weird though but I saw his face full of happiness and reading his expression, it seemed he had some good news to share. So, I walked hurriedly just to leave the place, and I was not really comfortable staying there due to some personal concerns.

“Hi Sir Theon, I have a surprise for you.”  George mentioned.

When we met in front of the library, he hid the book behind him and he said it was surprise. Though, it was predictable, I let him talk not to falter his momentum. But before he proceeded to his predictable surprise, I asked him if we can do that in the car because I felt like someone was watching us. But he insisted because it may spoil the surprise. I looked to the both sides just to make me feel that no one was watching and since everything was clear, I let him do what he wanted to do.

“I talked to a girl, and she was a student studying psychology. When I heard her talking about a book which you will be interested in, I presumed, I listened to her explanation and got my interest. The way she speaks, it feels like she knew a lot in terms of your condition.” He explained.

I was attentively listening to him with matching my head being nodded, an indication that my undivided attention was to his. Then, he continued his stor,y “Then, she was actually reading the first few chapters of the book and it says more about someone who had same experience as you.” 

When I heard that, it gave me Goosebumps. I was actually asking myself before if there was someone in this world who had the same condition as I do. And now that I was hearing those words from him, it felt like answers were coming on my way. I asked him to continue, and then he said, “That’s all sir.”

“That’s all?” I asked in disappointment.

He gave me the book he was referring to and when I read the title, my eyes dilated because it was a book about someone who had extreme introversion. My face was full of happiness and I even hugged George, which was unusual, for his effort to finding a book which I was really interested in. I thanked him, and he was so happy too. We went to the car afterwards and headed back home.

Due to excitement, I even started reading the book about Mario, yeah, that was the name of the man in the book. The book was more of sharing the life story of Mario and how did he overcome his condition. Each page was full of learning and new insight, and because I love what I was reading I didn’t even realize that we already got home until George mentioned that it was time to go inside.

When I went upstairs to continue reading, my father was waiting in the living room. 

“Theon, come here. I need to talk to you.” He said with his serious tone.

So, I followed him and sat on the sofa, in front of him. Judging the tone of his voice, maybe we would be talking about the company again and how am I going to fulfil his wish for himself and for me. Then, before he even started to talk, my mother simply arrived and sat beside my father. The two seemed so weird, and I could not remember the last time we talked together as a family. I was, somehow, a bit happy at that time not until they started talking.

“Son, we are not getting any younger.” My dad’s first sentence, I knew where this conversation going and it turned out that I was correct. We would be talking about me taking over the company and to be the CEO.

He continued, “And apart from taking over the company, we wish for you to have something great in the future.”

“Wait, what’s going on?” Question I had in mind.

The tone of the conversation surpassed the topic about the company. I was really clueless where this conversation was sailing through. I was a bit lost indeed. My mother intercepted because my father was really beating around the bush. It was unexpected of his not to mention something he would have wanted to say, I knew Dad so much, and he was straightforward. What was that thing that he couldn’t tell me straight to my face?

“Yeah, we talked about it and we wanted the best for you. We would like to see you having a baby.” My mother threw the bomb.

“Wait! What? A baby?”

“I mean, sooner after the marriage.”

“Huh? What? Marriage?”

“Uhm, yes, marriage but after getting yourself a girlfriend.”

“A girlfriend? Seriously?”

I was started to lose my sanity because of the conversation. Though, I saw how uncomfortable my parents were while discussing those things to me but that was not my concern at all. My concern was how could I possibly get a girlfriend, then, getting married and have a baby. That was really impossible. I didn’t know where they got that idea of me having a girlfriend, considering that they knew my condition was. I could not even touch a girl, I easily fainted. I badly wanted to complain about it and tell them about my thought but my mother kept going.

“Of course, we know what you are experiencing Theon but we are also dreaming to be grandparents, to have that baby on our hand. And we want to see you getting married, having that someone with you for the rest of your live. Can you remember the last time you fainted, it was already three years ago, maybe that fainting-thing was over and somehow, you’re healed. We don’t know that.”

“But mom? How could i?” Even though I wanted to badly complain or to defend my thoughts, I ran out of words. I was totally speechless about everything and the only defense I had was to leave them alone first. And I badly needed that too – some time alone. So, I ran off. I left them watched me marching back to my room.

“That conversation was the worst!” I was now talking to myself. I could not imagine having that conversation again, never! Before they just wanted me to take over the company, now they wanted me to me to get married and have a baby. For god sake, even if I was a normal kid having a normal life, I would never get married at this young age. I was just 21 and I could not see myself having a baby, or getting married. Are they insane? Or I was just dreaming?

I could not really grasp what just happened. I was walking and talking and thinking at the same time in my room. I could not contain the thoughts I had. I presumed, I had to do something. So, I called George and asked him to bring drinks on my room. I was not really into drinking, but I felt that the situation demanded for it. So, I was waiting for him, I took my shirt and pants off, and went to the bathroom to bathe as if those thoughts can be vanished by water.

When George arrived, I was done bathing. I asked him to join me drinking because I could not really drink alone. That was the first time I felt the need not to be alone. I just felt the need for companion. George had no choice, so he also sat down on the floor and joined me drinking.

Luckily, I didn’t have to tell him everything because George heard our conversation. If he were to put himself in my shoes, he would a little bit worried for himself too. It felt like things happened so fast and in a snap of a finger, things could change as well. I was too exhausted replaying the whole conversation in my head until George said something.

“Well, you have to see the situation in both ends. They are parents. They are your parents and as a parent, they are dreaming for you. They are dreaming for you to have your own family in the future. And somehow, your mother was right, can you still remember the last time you faint because a girl touched you, maybe it’s time to do something new.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, touch a girl?”

“How could I do that? I can’t just touch a girl.”

“Well, answers would come for sure. For now, take a rest and we have to face these things tomorrow when you clear your mind.”

After a while, George left me alone with my own thoughts, thinking the best way to resolve all these things. I just hope that sleeping could help me forget what just happened that day.