ONE

Leaving the city ain’t gonna be easy, Nathan sighed as he peeped through the side window of the taxi. The driver was pretty talkative, blabbing since he boarded the cab. The driver said something and laughed to himself, Nathan could only frown and muttered “Bla bla bla”, to the talkative driver.

He was worried, and curious about how his life would become: living out of the city, leaving behind his friends, comforts, and especially his whole childhood memories…. Well, everything would fall into place once he got to see his purchased building then he would start to put the pieces together.

Nathaniel Bernard was an ex-marine, kind, tall, broad chest, a lean waist, and extremely captivating. Very honorable and understanding about people's situations. He’d always dreamed of being a chef who captivate people’s hearts with his talented art of cooking, deciding a new venue away from the city could be the best place to start with.

He gazed through the side window annoyed and cursed at the damned traffic jam. “Alright, thank you, I’ll leave from here”, he got out of the car, holding his luggage and backpack. He found his way through the crowded cars stuck in the jam and headed straight to the way leading to the airport. As he made his way almost to the airport. He looked around and grinned as he saw a teenager or a boy perhaps playing his video game at the poolside not far from a bar close by. He remarked when he was also at that age, being a teenager held so many memories. As he moved to continue his walk to the airport, the boy accidentally fell into the water and was drowning.

Dropping his luggage and backpack in an instant down and pulling his shirt in a hurry, he jumped in the pool to save the drowning brat. He pulled the boy out and put on his discarded shirt on his wet broad Torso, the shirt clung to his wet muscular skin. The teenage boy breathed out and in. Thank goodness, he got there in time, there was no one around to see them, even the teenage boy when he was drowning.

“Where’s your guardian, parent perhaps? Mom? Dad?”

“I don’t have a father”. The teenager snorted.

Puzzled by the boy’s attitude. “Is there no one to accompany you?"

“I’m sorry”, the boy admitted sadly “Actually, I’m looking for my mom… waiting for my mom before I fell, thank you for saving me” he lowered his head in a bow.

“What’s your name?”

“Neil”, he replied “and yours?”

He started to speak but was startled when he turned to look at the eyes glaring at him as if to swallow him up in a moment, he felt a flash sparking in his body by those blazing eyes. “A killer-lady”. He whispered, she could behead him with that look, the lady was looking straight at the boy by his side then he looked at her from the rich airborne of her hair, her slender figure to the fair toe-nails in her sandals. She looked dashing when she was angry, he wondered how she would look if she was smiling at him with those beautiful eyes.

“Hey, how dare you touch my son?” she yelled at him in anger as she moved toward them.

“Damn it, she was married…. No, Neil said he didn’t have a father”. He thought. How could he be having such thought about.... for a stranger? How could he be so feeble-minded he never let down his guard so quickly to a stranger at most?

“I asked you a question, right?” The lady grabbed the boy from his side to hers still staring at him. “very overprotective, strong but scared” he thought as he looked closely.

She attracted the crowd with her argument with him, the space was getting too crowded as their dispute continued, and some of the people were even trying to settle the misunderstanding.

“Mam…. Young lady, why don’t you calm down and listen to what he’s trying to explain to you”, an elderly man suggested.

Being a very stubborn knucklehead, she resisted, ignoring the suggestion. “Never, he tried to abduct my son, made him fall into the pool and you’re telling me to calm down…. Please” She hissed accusing him strongly.

Having heard enough arguments…. Neil groaned and screamed the attention focused on the teenage boy and remained silent. “Mom! he saved me from drowning in the pool when I fell into it” He yelled frustrated as he pointed to the video game at the edge of the pool on the floor broken. “Really” Nathaniel curved his shoulders and went to pick up his backpack and luggage. He was cursing himself, “Why didn’t I leave gently at first”, but he couldn’t leave the innocent life to waste. And he left silently, no one noticed.

After listening to the whole story her teenage son narrated. The crowd dismissed disappointed as they shook heads at her. She cupped her palm to her face, and she rose to apologize but he had left already. She felt guilty and stupid once again without listening to a full detailed explanation.

“Spoilsport” she bit her lips and murmured angrily.

“Mom, why do you always do this? Why do you continue to embarrass yourself like this? I told you, I can take care of myself, I’m not a kid anymore” Neil snorted and yelled at her. “I’m twelve already, I’m smart enough to know how to socialize with people and with who I socialize with…. Huh?” He walked out on her angrily.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to….” She called behind him “I’m only trying to protect you from harm”. She ran after him. He stopped. “How long do you intend for this to continue, it is because of this we’re moving back to your hometown, Nocturndely.” He calmly spoke as he exhaled. “I’m not happy with your attitude for the past ten years, please mum just stop this, please” He begged folding his hands.

She remembered the last time she was like this at his school to his teacher for sending him an errand after school she was reprimanded by his principal and Neil was suspended from school because it was the third time his mom has repeated the attitude. First, his teacher, then a classmate, and his teacher again.

“I promise; I will change once we get to Nocturndely”. “You will?” he chuckled "I’m sorry, mum but I don’t believe you. I’m not buying it” He sniffed.

She frowned. “then don’t…. let’s just leave, we wouldn’t want to buy new tickets again, we’ll miss our flight”. He grabbed her hand and dragged his luggage.

Norturndely, Borstond.

Celeste sighed heavily as they got to the front door of the house, Neil ranged the doorbell as he dropped their luggage from the taxi.

“We are home”, she reassured him. And she looked closely, after ten years of being miserably hustling, betrayed by the love of her life. Celeste wanted a harmonious, loved home anything a woman could want in her life. Got through a lot, she’d determined to pursue her son to be strong, successful, and loved by all. He shouldn’t be trapped because of her utmost mistake, she couldn’t help but beware of danger, scared of a death statement that won’t even come true.

A lady between the age of 21 – 24 opened the door, blond, fair-skinned wore a sleeveless straight gown, and smiled at them.

“Hey! Welcome, come in.” She dragged the luggage as they walked in.

“Father! Papa! Come and take a look at who’s here!” She announced happily as the old man wheeled his chair coming from the room downstairs.

Martins James Trevor was an Ex-army officer who lost his leg in a war five years ago. A caring and supportive father who stood by his two beautiful daughters, every step they take in their life. The widowed father has gone through a lot for his daughters to have a happy life hoping for Celeste would be cheerful and happy once again.

As she entered the room, the room she had shared with her sister and she was still going to share now before her sister is married. Celeste dropped her luggage on the bed. The one she had left years ago to leave for the city with a beast. “A brutal beast.” She repeated and sighed as she thought about the one man she ever loved.

Well, she’s back home with Neil, she would look for a job and enroll Neil in the high school in town, she should start to focus on her son’s life and happiness, she doesn’t need a happy life, a dream that can’t come true anymore. It’s said “When there’s life there’s hope,” but there’s no hope for her. It’s late already. She wished her sister who was soon to be married happiness and not to encounter misfortune like hers.

“Thanks” Celeste smiled faintly.

“Well, I hope you find happiness here, I helped, to look for a vacancy job and I found one.” She informed her sister “As a?” she questioned curiously.

“Uhm! A teacher in the new school in town. I hope you don’t mind,” she blinked her eyes, expecting an answer.

“Thank you, Carly, thanks a lot,” she hugged her sister tightly. “What would I have done with you? How is your fiancée, Jack?”

“He’s fine. He’ll be here within the week, he’s quite busy lately.”

“He’s a very good man, I wish you both happiness and success in your lives.” Celeste prayed.

“And to you too, I wish you get an incredible man that will love you unquestionably and sincerely not like that bastard” Carly cursed and wished her sister never encountered such a dreadful misfortune.

“Let’s not talk about that now, besides it’s too late for my happiness….” She paused. Who says I’m not happy I’m happy with you all.” She laughed but Carly wasn’t content with her reply, knowing that her sister wasn’t…. didn’t believe her, she lowered her head.

“Aw, come on!” Carly exclaimed. Celeste dropped her folded dress.

“What, I’m just saying what I believe in, I’m sure some hot guy out there to sweep up your unhappy feet, come on!”

Carly sat down gently beside her sister and sighed as she spoke.

“You of all people should know I just can’t get married again, which man would want to marry a woman whose ex was….” Celeste held back when she wanted to finish her statement as she saw Neil walk in with a backpack.

“Mom, I come to give you your remaining stuff, I’m sorry to interrupt, he dropped the bag on the bed and exited. “Neil almost overheard our conversation, does he know?”

“No, why would I tell him such misfortunate things?”

Celeste stood.

“But he has to know no matter what especially when he wishes to know at his age, it’s better now than later, huh?” She questioned trapped her sister’s shoulder and left the room. “think about it.”

Celeste walked to the backyard and rode the swing and thought about what Carly told her.

“She’s right, I should tell him but I’ll tell him when it’s right.” She looked above their pegged fence and saw a man with a th broad chest, dark hair (jet black), and ears almost like an elf’s.

“He looks like the man I ran into at the airport and that jerk that I wantedapologizegise to.”

“Whose jerk and why do you want to apologize?” Her father rode his wheelchair into the backyard and moved closer to her beside the swing.

“I bumped into him when I was searching for Neil on the way to the airport and I also misunderstood him but I couldn’t apologize,”

“So, did you meet him again you said someone looked like.”

“Yes, but I’m not sure if it’s him or not,” she stood up.

“Dad, I…Carly told me she found me a job as a teacher so I guess I’ll start tomorrow,” she walked to the backdoor and turned.

“It’s good to be back home, Dad I’m content you’re supporting me.” She smiled and walked in.

Her father, Martins turned and looked at the swing “She deserves to be happy again, doesn’t she?” asking himself a rhetorical question.

Nathan woke up on his bed, walking to the kitchen to get himself a cup of coffee, he thought about yesterday's incident as he sipped his milky coffee.

“That lady’s scary, I’ve been thinking about her well, I’ve to go check out the restaurant today. He stood and left to his room.

Celeste on the other hand had enrolled Neil in a public high school near the town hall, and would always go to pick him up after school when she comes back from her school. She got to the primary school, went to the head mistress’s office, and entered her office after she knocked on the door.

“Good morning, Ms. Celeste Trevor, right? Your sister already told me about you’ll be coming, have a sit,” she pointed her hands to the sit in front of her desk.

“Thank you for accepting me, I promise I won’t disappoint you,” she assures the old lady.

“Let’s walk to the classes, you’ll be taking the physical education activities that are sports so I’ll entrust them to you, I hope you understand.” The old lady smiled as they walked down to the classes, in front of the whole class.

Celeste thought, it was going to be hard getting a job but her clever sister had already gotten one for her smoothly well, she worked as a doctor in the town hospital. She vowed to take this chance and work harder to earn a lot of money.

“Good morning Ms. Trevor,” the children echoed as they stood to greet them.

“Thank you all, for the welcoming greeting.” She nodded to the mistress as she left the kids to her. The children sat down and the class began.

BACK TO THE SCHOOL WITH NEIL

They got a lift from the charming policeman that was close to Neil’s new school. She glanced out the tinted back window at her sister who was treating a little girl, injured by falling at her knee. It was a wise decision coming home to forget about everything that happened in the city-based guy. She was too young, very inexperienced.

Even when they were born separately, Celeste and Carly had the characteristics of twins. She was eight years older than her sister and had dark brown eyes that matured with her reddish brown long wavy hair, while her sister is black eyeballs and a short bob. Both sisters loved and cared for each other. Carly was fortunate to have Celeste to be an elder sister after their mother’s death when she was ten years of age. With their father’s support, the two sisters scaled through difficulties.

“Mom, I loved living in the city but I think I’m going to enjoy staying here,” Neil said excited as he walked into the living room beside his mother.

Celeste turned to look at him, Neil, her brave, naughty hot-tempered son was growing quickly day by day without knowing his God–for–sake father, she has to tell him one day and soon. It would be for the better.

“Mom” Neil repeating

She came back to her senses and answered him as she sat on the chair in the dining room, he sat beside her on the chair in front of hers as he moved it.

“I was saying, I like it here,” He commented.

“Really,” she was surprised at his comment.

“Yes, it’s fun, I mean the school is nice and I made a friend,” he smiled.

“Wow! That’s great, who’s he?”

“Uhm, she’s….” he stammered

“Uhmm don’t worry, it’s okay I’m not against you making female friends, I’m happy you’re contented here.”

He stood and hugged his mother. “Thanks, Mom, I love you.”

“And I love you more.” She smiled and replied. “You can go to your room now, I’ll be right back, I need to check on your aunt little patient, he laughed as he left her to go outside and him to his room.