A Mistake

Chapter 5- A Mistake

I’m sorry, Dad.

Melo opened his mouth but no words came out, not even a sound. He tried some more just to break the deafening silence. His parents sat still, not making eye contact. He could see his father’s hands, clenching tighter and tighter on the wheels, and hearing his mother gritting her teeth.

His mother pounded her chest with her fist.

Melo was horror-struck. His breathing quickened. He remembered how he felt when he was standing in front of his school door.

His mother pounded her chest with her fist, once more. Harder this time.

Melo’s vision pulsated as his mother continuously pounded at her chest, harder and harder than the last time. His mother and father gritted their teeth, making eeking sounds, piercing his ears.

He opened his mouth again, forcing even a small squeak to come out, but nothing.

He tried once more and as the sound of her rhythmic pounding of her chest and the gritting teeth grew louder, he pressed his palms on his ears and gathered the twisting turmoil building in his chest and let out one loud blow,

“SORRY---”

His mother and father turned their seats around within seconds, their eyes bloodshot red, fingers and arms disturbingly disproportionate and elongated with sharp pointy nails, pointing at him. The car shuddered like a strong earthquake. His parents’ necks continued to elongate, sounds of ripping fabric echoed as their bodies widened. They loomed over the poor child’s head.

“WE TOLD YOU NOT TO OPEN THE DOOOOOR!” Both of them screeched

“Monsters!” Melo screamed. He closed his eyes tightly and pressed his palms on his ears harder but the voices seemed to creep between the spaces of his fingers. “No. No. Please stop. Please stay away. Stay away. Nanny! I want Nanny!”

You are useless!

You piece of ****!

You should have died!

You are useless!

Nobody wants you!

The voices echoed in Melo’s mind, repeating over and over their words, screaming and whispering in his head.

I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry, Dad.

Melo balled his eyes out, screaming as he cried until his breathing pipes closed. He could not breathe. His eyes widened and rolled back. And everything turned black.

Meanwhile, the children that Melo met went hiding behind the piled rubble near the seemingly abandoned tunnel.

“Bouda!” the two youngest kids said while watching Melo’s dad drag him back to their car.

“He’s not the Bouda, but he is worse than it.” Aeshua hissed.

“Aeshua, Let’s go home. Nana might be looking for you. We found Toro already.” The eldest among the three boys said as he grabbed on Aeshua, dragging her with all his might.

“It’s him, Jim.” Aeshua said.

“He’s found us.” She added.

* * * * * * * * *

Monsters. They are Monsters.

Melo mumbled.

“Melo, wake up, sweetie.”

He heard a soft, gentle voice but the moment Melo opened his eyes, he was taken aback his seat and he shouted frantically,

“STAY AWAY, MONSTERS!”

His mother gasped.

“Sweetie! What happened? You startled me.” Mrs. Daetes said

“Son, that’s no way to talk to your mother. What’s gotten into you?” Mr. Daetes added.

Melo’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not mad at me Dad?”

His dad chuckled. “Why would I be mad at you? All you did was sleep the whole car ride.”

Was that all a dream? No. I felt it. It was real. He thought.

“But there was this puppy, Dad. And weird kids,” Melo added.

“Son, we haven’t stopped since we reached the gates of Dychophalm. What are you talking about?” His dad explained.

“Oh,” Mrs. Dates butted as she placed her hand on Mr. Daetes arm. “Honey, it’s probably exhaustion due to the long ride. Maybe you could pull over to the nearest café. Let’s grab something to eat and drink. Besides, I might need a stretch or two.”

“Okie dokie. Wife says, husband complies.” Mr. Daetes replied, steering the wheels gently while scanning the area where the closest café was.

Melo’s eyes narrowed skeptically, his brows creased. Was that really a dream?

He watched as his parents talked naturally with each other. Yeah, Melo, think about it! They can’t just go... 360 baby!... BAM! We are not monsters anymore. And with how deformed their bodies were, it’s impossible it’s true.

He let out a huge breath, falling back into his seat. He stared outside and his terror dissolved as his eyes widened, jaws dropped. He pressed his face on the car window beside him, “Wow! This is what the city looks like?”

The city was nothing compared to their small town. The way people mostly dressed in their business attires, brushing past each other. The wonderful skyscrapers Nanny told him, amazing modern cars, and garbage free streets. People walk their cats as large as medium sized dogs. He scanned the area if they came across an arcade booth where you could play virtually along the street but for a certain allotted time.

They stopped for a while at La Partdita and grabbed some coffee and snacks. Then they proceeded to Mrs. Daetes' office. Mr. Daetes told Melo and his mother to stay in the car and wait for him but Melo insisted that he wanted to see his father’s office. And just as Melo remembered, the skyscraper that almost seemed closest to the clouds. Melo felt hazy due to the pressure but still awed as he stared down the glass windows.

“Wow dad. You work in the sky!” He screamed as his voice echoed across the room

“You could say that. I’ll be quick. Just need to check up on things at work. I’ll be back in a minute” His father said and left.

“No wonder dad works ‘till late night.” Melo blurted.

“Why did you say that?” His mother asked in amusement.

“In the morning it’s like he is floating above the sky and at night, he is closer to the moon and stars.” Melo replied.

“Hmm sounds like a legitimate reason but would you like daddy always working late?” His mother asked.

Melo paused for a while and looked at his mother who was smiling back at him. “No. I’d prefer him this way.”

“I’d prefer us this way.”

His mother rushed to his side and hugged him tight. “Of course, sweetie. We will stay this way. I promise” Mrs’ Daetes paused for a while.

“...just promise you’ll never leave our side again.”

Chills creeped down his spine. Melo stayed quiet.

Knock, Knock, Knock

“Are you guys ready to hit the road once again?” His father said.

The three of them explored the city. They also visited his mother’s bakery shop and bought a couple of croissants and coffee buns. To maximize their limited time, Melo’s dad suggested that they split ways. Since her mother has an eye for beauty, he asked Mrs. Daetes to be the one to choose the furniture while he and Melo would be playing in the virtual arcade. As they were walking towards the arcade booth, they passed a pet shop.

Melo stopped for a while and looked at the cutesy puppies kittens on display.

“Dad, am I allowed to have a pet?” He asked.

“Well, son. I need to ask you a question as well. Are you ready for the responsibility attached with having a pet?” His father replied.

Melo thought for a while. “Dad, it’s a puppy. All they do is eat, wee, and poop. How hard could it be?” Melo snickered.

His dad placed his palm on his nape. “How hard could it be, huh?” He shook his head. “That’s what we thought when we had you.” He whispered.

“What’s that dad?” Melo asked.

His dad smirked. He knelt to Melo’s eye level. “Son, having a puppy is a great responsibility. Yes they eat, wee and poo but it's going to be your responsibility to feed, wash, and clean its wee and poo.”

Hmmm, so I guess it didn’t really happen. Dad wouldn’t just get a puppy because he doesn’t like a messy house. He thought.

“But Anne can do all that, right?” Melo replied.

“Well, technically she can but how will you learn about responsibility? Plus, they are cute and cuddly now. But what happens if they are no longer cute?”

Melo paused again and thought. “Why do they need to grow up? Then I’ll just look for a puppy that will stay small.”

His dad sighed. “Son, why don’t we go to the virtual booth for a while then once we get home, let’s talk about having a family addition.”

“Family addition? I’m gonna be a big brother?” He asked with surprise in his eyes.

His father laughed. “No son. Although, having a pet is like having a baby brother or sister.”

“Oh..” he said “is that right?”

‘Come on. Time is running out. Let’s go have fun” His dad ushered him to move along.

“Dad, can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah, sure son. What is it?” His dad responded.

“I’ve been having these bad dreams lately. Why am I having these scary dreams?” shyly, he asked.

His father stopped walking and fell silent. Melo turned his head up and looked at him.

“Hmm. I am not sure how to answer your question, son. Dreams just appear out of nowhere, you know? They are just pigments of our imagination. A form of way to remind us that the brain never stops working even as we close our eyes” His dad answered.

His dad’s phone chimes.

“Oh hold that thought. I think it’s your mom. She might be done with shopping.” His dad said.

Indeed, it was Mrs. Daetes. Melo’s dad explained to Melo that they’ll just visit the virtual booth next time and that his mom needed help in the store. They rushed to her location and loaded the furniture on the trunk. They covered the furniture with water-resistant cloth to prevent it from getting wet from sudden rain or getting covered with too much dust. Since they had little time left, the family decided that they will visit the city once again next weekend and stay there for two days at most.

Their ride home seemed shorter than their ride going to the city and all throughout the car ride, Melo slept peacefully. Mr. Daetes carefully carried Melo to his temporary bed and closed the door behind them gently.

“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Daetes” Nanny said with a quiet, sweet voice.

“Nanny!” The couple gasp in surprise with a touch of fear. “Nanny, we didn’t---”

Nanny placed her forefinger on his lips and shushed the couple. Her facial reaction immediately changed. She squinted her eyes, and took a deep, slow, breath. She gave the couple an icy glare.

“Silence!” Her voice modulated. She took another deep breath and crossed her arms. “You might wake the kid up. Let’s go. There’s a lot we need to discuss. You almost screwed up this time.” The couple hunched their backs, pursed their lips. Their eyes could not even look at Nanny’s way.

“Come with me.” Nanny said as she led them down to the maid quarters and into her room. She closed the door slowly, making sure nobody followed them.