CHAPTER 4 BETRAYAL

  The middle school's 57th Annual Day is a vibrant celebration of achievements, marked by prize distributions, cultural performances, and inspiring speeches. Students walk up the stage to receive awards for academics, sports, and extracurriculars, their faces beaming with pride.

  The air buzzes with applause, excitement, and the rhythm of music and dance performances. Parents and teachers watch with admiration as the school’s accomplishments are highlighted.

  In the midst of such an event Orzic is looking for his parents. He found his father who was seated among the other parents but the one person – his mother, to whom he wanted to proudly show his achievements was not here.

  He mutters to him, “What the hell is more important than showing up here? Mother~ where are you” he mumbled in frustration.

  His gaze searched for all the people entering and exiting the building. But he couldn't find her …

  Then the announcement calls for him, “Next we have the child who won first place in the 100 metre dash, ladies and gentlemen please welcome ORZIC!!”

  Applause rains as Orzic hurriedly runs over to get the reward. He nodded at the principal smiling at him recieving price for the seventh time today.

  Feeling awkward, Orzic immediately leaves the stage after the photo was done.

  Then a child next to him asks, “Orzic is that it? Just how many prizes have you won~” he seems to be a naturally curious kid who spent his days sitting next to Orzic.

  Orzic smiles at the kid, “No~ I still have one more prize to receive” feeling restless he checks whether his mother has arrived yet or not.

  Then his friend says that, “Are you looking for someone? If it's your mother I saw her outside the auditorium talking to someone over the phone …” he casually says that without knowing what it means.

  Orzic knowing what it means for her to spend her time outside, the smile on his face vanishes completely. “Wait. What? Why would she ….”

  Then suddenly the announcement calls for him again, “Next we have the child who won first in ‘Talk show a debate on the future of technology’, ladies and gentlemen please welcome ORZIC!!!”

  Applause rains as Orzic hurriedly runs over to get the reward. He nodded at the principal, smiling at him, receiving the prize for the eighth time today.

  Feeling uneasy he immediately runs from the stage in a hurried manner. He hurriedly runs out of the auditorium, his gaze searching for his mother. Then afterwards he found her standing next to a tree, engaging with who seems to be a lawyer over the phone.

  Orzic is determined to get his mother's praise, he tugs at her clothes. “Mother, look at all these prizes~ I've won them all~” he giggles at her.

  But she doesn't even spare him a glance. “Orzic let's talk later okay. Mommy is busy talking with a lawyer. Go back inside …” she didn't even look at what he brought for her.

  Crestfallen Orzic now walks with heavy steps back to the auditorium.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  When he came back with a sad face. His friend guessed what might have happened and why Orzic seemed to be in a bad mood, “Did I say something unnecessarily? If I did, I'm sorry. Orzic please don't look so sad. I'm here for you~” his friend gave a bittersweet smile.

  Orzic carefully placed his prizes on the floor.

  Then he pulled his friend closer for an embrace, “Thanks. At least I have you by my side. I can be rest assured … that one day mother will understand me~” he wiped the tears that were clinging on his cheeks.

  His friend says, “Well it isn't exactly new for your mother to act like that. It will be alright~ all you have to do is give it some time.”

  Orzic thinks for a moment, “If time could solve it then yeah… absolutely I'll wait as long as it takes~”

  His friend smiles back and so the school event continues. With orzic and his friend in the mix.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  That day after the annual event ended, both Orzic's mother and father left early asking him to come home along with their neighbours and his son.

  Why would they both leave abruptly like this? Is there anything that is more important than me, their son?

  Within a few minutes, Orzic reached home. With all the prizes he won, he wants to try showing them to mother. Why? Because one among them is actually glass he got for talking in a debate.

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  “This time mother will definitely have to give me an answer~ hehehehe” he laughs as he walks to his mother's home office.

  As he walks towards the room, sounds of argument are getting more and more audible. Orzic wonders if he is hearing things?

  Why would my calm and collected father and mother be arguing? This doesn't make any sense…

  He walks a few more steps and peaks into the room and listens in on the conversation.

  I'm not eavesdropping… definitely not~ I'm only listening before I have business with my mother. Now let's see what they are talking about…

  Noah takes a step back, his boots clicking hard on the marble stone used in place of titles. “That's… that's… I … I did love you …”

  Why is my dad stuttering? I could never imagine him losing an argument to mother?

  Then she interrupts him by shouting back, “If that was enough why would I seek another guy Noah!!!! Get it through that big brain of yours … our relationship is done.” Then she hands him a set of papers, “These are our divorce papers. Sign them. I've already signed it. If you won't, I'll legally take action.”

  Wait what? What's happening here?

  Noah with his hands querving gets the papers and reads them. A bead of sweat trickles down from his forehead. He argues back, “What about Orzic? Don't you remember how much he loves you. What about him? If he heard this … he'll be devastated …” before he could finish a loud bang of glass shattering is heard.

  Nooooo! Noooo!

  The prizes he had in his hands falls on the ground, hitting the floor hard.

  The sounds of boots clicking hard against the floor can be heard. Noah turns his gaze towards the door which is partially open, “Oh shit. Orzic … my sweet child …” he drops the papers running after Orzic.

  Noah's wife however sighs, “It's not like I never loved you Noah, you just failed to appreciate me that's all there is to it.”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The sky darkens swiftly, as heavy clouds gather, turning the day into a somber gray. The air feels thick and charged, a quiet tension before the storm. In an instant, the first raindrops fall, quickly intensifying into a downpour.

  The sound of rain hitting the ground grows louder, a rhythmic pattern that drowns out everything else. The wind picks up, rustling the trees, and the once calm atmosphere is replaced by the raw, chaotic energy of the storm.

  Orzic, getting wet from the rain, runs as fast as he could, he doesn't know where he wants to go but all he knows now is that his mother is going to get away from him and his father permanently.

  I know that I'm not good enough for you mother but this …. It is sudden and why? …

  His footsteps on the puddle of water on the floor scattering it and dirting his shoe. Even though he runs, he doesn't even turn back.

  Divorce… that means … will I never be able to see mother anymore.

  Then his legs stopped when he reached a park, his legs silently carrying him towards the marry go round. He spins alone in the middle of rain. Contemplating what gone wrong.

  Orzic sits motionless on the spining merry-go-round, the cold rain soaking him to the bone. He doesn’t bother to shield himself; the droplets fall relentlessly, mixing with the tears that trail down his cheeks. His wet hair clings to his face, obscuring his features, but his hazel eyes still shine with an eerie, hollow light—devoid of hope or emotion. His fingers twitch sporadically, as if struggling to regain control of himself, yet his body remains still. The world around him spins in a blur, but his mind is trapped in something far deeper, a storm of frustration hidden beneath the downpour.

  His father who just arrived following after him doesn't know what to do but hurriedly leaves to buy an umbrella…

  Why? … Why decided that … mom … divorce…

  Thoughts swirl in his mind with no end to them. His confusion, his anger, his confidence, his bitterness, his empathy, his apathy, his compassion all of his emotions are flowing through him.

  He doesn't understand. He can't even begin to understand the insanity that his emotions are right this instance.

  Then suddenly his brain shuts down as he falls down from the merry go round. His falling body was caught just in time by his father who just arrived with an umbrella from the home.

  “Oh oh … careful there. Orzic, I didn't want you to witness that … but I was so caught up that I even forgot to close the door. I'm sorry my son, … Oh my sweet child…” Orzic's father – Noah's face crumbles in guilt.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  The early morning light spills gently through the large blue-themed room, filtering in through the grand windows that blur the line between the indoors and the world outside.

  The soft rustling of the curtains dances with the gentle morning breeze, carrying the faint melody of birds chirping. Warm golden rays stretch across the room, casting a serene glow.

  On the bed, two figures lie nestled in slumber. One sleeps undisturbed, her breath slow and steady, lost in peaceful dreams.

  The other stirs restlessly, his brows furrowed, shifting uneasily as if trapped in a nightmare. His fingers twitch against the sheets, a quiet contrast to the tranquil morning unfolding beyond the window.

  Orzic mutters, “Mother~ … Don't …” between pained gasps.

  And then suddenly as his eyebrows twitch he wakes up from slumber. As the consciousness returns to him, he feels as though a gaping hole is carved through his heart.

  He sat upright, with a palm on his forehead. He mutters, “Why? … It's been more than a decade. Yet … I'm still living in past”

  As he wondered, Why now?, a sudden warmth enveloped him. From behind, a pair of arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a silent embrace—gentle yet firm, as if trying to anchor him in the moment.

  He asks, “Kira. What are you? …” his distant gaze looking at nature's view through the window.

  Kira with a gentle voice says, “It doesn't matter… I'm still here for you. Always~” her palm weaving through his skin.

  His eyes widened in astonishment, lips parting slightly as the unexpected moment unfolded before him. Then, slowly, the shock melted away, replaced by a radiant smile—one that reached his eyes, making them sparkle with warmth.

  A soft laugh escaped him, the kind that carried both disbelief and pure joy, as her heart swelled with the delight of the surprise.

  Orzic thinks about it, “I wouldn't doubt it …” as he gets up for another day of college. Then as his gaze lands on the clock nearby, “Oh my god! It's already 7 am? Kira, get ready or we'll be late for college…”

  They both hurriedly start getting ready for college, one pushing over the other. A chaotic morning indeed.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  A loud bang sounds from the spoon hitting the wall. Unicus who just woke up screams frustrated.

  “You liar … you lied to me!!”

  It's been few months since that day when he remembered his mother. He has been having episodes like this ever since.

  Mellona is silently picking up the spoon that was thrown and placing it where it belongs. “What's your problem Unicus? … Why are you doing this? …”

  Unicus, refusing to answer, covers himself in a blanket.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Mellona, feeling he might not answer again, sighs “Kids should act their age…”

  She gets up and places the food she brought for him at a table nearby his bed. She quietly leaves, closing the door.

  Just how long is he gonna make us suffer through this? That idiot…

  As she was thinking about it, she peeks into the room through the door. She sees Unicus begrudgingly eating his food.

  No matter how stubborn he is … he still eats his food. Who taught him that? It's like … instinct to him.

  Mellona can't help but wonder why he behaves like that. She scratches her cheeks in thought but nothing comes to mind.

  She closes the door and walks off towards the kitchen. There she meets Vanilla. She seems anxious for some reason.

  “What's the matter? Vanilla, you are acting weird.”

  Vanilla paced back and forth, her footsteps restless against the floor. Her teeth grazed her nails, a nervous habit she couldn't shake. Her brows were furrowed, her Aqua eyes darting toward the sand clock every few seconds as if willing time to move faster—or slower. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with tension.

  Her fingers trembled slightly as she ran them through her heron white hair, her mind racing through worst-case scenarios. Why was this taking so long? The uncertainty gnawed at her, each passing second stretching unbearably.

  Hearing Mellona's voice, Vanilla flinched in response. Her face lit up but darken immediately.

  “What took you so long? Anyways, how is Unicus? Is he eating properly”

  Mellona snickers at her, “Well … considering how he gets unconscious whenever you are nearby … it honestly couldn't get any worse~”

  Vanilla gently taps her shoulder, “Don’t say that. Everyone has times like this … we should stay by his side and find out what's wrong with him”

  Mellona thinks for a moment with her fingers rubbing over her forehead, “I honestly have no idea, that kid was bizzare from the time he was born anyway. But just when I thought things are looking up, Now this happens~ it's just too much”

  Vanilla nods in agreement, “Yeah. I thought I could finally get to him. But now he faints in my presence … it feels like … am I not a good mother after all?”

  Mellona reassures her, “You know what. Vanilla is a good and capable mother but … the problem lies with Unicus… at least that's what I believe~”

  Vanilla smiles awkwardly, “Sorry for making you worry. I'm alright … I'm gonna take some rest. Finish the rest of the work Mellona” and walks to her room.

  Mellona thinks, “It seems like the stress is getting to her too huh? … Unicus is such a handful … completely unlike a normal child~” and starts working in the kitchen.