Arriving At Finland

HELSINKI- VANTAA AIRPORT,6:00pm

He strode out of the airport with his luggage, feeling nauseous and tired. It had been a long time since he travelled, for ten hours at that. It was a long flight that got him frustrated but seeing a beautiful view of the sky took his frustration away.

“How beautiful.” He murmured to himself as he brought out his phone to take a picture. It had been a long time since he paid attention to what he thought were the little things of life.

“Mr Ethan Elias?” a young man holding a cardboard with his name on it suddenly rushed towards him.

Ethan who didn’t expect anyone to come get him at the airport became confused, his mother didn’t tell him about that in her letter and besides it was getting late so who the hell was this guy? Was he some kind of seer thief or what?

“My name is Mateo, your personal chauffeur. I’ll be taking you to your destination.” The young man had a warm smile on his face like he was excited to see his young boss.

“Oh, hi Mateo, I wasn’t expecting anyone to pick me at the airport so…” Ethan had a protective look on his face. He didn’t know this person from anywhere and how he knew his name was a mystery to him. He held unto his luggage tightly.

“You don’t have to worry Mr Ethan, please be rest assured that you are in safe hands. We have to leave here on time so that you can have dinner and then rest before the burial tomorrow plus there are a lot of things you need to handle before the burial as the first son of Mrs Elias.” Mateo spoke quickly, checking his wrist watch.

“What do you mean by first son, I’m her only son and child.” What was this man saying? I’m her only child, right?

“Ah… erm we have to leave now; your family must be waiting for you.” He took his luggage from his hand and placed it in the trunk of a black Camry parked a few meters away from them and then opened the door of the backseat, waiting for him to get in.

Ethan who didn’t want to believe him had no other choice than to believe him since he knew his mother but family? He had no family… none at all.

“Mr Ethan?” Mateo interrupted his train of thought.

“Oh!” he exclaimed before entering into the car. He was curious about what Mateo said earlier, did he really have a family?

Mateo sat on the driver’s seat and then drove off.

“What do you know about my family…” Ethan couldn’t help but ask.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me that sir, I wasn’t told to provide you with information about your family. I hope you wouldn’t make it any difficult for me sir.” Mateo spoke politely as he kept his eyes on the road. He regretted ever mentioning his family to him. He hoped his young boss would just let it go.

“Oh, ok but can I just… I mean… I don’t know who my siblings are, what their names are and how old they are… don’t you find it funny?” he stared at his palms not wanting to make eye contact with his chauffeur, he felt so embarrassed. How could he not know who his siblings are?

“Erm… well, you have three siblings; Sebastian, Marlow and Amelia. Sebastian is thirty-four years old and is the vice president of your father’s hotel, Marlow is twenty-six years old and has just completed his four years culinary programme and is also planning on opening his own restaurant soon while your sister, Amelia clocked eighteen this year and is currently in college.” He couldn’t help but give him little information about his siblings. For someone who had never met his siblings before, he felt pity for him.

“I actually have three siblings…” He murmured to himself, unable to assimilate what he just heard.

“But my mother never told me anything about her remarriage.” He whispered to himself trying to hold back the tears in his eyes. He felt like a fool, his mother made him a fool.

“She was happy without me after all.” He chuckled sadly, chewing on his fingernails. He felt anger surging through him as he suddenly realised something… He suddenly realised that his mother had abandoned him because she had a new family. She never for once tried to reach out to him throughout those twenty years he had spent in America… not even once. All she ever did was provide finances for his schooling and feeding.

He bit his lips accepting the bitter truth that his mother had betrayed him. He took deep breaths with his eyes closed until he fell asleep.