11 Everything
Wham!
I tried to hide my cringe, but I jumped nonetheless.
I was desperate to save myself and never really knew how the conversation with my mother would go.
The thing was, I knew nothing about the people in my surroundings, and it was kind of awkward standing outside the triangular building Riley had brought Fifi and me to.
Before us stood a man in a black tux.
Even before he had hit Riley with his hand by slapping him in the face, I had felt that authoritative presence radiating around him.
Behind the father and the son was a dark blue, fancy-looking automobile. On each side of the man were two guards.
Neither of them flinched as I had when Riley was hit. Somehow, I felt pity for the guy.
My father had never been that violent with me. After that encounter, I was dismissed.
I didn't hesitate to leave.
However, a tiny part of me had wanted to say something to Riley. But of course, I didn't.
I had no business with how a father would discipline his son. Besides, what was he doing anyway? I'm left to wonder why he had done what he had.
The mental image of him kneeling before his father was forever embedded in my memory. Every time I would see Riley, I'd be reminded of the scene.
I took the bus going home, Fifi sat on my shoulders.
The word home felt foreign.
I was in Harrith, far away from my real home. But living the life of Exo, I somehow felt like I belonged here.
It just felt right.
[Fifi apologizes for almost compromising Exo's safety]
A look of dread was painted on Fifi's face. She couldn't look at me. After we reunited, she had not said a word until now.
Pulling the earplugs out of my pants pockets, I exhaled a long tired sigh.
"I wasn't in real danger, Fifi," I replied, feeling sorry for Riley despite what happened.
Riley's intent still danced around my head. I couldn't figure out what he was trying to get from me. He never had the chance to tell me what he had wanted.
My mind was buzzing with so many questions.
Fifi could give them to me, but I don't think it was the right time to ask.
Looking out the window, I fancied gazing at the city.
The nightlife in Harrith didn't die down. It seemed that the deeper the night got, the livelier it became.
[Exo is troubled. Fifi is sorry]
I wanted to be mad at her, but there was nothing to be angry about. It wasn't her fault, no matter what she claimed.
She only acted how an average person would if one were to see someone close to them. I have yet to ask her, but I was certain Rex meant to her more than she would admit.
I mentally scoffed at the idea forming in my head.
Fifi and Rex were becoming living persons in my perspective. Though, I don't think I'll ever have the chance to see Rex.
If we were to play the blame game, I was the one who was at fault.
For rationality purposes, we were both at fault. I was careless, she was careless, and we ended up being trapped by Riley.
But did Riley mean us harm?
He didn't look like the type.
But that wasn't what was running inside my head.
His words, the things he said, I wanted to know more about that. What did he even mean when he mentioned the opposing side?
A few possibilities came to me.
Mind you, reading became my best friend in high school. Hence, I picked up a bit of knowledge here and there. Whether they be fact or fiction, that's for me to decipher.
So, back to the opposing side of Nirvana. I remembered reading this part mentioning a war happening.
Before the different worlds came to be, Nirvana was the only place in existence. However, the Divine wanted to do something about his children's future.
Thus a plan was created. In this plan, one of the Divine's beloved children will be chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice and help his other children find their way back to him.
That was how the nature of man came to be.
However, according to the balance of the Universes, the same as my father's preaching, there must be opposition in all things. Hence, when the selection for the chosen came, another one of the Divine's children protested and wanted to be the chosen one.
Both were given equal opportunities to lay down what they intended to do so they could help the Divine achieve the purpose of sending his children to experience suffering, and pain, to know what real joy was like.
And only one proved to be pure with his intent and was selected to be the chosen.
It was quite obvious what happened next. The one who was not chosen revolted and accused the Divine of being unjust.
Hence, he gathered some of his brothers and sisters to join in the revolt and fought in a war that ended in their banishment from Nirvana.
Yet, the rebellious child didn't stop there. He figured out a way to take his revolt against the Divine to the next level.
When Riley mentioned this opposing side, that narrative about the war between the Divine and the rebels of Nirvana came to mind.
I'm just not confident if it was accurate.
Fifi left her position and hovered before me. She lowered her head, letting her fingers meet, embarrassed and guilty.
[Fifi is sorry. Exo must be furious, thinking that Fifi betrayed him. But Fifi is not capable of doing such a thing]
"It's not your fault, Fifi. I would probably do the same if I were in your shoes."
The pixie looked at her flat shoes, pouting in my direction.
[Exo cannot wear Fifi's shoes!]
I rolled my eyes.
"I didn't mean it that way. Dang it," I took a deep breath. "Judging from our size differences, it was to be expected."
I tried to look dejected, playing pretend.
[...]
[You were joking]
"Yeah, I was."
[Fifi thought…]
[...]
[Is Exo no longer mad at Fifi?]
I pinched the bridge of my nose, pretending to be annoyed when I was hiding the bubble of laughter wanting to burst out of my chest.
It was so tempting to tease her, but I was in no mood to make her feel worse after what happened earlier.
"Fine, I forgive you. But under one condition."
Fifi's eyes lit up and then turned into straight lines. Her lips pouted in my direction again.
[What condition?]
I took a deep breath.
"You need to tell me about everything, Fifi," I paused and narrowed my gaze at her. "And I meant everything."
