7 Noctiphany

Later that night, after tucking in Seraphina on his sofa bed. He let her fall asleep first and kissed her forehead. Kairo laid down on his makeshift bed, tightly shut his eyes and tried to sleep. After several minutes and hours of tossing himself to sleep, he still had his consciousness and his brain is just full of thoughts. Maybe, that is the reason why he couldn't sleep.

It is eleven forty-seven in the evening, as his phone showed him. He stood up harshly, opened his fridge, and grab an unopened bottle of beer. There were three leftover bottles from the other night his friends surprisingly visit him. 'This should help', he thought. Once he heard the popping sound of the liquid, he immediately took a big gulp, opened his window, and sat on the window pane.

It was a quiet night, full moon, clear sky. The moon is shining so bright that he can see the things outside without any help from the lamp posts. Even the cats that were scavenging the trashcans to look for something to eat. Kairo stared at the moon and sighed. He and Kean were both a fan of stargazing and the idea of staring at the moon. 'He wants to be an astronaut and walk unto the moon'.

If Kean is still alive, they are both probably staring and mesmerizing at the moon right now.

'Move on, Kairo. Kean's in a better place now and probably enjoying himself on the paradise' he chuckles at his thought. However, that thought only lasted for a short moment because he was contradicted by his other self. 'But what if he's crying and waiting for me there?'

The feeling is back. The heavy pounding on his chest, his feet, and hands are getting cold and numb, he even need to control his breathing to be able to breathe properly. He can feel it. The 'darkness' is trying to succumb to him… again, 'this is not good'. He's in pain--- emotionally. Kairo knew that he needs to do something to stop this pain.

He guzzled the beer until he ran out of it but it wasn't of any help. Kairo can still feel the urge of hurting himself. His legs are starting to shake rapidly. He kept on fidgeting his fingers just to take the numbness away.

'What will happen if I jump out of this window?'.

Out of the blue, he glanced at the sleeping girl. Her back is facing him. And there it is again, the heavy feeling is starting to drift away.

Kairo's thoughts about his brother were replaced by the fact that Seraphina might have had a family in the first place. Don't get him wrong. He's glad, at first, to know that Jasper could have found Seraphina's family. But as he kept thinking that, Kairo couldn't help but to have doubts about this 'family' Jasper talked about. Like how come they didn't post anything about her disappearance.

Yet, he knew that he couldn't let this thing pass. So he accepted Jasper's proposal to meet them up.

It is past lunch when Kairo and Seraphina were fetched in their apartment. Jasper told him that Seraphina's family wanted to meet them at a fancy restaurant in Belmont. Seems like Seraphina came from a rich family. There is no quiet time inside the car with Dave driving, Charli on the passenger seat, and the three of them in the backseat. Dave, Charli, and Jasper just kept on blabbering about things and how excited they are because Seraphina finally found her family. It even looks like they are more excited than her.

Meanwhile, Kairo is just staring outside the window. Scrutinizing the road being filled with smokes and people rushing through their jobs. He doesn't know why he couldn't feel any pinch of happiness or excitement on his system about this meetup stuff. Maybe it is because he is not the one who found her family but Jasper. He just doesn't know.

They finally arrived at the hotel and walked straight to the restaurant. Charli and Dave didn't come with them saying that it was their business and they did not want to meddle with it. Kairo didn't notice that he's been holding Seraphina's hands tightly.

"Good afternoon." They were greeted by a man wearing a two-piece suit. "Do you have any reservations, sir, madam?" he asked.

"Uh, none. But we're here to meet Mr. and Mrs. Peter Matthias." It is Jasper who answered.

"This way, sir." There are only a few people inside the restaurant. More on those who decided to have their fancy lunch outside with their officemates, business partners, or just someone who wants to feel a little bit fancy.

The table is placed on the corner near the window. It is distant from any other table. So he assumed that it is a V.I.P reserved table. The table is covered with white linen with a navy blue cloth placed across it and paired with a navy blue c-shaped couch. The table is enough for five to six persons to fit.

Kairo glanced at Seraphina. She's smiling but he couldn't feel any excitement from her. He gently squeezed her hand.

"Are you sure about this couple you are talking about?" finally, Kairo found the confidence to ask his friend.

"Yes, it wasn't actually them that I have talked with but their secretary. He told me that Mr. and Mrs. Matthias are looking for their lost daughter for almost twenty years." Jasper stated. His voice is filled with assurance that this couple might be Seraphina's parents.

"There is also a possibility that they are her legit family, you know. Plus, who are we not to allow both of them to see each other, right? There's no harm in trying."

Kairo is still about to say something when a couple--- he presumed--- stood by their table.

They were greeted by a sophisticated woman in her mid-forties wearing a beige boat neck top paired with a black pencil skirt and a black coat on her shoulders. On her side is a six-foot-tall man probably just the same age as his wife wearing a black three-piece suit. He was surrounded by an intimidating aura that shouts wealth and power.

Jasper stood up and smile widely. "Good afternoon, sir, madam. It's nice to meet you."

The woman smiles and greets him back. "Good afternoon, you must be Jasper."

Before Jasper could've introduced them. The woman's eyes started to glisten with tears as she met the pair of innocent grey eyes of Seraphina. Mr. Matthias held his wife when she almost fell on the floor.

"Our daughter, Pete." The lady kept on mumbling those words as she cried oh his husband's shoulders.

After Mrs. Matthias composed herself. She immediately told them the story of how she lost Seraphina and how it almost drove her crazy. Mrs. Matthias suffered from postpartum trauma that she didn't like to see nor hold Seraphina. There was a time where she tried to kill her daughter that's why Mr. Matthias decided to give Seraphina to one of his maids. Little did he know that this maid is crazy that she thought Seraphina was hers.

She ran away with the infant Seraphina in her arms.

"Look at her Pete. She grew up so well." Mrs. Matthias said while caressing Seraphina's cheeks. Her eyes are still sparkling with tears but it couldn't hide the fact that it is because of happiness.

"But why is her hair white?" asked Kairo.

"She was diagnosed with albinism when she's still a baby." Mr. Matthias answered.

"If you don't mind. We would like her to come with us as soon as possible."

"But---," Kairo was cut off by Jasper.

"Sure." He replied.

Kairo didn't even get the chance to say a proper goodbye to Seraphina. After Jasper agreed to them which makes Kairo feel so annoyed. Because it should be him--- the one who is responsible--- to make decisions for her and not Jasper. He's the one who found Seraphina and not Jasper. So instead of going out with his friends. He just went home.

He found himself standing outside his doorstep. Staring. He doesn't even have the guts to insert the key to the keyhole. It's because Kairo knew that once he opens his door, it'll only be pure silence that will welcome him.