Wake

"Did you hear about their neighbor? Got possessed just days after moving in," whispered a woman, glancing around nervously.

"And now his parents, that kid is dangerous," murmured another woman, leaning in closer.

"Apparently, it's been like this for years," added a third, her voice barely above a whisper. "That poor kid's been exorcised so many times. They say his body is like a magnet for demons."

"Or maybe it's because he's a demon himself?" another muttered, her eyes wide with intrigue.

"My goodness," they gasped, shaking their heads.

The women at the funeral service shared a conversation, and Alley heard every word. He stood at the entrance of the wake, oblivious to any whispers, or anything he didn't want to hear.

He looked at the pictures of his parents at the altar, full of white flowers arranged neatly. The framed pictures of his smiling parents were propped beside the urns of their ashes.

Finally, he decided to enter. He saw Asher sleeping alone in the grieving family's area, where they received bows from visitors, and he walked closer.

Sitting beside Asher, the child stirred and woke up. Alley smiled at him, and the little one threw himself at him in a hug.

"Brother..." Asher broke into tears.

"Were you a good boy at Auntie's?" Alley asked, feeling Asher nod on his shoulder. He continued to pat his back until he calmed down and broke off from the embrace.

"That's good. You did good," Alley said with a faint smile.

"After your call yesterday, we headed to set up the wake." Asher looked at him with worry. "But brother, are you okay?"

He tried to smile, wondering if the child remembered what happened. Yet the image of Asher's face when he saw that form of his prompted him not to ask. "Of course. I had to rest in the hospital for a bit, but I was okay since yesterday," he explained, and Asher nodded.

Cressila entered the wake, coming from a group of visitors. She sat beside the brothers and pinned a small white ribbon on the left lining of Alley's black suit.

"You're late. You should have been here since morning," she told Alley.

He smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I had to go to the police station first," he explained, adjusting the pinned ribbon. "Thank you, Auntie."

She sighed and ruffled his hair. "Do something with your hair. You look gloomy." She stood up and brushed her long black skirt. "Take care of Asher for now. I'll go and assist the visitors."

Alley nodded. "What about Uncle?" he asked, referring to her husband, Thomas.

She let out a deep breath and took out her phone. "Don't worry about him. He's at work," she replied, and he nodded, watching her exit.

Alley's gaze scanned the opposite room where visitors gathered to talk and get refreshments. It was full of people from their neighborhood and his parents' colleagues. Some familiar faces avoided his gaze and continued talking among themselves.

None of his classmates attended, or anyone from his school. He figured they didn't know, or Alley supposed being involved with him was a bad decision.

More people came in, gave a flower to the altar, and paid respects by full bowing twice to the altar, and once to the grieving family. They didn't speak to him or spare a glance, just went on their way after putting burial money in the box beside him.

Dusk came, and Alley spent the entire day receiving bows.

Now, only his relatives remained. He could hear his parents' names from across the room, as some of his uncles were already drunk. They talked about the café restaurant, him, his brother, and a new guardian.

He had put the pieces together and figured they were arguing about who should take the restaurant and their parents' savings.

No one knew in that room that it had already been decided, so he just relaxed his back against the wall, watching Asher sleep.

A loud bang from a table set off, and one of his uncles, drunk and loose-mouthed, stood up. "What I'm saying is…" He loosened his necktie. "I'm the eldest, so naturally, I would be the acting guardian!"

"Hah! But you're busy! You have a wife, but you also seek another at that place! You can't be the guardian," the youngest said, staring at the eldest.

"What did you say?" He moved forward, trying to focus his eyes on the other's face. "How dare you run your mouth like that! And to me! I'm your older brother! You punk!" He grabbed him by the collar and pushed him to a table across from them.

Alley only stared at the fight, covering Asher's ears to keep him from waking. He had seen worse fights between them. He saw his aunt standing between the brothers and immediately shouting at them to stop.

"Seriously," she said, and everyone listened. "The person who will take care of our nieces is also the person who will manage the café restaurant and hold the savings until Alley turns 18 next year. Then, he'll decide what to do with everything." She signaled for him, and he walked to them. "He'll tell you who that guardian is."

Alley stared at the eager eyes of his uncles and aunts, waiting to hear the news. "Everyone knows who was closest to Ma and Pa." He scanned their faces. "And it's Aunt Silla."

"WHAT?!" Loud arguments and reactions filled the room, and Cressila stood up once again. She shrugged and gestured for them to stop and be quiet. "It was our sister's decision. Please accept that and let's finally have some peace."

"And…" Alley added, and everyone's heads turned to listen. 

"I only know Aunt Silla because she's been frequently visiting us. It's been years since I last saw you all. I thought you were strangers. Thank you for coming." He bowed one last time and exited the room to go back beside his brother, as the whole room went silent.

Before making it to Asher, he saw Pierrot walking toward him, waving as they met eyes, and he stood waiting.

"How ya feeling?" Pierrot ruffled his hair while glancing at his relatives.

"I feel fine," replied Alley.

"Good, good." He bowed when he met eyes with Cressila. "Since tomorrow's the meeting with the Archbishop."

"Do I really have to meet with him?" He looked down.

"You'll be fine~ Don't ya worry."

He looked at the beaming pale man in front, with hair in a low ponytail.

Alley nodded, yet still unsure if he could trust that grin...