Chapter 12. PEOPLE ARE BETRAYERS

#Malachi's pov

Kyra was standing behind me as I stood in front of my tomb. A few meters from our home is where I was just buried. Except for the wilted flowers on my tombstone, I thought everything was immaculate and tidy. The gravestone had my name, age, and date of death scrawled. It was scribbled below my name. "Beloved son."

"It's beautiful," Kyra spoke. I ignored her compliment and bent a little, then removed the withered flowers.

"We should go inside," I said as I stood up. Kyra and I walked to the door. I pressed the doorbell and waited nervously.

"I don't know what to say to them. I am excited." I said. Kyra knew she had to be ready to say something when the door opened, so she held her tongue. My dad opened the door. He was holding a wine glass and seemed to be somewhat tipsy.

"Who knocked on the door, baby?" That was my mother shouting from the inside. I recognized her voice. It was still the same.

"Nobody else seems to be around. We misunderstood, I suppose." My father answered and began to shut the door. Before he could close, I took a few steps forward.

"Dad, it's me. It's Malachi." I said, reaching out to shake his hand, but he passed right through my palm as though I were made of air.

"He can't see you. He can't hear you, either. We are dead. I had already forgotten that I was a ghost. We are ghosts, Malachi." Kyra spoke.

"Shit! It was useless coming all the way here. I can't believe it was a waste of time. It wasn't worth the risk at all.

"It's not exactly a waste of time. We can still go in, and you can still visit your parents and spend time with them if you want to. They may not be able to see or hear you, but that doesn't mean you can't see or be with them." Kyra spoke.

"Ooh, God! You are smart. Let's go inside and see what's happening." I said, and Kyra nodded. I pushed the door open, and we both stepped in.

"Huh! A party? Really?" That was my mind wondering. There were many few people, some relatives and my parent's friends. There was also some soft music playing.

"I can't believe it. They seem so happy, and I just died a few weeks ago." I said sadly, looking at my mom, who was dancing to the music. She seemed happy, and so was everyone else.

As I took stock of my surroundings, I couldn't help but feel cheated. After losing me, how could my loved ones seem so composed? "Shit! They've got to be kidding me. They invited them too?" I asked, no one looking at Pete, who was dancing with Zoe.

"Who are they?" Kyra asked.

"Pete, the bastard who killed me and Zoe, my girlfriend. I can't believe she already went back to him." I paused for a sec to gasp some air.

"Did she ever love me? Or she was just faking?"

"Maybe she did but now that you are dead.....she can't be with you anymore."

"I swear it's Pete forcing her to be with him. Zoe doesn't love him. She loves me." I said furiously, turning a blind eye to the fact that Zoe seemed happy. She was clinging to Pete's body.

"I think she loves him." That was Kyra speaking after Zoe kissed Pete.

"Shit! people, are betrayers," I retorted.

My parents stepped to the front a few minutes after the music stopped.

"I wonder what this party is all about. ".

"I guess we are about to know," Kyra spoke.

" I am very thrilled that you all made it. That was my mum speaking, and I could not believe her. How on earth would my parents be rejoicing that I died? I Am delighted that you came to celebrate Malachi's life."

"Malachi was a very disturbed kid. I can't even believe he poisoned himself." My mom added.

"Disturbed? Mom?" I asked myself. How on earth does she think I was disturbed? And that I poisoned myself?"

"Did you poison yourself?" Kyra asked with her eyes widened.

"Hell no. Pete poisoned me. Why would I even kill myself, Kyra?" I yelled at her.

"Sorry. It's only that your mom...

"I don't know what the heck is wrong with her. I believed she loved me. I believed she knew me." I kept chatting frantically. I stopped speaking and concentrated on my dad, who was now talking.

"A friend of ours told us there is no point in living in grief. That was my dad. Yes, our son died but there is nothing we can do to bring him back. That's why we are celebrating the life of our son, to finally say goodbye forever."

"And thanks to Mr Cameron who forced us to move on. I don't regret him doing that. " My mom spoke, referring to Pete's dad.

"Neither do I have any regrets about it. After a long time, we are beginning to get our lives back. No matter how much we miss our son, we are so happy." My dad gave her a passionate kiss, and my mom made an addition. They appeared to be in good spirits. They were no longer concerned with it.

"Come on guys. Let's celebrate and let the dead remain dead." That was Pete's dad talking from the DJ's table.

"My dad is right we should be happy. Malachi lived his life and we should live ours." Pete said he was standing next to his dad.

"To Malachi. He was a good friend." Pete said, lifting his glass.

"To Malachi." Everyone responded, lifting their glasses.

"They are so unbelievable. They don't even miss me." I said as the music played back, and everyone continued dancing along.

"Let's go. It was stupid coming back." I said and started walking. Kyra followed me.

****

We departed from our residence and returned to Billy's. We barely even exchanged words with each other. My parents had already moved on, and I was still bitter about it.

I took a pack of cigarettes from my side B pocket, lit one, and began inhaling.

For some reason, smoking cigarettes has always helped me relax.

"Do you want some?" I asked Kyra, and she nodded. I handed her one piece and then helped her to light it up.

"I am so sorry, Malachi.....for what happened back there."

"Thanks, Kyra. It's finally good to know what my parents thought of me."

We finally arrived at Billy's and found Billy, Alexa and Jona sitting down. They were talking and laughing so loud.

"Finally you are back. What have you been up to?" Billy asked

"Nothing. " I responded and jumped on the bed.

"Huh! Seems like you did not have a good time. How did it go with your folks?" Billy asked

"None of your business, Billy. You don't need to know."

"What with the attitude roomie?" He continued.

"He doesn't want to talk about it. Leave him, Billy." Kyra spoke.

"Ok, whatever you say. I don't even know why I am concerned. I shouldn't even care." Billy said.

"Then don't," I spoke back at him.

"Yeah, it's not my business that you kinda got a disappointment from your parents. "

"Shut up! Shut up, Billy." I yelled.

"Can you guys stop? We shouldn't be fighting. You Billy leave Malachi alone. If he doesn't wanna talk about it, then well." Alexa spoke.

"Yeah. I am with Alexa." Kyra said and hopped in bed.

"Whatever," Billy said and then dipped his hands in his pockets. He removed a joint and lit it up.

"I gotta go relax my head." He said and walked outside.

I closed my eyes and let myself remember every detail of my home.