MEMORIES

𝑁𝑖𝑛𝑜

I towelled myself as I climbed out of the tub, the aftermath of his touch was still wrecking my mind. I could have climbed out when he started doing that. What kind of a psycho is he? Who is he? I can't seem to get these thoughts out of my head. I bandaged the towel around me and stepped out, I snuck out a little of my head and peeked. Flashing my eyes through the hallway, praying I don't catch a glimpse of him. The embarrassment still lingers in me.

I crept out and gently scrambles to my room, making sure my heels doesn't leave a sound. Cowering around in my own house? I let out a sigh and snaked to my room. I walked in and let out a relieved sigh, I wonder what would have happened if I bumped into him in the hallway? I dressed in my pink pyjamas and rolled my hair into a topnotch. I squirmed into my bed, lying on my back- I stared aimlessly at the ceiling but I could feel my heart thumping impulsively.

I rested my hand on my chest to hush my thundering heart. I shut my eyes when his face suddenly gleam before me, so close like how he was in the bathroom. I flung my eyes open and shook my head. I cleared off his image but I can't still shake off the idea I was in the bathroom with him, in the same bathtub. I ignored the outrageous beating of my heart when my phone buzzed on the desk, I lazily lifted myself from my bed to the desk. My face tightened at the caller.

I ignored it and drew out the desk chair, I plopped down and switched on my laptop, I switched on my drawing tablet and browsed through my laptop for the recent drawings I was working on. I gaped at the character I was working on as my mind trailed off to those comments from yesterday night.

'𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑,' that comment refused to leave my head. I strive within my power to create the best cartoon and animation but the pressure was too much. And the company is lagging as well.

But no matter the criticism I get from viewers on my animations, I have this notion that a day will come when people appreciate my works. I'm an awful writer when it comes to finding a good plot for an animation. I felt the urge to have my parents beside me in these trying times. My mom was a good storyteller, she was the one who almost inspired most of my dad's animations. But how come one of his animations years ago almost shut down the company?

I was 10 years old when I lost my parents. My uncle, uncle Mark took over the company and ensured it was going well. Then he conveyed me the mantle when I was in my early 20s, I never knew why he handed me the company at such early age until the report came as a bomb he was suffering from lung cancer and will die anytime soon.

I felt cursed because the people who matter to me, who meant the whole world to me all left me behind. My parents left me followed by my uncle. Uncle Mark was unmarried so I got no cousins and as the only child of my parents, I got no siblings except for Joana and Yass who I see as my siblings. I suspended my fingers working frantically on the laptop and lay my head gently against the polished surface of my desk. Recalling the moments I shared with my parents as my eyes welled up with tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

18 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝐴𝑔𝑜

"Dad, what are you doing?" I skid down the stairs to the basement which dad used as his studio. My eyes sight him at his usual spot, moulding a mountain from the plastilina clay in a shabby bowl. My mom condemned that bowl so dad used it for his work.

I jogged down the stairs to him. A smile crept on his lips when he lifted his head and saw me. "You are back from school? Sorry dear, I was so engrossed in what I was doing. I lost track of time."

I shift my gaze from him to the background which is comprised of painting works and sculpted works. Funny how my dad is an animator but still does the work of a full artist. "Mom already did that," I returned the smile he flashed in my direction.

"Dad, what are you doing?" I reiterated my question, narrowing my eyes on the mountain under construction. He used the scooper to remove some parts which got some clay on them. "Are you creating another story?"

"Yes," he replied. His gaze fixed on the mountain as he continued to scoop out unwanted clay. "This time I'm working on a story titled the '𝑀𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑' " He suddenly twirls to me and scared the crap out of me when he did the roaring sound and made a scary face. I jumped back which got him laughing hysterically.

"Dad? What was that for?" I frowned before joining him, giggling.

"Nothing, I just want to see your reaction," his laughter turns into a muffle. "Sorry if I made your soul jump out of your body."

"It's fine," I pulled a stool close to his. Assessing the work he was doing. "So what's the work of this mountain lord? Is he some supernatural being?"

"Yes, he's a mountain God, a denim God." My dad proceeded. "He was born into a poor household with a special gift which no one knew until the time came. He controls the mountains and they do whatever he wants them to do."

"That's a beautiful storyline honey," we held up our heads at the voice of mom. In her hands was a tray of two plates of beef jerky. She placed it on another clean vacant desk and handed me my plate, I smiled and took a piece of beef jerky and chewed it.

Her hand came fondling my hair, she tucked back a strand of my hair behind my ear. I looked up to meet her eyes and they held compassion in them, she glued her gaze on me before piping up. "Sweetheart, why don't you tell daddy how your day in school went?"

I shook my head, I don't want my parents worrying about me. I want to deal with my shit in school- my parents already have a lot to take care of. I feigned not to have heard what she said but her words got my dad's attention and pressed on to tell him what happened. My mom caught sight of two of my classmates bullying me earlier today.

I balk a little and I got no will to speak up. Mom noticed I won't speak and did on my behalf. "I saw two kids who I believed are your classmates making fun of her."

"They were calling her all sorts of names," mom went to elaborate.

"Is that true, honey?" This time I got my dad's full attention. "Is something going on in school we are not conscious of?"

I took a nervous bite from my beef jerky and slowly shook my head but my dad placed his hand on mine and gave a reassuring smile. "Don't be scared to voice out if you are going through rough times in your school."

"Kids in my class make fun of me cause I answer most of the questions, they said if I had an IQ of 200, there's no point in attending school. Some call me Albert Einstein, others call me a nerd."

"You've been going through and you never said a word about it?" Mom queried.

"I don't want to burden you with my school problems. You two already have a lot to take care of." I mumbled and smiled. "I'm fine, you don't have to worry. I can deal with them."

My dad lifted his hand to my face and stroked my cheek, he gaped at me for a moment before inserting. "Sweetheart whatever you are going through in your school, don't hesitate to tell your mother and me. We might be busy with our work but we can suspend that for you."

"You are the only reason we work our ass out for. "You are our treasure, the reason we live." I smiled and nodded.

"Don't let their words get to you, always be you and do what makes you happy." There it comes, their pep talks. I was trying to avoid this by not saying a word but I can't escape it. "If you are the brightest kid in your class, continue being that and don't let their words way you down."

I nodded and continued on my beef jerky.

~~~~~~~~~

I scampered downtown the lanes and alleys that led to my house. My parents never missed a day of picking me up from school, they must be engrossed in their work but no matter how intense or demanding is, one must come to pick me up from school.

For a minute I forgot where I was and twirled, taking in the sweet scent of Christmas, the spirit of Christmas lingered everywhere. The roads were already decorated with Christmas lights. Christmas trees were seen at every corner of Los Angeles streets, I loved Christmas more than every other festival. I smiled and trot home. I halted in front of my house and ogled at the beautiful adornment my parents made in front of our house. I beamed with excitement as I shove the door open.

I was confronted by the enveloping darkness but the only lights that illuminated the room were the lights coming from the Christmas tree, I called out for my parents in the dark but the walls echoed my voice back. "Mom dad?" I called out but no response.

Are they still at the company? I probed in the dark, searching for the switch to turn on the lights.

~~~~~~~

I jerked up when my phone started chiming again. I rubbed the sleep off my eyes, I slept off while thinking of my parents. I looked at the screen of my phone and saw the caller. Isn't he tired of calling? Why is he so persistent?

I picked up the call with a scowl on my face. "What do you want?"

"I'm outside your house? Can we have a word face to face?"