A young, thin, frail and quiet childーthat was all what my parents left behind.
I remember lifting my head high in the funeral. Perhaps it looked as if I ruthless at the death of the two, but it was simply because I couldn't care less.
Relief budded within my chest.
The strong, mixed stench of alcohol and a woman's perfume were no where; not anymore. Not anywhere around me. Neither did I ever need them, nor did they ever need me. Our relationship extended as far as that of a caretaker and a child's, because a caretaker is only paid to watch the child so.
Regardless, they weren't bad parents, since they gave me food to eat, enough to make me survive. But they weren't good parents either. Perhaps that was why I felt so unfazed that evening.
That very same evening, at the empty funeral, all relatives from wrinkled old men and women to little children came to give their condolences.
They surely 'came to give their condolences', but deep inside I knew they really didn't care about the death of my two parents. And I understood whyーwho would possibly feel bad for a violent drunkard and an equally hostile cheating wife?
However, as I stood in the front seat, dazing at the two's coffins, approached a middle-aged man.
"Hello, boy," he called. Hunching down, staring at me with a strong yet gentle gaze.
"Hello, sir."
"It must've been a bad day. I'm sorry you had to go through this."
"Not at all, sir."
The man turned around, slowly pulling in, a woman who looked his age. She had a warm expression. Drooping, lovely brown eyes and a tidy bun that gave off a delicate feeling.
"This is my wife, boy," he grinned, almost as if he was bragging.
"I see."
"We'll be family from now on, boy," he knelt down, facing me face-to-face, and pet my shoulder.
Two warm people clad in black.
They were welcoming.
So welcoming, that I didn't know such a couple and 'those' two would coexist in the same universe and time.
Even though I wasn't used to that warmth, somehow, the heavy lump blocking my chest had disappeared. And my heart was filled with warmth I have never felt before.
I stood up from the chair, bowing.
"I shall be in your care; sir, madame."
xxxxx
"So, are you satisfied with your grades?"
"Yeah, dad."
"Why was I asking that again? You always get perfect scores!" he lamented.
"Do I, again...?"
"Ohh, my little boy! Just yesterday you were THIS small, THIS short, looking at me with puppy eyes, following me everywhere!"
"Dad... that was nine years ago..."
I certainly don't remember having puppy-like eyes. Instead, I was often told how cold my eyes were.
And the reason I followed him everywhere was probably because I didn't have anything else to do.
"Butーbut now look at you, a young man capable of whatever! A genius, a protege... a cold creature who doesn't even think about anyone... sigh," he hunched a little, driving the car. "Even though you were so cute before..."
"Dad, I'm fifteen now. I graduatedーtoday," I replied. "Pay attention to the road now, will you? Also, it's a prodigy not a protege."
"Yes, yes, whatever you say, smartypants."
I sighed, looking out the car window.
The smell of the green lands, grass and trees excited me, stirring inside me a subtle sensation of nature's refreshing feel.
I couldn't wait to tell mum about my grades.
I wonder how she will react?
xxxxx
My head hurt.
It hurt so much, I wanted to crack my skull open.
Black, everything was black.
I opened my eyes, and saw the horrid sight waiting in front of me.
I was lying down below the car seat, in an awkward, bent position, a position so painful I felt it might just crush my bones.
There was a strong smell of burnt wires, making it almost too difficult to breathe.
"Dad...?"
"Dad?"
"Dad??"
I called out repeatedly, waiting for an answer.
Dad...
was lying motionless in the seat, upside down, just as the car had been flipped upside down, his head so horribly bent it wouldn't be a wonder if he...
....
His neck was so morbidly twisted, I felt a strong lump in my throat and remained paralysed for a while.
The sight really was something to behold.
I should get out.
But how do I move...?
My whole body was numb from shock.
With all my might, I tried to crawl out the small window.
Then, my arms and legs, albeit trembling, began to move and function slowly.
Almost there...
I tried to get my legs out, my upper torso all outside the car.
...
I did it.
Now, I should rescue dad.
I crawled in the driver's seat, and tried to pull out dad from the window.
Because of his bulky physique, it wasn't possible.
No no no, there should be a way.
Think... think... think.
Calm down, calm down, you must, at least, get him outside the car. Think... what can you do...?
BOOM
All of a sudden, there was a strong, massive impact, blew my body three metres away.
The blazing fires devoured my father.
And I could do was watch.
It felt like my heart was hammered violently.
...
...
Alas, what a misfortune.
I assume this is the end?