YMORYO NEPTENU'S MANSION
GESTA FIELD
APRIL 15, 1957
"The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children." - William Shakespeare
Ymoryo revealed to his son, Ymor, before he killed his parents, his brothers and himself, that the Neptenus were cursed. Even more cursed if a Neptenu had birthed three Neptenu sons. On the very same day, and the very same month. Or it might mean the curse would be lifted. Ymor was only seven years old when his father told him. There was a 90% chance he could have heard it or remembered it wrong.
"Hey Momo, heads up, check your left side." Ymoryo beamed while playing catch with his son.
"Okay daddy don't tell me which side you're throwing the ball at me. That's cheating." Ymor pinched his face as he spoke so eloquently.
Ymoryo approached his son to talk more privately with him.
"You are such a good kid. Anyone else would welcome cheating. Not you. Why is that? Is it because you have a conscience?" Ymoryo teased.
"Yes, dad, I have a conscience, and you are the light that guides it." Ymor was a formidable pupil of various subjects such as civic and elocution.
"Am I?" Ymoryo was stunned.
"Yes daddy, you are. You teach me to do the right thing all the time. You are my light, daddy." Ymor was as smart as he was handsome with fiery red hair and freckled in the shape of an Aries constellation. He was also very loyal. One of the most treacherous qualities one can possess when friends with evildoers.
"How did you get to be so smart?" Ymoryo was expressly proud of his son as he pulled him in for a big Mo hug.
"I am getting older, you know." Little Ymor reminded his dad candidly with an ear to ear display of new teeth and gum .
"Ah, that's it. My boy is getting older. No more little Momo. Now, you are big Momo." Ymoryo was astonished.
"No daddy. No more little Momo for me. Now I am BIG Ymor." Ymor asserted confidently.
"I have the best son ever. I guess you are ready now." Ymoryo mused.
"Daddy, I am your only son." With an extra side of sassiness. "What do you mean, daddy? Ready?" Ymor added, but he was remarkably puzzled.
"I mean you are ready for us to have a grown-up conversation. Aren't you now Big Momo?" Ymoryo insisted.
Ymor looked alarmed. "I think so, daddy. What are we going to talk about?" He made a serious face and willed himself to listen attentively.
"Nothing major Momo, you are growing up so quickly." He drew a long breath. "Momo, I have a secret to tell you. And this will be your legacy."
"Okay daddy, what is it? " Ymor hesitated for a moment and made himself comfortable on the grass they were standing on.
"Momo, our family is cursed. Do you understand that word?" Ymoryo followed suit and sat beside his son before pulling that band-aid off without so much of a warning.
"Does it mean bad things will happen?" Ymor was adamantly curious.
"So smart. You nailed it Momo. It means exactly that." Ymoryo was amazed at how smart his son had gotten.
"Our family is cursed? Meaning Grand-papa and grand-mama, mama and you, uncle Fin and uncle Finfin, me, Lala and Fifi are all cursed? Ymor wanted to confirm even though his little heart was already weeping.
"Sadly, yes Momo. And bad things are doomed to happen to some of us." Ymoryo was not the greatest at delivering bad news. Believe or not, he was much improved after the twins.
"What do you mean daddy?" Ymor was flabbergasted. Deep down, what he really meant to say was no. I do not accept your secret.
"What I mean, Momo, is that bad things may happen to grand-papa, grand-mama, uncle Finfin, and uncle Fin and even to mama, Lala, Fifi, you, myself. And I won't be able to stop it." He exhaled these words. "And that hurts me the most, that I know, but unable to do anything about it." Ymoryo covered his eyes with his hand as if that simple act could render his mind blank to unforesee his own predestined future.
"I am scared daddy." Ymor was visibly shaken.
"Don't be scared Momo, it will all work itself out. I was never meant to be born or live longer than 30 years old." He comforted his little boy.
"Daddy no, don't say that." Ymor was tearful.
"Listen up Ymor, this may be the last time we will have this talk. So listen carefully." Ymoryo urged his son while willing himself to stay strong.
"What are you saying daddy?" Ymor wailed with a confused look planted on his tiny face.
"Momo, my only son. I love you so much. But I am my father's third son. And I will turn thirty years old tomorrow. I don't know what will become of me after that. I just know that I won't be myself and my actions will not be guided by my own thoughts or rationale." Ymoryo glared into his son's eyes, feeling so hopeless and helpless.
Ymor was wimping. "What does that mean? I don't understand daddy."
"Momo, you will hear despicable things about me after tomorrow. I want you to remember me always as I was to you before I turned thirty." Ymoryo imparted his truth to his son.
"Daddy, I don't understand." Ymor inconsolably wiped his never-ending tears.
"Momo, I cannot control what will happen to me, my brothers or my own parents." Ymoryo dropped more unwelcomed truth on this poor boy.
"So who, what is controlling what will happen, daddy?" Ymor asked earnestly in between sobs.
"The spell, the curse or the deal your grand-papa made with the devil to become rich and famous," Ymoryo explained.
"So you cannot stop it?" Ymor queried innocently.
"I wish I could. I will try my hardest but I cannot honestly tell you what the end result will be." Ymoryo sounded dejected.
"I love you daddy. No matter what happens. I will always love you." Ymor was trying his hardest to stop sobbing.
"I love you more, Momo. That's all that I care about, kiddo. You, Lala, Fifi and mama. And what will you think after tomorrow?" Ymoryo fervently exchanged his deepest feelings with his son.
"So, what if I help you find a way to stop the curse, daddy?" Ymor bargained.
"I would love that very much Momo." Ymoryo accepted pleasantly, but he knew better.
"I will find a way, daddy. I will." Ymor was an optimistic kid. He saw the glass always full. No matter the circumstances. His parents taught him that.
"I am sure you will, Momo. But I think my birthday will trigger a chain of events that no one will be able to change. Not even my own father. He told me so himself. But I am not sure what he will do. Momo, you are safe for now anyway. You were my third child and my only son. You are safe. You would have to worry only if you had two brothers born on the same date as you or if you ever became the father of three sons born on the exact same date." Ymoryo rushed swiftly with the cold truth. He was running out of time.
"Oh!" Ymor was never more overwhelmed and confused. He covered his face with his small hands to weep quietly as he rocked himself back and forth.
"You are safe Momo, you will be, because you have two sisters." Ymoryo continued while patting and rubbing his son's back.
"Daddy, what if you locked yourself in the dungeon for your whole birthday or went somewhere far away from us until your birthday is over?" Ymor was desperate. He was only 7 but he knew his father was instrumental to his family. He can't throw the towel just yet. After all, it was his nature.
"That's some great advice you have there, Momo. Thanks, I will consider them." Ymoryo understood his son more than anyone. He had to appease him somehow.
"Good daddy, please use my ideas. I would not want anything bad to happen to you or anyone else." Ymor was relieved and happy that he could help his daddy.
"I know Momo. You have such a great heart. I will apply your ideas and some other ones that I have contemplated with your mama. But if I don't succeed in my attempts, don't forget what I asked you to remember me earlier." Ymoryo never told anyone but Ymor was his favorite. His heart was breaking in millions of little pieces, but he had to remain strong for his son.
"Okay daddy, but everything will be alright. And we will throw a big party for you." He caught himself. "Oh, so that means I won't see you for your birthday because you will have to go hide. No worries, we will have a party for you when you come back after your birthday is over." Ymor compromised, his mood got lighter.
"Momo, you are one clever kid! Thanks for thinking everything through for me. Take care of your sisters and mama for me while I am gone, okay?" Ymoryo was clearly sad but was unable to stay chagrined. He began to laugh uncontrollably in pure amazement and hugged his son once more.
Ymor was ever so satisfied with himself. His dad had a way to make everyone, especially Ymor, feel special with compliments.
"I will, daddy. You will be proud of me." He smiled widely, full of hope.