XENON
The sky was painted with fireworks.
Everyone in the family came to the manor for my graduation celebration. Some family friends and business partners were also present, and the room was filled with people. Half of them were ones I don't know. After countless "congratulations", I searched the room for Dad. Early this morning he told me he has a huge announcement to make, and I couldn't sit still since. My gut tells me it's about the company. That made me anxious even more.
"where's Dad, Kevin?"
Kevin, my personal butler, looked up from his thick-rimmed square glasses and cleared his throat. He has been following me all evening. It's starting to get to my nerves.
"shall I check the manor, sir?"
I nodded matter-of-factly and he was gone from my glance the next second. My eyes followed his pace until he reached the front door and closed it behind him.
Finally, I was alone.
The event was held outside the manor, right next to the pool. A huge banquet was on the left side of everyone, with round tables with six chairs arranged in a circular manner. An acoustic guitar player was singing ballad songs on an elevated area at the middle, on the far side of the pool. Her voice was warm and comforting. The song she was playing was one of my favorites and she caught my attention with her own rendition. However, it wasn't those reasons which made me linger looking at her for quite longer than necessary, it was because she looked like someone I couldn't forget, she looked like--
No. I cannot go there. Not now. I should be celebrating now.
I shook my head to stop myself from inviting a bad memory. I looked at my wrist watch instead. Kevin has been gone for two minutes. A waiter passed and handed me a flute of champagne. I took it and let the first drop drizzle in my tongue.
I sighed, looking at the corner where a huge board was set up with the words, "CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR GRADUATION, OUR MAGNA CUM LAUDE." Accompanied with a smiling picture of me on the right side.
College is over, now what?
"sir, your father's on the way here." – Kevin broke my train of thoughts
"where did you find him?"
"he was in his room, sir. He said he didn't like the color of his tie and decided to change it."
"okay, thank you."
I said as I saw my father walking out of the manor with two of his men following him. Kevin moved aside and I walked towards Dad's direction. The night's halfway done, and my mind's grueling with my curiosity. What will his announcement be?
"you look pale, son. Have you eaten yet?" – he asked, tapping me on the left shoulder
"I did, dad. Can I talk to you?... in private?" – I added and the two men following him whispered something to his ear. Dad nodded and they dispersed.
I turned my head and nodded to Kevin, who instantly got my message.
"what is it?" – Dad asked
"you said you… you have an important announcement to make. Can you tell me what it is?"
He laughed.
"you just couldn't wait, could you?"
"can you tell me first before you announce it publicly?"
He frowned. Then cleared his throat.
"I think you already have an idea of what I was about to say."
By that, I knew what I was thinking was correct. He was indeed referring to the company. Behind us, the guitar player changed her song.
"is this about…"
"Alister Realty, yes. As what I promised you, the company's yours after college."
I nodded slowly. This is surreal.
"are you sure? what about-"
"don't mention his name. he's dead to me."
A sudden shift of emotion flickered on my father's face. It was the usual façade he wears when I was about to bring up my brother's name in the conversation. But his eyes couldn't lie. He knows who I was referring to. I haven't mentioned his name yet but the misery on his eyes was crystal clear. No matter how much he denies it, I know he misses my older brother, Gendry.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
He let out a sigh and excused himself when one of the event organizers neared us and whispered to his ear. He only nodded and after giving me one spare look, he walked towards the elevated area of the event. The musician was no longer there, and on the same spot where she stood a while ago with her guitar, stood my dad.
I stood up straight and straightened my tie. This is it, I guess. He's saying it.
"Good evening, everybody."
Everyone's attention automatically shifted to him. Even on simple announcements like this, his command and authority over the room still dominates.
"First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for spending this memorable night with us. (applause from the audience) To my son, Xenon Alister, I cannot express enough how proud I am of you. (a pause) It is also because of that that I am proud to announce… that starting next week, Alister Realty will have its new CEO! I cannot think of anyone more deserving of such position. That's right, everyone. I am naming my son as the company's new CEO. Congratulations on your graduation, son and good luck to your new adventure. I can now rest, felling fulfilled that the company will be in such good hands. Everyone, please raise your glass. To Xenon Alister."
All eyes on me, Dad raised his glass and everyone followed.
"To Xenon Alister"
It was a toast I will never forget.
-
-
After another hour, the crowd thinned. I took the moment to talk to Dad.
"dad?"
"there you are!" – he was with Mrs. Norton, one of the company's business partners. She congratulated me and I shook her hand. It was ice-cold. After that, she excused herself.
"did you mean that? a week? The company's mine after a week?"
"yes? no, of course."
I frowned. Okay, which one was his response? Those were two contradicting statements.
"no?"
He shook his head and took a step closer to me.
"why not?"
"there's one more thing you have to do. Of course, I have to make sure the Alister blood gets passed on… you're my only son (I flinched at what he said. He excluded Gendry again.)… so I have one condition, Xen."
My heartbeat raced. I don't like the sound of what he just said.
"what is it?"
"get married."
He said it so casually.
I looked at him with a blank expression.
I was right, he was going to say that.