It was summer time. With the sun glaring down at him, blinding his eyes just like the visions in his head blinding his happiness, he bet he was the only human being who was cursing the day but, what was he supposed to do?. He loathed summertime. These things only happen in summer to him.
It was just like the day he was adopted. The beach was full, noisy with no place to breathe... He was drowning. He hated the attention, pitiful stares ...
Maybe he wasn't the only one who felt like that but, he surely was the only one who showed his hatred naked on his face.
Just like how now, he sees the crowd moving about with ice creams in their hands, sunscreen on their skin, beach mode on... everybody got something stuck in their minds.
Nobody has it easy, his mother once said to him. That one time when she decided to act like some wise old hag that she usually wasn't before she died in his little hands. Seconds before she forced the young five years old boy to cradle her dramatically. What was she thinking?.
He was thirsty. So thirsty that he was breaths away from stealing some kid's cola and run with it to the end of the world but, no. He was an adult now. He can't be reckless nor willful.
He learned it years ago. In that same set and jusr the thought of summer brought back memories... bittersweet memories. He wasn't a young helpless boy right now.
Warm, obedient, introvert, eager... all the qualities for adoption, the young him reminded himself, visibly restraining.
Since his mind didn't seem to do much for him. The devil was clearly winning the battle there.
"...What do you think?" Some woman shared excitedly eyeing him, he was spaced out.
"Huh?" Wrong! You never should let your potential saviors repeat themselves, that was the rule and he seem to forgot about it for a moment. So wrong.
"I think I'll take him with me. You guys already have Haridd and sweet Nancy anyway" She heard someone behind him that he had to turn and squint his eyes to see.
"Are you sure?" Asked the woman who was supposed to be his mother after the interview, interrogation or whatever event that had to be conducted in that kind of weather, outdoor. With friends.
"Positive. I have a feeling we are going to have a blast together. Won't we?" Asked the other young woman/girl smilling down at him. Troy didn't know for sure how to address her but, that wasn't why he was hesitant to answer.
She wasn't in the list of people he had to impress that day and he never bothered with her so, she clearly saw every tiny emotion passing through him at the gathering and now she wants to adopt him?. What was she thinking?.
He obviously didn't want to go back to the orphanage and if that woman/girl/transitioner, wanted to have a seventeen years old boy as her son then, so be it. It was a miracle to even being called for an adoption at his age.
"Would you like that, Troy?" The transitioner asked him with a smile.
"Yes. Nice to finally meet you mom" Replied Troy heartbeats later politely.
"You can just call me Annie" Said the transitioner dismissively.
"What's with her and being a mother?" He heard somebody else question in bewilderment. He saw Annie stiffen at that comment but, still smiled like she didn't hear it.
"I don't know but, it's weird" Replied another one in a whisper. I don't know why they bothered to whisper when it's clear they wanted her to hear.
"Annie means mother in another language, do you not know that?" Some woman asked with a laugh of her own. Were they friends?.
"But, it's not mine and that's enough" Dismissed Annie looking down at the most adorable boy she had ever seen, "I like him. I'm gonna keep him"
"Are you sure Christian would want a grown up teenager as his first child?" Asked the woman who translated Annie's name.
"You're awfully interested in my family, Denice..., Meet it's new member. Troy Silverstone" Annie introduced him to her friends proudly.
He remembered respecting the life out of her. Annie. His Annie. She's still the most amazing person he had ever met. The one woman who can literally take a bullet for him.
Why can't it just stay at gratitude?.
Why does he have to complicate their life?.
He's a twenty seven adult now. Marketing manager with a charming personality. There's no less beauties throwing themselves at him everyday, everywhere he goes but, he had to fall for Annie.
What was life thinking?.