Monday classes ended in a blink of an eye. Liam and his friends along with the other students were about to get across the school field when the dreary sky dropped its final array of snow, making everyone stuck in their places. Liam's eyes followed the descent of the last crystal of snow and as it landed on the sereneness of the icy ground, his ears received nothing except the heavy rhythm of his chest. He felt like everyone around him was experiencing the same thing. He made a step forward and dipped his feet on the white field. Other students followed suit, then the surroundings went back to their normal noisy atmosphere.
Liam got across the field with his friends and settled down on the benches parallel to each other, their bodies bathing in the afternoon light. They started to talk about the presentation. After some minutes died off, Liam gathered his notes and rested his nape on the cold backrest of the bench. He looked at the rain clouds blanketing across the lonely heavens. He felt like things were losing their colors. His intuition that Earth was in ruination was pounding his flesh, but the others might be right — everything was normal.
He heard some continuous loud grating sound and his brows crumpled as he witnessed the passing of five helicopters across the sky. His friends looked up as well. He stood up, then pursed his lips. He knew that something was wrong. It was all evident with the public violence across the nation. Nicolas Galtier's story about the gray people was true and they were in the country, he assumed.
"What the hell was that?" Ron took a photo of the flight of the choppers.
"As if you're concerned about anything, Ron," Tahir said.
Ron shrugged. "I'm concerned about you, guys, you know that."
"Aw," Tahir added, pouting in friendly mockery. "Look who's more affectionate than eighth graders."
Ron rolled his eyes as Tahir embraced him. Ken joined the two, then they walked past the other three guys. Cedric and Lukas followed behind them while Liam spent a minute fixing his shoelaces. As he straightened up, smaller frames appeared before him — Lila and a friend of hers. He raised a brow at the two while the girls just throw blank expressions and silence upon him.
"What?" he asked.
"Um, this is," Lila loosened her scarf around his neck, "Stella. I know you know her, stop with the brows. She invites you to her birthday party."
Liam looked at Stella. "What?"
He did not know Stella that well. He only saw her when he passed by their class building at noon.
"Come on, Stella." Lila grabbed Stella's wrist. "He's slower than a turtle on a bay."
Liam stared at their backs as they took off towards the gates. He knew what they were meaning, but he was not in the condition to give a response, his mind still on where the helicopters were headed. He now took his statement back — the world was in ruination.
As he pedaled to his friends, his front wheel collided with someone and they both fell onto the passel of snow piled by the gate post. Liam stood up and got off his bicycle, then shook the ice crystals off his clothes.
"I'm sorry, sir," Liam uttered as he lend a hand to the man.
The man with gray sideburns just smiled at him. "It's fine, man. Off you go."
Liam bid him goodbye, then went towards his friends who were looking at him. He shrugged while slackening his pedaling.
"Was he mad, the guy?" Ken asked.
Liam drew his tongue over his dry upper lip. "His name isn't Ron, so no."
Ron cleared his throat and clapped once. "Let's go to the newly opened food park."
"I have a shift, so you guys enjoy," Liam said. "Good evening and stay safe."
He was about to work his pedals when Cedric got in his way.
"Let me ask you a quick question, Liam. Are you doing— Never mind." Cedric stepped aside. "Safe road ahead."
Liam nodded and hit the road. The heavens were now pale orange, the clouds tinted with the weak sunset light. The snow glistened along the road. Flocks of birds and bats paraded across the sky, their chitters echoing through the silence of the streets. Liam entered the subdivisions and went inside their house, coinciding with the activation of the streetlights.
"Dad, I'm home." He shut the door and went to the living room.
There, he found his father watching the television. He smiled at the view and walked behind the sofa in silence.
"Son," Lesley let out. "Can we perhaps talk?"
Liam sat by his father in haste. "Sure, yes."
Lesley intertwined his fingers. "Take a shift off."
"Um, why?"
"I need you here and I'm going to try to get back to work tomorrow anyway."
"Really?" Liam wore a small smile. "That would be great."
Liam's lips were not curving because his father would, at last, get out of the shadows of their house but because he needed him on the night. He could not help but let his heart swell in gratifying bliss. He had never often imagined the current scene happening before.
"Yes." Lesley rather tittered. "Liam, to the things I've done to you, I'm very—"
His words were cut off as his son caught him in his arms. They stayed in each other's arms for some time.
"It's all good, Dad." Liam gentled Lesley's back. "What matters to me right now is the present. The present has been wonderful lately."
"But really, son, I'm sorry that I've hurt you." Lesley heaved a long sigh. "Promise that I'll change myself. I promise to protect you at all costs. I want to be, if not a good father, a responsible one. Please forgive me, Liam, son. I regret everything I've done to you. I nev——"
"Dad, you've been forgiven and I'm sure Mom would be so proud of you."
"You've been always there for me. I'm so proud of you, son. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad." Liam embraced Lesley, letting a tear fall off his cheek. "I always have."
They broke free from their grips, smiling at each other.
"It's fine if you still want to go to your work though," Lesley later said.
"I guess I'll stay in tonight. I'll email the manager regarding my absence. It's my last three weeks there anyway."
"You sure?"
"Don't worry, Dad."
"Okay."
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Whatever you want."
They spent the night watching movies, having rewarding father-son talks, and treasuring every second they bond with each other. Liam was more than glad that Lesley, although in slow progress, seemed like opening up to him as his father. After their joyous hours, they cleaned up the living room and went to their rooms. Liam felt like he was having one of the best times of his life. He later drifted off to sleep with a tranquil feeling.
After some hours, he opened his eyes and yawned as he got out of his thick blanket. The air was still cold, but he smiled at the outside of the house as the snow looked thinner than yesterday's. He escaped his room and as he descended the stairs, a flavorful aroma entered his nostrils. He went to the kitchen and his eyes widened as he saw his father arranging dishes on the table.
"Oh, Liam." Lesley tightened his tie. "I was just about to leave."
"Sure, Dad," Liam replied.
Lesley left the suburbs during weekdays. He worked in real estate in the urban part of the city of Tres Lados and had once been on a promotion streak until the accident took place. He was a methodical man with a high-class capacity to lead. His son admired his attitude towards his profess and Liam knew he knew it.
"Just call me if you need something, okay?" Lesley messed up his son's hair.
Liam smiled and hugged him. "Don't worry about me, Dad. You take care of yourself."
"Yes, I'll do great."
"Yeah, you've got the feats."
"I love you, Liam."
"Love you too, Dad, so much." Liam broke away from the contact and smiled at his father.
Lesley then bid his goodbye and left the house. Liam went over the threshold and waved at his father who was now in a cab. The vehicle went took off, then went out of sight. Liam felt Lesley was still not comfortable riding in cars. He later shook the thought off and went back inside to have breakfast.
After his meal and a warm shower, he wore a thick hoodie over a white short-sleeved shirt and jeans. He laced up his shoes and put on his backpack, then left the house, locking the door from the inside. He rode on his bike and hit the road.
He arrived at the high school some minutes before the bell went off. He attended his reassigned homeroom and took a seat behind Lila and Stella and by another male student. Lila moved her seat to face Liam, then sneered.
Liam raised a brow. "What now?"
"Nothing," Lila responded. "Have Ced already told you the latest?"
"No."
"Have you browsed the Internet yet for this day?"
Liam shrugged, then shook his head.
"Anyway, here's the," Lila crossed her legs, "latest because you don't— Wait, where were you last night? I didn't have a glimpse of you at the café."
"A stalker, huh?" Liam said.
"Screw you. Anyway, Tahir might be right about the alien invasion."
"I hear nothing."
"He might, as I said."
"What should I know?" Liam crossed his arms. "Still can't remember when you became an official magpie."
"I'm a hell of serious here, Liam." Lila swung her seat back facing the whiteboards.
Liam smirked, then looked at Stella's nape. He focused his sight on the heavens outside. The weather was cloudy and trees danced to the whistle of the winds. The snow that had feasted on the ground for two days had continued to melt down. Liam walked to the window--the school grounds were silent. He then turned to his side as footsteps echoed through the hallway.
A teacher entered the class. "Classes are suspended. The school principal is paging everyone in the gymnasium."
The teacher left the room, leaving the students in silence. Some students cheered and sighed as Liam walked past some rowdy boys, then wore his backpack. He let the majority of the class leave first, then went out as well while shutting the door unlocked.
The student body came into the gymnasium and stood in silence. Liam wander through the crowd until he bumped into Ron.
"Hey," he uttered.
"Have you seen the others?" Ron jerked his head to the side. "Come on here, I've found them."
Liam followed his friend's steps and approached the other guys.
"Why the hell is he here?" Cedric whispered, staring at the principal on the elevated platform.
"Because he's the princi——"
"He doesn't act like one," Cedric cut in Ken's response.
"I agree though." Ron turned to Lukas. "Why are we here in the first place?"
"Students, silence. Please listen carefully." the principal on a microphone silenced the crowd. "As you've seen in the news, sudden, weird natural changes have happened across the globe. The Western waters are now frozen and riots are happening almost in every corner of the world.
"In the last two days, our country has recorded multiple public violence from all regions. Manila is locked down and so are the surrounding provinces. Our region's boundaries, although we're not affected by the viral riots yet, pray to God He never strikes our land with such evilness, is heavily guarded.
"As for the latest report from the West, these so-called Neo-Cimmerians, or whatever they're called, have posed a threat to humanity. A North American group of archaeologists, biologists, and zoologists have officially introduced them as a new species of— Just look for the word 'Neo-Cimmerian' on the Internet, everybody.
"Everyone is, by the law, advised to stay indoors or wherever you reside for a whole week to alleviate the current situation. That's all and stay safe everyone. God will show mercy on us, amen. One week-long class dismissed, thank you."
Cedric tapped the ground with his foot. "At last he said something worth heeding."
"Let's go, guys." Ken walked among the leaving, noisy crowd.
"They're aliens," Tahir said while pocketing his hands. "I mean they're humans of different species."
"My actual birthday is showered with bad luck." Ron sighed. "You all stay safe. A week will surely be torturous with you guys."
"Aw, that's cute, man." Tahir fastened his hand to Ron's. "Blame the Neo-Sycilians."
"Cimmerians," Cedric corrected.
"Anyway," Tahir said. "Drop us off at our houses, Ron, our loving man-at-arms."
Ron nodded. Ken squeezed in between the two and they took off. Cedric followed suit. Lukas walked along with Liam out of the gymnasium. Liam soughed and breathed in a handful of cold air.
Lukas smiled. "Keep safe, Liam."
"You too," Liam replied.
"Want a ride?"
"I have my cycle waiting for me so."
"Sure." Lukas went through the gates.
Liam went to the parking lot and took his bicycle. He rode, then pedaled along the road. His heart thumped as he thought about the ruination of the world. He was not sure if that was the right term applicable to the present happenings, but he was a hundred percent betting that chaos would pop out at any time.
He was about to enter the subdivisions when a helicopter crashed right into the gates' guardhouse, making his tires screech to a sudden halt. He fell to the side, his eyes wide at the violent rotation of the main rotor blades of the chopper. He stepped back as the swash plate part ignited. He stood up, his skin numb, as a tall frame emerged out of the chopper. Its skin is pale, eyes big, nose flat, body naked, and hands gripping on a mattock — just like what Nicolas Galtier had said in an article.