"Would you wake up already?"
Dad's gruff voice woke me up.
"Ugh, Dad. Monday morning blues, remember?"
"Buddy, how many times did we have the same exchange?"
It was nearly possible I could hate him at that moment.
"How many hairs do you have, Dad?"
He hated it when I was sarcastic. He didn't answer.
"I mean, still."
I chuckled under my breath, my eyes still half-closed.
"It's still morning. Take your sarcasm down a notch, right?"
I knew he was becoming a little angry. But I couldn't help it.
"It's the only defense mechanism I got."
"Which didn't seem to work with Grover."
And then my eyes fluttered open only to see his smug face. I groaned.
"Yeah, good morning to you too. Now get up. Wash up. Suit up."
A moment of silence. For what he considers to be a comedy.
"Ah! Nailed it."
"That doesn't make you any cooler, Dad."
"No, it wouldn't. But I'm about to kick your ass, and that definitely would."
That was our trash talk.
"We'll see about that," I retorted.
And he vanished from my room. I dragged myself across to the bathroom. Washed up and geared up. Dad was already waiting behind the house. And we started sparring immediately. He flipped me down. Threw me. He punched in the guts. But he made sure they didn't leave bruises. That was Grover's area. Uh, his gang's area. The arena scene had been going on since I was eleven or so. I'd beaten him many times. When it happened, he was proud. He was an excellent competitor. Being a person with a regular corporate job, I never knew the logic behind him knowing to fight too well. He once said he felt offended that I'd asked that question. That is why ordinary people couldn't know how to fight without a solid reason. So, I stopped asking. But it ran in the background for me. I loved to think that his ancestors were kings and he was a prince-to-be, but he ran away and married Mom. Who knew? It could have happened. Legends have proven it.
"Good session, buddy. You stopped me almost five times today. You're getting better."
"We've been doing this for an eternity, Dad. I had to get better."
I was displaying guilt and bitterness.
"Buddy, let me ask you something."
"Sure." Something inside me indicated it wasn't going to be a good question.
"Why didn't you fight Grover?"
There it was. I was tired of answering that question. The real question here was: to myself or others?
"Dad. I honestly don't know. I just couldn't."
I tried to sound tired so that he would let it go. Indeed, he did.
"It's okay. I understand. Let's get inside. We're both getting late."
"Right. Come on," I said while he put an arm around my shoulders.
He wasn't very muscular, just lean and decent-shaped. He helped me develop that kind of physique, too. Even though I was tall enough, it always felt like he towered over me. Weirdly, it felt safe, too. All three of us were running all over the house in no time. We got into our rooms, showered, and had food. Before we knew it, we were getting out of the place, too. Then Anwir showed up. Like every day. We bid our byes and left in our ways. While we walked up the school, he suddenly turned toward me, face lighting up like a live wire.
"What's up with your face?"
There was something he'd tell if I pestered him long enough.
"Oh, I'm happy."
"Okay, but this is not your normal happy face. What's going on?"
"Okay, you asked for it."
I knew it! Like always, he shoved it on me. Drama queen.
"Avy is amazing. We've been texting almost the whole weekend."
I narrowed my eyes.
"If you were interested, you should've met her in person. You know, talking face-to-face is so much better."
I wouldn't do that, but advising him didn't feel very wrong. If I had a choice, I'd meet them in person.
"I'm not interested in her. I mean, she makes a good friend. Not my type, though. Wanting to meet her in person might give off a wrong idea. That's why. EOS!"
That pissed me off.
"That's not a real abbreviation. Stop using it like it is."
"Oh, what have I stepped into? Nerd pool. It's fascinating that little things like these irritate you so much."
Again, it was amusing only to him.
"That is sick."
He knew what exactly I'd meant. He knew the tone of my voice but still went with the worst reply.
"I know," he said, grinning.
"No, no. The bad sick. The sick sick."
"Just admit it."
"Yeah, okay. It was lame," I concluded, making a face.
We had reached my locker by that time. His wasn't near mine. We had to make two stops every day. Today, something was outside the routine. Andy was standing across my locker. I didn't know what to do. Why was she there? Should I go up to her? I calmed myself down a bit there. Maybe that was where her locker was. Perhaps I should talk to her. But I knew I could ruin the conversation about anything or anyone. I decided to take on Anwir's advice, but not so soon. She tilted her head and suddenly looked at me. I turned towards my locker. Anwir nudged me. Ugh. I turned back again to see Andy standing in front of me.
"Hi," she said, smiling nervously. I nodded curtly.
"About the other day…" I definitively knew what she was talking about. Oh, no. The roof thing. God, she will speak about the horror in front of Anwir.
"Wh-what about the other day?"
"Um, the roof thingy? I'm sorry."
"I, uh, don't recall anything."
"You so-" Woman can't get a clue.
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe you got the wrong guy. Leave me be, alright?"
I couldn't have been any more rude. I lashed out at her and walked away. I could not have made things any worse. But she was about to tell some top secret of mine. I didn't want that out. She accidentally caught me that day. I'd kept it a perfect secret from everyone all these years. What a great way to start the day. And it continued. The day went on incredibly lousily. I don't know why. I never not liked school, but today was different. Even after going home, it was like that. I didn't work on my song. Neither did I study. I just lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling and not thinking about anything.
"You look sick," my Mom said.
She stood at the door. There was no escaping that word today.
"Well, I was thinking of auditioning for Mr. Universe, but maybe I shouldn't."
I couldn't think of any other response.
"What's wrong?"
Her brow creased a little. I hated seeing that on her. Just like any typical son. But that was nothing wrong to hate, was it?
"I don't know."
"Okay, what's that brain up to?" she asked, tapping my forehead.
"I don't know that either."
This time, the reply got my mom even more worked up.
"That's trouble. You always know what you're thinking."
"Mom, I need to tell you something."
"I'm all ears."
Mom's favorite dialogue. I never understood why or how.
"That's practically impossible," I said, lightly rolling my eyes.
She looked. Tired. That still wouldn't stop me from being sarcastic, though. Even she knew it.
"It's a way normal people talk. Now, it's your turn."
"To say impossible things and imply that it's normal talk?"
"You wanted to talk?" Now, her tone changed.
"Yeah. About that."
She rubbed my arm and knelt near the headboard. I told her the whole situation.
"I can understand your issue with new people, Ash. I never questioned it. If you're not comfortable, I respect that. But all I want for you is not to regret it later. About anything. Anything at all."
Now my brow creased.
"The world is at your disposal. It had always been. Use it right. Don't give it too much thought. It's time to turn off your head and sleep now."
"Sure Mom."
She kissed my forehead, switched off the lights, and went downstairs.