"Mom..."
He muttered and walked inside, acting like there was nothing wrong him despite his entire uniform from up to down was indicating otherwise.
"Stop there, Honey?! What is this?! What happened?"
Her voice waned with a bit of panic as she dropped the dinner she was preparing from the kitchen which was separated by a transparent demarcation. So, she could see him enter somehow.
"It's nothing. I just had a fun time playing with the guys."
Playing with the guys? What an obvious lie. He wasn't even wearing an expression that would have made his mother want to believe his statement. His face was morose as usual.
"What do you mean? What friends play with themselves like this." Her voice was almost rising as she reached him.
He paused and lowered his head. He was really angry and just wished she would just leave him alone. Right now, she was annoying him way more than those bullying assholes.
"You know how my body can be! Can't I just play too, or are we going to move again now that I have friends I can play with."
She retracted her hand as she saw her son fume.
He threw his face away from her and went to his room without saying anymore word.
Her eyes welled up, it broke her heart to see him like that, all she had done she had always done to make sure he stays alive. But they wouldn't give up. She was not ready to lose her son, if she would move to a million cities and countries, she was ready to do all of it.
But there was no where to hide.
The vicious man that desired the life of his son wouldn't stop coming after him, he has connection everywhere. With just a word from him, all the awakened in the entire world would move.
It had not been easy coming here, the fight she had endured and fought with her husband who at that time was the hero, following in the footstep of his grandfather.
The lives that were lost, nothing would ever compensate for them, and most painfully her husband's life. He died fighting off his arch enemy.
And although she knew that the same destiny awaited her son, she rejected it. She had even placed an heavy seal on his powers so he would be able to have a normal life.
She was not going to let anyone get in the normal life of her son, be it humans, be it awakeneds.
Her brows furrowed and she took off her apron and stormed out of the house.
—
The next day.
Ethan was not sure about coming to school today. He would have loved to stay at home and enjoy his life as usual but the mood between he and his mom right now was somehow rocky. It'd be uncomfortable staying at home so he woke up, took his bath and stormed out with a slice of bread.
And now he was here, walking into the humongous gate of the Ecerly City High School.
The imagery of students walking into the school with their sidewalks embellished by flowers of different kinds. The subtle navy blue of their uniform was resonating with the warmness of summer.
It was nothing short of what anyone would call beautiful. Except for Ethan.
'Something was wrong...'
Something was wrong. It had been seven months since he started coming to this school and no one really cared about him. But right now, people left and right were looking at him and it looked as though they were gossiping with each other.
'Did I grow taller?'
He stood on his toes to confirm if his notion was right. The next minute he dismissed the thought.
'Like hell I will. Who grows taller overnight...'
He paused and looked at people left and right to be sure that he was the one everyone was looking at and gossiping about with their walking partners.
'Did I do something...'
"Hey, mama's boy"
'Mama's boy?'
He should be the last person anyone is saying that to but he didn't say anything because the voice was feminine and he recognized that voice quite well.
It was the girl of his destiny.
"Amy... what is going on?"
Almost about to explode from confusion, Ethan asked.
However, the girl's eyes went round.
"Your mom came to the principal's office yesterday and today. Although I am not sure why she came yesterday but she came this morning to announce to the school that today is your birthday!"
'...just how shameful can this get'
Ethan wished the floor would swallow him, he wanted to just disappear. This was very embarrassing.
"Also, Ranold and his gang were suspended this morning. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were being bullied."
She lowered her face and her voice was almost quaking.
'Damnit!'
"It's okay, no one was supposed to know"
'That woman is so witful'
There was no way he could hide something from his mom because she was so sensitive that she would be able to tell what was wrong from merely looking at him.
He had honestly forgotten about that part. Sometimes he questioned if his mother was an ex-militant.
"I'm sorry, I'll be right back!"
He ran forward, falling and picking himself back up till he entered the school building.
Upon getting to the principal's office, he met his mom who was just coming out.
He lowered his head and avoided her gaze. She was probably going to nag at him for telling lies.
"We need to talk."
"No..."
He frowned but his head stayed bowed.
The lady took in a deep breath and asked:
"Why didn't you tell me you are being bullied?"
"They are the only friends that want to play with me, why do you care?!" He shouted to her face.
"Oh Ethan..." Her brows creased up, looking sown pitifully at him. "...what are you doing to yourself?"
He frowned and looked away, ignoring the question.
"You and I know that those guys are not your friends and the only reason why you are being like this is because we moved again even when I promised that we won't."
"Well, since you know why do you bother doing the needless. Helping me won't fix my mood. Or coming to the school to announce about my birthday is supposed to help?!!"
"Ethan..." She softly called his name with her voice trembling. She had never seen him raise his voice at her before. The most he would often do is act grumpy.
"Do you think this is the end of bullying now that those guys have been suspended. Those guys deserve to be expelled but they were suspended! You wanna know why mom?! Because they are stinking rich! Their parents are school sponsors and they can't be gone for a day or two. They'll come back and it will be like nothing ever happened, I'll continue to suffer at their hands! You shouldn't put your nose in my business mom! I don't want it!!"
He stormed out of the hall angrily after ranting on his mom.
And she was left dumbfounded and helpless.
It was the first time her son had talked to her in months... she bit inside her lips to hold back the tears. If only she could tell him how much she had suffered to protect him.
Gathering what was left of her shattered ego, she walked out of the hall which was now brimming with students. They had made a scene and several students were witness to it.
After looking for a while, Ethan couldn't be found on the school premises, she looked around the city but couldn't find him. Then she went home with the hopes of gim returning back home so they can talk.
'I'll just tell him everything and undo the seal'