CHAPTER 2 --- confrontation (1st part)

George didn't stop blabbing about Rico's great love for Anabelle and how nobody could break them apart throughout the whole journey. Daniel seriously considered putting coins in both ears. The last thing he'd like to hear was adults behaving so strangely after watching the stupid drama. I wonder when George will stop. It seemed that he didn't notice that Daniel wasn't really listening to him. Just a few really, I see and that's great was enough for George to fire the next scenes straight to his ears. It was already 6:20pm when Daniel checked his watch. I wonder if time had stopped during that moment. He immediately dispelled the thought and looked outside the car. He didn't see anything unusual except the very familiar streets and green trees and some people still at the park walking around and free of worries. He looked at the sky and became irritated as he sensed the fair weather again. It still seemed like a joke to him. Having a fair weather plus two lightnings all in one afternoon. He kicked the unwanted thoughts out of his brain and just closed his eyes. The memories kept coming back by themselves. They turned a corner and at last entered the gate of the small subdivision. After a few minutes, Daniel saw his bedroom window and had a sudden vision of him being superman and effortlessly flying through his window and lying on the bed. I can't just sleep tonight. I still have to endure some hours at Aunt Susan's.


The instant that the car stopped in the garage, Daniel opened the door and got out without giving George an opportunity to complete the unfinished narration. He opened the door and found Mary, George's wife and their one and only maid in the kitchen. She was five years younger than George and they had been married for 15 years now. Sadly, they weren't able to have a child. Seeing how Mary and George wanted a kid too badly that they didn't leave the Taylor's family for 15 years --- all because of Daniel --- his every ounce of courage was drained. There was a time when he was young that he initiated a conversation but wasn't able to ask directly because of the sad look in the woman's face. Mary's eyes were round that people wouldn't doubt her words. She didn't really look like a maid because of her flawless and white skin. She was not as tall as George and just some inches taller than Daniel. She looked too young for George but Daniel knew that they were right and perfect for each other. ''I'm back, Mary,'' he said. ''Hi, Daniel. Did you see today's episode? Rico's mom was too much!'' Daniel rolled his eyes and climbed the stairs. He turned right and opened the door at the farthest end.


Daniel slammed his bag onto the couch in his bedroom. The wall was painted in light blue which was his favorite color. One door led to his own bathroom. He had his own little couch and a table placed in a corner. A space near the little living room was devoted to his collection of Cd's and a player. A big shelf of books stood near his study table which was full of different kinds of papers --- starting from his school books, notebooks and even scratch papers. All sorts of written materials were in the book shelf. Not that he was a wide reader. When you had many books, it didn't mean that you were a reader. Take Daniel for example. He just bought them but never really touched them after a day. A bad habit. The size of his bedroom was not really that big. The interior designer just really had some gifted talent. And she designed the whole house for free. She was an old acquaintance of his mother. Connections.


For him, his bedroom was a whole new house, a whole new world wherein anybody who went inside aside from him was an alien. He put his hands on his face as he slowly let the gravity pull him down the bed --- his favorite part of the room. The softness of the mattress caught his back and gave him a promise of a night's peaceful rest --- after coming back from the party, that is. He sighed and then got up again. He turned toward the bathroom and immersed himself in the... cold water. This surprised him. Argh! Why did you not think first before opening the shower? He answered himself. Not in the mood to think. And the other Daniel spoke again. Silly.


At least the cold water woke him up completely. Just like what it did this morning which seemed like a century ago. He got dressed after showering and the cellphone rang at exactly the same moment when his shirt was in place already. He picked it up and did not even show a sign of surprise when he saw Sam's name on the screen.


''Hello. I am already dressed. Are you on your way?'' he said.


''I am outside the subdivision. Hurry up, man. The mosquitoes are eating me.''


''Outside?'' Yeah. Why did I think that Sam would suddenly turn up right outside our gate when Old George was still in the garage? ''Okay. Good luck with the mosquitoes.'' He let out a laugh and then hung up.


He locked the door of his room, went down the stairs and straight into the kitchen where he found Mary sweeping the floor.


''Mary, I'm going out with Sam. I'll be back before... umm..,'' he paused for a while. ''Morning of course,'' he said then ran toward the front door. He can still hear Mary screaming after him. ''What do you mean before morning? Come back early! I'll tell your parents if you don't go home, Daniel! Happy birthday.''


He smiled at Mary as thanks.


He opened the door and went to the garage to see his driver. ''Bye, George.''


''Wait.''


Daniel turned around immediately because he heard an urgency in his voice. ''Why, George?''


''Just want to greet you a happy birthday. It's sad that you won't be spending the night with Mary and me and your parents. You know that they are coming back tonight. You sure you don't want to meet them?''


''I am not even sure they're aware of my presence every time we are under the same roof.''


There was an awkward silence for some seconds because George didn't know how to answer.


''I thought Sam's picking you up?'' he said while washing the car just to break the ice.


''Erm... Change of plans.'' He opened the gate and found the maid of their neighbor outside. She was a small woman at her 30's still wearing a the white uniform and smiling at him as usual. The dimples were so evident he couldn't help but smile back. ''Hi, Sheila!'' he greeted. ''Hi! Happy birthday!'' she replied.


''Thanks.'' He continued to walk. The lights of the lamp posts were already open. He turned a corner only to be sentimental. He saw a big tree and a bench where he and his parents spent time together when he was young. He shook his head, not to chase away the thought, but because of dismay. They were a perfect family some years ago. I don't really know what happened to us.


He can finally see the gate and smiled to himself when he saw that the security guard's eyes were already closed and heard him snoring. He couldn't decide if it was right to wake him up for the safety of the subdivision. But because he knew what the guard felt being so sleep-deprived but couldn't sleep, he was having second thoughts. What if those people come here to look for me? Before he could make up his mind, he heard the beeping of a car not too far away from where he stood feeling so ashamed of himself that he was afraid of a strange dream that he had a while ago. Because of Sam, the guard woke up. He felt relieved.


He got inside the car with Sam behind the steering wheel.


''2006 Toyota MR2,'' Sam said exaggerating every syllable.


''You are alive!'' Daniel replied with the same extent of exaggeration. He knew that Sam was the driver type of guy. He learned everything from James.


''Don't you have confidence in me?''


''Just kidding,'' Daniel said. ''What are we waiting for? Let's risk our lives now and our future.''


''No worries. Being chased by policemen is exciting. Car chase!''


Sam stepped on the gas pedal and they both screamed like drug addicts. ''Woooooooooooooo!!!'' Daniel forgot every ounce of hesitation. Off to Aunt Susan's.