I - UNEXPECTED DEAL
“Honey I received a note again today.” Said Emilia Keith’s mother.
“Again?” asked her husband, Daniel
“Should we send Keith overseas?”
“No, I can’t guarantee our son’s safety there and if something happens to him, it will be hard for me to take immediate actions. You know how busy I am with the company.”
“I am really worried about this. Our son complained about being in the house whole his life and he kept on saying that he wants to experience how it feels to live like an ordinary person. I am starting to feel guilty for him, but what should I do, I’m afraid something will happen to him if I let him do that. I feel sorry for him, but can’t let him go at the same time.”
“Honey you are over reacting. It also happened three years ago. It is normal to receive threats being in this kind of business industry.”
“I know, but death threats are no joke. And guess what! Your son tried to sneak out once again? Good thing I happened to caught him. If this continues, he might end up hating us.”
“Yes, I’m also aware of the situation. I’m planning to talk to him tonight. I will get Margaret to ask him to come to the study room. And discuss things with him privately.”
On the study room . . .
“You called me father?” Keith asked
“Oh yes, I did. Have a sit.”
“I . . I didn't do something wrong again, did I?”
“I heard that you tried to sneak out again.”
“U..Oh that. No, I. .I was just trying out the securities. If they are doing their jobs. I didn't intend to sneak out.”
*sigh* “I know that you are so bored here. But can’t you think of anything else to do to enjoy yourself at home?”
“We. . well there’s nothing really fun to do here father.”
“Is that why you have been trying to sneak out every now and then?”
“N. .n. .no, th. . that. . .”
“Okay, don’t try to sneak out again. We’ll figure out something.”
Keith was so surprised, “Re. . really father?” he asked “Yyyeeesss!!”
“It’s too early to be happy. I heard you have some sort of talent.”
“Talent? Yes of course I have.”
“Show me.”
“Sh..show you father? Now?
*nod* “Yes now.”
“What do you want to see? My karate skills? dancing?”
His father just stared at him “And do you even know how to do karate properly? I know they are poor. That’s not what I want to see.”
“Uhm no? My singing maybe?”
“I am talking about what Margaret discovered.”
“Wh. . .what? Margaret?” “Oh that talkative maid” “Ahhh, y..you see father, that was just for fun. D. . don’t think weird things. I am not like that at all.”
“What are you talking about? What weird things are you saying?”
“Y..you see I am not really good at it.”
“Keith, do you wanna try to live outside or not?”
“YES, I DO!” he yelled
“So, show me what you can do.”
“Okay father. I can do female voice. I. . I’m not gay or something. It just happened that I could do such thing.”
“Just do it will you!”
“O..okay father.” Then Keith start talking with a female voice and his father was pretty much amazed by it.
“Wow. I wonder where’d you learned that.” Said his father
“Amazing huh? But I also think it is weird”
“Great!”
“But father, what it has to do with me living outside?”
“I decided to send you to a regular school. You can pick any school you want and Mr. Cha will settle the papers.”
“Really?! Oh yes! Thank you father!”
“Not so fast.” He said, “There are some terms and conditions.”
“Terms and conditions?”
“You will not be using your real name.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You just want to enjoy your youth right? But I can’t protect you if you are not under my roof. I received so many threats these days and we are very much alarmed for your safety.”
“Okay father. I understand. That is much cooler”
“Do you watched movies about what agents does, right?”
“Yes father. What about it?”
“Like them you will have to disguise yourself while you are not home.”
“Disguise myself?”
“I’m afraid that my enemies have a picture of you already. Whoever they are, they might hurt you if they could recognize your face.”
“Oh I see. Well that’s fine.”
“You will disguise as a girl from the day you leave this house.”
Keith was so surprised “WWWWHHHAAATTT!” he blurted “uhhh hahaha y. . you must be mistaken dad. I can’t do it. I’m a man, a real man. How could I live like a female?”
“When did I say that you’re not a man?”
“But why father?”
“This is the only way I could send you off. If you do not agree, then I guess you have to stay by my side.”
Keith was speechless in a while and suddenly said: “OKAY! I will do it!”
“It is settled then. Just think of it as your long waited vacation. Make friends and enjoy. The purpose of this is for you to experience what a normal residence is, not your study. You are not using your name anyway. So get ready and start packing because within a week you will be living outside the house. You can come back whenever you want.”
“Yes father will do so.”
“And oh Keith, don’t tell your mother on what we agreed to. She will not like the idea. Not only will you get in trouble, but also me. You know how scary your mother, right.”
“Yes father. I understand. It’s not like I don’t know her.” Keith then takes his leave
