His Identity

Second hand embarrassment

I was drooling on my sketchbook when there was a knock on my bedroom door. I stumbled to answer it while rubbing the sleep off me. In front me stood Grace, perfect as usual. I do tease her frequently on using make-up but she knows how to use the right amount which suits her perfectly. She looked gorgeous with light lipstick and a normal blush even after a long day of shopping. Even her hair is neat with clothes all clean. Grace is just one of the perfect girls that anyone would fall in love at first sight. I think I'm giving her too much praises. A part of me wanted to kick the other part out of this universe.

"Your welcome," she said, holding a box of new pencils in front of me. I snatched it from her and closed the door in her face, muttering 'get lost'. I smiled at myself when hearing her cussing. Grace didn't leave me alone for ten minutes with my pencils before calling me again for dinner. I washed my face and climbed down the stairs thinking of a way to face my mom.

"Did anything interesting happen at the market today?" Abbe was asking Grace. I dragged a chair next to her.

"Nothing much. Two men beated the shit out of each other. A vegetable store in the east corner caught on fire and the city guards took someone with a hideous moustache after shooting his arm-"

"GRACE!!" my mom glared at her which made me laugh in small voice.

"What?! I didn't tell her about the-"

"Enough!" mom warned again. Grace crossed her arms and leaned back against the chair.

"It's worse now isn't it?" Abbe looked horrified. I stopped eating and focused on reading their expressions for answers. "Sweetie, I won't let anything happen to you," when my mom said that I know she meant it. "To any of you." she emphasized, meeting both Grace's and my eyes. 

For some reason the air suddenly became thick around us. "Good night." I broke the silence with pushing my empty plate, making a screeching sound against the glass table. Then I headed to my room with a glass of water in hand. I changed into a pair of pajamas and soon felt my eyes get heavy while my mind was clouded with fear.

***

I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat. Damn, it's so hot in here. 

I tried to switch on the light only to find that we have no electricity. I wish I could open the windows and let the cool night breeze in, but it would be too dangerous. Finally giving up, I stripped off my pj's and climbed onto bed only wearing my undergarments.

Fifteen minutes later, I felt dehydrated. I fished for the glass of water from the nightstand and gulped down the water. Nevertheless, I'm still thirsty. "Why me?" I muttered while dragging myself off bed with much effort. I was thumping down the hall, dragging my bed sheet along with me when I heard voices downstairs. I stopped dead in tracks. I slowly crept halfway down the stairs and peaked through the railing bars to find three figures in our living room.

One of them belonged to a middle aged man with dark blue eyes. The other was a boy around my age but he was wearing black gear. My mom was facing her back to me, talking to the strangers. Normally I don't like eavesdropping but my curiosity butted in. At least I'm well hidden thanks to the gloomy lighting in the room.

"Trevor why are you even here? You know it's pointless." my mom was saying with a tired voice.

"Kerrin," the man, Trevor said "It's more important than you think it is. I only want to ensure their safety."

"Don't you teach me about looking after three children!! I have been doing that pretty good for ten years all by myself."

"Yes because they used to be kids. But humans grow up and do you think you'll be able to hide them any longer?"

"If I had to fight every city guard to protect my children, I would do that. You know I would."

"Yes Kerrin, but how are you going to do that? Technically speaking it's impossible.Therefore,  I'm offering you something huge."

"I don't need your stupid offers!" my mom was shouting at the point.

"Yes you do! You have no other choice!" The man fired back.

"I never needed your protection! Or the USA's!! I never asked and never will."

"He wanted them to fight. Not hide like this!"

"And where have it ever gotten him??!" As the man's expression became soft I realized that my mom was sobbing. This cannot be happening. My mom never cried. At least not in front of anyone.

"Alec can you give us a second?" Trevor asked from the boy which he nodded. Then the man led my mom to the kitchen which left only me and the boy remaining. As the room was eerie quiet I tried to listen to the hushed voices coming from the kitchen, but couldn't make out any words. Meanwhile, the boy was like having a tour in a museum. He was picking things up and placing them back again for no exact reason.

I was about to get up from the awkward position I was in when the boy's eyes met mine. Oh my god. I quickly covered myself with the bed sheet since I was only wearing my undergarments. Just as he looked away in embarrassment, my mom and Trevor entered the living room. I touched my cheeks to find that my face was still hot from embarrassment. 

"Let's go," said Trevor to the boy. When they reached the front door Trevor turned to my mom who stayed frozen.  "Farewell Kerrin, I won't be coming to you again. But come to me whenever you need help. I'll be waiting." 

"That won't be necessary," my mom sniffed. "Good bye Trevor." The man gave her a small smile and stepped outside with the boy following him. 

Soon as the door slammed shut my mom lost it. The sadness she had before was replaced by anger. Never in my life I had seen my mom act psychopathic like this. Now I see where my stubborn side comes from. First of all she broke her favourite vase, threw two glasses against the wall and kicked the living room furniture. Then she started talking to herself while pulling at her hair. Unsure of what to do, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open wide enough to flies to spend a vacation. 

"Mom?!" it was Abbe who stole the spotlight of the drama by shouting from her room.

Abbe shouting from her room in the middle of the night, is normal occurrence because of the nightmares she get. My mom blinked like coming back to her senses before rushing to Abbe's room. 

The next morning I woke up to find everything back in place like nothing ever happened the previous night. That's how I ended up wondering all day whether it was a weird dream or me going crazy.

"Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange"

***

A/N - All of us have an embarrassing past that we can't get over with right? But actually sometimes I find myself laughing at the stupid things I've done. What are some of those funny stories u have? I'm all ears :)

Pls vote and comment lovelies.