the key holders

SHORT STORY

 

"Daniel, get your butt over here!" Yelled the boy with hair just above his shoulders, fluttering in the wind.

‘I'm coming!” Daniel groaned.

‘Why is he so slow?” the boy with the gray hair, standing next to two other guys,  jokes. “People might think you're a sloth.”

The laughs of the other boys faded in the background as Daniel jogged to them with the keys in his hands.

Daniel opened his eyes and sat up lazily on the white mattress. He stares at the blanket that was placed lazily below his hip. He turns his head to the sides to see the gray car still there. Unmoving and still in the same spot.  He sighs heavily and gets up to his feet. He slid inside the car moreover decided to drive back home. He turned on the radio to listen to some music and started the engine to his car. He shivered just a bit from the lack of clothing. Only with leather shorts and a white shirt on. It was 5:53 in the morning, making the abandoned place maddening gray from the fog.  

Daniel hums a familiar tune as he opens the door to his house and enters quietly. He closes the door softly. He stops abruptly when he sees his mother, sitting on the couch in the dimly lit living room.

"You scared me." Daniel sighs of relief. "Why are you up so early?" He slowly moves to her and kisses her forehead lovingly.

"You were gone in the middle of the night." His mother says softly, the nervousness in her voice barely noticeable. "Tell me next time, ok?" She looks up to the boy she loves the most in the whole world. His eyes were heavy from sleep and he had gotten thinner. He is paler now too. She wonders when was the last time he had those chubby cheeks she loved so much.

He chuckles feebly and nods. "I'm going to bed." His mom nods and watches her son walk through the stairs.

A couple of uneventful days passed by and Christmas is already here. The sound of the ringing bell echoes in the store. The over enthusiastic female employee bursts a big smile when she sees a familiar face.

"Yo, Daniel!" She clamoured excitedly. "Long time no see. What are you here for, my boy?"

Daniel remembered Pearl as this loud kid in class that wouldn't shut up, but that was her charming point. He grins politely at her, "I'm here to buy presents for my parents."

"Oh, still a mama's boy huh?" She teased lightly.

"Isn't it normal to buy presents for your loved ones?

"Not in my household." She sighs. "Everyone is just saving money. Nobody will ever have a sentimental soul about Christmas." Pearl's family was poor. She works 2 part-time jobs a day just to pay for her education. Her parents were a hopeless case, leading to her and her older siblings taking care of the younger ones. Daniel’s only sort of Christmas gift for her was pity.

Daniel sauntered around the shelves to search for cheap presents that his parents would appreciate. Daniel's mother was altruistic. Always putting others first even when she is also suffering. He wanted to give her something significant to commemorate her hard work. He spotted a silver necklace on the second topmost shelf that would be perfect for her. Daniel was quite a tall boy by the size of 182 cm. He was already twenty but he was still getting taller. His slim arms easily grabbed the box that held the necklace. He admires the jewelry a bit before looking for other stuff.

He grabbed a long purple knitted scarf for his father and a bag full of ramen packs for himself. Daniel was about to go to the counter when he recalled something. Something important. He froze in his steps. His vision became a little bit hazy. His hands shook like it did every Christmas. "I must buy them." He thought to himself. He went back to the shelves and quickly found the key holders he remembered seeing before. Daniel smiled a little sadly at the memory.

"That would be 7,013.42 won," Pearl started to place the things Daniel bought in a paper bag. "What's with the key holders? Are those also for your parents?"

“Daniel's hands stopped rummaging for cash in his pocket and lowered his head down.      "Do you remember what day it is today?" He asks, his voice in a chilling tone that startled Pearl a little.

"It's Christmas." She said as she stared at him. She is met with utter silence so stifling that she could hear the clock ticking. The moment passed and Daniel lifted his head. He gave his signature but eerie smile. "Yes, it's Christmas."

Daniel arrived home late. The Christmas tree was already set up and the lights brightly illuminated the house. The presents were beautifully wrapped and placed under the tree. Daniel set his presents and at the same time helped his mother in the kitchen. A few familiar faces came, greeting them with smiles. Friends, Relatives, and their kids were slowly filling up the house. After setting up the table, they all gathered around to eat. The table was filled with a delicious, exquisite feast. The guests complimented Daniel's mother's cooking as Daniel remained silent with his meal.

"It's the present opening time." Daniel's father shouted as the kids gathered around the living room, admiring the bountiful presents under the tree. Daniel's father ushered Daniel to interact with the kids. He gave them presents, entertaining the kids with stories that he experienced during childhood. His parents thought it was a beautiful sight to witness. While his parents were giving away presents to the guests, Daniel stood up and went to the tree. He grabbed the three boxes that were dressed in gorgeous gift wrap. "Merry Christmas, mom and dad." He handed the two boxes to his parents. His mother's eyes sparkled with joy and so did his father.

"Thank you, Daniel." His mom opened the present and instantly lit up with a  genuine smile.

The air was filled with laughs and smiles just as Daniel's mother noticed the one box that was still in Daniel's hands. "To whom is that last box for?" Daniel's mother tilted her head. Daniel seems to have lost his tender smile after that. Daniel gazed at the box, his delightful charm nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, mom." Said, Daniel in a grim tone. "There is one last gift to be opened. For the boys who aren't here…"

His mom's heart dropped to the floor. She realized. She pushed the buttons. The room was compressed with suffocating silence. Daniel began tearing the gift wrap unhurriedly. He took out four key holders with a bear, a penguin, a rabbit, and a squirrel design embedded into it. "This is for Steve, Ben, Terry, and Kai. Their icons are designed in it too." His mom's vision blurred while his father couldn't find the voice to speak up to this uncomfortable moment.

“Awh, Daniel." His mom managed to utter. "You didn't need to."

Daniel clenched the box to stop the tears from falling. His gaze was pure grief and resentment, maybe not for anyone but himself. "Do you think I could forget?" He stifled a cry of remorse. "Do you think it's just like trash where you can disregard and be indifferent with it however you please?" Daniel's cry echoed in the room. He let out an ugly sob as he clenched his heart. "How could anyone just ignore it? It was all my fault. I should have died." He repeated. Again and again. He continued letting out a pained whimper as he lost his voice doing so. The house was silent as Daniel's cries lingered in everyone's ears. Three years ago, they passed. It was a dreadful Christmas night like it was three years ago.