World Of Words

III - Brother

"Death is a mystery, and burial is a secret"

-Stephen King

"Ethan, um. Do you remember the story I was once told?" Charlie was biting her nails, staring at the garden full of students arranging stuff for the party tonight that would be held there.

"The one that your mother told you?" He gestured with his hands.

"Lucas had told her, before he died, that Gean had a son.", he then remembered that Charlie's mother's name was Gean.

"The one she thought was dead when born. But he didn't said anything particular pertaining to where he was, how he looked like, or anything. Gean had said that when I was younger, everytime she tells that story, she sobs, and wipes hear tears for she had not known whether it was true or not." She faced Ethan staring blankly at his eyes.

"Well if you're having a bad time with that reminiscing stuff, I think you should definitely go to the party tonight, or we should go-", he was interrupted when she suddenly spoke.

"No, no! I just thought that maybe, it's true. The one my father says. It can be true, Ethan. It can be!", she said with astonishment. She once had imagined what it was like having a baby brother. It seems like it would be fun having someone that looks up to you.

"I know that there are times when you ask yourself with what ifs, drowning your mind with possibilities. But you know Charlie-", he was interrupted again. Leaving his mouth open while listening to Charlie.

"What if I ask my Grand-"

"Look! You kept on interrupting me. Give me time to say my words.", he almost yelled.

"I wanted to say if you could go out with me tonight. You know instead of going to that damn party. ", he said calmly, looking at her, finding answers.

"Of course, Ethan! Why would I say no?", as they high fived again.

"So, um. I guess it's time. You're going to a dance practice right? And I'm going to the martial arts class. See you.", he continued, forcing a smile. Loosening his hand from hers.

~

Ethan maintained Charlie's first impression on him. He was always amiable. She remembered the two of them, young, eating their favorite snack-popcorn while watching fantasy movies. He slept over at her house leaving the sofa full of scattered popcorn. They had played M&ms by sorting it by color. They had ended up on an M&m fight.

"Hey,", she said. She poked him. It occured to him that they're both going at the same direction.

"This is weird.", they both chuckled.

Charlie went to her dance class, which was free. It's up to you whether you go to the class or not. She started on their first year's class. She entered the room examining if someone's there. There were about ten of them, mostly girls. Most of them were wearing leggings and cropped tops.

She had gone to her locker getting her towel and a bottled water before stepping on the dancefloor. She never felt nervous when dancing, maybe because it's where she expresses herself freely. She never experienced being judged when dancing that's why she continued doing it. It became a part of her life---the art of moving your body with rythym and style.

She just danced gracefully through the beat. She never imagined herself being into dancing, until that time.

She glanced at the mirror as her body moves. She never felt weak after dancing nor exhausted, instead she feels the urge to do better. It's now time to rest and drink water.

As she looked at the mirror, she thought of something. I really look like my mother, she thought. Then she remembered her father. Her father had died before she was born, while her mother died when she was nine. Before her mother died, that was the time that there was a rumor that she had a younger brother who died after being born, but she have always hoped that he lived.

The same year when Ethan had left Soahc, their country, was the time when she had nothing, until her grandpa took care of her.

Hours passed when the class was finally finished. She went to her locker to get an extra shirt which was nude colored plain shirt, almost cropped. It goes with her white jeans and black rubber shoes which was slightly heeled.

Her hair was wet, she designed it with a waterfall braid, showing highlights of light brown color on her brown hair, that her natural hair color.

She changed with her extra shirt. Necessarily, they waved good-bye to their instructor.

She went outside the room. Surprisingly, Ethan greeted him.

"The party was moved this afternoon. So I hope we could go out early.", he's not wearing glasses. Maybe he forgot placing it after their class because it might get broken into pieces if he wore that, she thought.

"Put your glasses on. And, you didn't tell me that you would fetch me after your class.", as they walked along the corridor.

"It doesn't matter.", he muttered.

"Whatever, idiot."