When Boxes Rattle

Chapter 3

They were riding the jeepney heading home when Kalia focused back on Kevin’s story. For five years now all they have had been each other, with both their parents gone after a tragic accident. Their only consolation was that Kalia had already graduated college and was already reviewing for her CPA Board exam that time.

Kalia was stone cold sure there had been no girl earlier. And there was no shawarma splatter three years ago. But Kevin remembered his story clearly, and even had the box as proof of it.

“What’s inside the box?” Kalia asked.

Kevin turned to her in a snap. “The one she gave me?” He was holding the fourth token from earlier.

“Yup. That box.”

“I never opened it. I shook it once to try to figure out what’s inside. There’d been a lot of rattling. Like marbles. Heavy, leaden, miniature billiard balls but with flat sides and angles.”

Kalia tried to picture the box. “You never tried opening it?”

“She said I shouldn’t. She said we’ll have to open it together.”

"Oh," Kalia responded, doubting. "Then why didn't you go to her earlier?"

Obscurely, Kevin shook his head.

Both of them quieted after that. In half an hour, they arrived at their home.

It was a two-storey concrete house, with yellow paint on the walls and red tiles on the roof. Kalia managed to keep their home, send Kevin to college, and follow on his maintenance with her salary as an accountant, but there was only so much left for them to luxuriate over.

They had already eaten outside so both of them quickly settled for their comfort zones. Soon enough Kalia saw the clock turn to ten. She took out Kevin’s med kit and knocked on his room.

“It’s not yet ten!” Kevin shouted, not opening his door.

“I don’t know what time zone you are in right now but you have to take your medicine.”

Her brother allowed her in, and Kalia settled on his bed. She fumbled through his capsules and gave him his nightly dosage.

"I'm telling you it's only 8:45, dude."

"Your clock's probably broken. How’s the lumps?” she asked him, feeling the readily swollen glands under Kevin’s jaw.

The latter took his meds and swallowed, followed by a large drink of water. “They don’t hurt anymore. Still, they'd get all swollen and weird everytime I get cold."

"Doctor Lana did say that's the worst of it. How's your breathing? A year and a half should have done you better."

Kevin closed his eyes and took in gulps of air. Even at 19, he was still Kalia's little brother.

"They're fine except for the occasional coughs. And we could blame the city's pollution for that."

"Fair enough," agreed Kalia as she fixed the kit and got out. "Good night, Kev. I hope you dream of her."

"Night, Kal. I hope you dream of him."

Before fully closing his door, Kalia stole a glimpse of Kevin's bedside. Resting atop the table was a box.

One foot per dimension.

She checked the house's doors and windows before going to her room. It was a fine house their parents had left them, and there was many a time when people would offer to buy it. They needed the money and Kalia knew that. But the house was the only place in the world where she could trace back their parents' memories. The world would have to beggar her first before she'd sell it.

Kalia stood in front of the mirror as she undressed for bath. She took her contacts off first, then her necklace and earrings. The ornaments were settled on the open chest, top right. She took off her working blouse, unzipping them open bottom to top.

All of her blouses had no buttons. All of her slacks had no buttons. In fact, none of her articles had buttons.

For Kalia Rose Tan, buttons are made up of monsters.

She turned to the bathroom after taking off her slacks. As she went inside the shower, she unclasped her watch and left it on the tiled sink.

It just turned exactly 9.