Ambiguous Confession

Moonlight

"Are you excited for school in two days?"

With my hands shaking in mixed emotions, I dialled David's number. My face showed a deep frown and sunken eyebrows, very different from the fake smile I had plastered for Christine's aunt. I heard the line cut off with the poor cellular connection in the area.

That added to my frustrations as I kick a rock from the side of the road. I am glad that I have managed to excuse myself in the midst of their hospitality. I groaned seeing the bars, indicating the strength of cellular connection disappear and replaced with a No Service sign.

Enraged. Frustrated. Confused. Betrayed.

"Sirius, sweetie, don't you feel cold outside? Come inside now."

With a fake smile on my face, I whipped my head to the direction of the door. She stood by the door, gesturing for me to come inside the house. I gently shook my head in reply to her statement.

"No, I'm fine, Auntie Tina. I was just wondering if I could go for a short walk tonight."

I made my way back to the door in which its frame holds Christine's aunt's leaning form. Her facial expression screams worry and fear. It screams mother. I haven't seen that expression for years. Not long enough, once I approached her, Aunt Tina's mouth spoke warm words that I haven't heard in awhile.

"Are you sure? I'm worried that you'll get lost. You haven't even been in this place for a day yet. Do you want me to ask somebody to accompany you? What if—"

Her sudden outburst and nonstop blabbering made my heart swell in joy and in warmth. I feel my cheekbones going way up high that my eyes squinted in an eye smile. I cut her river-like mouth off.

"I'm sure, Auntie. I'd like to go alone. Just to breathe some fresh air and relax."

I gave her the eye smile that no one could resist; I am glad it worked. Her facial expression somehow relaxed but the worry on her face is still visible. She showed me a smile and patted my head. Her arms extended to the interior of the house, as i furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"At least wear a warm jacket. It's colder outside at night."

I muttered an 'Ah' before entering the house with Aunt Tina following behind me. The sound of my dirty runners stomping on the floor echoed around the living room. I heard Aunt Tina call my name repeatedly. I turned around and saw her pointing at my runners.

"You're wearing your outdoor shoes inside."

Waddling my way back to the door, I kept thinking on the importance of indoor and outdoor slippers. At my house, I get to use the footwear I wore outside inside the house. I don't understand.

Once I reached the door, I took off my black runners and socks to wear the red rubber slippers they are providing me. The thick rubber underneath my soles provided a different feeling from the comfort of my socks and the insides of my runners.

I wiggled my toes, released from the suffocating comfortableness of my socks. It feels nice. Not only can my nose breathe fresh air but even the tiniest parts of my body could get fresh air. Not so bad, David and Christine.

"You might be wondering why we use different footwear inside and outside of the house, right?"

While I was busy admiring the wiggling movements of my adorable toes, Aunt Tina's almost hoarse voice softly caught my attention once again. I nodded as reply to her question.

"You see the situation of our road out there? With the dust and all? And how the people you encounter  on the streets are mostly covered in dirt? The people's main source of living here is farming, in case you haven't connected the dots yet."