7DS

Chapter 4: The X Family I (Glysin)

As the breezy night continues in a different location, Antromidus High School is still open.

Ricardo Xandiér, a former film maker turned Math teacher after getting tired of the spotlight. This man has quite the history, and is only one of the poor people in Montesure's list. Though he has a rather minimum wage career now, he managed to save enough of his money to still be considered wealthy. At this point, he fails to support his eldest, so he then supports the only son he has left, Arieson. Ricardo may seem like an innocent, kind, wise man, but he's had his fair share of bad deeds in his youth. Most notably, being a gambler. Certain things in his life caused him to change, and the death of his wife is no different.

Antromidus High is quiet, of course, with only one person left in its building this deep in the night. Ricardo "Ardy" is snoring in the Teacher's Lounge, not aware of the time. Finally, he awakens with a gasp, seeming to be waking up from a bad dream. He shifts back to reality and glances at the time in his laptop, and it reads, "10:23 PM". He looks up at the room clock as well to see if the time is correct, which it was. Ardy, finally realizing it was late, turns off his laptop and keeps it in his bag. He prepares to leave, picking up his bag, standing up, takes one last look at the Lounge before heading out to the halls. Already outside, his phone rings, receiving a message from Jormein.

Jormein: •"Ardor, are you still coming to our little reunion tomorrow?"•

Ardy: Hmm... *replies* •"Yup, I'm willing to bet I'll be the first one there."

Ardy turns his phone off and keeps it in his pocket, and continues walking through the halls on his way to the exit. The silence, and his sleepy state drive him to think deeper and contemplate about what's happened in his life. How his eldest is slowly becoming his enemy, and how he has no brilliant idea of how to apologize sincerely. Ardy decides to break the silence by whistling a Sinatra classic, "Fly Me to the Moon". And before he knew it, he's made it to the exit. He pulls out the Lounge keys from his pocket, hoping to hand it to the security guard, Henry, for the night.

???: You're still here, sir.

Ardy: Yes, Henry. I didn't really catch the time.

SG Henry: Those projects and whatnot, eh sir?

Ardy: Precisely. Well, Math is Math. *tosses him the keys* Have a good one, Henry.

*walks away*

SG Henry: You too, sir.

The outside seems to be darker than expected, and colder than usual in November. Not really wanting to go back to his lonely manor, Ardy reluctantly opens his car door and enters. He puts his bag down at the front seat, and closes the door. He takes one deep sigh before starting the car and preparing to drive out. Of course, as every person should know, a night drive is better with night drive music.

Ardy: Siri, play the "Night Drive" playlist, please.

*the playlist starts playing, starting with the song "Vincent"*

"Starry, starry night"

Ardy drives out of Antromidus.

"Paint your pallet blue and grey"

His eyes wander in the streets of New York.

"Look out on a summer's day, with eyes that know the darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills"

Ricardo begins to reminisce about his life in the past, back when his wife was still alive.

*(in the his memory)*

"Sketch the trees and the dafodills"

Two little boys running around, in a grassy plain.

"Catch the breeze and the winter chills"