Retrace

Chapter Four

Here’s one fact to remember: I’ve been sleeping for two days. I don’t know why and I don’t want to know. I’ll just have to add this in my list. Then, since it’s two days, I woke up to realize that it’s already Amy’s funeral.

Before the burial though, something happened.

Gil told me to stand on a wooden box placed in the middle of the guest room. Then he let me carry the box to my room and closed all the curtains. Gil let me stand on the box again. Suddenly, two people came into the room with big luggage. The two people set their luggage near my bed. Gil said that he invited the two of them. When I asked why, he just smiled. After the two people grabbed some things on their luggage and removed their black overcoats, revealing a matching pair of blue pants and dirty white collared shirts. The man with glasses – who was holding a tape measure – asked me to raise my arms. The other who had a small goatee went behind me. At first, I didn’t raise my arms up.

“Keishi, you’ll just have to bear with this right now,” Gil said quietly. I sensed a tinge of something negative on his tone. “I think I should leave. You follow whatever they tell you.”

“Wait, Gil!” My response was fast, but Gil was faster in leaving my room. I think he didn’t even hear me. Why would he leave that fast anyway? And what am I supposed to do here?

I sighed and raised my arms. The glasses guy started taking measurements and dictated them to the goatee guy.

What the heck? They’re tailors? Gil took them here so they could take my measurements and make some clothes. I find it weird. Why would Gil arrange them to come at the day of Amy’s funeral? But maybe they’re here by appointment so it’s inevitable.

But why do I get this chilly feeling?

The measuring took a while and I’m tired of standing still. When I know it was already time to get off the wooden box, I was suddenly lifted off the ground.

The next thing I know, I was carried by the goatee guy in his arms.

“You look cute don’t you?”

I thought my breathing stopped. My hand just limped from my shoulders and the blood from my face drained. I was choking from shock.

No way.

“Mommy Elisa’s here to cheer you up! Come, give me a big hug!”

This isn’t a guy at all. It’s a woman posing as a guy.

My head lolled down in exasperation and shock.

This goatee guy is Elisa and she’s an exceptional tailor. She’s actually a very strong woman, but it doesn’t show on her body at all. She disguises herself in many ways just to get to me. Her reason for doing so is that she finds me irresistible. On top of that, to her, I’m the cutest boy she ever saw. I just don’t get her. Because of that, I’m a bit annoyed when she’s here.

Elisa hugged me tightly that she might’ve sucked my life out of my body. “You’re so cute I could eat you!” Then she hugged me tighter still.

I could’ve died if it wasn’t for Gil. He banged the door open and yelled out, “Hey Elisa! You can’t kill my nephew!”

Elisa released me immediately. I fell down the floor, limp. I feel like my bones have already cracked. I’m even seeing things. It’s like, why does Gil’s hair look like a pineapple?

“Elisa, I told you: No squeezing the life out of my nephew!” Gil repeated.

“But he’s just so cute,” Elisa said. “Can I keep him now?”

“He’s not your property! He’s not even something you can keep!”

“I can fashion a doll’s dress for him. Then I’ll keep him in a glass case.”