The Widow

Scene 19 - With walls so high and unbreakable

Scene 19 – With walls so high and unbreakable

Ralphe stared at his mother’s emotionless face as she continued to tell him on why he mustn’t do it, he smiled wryly, if he didn’t see his mother’s face or hear her in that blank expression he would’ve thought she cared.

Why, she kept telling him how dangerous it was, how it might kill him.

He knew better though, his father sent his mother to convince him to stop this “stupidity” as his father told him over the phone as though his mother could change his mind. They didn’t really care about his safety, okay they did for whoever would inherit all the Mendez fortune if he were to die on his way to space? His bird-brained cousin that was for sure.

His father would never allow that for sure, though he really did have no say about the Mendez inheritance. If he had one thing in common with his father that would be how they both loathed the way the Mendez family still worked, it was still old school, only sons could inherit, everything was entailed it was like English aristocracy in that way.

His father was lucky enough to be born as the eldest son by two minutes and Ralphe was so tired of hearing it every family events for his uncle was a bitter old man. So when his old man died, Ralphe was sure to inherit all the Mendez fortune and that would be vast indeed.

His father didn’t work that hard to just let all his hardwork slip away because his irresponsible son was stupid enough to think he could just go to space and be done with it. Yeah, his father told him that of course with more colorful words.

Now, he sent his wife to do his bidding and tell Ralphe to be a good son and for once follow their wishes. As if.

“Raphael, we worry about you.” His mother continued, he snorted, his mother glared at him, “We do worry.” She said curtly, “I don’t know why you turned up like this, so dispassionate about everything except your vices. You came from a good family and were taught by the best yet you’ve done nothing but raked through life.”

“So what exactly is the point of you being here? To hurl insults?”

“Tell Anton Magdayao that you’re backing out.”

“No.”

“Why must you be so stubborn? This could kill you!”

“Then I give my felicitations to Garth.” Ralphe smiled sardonically, “Or I’d say, father should turn all the fortunes and lands that are not entailed to Lilly.”

“You would let your sister be thrown out of the house she grew up in?”

He waved a hand at her, “Mother, father is still alive. Why must we be talking about this? Is father dying? God, I hope not. And you talk as if you could see the future, I tell you now madam, all this morbid talk might actually sent me to grave too early.” He gave her his devil may care smile. “I will go to space and you can’t stop me. I’m way past my majority and there is nothing you could do about it. You can’t threaten me.”