Mirage (ON HOLD for revision)

Chapter 29: Fresh Azaleas

Matt lazed around all afternoon, staring outside the window like always, when he got back from the home. They didn't talk about much else, nothing else at all really, and he just left after finishing the lemonade Luka miraculously found out of courtesy.

His room was on the third floor of a decent enough apartment complex, facing away from the monstrous buildings, much to Matt's relief. It wasn't really that different from back home, save for the vantage point. It was he who felt different.

"Would you close the damn window already!"

Matt nearly fell out the window, turning to his right to see. He could only see a figure retreating back and slamming the windows shut so hard that the frame shook. Then, Matt realized that there was a gap in the windows so when Matt opens his, some breeze would definitely get into the next room as well. Still, he couldn't quite figure out what the old man was so pissed about; it wasn't even cold, and the air smelled remarkably fresh. Nevertheless, Matt closed the window quietly and slumped on his bed.

He thought that after lazing around for the most part of his life, he would be used to waiting, and he only had over 12 hours to wait, too. But knowing that Luka would accompany him to Sonia's grave the following morning made Matt nervous and impatient at the same time like the way he felt when he met Robert, but not quite.

Perhaps it was the stress, or simply jet lag after running around for the last couple of days, but Matt unconsciously fell asleep. He woke up with a start and realized he had overslept when he head a knock on the door. It was Luka. He quickly changed into the clothes he prepared the previous day and suddenly felt like he was dressed to attend a funeral. But then again, it didn't matter; he wasn't able to attend her funeral after all.

"Sorry. Was I too early?" Luka asked when Matt opened the door.

To his surprise, Luka was also in formal wear, sending Matt's eyes burning while he held his breath.

"No. I overslept," Matt replied. "Is there somewhere we can drop by for azaleas on the way?" he asked as he locked the door behind him.

"I know a place," Luka replied.

Matt followed him in silence the rest of the way, letting Luka deal with the flower shop with an apology and a promise to pay him back for the flowers eventually. Luka only brushed it off with a solemn smile as he handed the azaleas to Matt. They were the same color as the ones Sonia had back home.

Leaving the car outside, Luka led Matt inside.

The cemetery was empty save for the care-taker. It was eerily, but Matt put it down to never being to a cemetery before. They walked for about five minutes before Luka stopped and pointed at one tombstone.

"I'll wait for you here," Luka said quietly, squeezing Matt's shoulders lightly as if to offer support.

Matt nodded and walked towards Sonia's grave, his throat constricting as memories flooded him. Her face, something he thought he had already forgotten, flashed before his burning eyes. A couple of steps away from her grave, nostalgia stopped abruptly.

Luka was watching Matt's back and thought there was something wrong when Matt suddenly stopped halfway through.

"What's wrong?" Luka asked as he came up to Matt.

"Did dad visit mom yesterday?" Matt asked.

"No. I would know otherwise," Luka replied, "Why?"

Matt didn't respond. Luka followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at; on Sonia's grave were the similar azaleas Matt bought earlier, no more than a day old.