Rhivera (Complete Novel)

~Chapter Three- Ideals~

~Chapter Three~

~Juaquin~

~2015~

I looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunny day, the sort of day that called out to me. But Eugenio couldn't go outside, not since that close call in 2012 when a boat passed by while the two of us were out on the beach. Ever since then, Raul and mom thought it best that Eugenio stay indoors at all times. It was too risky otherwise. The 4-year old Eugenio couldn't go outside, so it felt unfair to leave him.

The two of us watched a cartoon on the couch, Eugenio was completely enamored by the show. I was antsy the entire time, longing to go outside. He sat on my lap and leaned back on me. Mom was at work, so it was my job to watch him today. Like usual. Since he was born, I didn't get to go out with friends as often. But it was fine. I wanted to help out. Although the government continued to give us money for the service my father did for this county, mom still felt she needed to work.

A knock came at the door. Eugenio frowned since he knew what was coming. Whenever someone came to the door that we didn't know, we had to hide Eugenio away. His legs dangled as I took him to dad's old bedroom and I set him down.

"I'll be right back." I whispered.

"Alright." He said in a defeated tone.

I closed dad's room behind me so he was out of view. I looked through the front door's peephole to see the 13-year old Melissa gripping a box of toys. I sighed, relieved that it was her rather than anyone else.

"Why didn't you say it was you?" I opened the door for her, picked a newspaper from the mailbox and brought it inside with me.

"Sorry." Melissa stepped inside and I closed the door behind her whilst tossing the newspaper on the table for later.

"Eugenio! I have something for you!" She yelled out.

"What is it!?" Eugenio was ecstatic that Melissa had come over. He reached out to me and I took him into my arms. He was still easy to pick up, but in a few years it wouldn't be that way, even for a strong kid like me. Luckily Raul had acquired a wheelchair for him when he's older.

He was in utter glee when he saw Melissa's gifts. She sat in the living room showing off the toys one by one. She had a way with him that I didn't. A toy car rolled out Eugenio's reach. He strained as far as he could to grab it, only for Melissa to nudge it back to his hand.

"Thanks Melissa." Eugenio said politely. She gave him a sweet smile. He was a happy kid despite his circumstances, taking joy in everything he could. He seemed content with staying inside. There had been a few difficult conversations where we had to explain why he couldn't go outside. Mom said they would take him away if he left, which seemed to scare him enough that he didn't pry further.

When I looked at him though, I'd think of dad sometimes. What it'd be like if he was still alive, still bedridden, relying on us to take care of him. Dad would've hated that. Even at the end of his life, he still supported Population Control. What would he have thought of us saving Eugenio?

I let Melissa show off her gifts while I looked over the newspaper.

'Family killed by the RLA' was the headline.

The Rhiveran Liberation Army was still at large in their effort to destroy the PCC. They had taken the lives of a family in Tolesta, saying that the killing would stop as soon as Population Control ends. They called themselves an army, but Raul called them what they really were. Terrorists. The newspaper talked about the family who lost their lives. They seemed like good people.