The Hidden Genre (C. H. H. Ain't Dead 01)

chapter thirty-two

YOUNG BRO and Bryann Trejo performed their song, For The Father, while the finalists were backstage in preparation.

   “Why didn't you say anything?” asked Luke. The revelation was so unexpected to a point that he got defensive, “All this time, I thought you abandoned me. Why would you allow me to think that?”

   “What did you expect me to do?” replied Margarette, more calmly. “Me being adopted was always bound to happen. I never thought it as abandoning you. Hearing you say that hurt me and I didn't know how to react . . .”

   “I'm sorry . . .” Luke was ashamed. “I couldn't bring to life one memory other than your teachings of self-defense . . . I never thought I would ever see you again, Marge . . .”

   “That’s partly my fault. My adoptive parents couldn’t wait for you to return from school for me to say goodbye. They had to be on the next flight home . . . and I didn’t have the courage to tell them otherwise.”

   “I don’t blame you for that . . .” he said, “all the scattered pieces have finally come together. For all I’ve said, unknowingly to your face, I ask for your forgiveness.”

   “Forgiveness given . . .” Margarette smiled as she opened her arms, “Hug?”

   When they trained together at the orphanage, young Lukey would shyly ask for hugs from the older and taller Marge. She found it cute, even offered him a chance to kiss the part, he managed to hit, “better”. It became their reward system, he would get a hug or kiss, dependent on what he managed to hit. And just like that, Luke had motivation to get better.

   The now taller celebrity chuckled at the memory. “Only if you manage to get a body blow,” he said.

   “As far as I’m concerned,” she replied, “my words already touched your heart.”

   The two embraced each other as they did back then. The warm fuzzy feeling, no different. The hugging stance, no different. The height of Luke, length of and the Chase of this hug, worth it.  

   “Ms. Miller told me what happened, Lukey,” Marge said, once they broke away. “I understand why the situation could have been so misunderstood.”

   “It's just something I don't want to witness again, but I don't understand how I couldn't put two and two together,” he found it amusing, “Marge is an obvious nickname for Margarette.”

   “I think your mind was still clouded by the abandonment issue, plus, I never told you my real name at the orphanage. There was no way you could remember something you never knew,” the words softened the blow.

   Luke Chase loved that about her.

   “I came back to North City only to find out that you had gone on a completely different path already,” she continued, “I myself had become a fan of the genre through my adoptive parents, however, their type of hip hop music was different to what I wanted to represent.”

   “Secular?”

   “Your type of music, yes. I knew then and there why I discovered the genre the moment you had left it. I would be part of the people that God would use to bring you back, like the prodigal son.” The artists finished their track on stage, “I know now that it's not for me to do.”