Ares: Never Grow Up
Dave's past! (3)

POV: Dave

"Sorry, we don't hire minors."

"I'm sorry, we can't accept a kid who dropped out of school."

"You're not welcome, please go home."

"I'm sorry but .. we've recruited better people."

No matter where I look for a job. Their answers are always the same at the core. Minors, school dropouts, poor and stupid families.

"Ugh ..." Sometimes I feel tired of all this. But I don't want to make my mother suffer alone at home. I have to find money and take him for treatment.

It's been over two months I've been looking to and fro. But none of them would accept me. As usual, I cried during my way home in the cold twilight.

The journey to our old hut was heavy. It's even harder if I see my mother still lying sick. Even what we can eat is sometimes just a plate of rice without side dishes.

Criet.

As usual, I opened the door of the house while taking a deep breath. "Mom, I'm home" I said.

From inside this old hut, I heard my mother's cough. "Welcome" he said quietly but I could still hear. I put down the backpack I was carrying, and also took off my shoes. After that I walked towards the rice cooker's stove and started to heat it up.

"How's Dave?" asked my mother slowly, which made my heart scream even more.

"Sorry Mom," I said trying to stay as calm as possible.

"... I feel sorry for you who only eat rice, you should be in your infancy now" said my mother as she walked out of her room. I was shocked and ran towards my mother.

"Mom, just sleep. Why stand up?" I said to him softly. My mother's skinny hands stroked my cheeks softly and gently. Her smile looked warm from her thin cheeks.

"Until now, I've never heard what your ideals are. So I want to hear it now" said my mother. I looked at him in silence, then smiled at him.

"Alright, wait for me to turn off the furnace heater first huh," I replied.

That day, my mother and I talked to each other until bedtime. I told him my dream and the reason I wanted to go to school. And as I imagined, my mother would smile while praying for my dream to come true.

That night, after my mother fell asleep, I put on her the blanket she used to wear. His face looked so calm and happy, I wanted to feel like I was awake tonight and see it as much as I could.

But of course I can't. I have to go to bed and find another job tomorrow.

I got out of my mother's room and closed the door slowly. "Good sleep, mother."

"Em, good morning too, Dave," he replied that was probably just a mutter. I closed the door, and went to my room.

.

.

.

But I did not expect that the night .. was the last good morning to me.

Tomorrow, my mother is gone. She died in her sleep, with a smile engraved on her pretty face. I don't know, should I be thankful that my mother has escaped the suffering of the world, or should I be sad that I have to live in this world alone?

Aunt and Lucy disappeared from us years ago. I ... don't have anyone else to lean on.

Though I also had to be confused how to do a proper funeral ceremony for my mother. I don't have the slightest money, even to eat, the rice I use is government-assisted rice for the poor.

But luckily, there was a kind man. He said he was a priest, and he wanted to pay for my mother's funeral. He also had no problem doing funerals in accordance with our beliefs.

Funerals run as normal, it's just that. Maybe all that came was passersby to defend his condolences, and some of the male families who financed this funeral.

The funeral was over, and my mother had a good place to rest. My heart felt empty after knowing that I was going back to that hut.

The old hut I was alone in.

"The cave. Your name is Dave, right?" A boy came to me with 5 red roses and 5 white chrysanthemums.

I looked at the boy. He wears a black short-sleeved shirt, as well as black shorts. His body is not taller than mine, I might say that he is younger.

"Here, my father told me to give it to you" he said, offering all the flowers he had brought to me.

"Dad? Thanks though. Who's father?" I smiled and accepted the flowers. The boy pointed towards the man behind him who was smiling at me.

He's the man who financed mom's funeral.

That guy has a kid?! What does this have to do with mom?

Thinking about my mother's previous job, I thought negatively of her. Shortly afterwards the man walked towards me while gently embracing his son's shoulders.

"Dave, how you been doing all this time?" ask the man.

I looked at his face deeply and read his eyes.

Sincerest. I felt no other intention in his eyes.

"My news is good, as uncle saw," I said. The man then started to pull out his wallet and showed me a photo.

I took the picture, and watched it. Inside there, I saw a woman who resembled a mother, so smiling happily with this man beside her.

"Mikaera is my sister. My biological sister" he said, which left me flabbergasted. I think my mother's family has completely ignored us.

"Dave, do you want to stay with us?" asked the uncle while looking at me.

Greb.

I stared at the boy who was the son of this uncle. He took my hand and looked at me expectantly. "I .. want a sister," he told me.

I fell silent and thought. I slowly let go of the little boy's hand. "I ... will think about it first, thanks for your offer, uncle," I told him. After that I saw him sigh, but he did not continue to force me. He just nodded and started holding his son's hand.

"Well, I'll be visiting you again soon." After saying that, he walked away. And I walk home.

Same street but strange feeling. The same house with different feelings. The smell of this house is still the same but it doesn't feel like my old house. I sat limply against the wall, and began to fall down.

What do I do after this? What do I have to choose?

Being too tired of the inner conflict I experienced, I fell asleep in a sitting position.

***

"Huh? Morning already?" I woke up when I heard the sound of chickens crowing. My eyes looked around, until finally my eyes were glued to a brown file he bag table.

I opened the brown file slowly.

Is this really here? Since when? Since I usually come home at night, I don't pay attention to it.

In the file, there was an old paper that was bone white. It is a writing that is no stranger to me.

My mother's handwriting.

For Dave.

Every day, I feel guilty seeing you banging for a job. If only you had chosen the right job, maybe your life would not be as difficult as it is now.

Your dreams are beautiful, my son. Building an orphanage is the most beautiful dream I've heard in all this time. My prayers are always with you, Dave.

I believe you'll make it happen. Because you are my son. If you'd seen this letter, I'd probably be gone. Don't hate yourself or blame yourself.

I never regretted having a child like you. I hope you don't regret having a mother like me either.

Don't worry Dave, the night won't last forever. Morning is coming. The sun will welcome you.

From Mikaera, your mother.

***

TBC.