A Summer’s Tragedy

Sebastian couldn’t believe that his son could do that. He didn’t listen to his advice. Perhaps he feels pleasure in flirting with others, although he already had a girlfriend. When he was of age, Sebastian remembered, he was even more repulsive than his son.

“Stalin!” Callisto panted.

As he opened his eyes, Callisto realized that he was dreaming, that Stalin wasn’t hanging from the ceiling and that she was sleeping soundly beside him. It was a nightmare. He cuddled her tightly as if he didn’t want her to go. He didn’t know what to do if she went.

“Why? What happened?” Stalin queried.

“I thought, I thought you died,” Callisto gasped. “Please don’t think that I didn’t love you.”

“Why are you thinking that I should. You’ve been taking care of me since I was crazy, and even if I have amnesia, so don’t doubt my love for you.”

“But your friend. Are you not mad at me?”

“If I am, what can anger do? I know you didn’t like what she did.” Stalin put herself near Callisto’s body, leaving no space, then kissed his cheeks and wiped his tears. “I can be better.”

The cold air flows hither and thither, but Callisto feels the warmth of Stalin’s love with how she would kiss him and rub herself against his body. They couldn’t feel the coldness of the winter.

“Let’s continue this later. I still need to go to school.” Callisto kissed Stalin’s cheeks and jumped out of bed.

“Can I go with you?” Stalin asked. “I swear, I won’t disturb you.”

“Have you ever gone to school? I mean, if at what level are you?”

“I never did. I don’t know. I have no memories of when I did, and this might be the first time if you’ll let me.” Stalin sprang out of bed and walked towards him. “I was homeschooling during those days.”

“But promise me you won’t ask for a fight.” Callisto opened the door and they continued to the dining room.

“Good to see you both here,” Sebastian remarked. “You should not hide secrets from each other if you want to have a long-lasting relationship.”

“Where’s Ruth anyway?” Callisto sat down on the chair.

“Your sister is not that young anymore; she acts like an old woman.”

“She’s not Ruth, Dad, she’s Cryrie. Do you know her?”

The name sounded familiar, Sebastian thought, as if he had heard that name before. He just doesn’t remember. What came to his mind was how he had amnesia. That exciting moment in their lives, they were driving to their honeymoon when they had an accident.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When he woke up, Sebastian wondered if he was already in heaven and his wife was the angel taking care of him, and he was thankful that she never changed, though his memories were wiped out with the wind.

“I remember!” Sebastian exclaimed. “But how did it happen? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? She might be planning something wrong!”

“Don’t be overacting, Dad. We have been with Ruth for over eight years,” Callisto defended. “She will never plan to do wrong to us.”

“And how can you be sure?”

“You were the ones who raised her, you and mom. How can she hurt those people who considered her a family?”

“You have a point, but I’m still not convinced. I can’t even believe that she’s Cryrie, but if she is, there’s probably a reason why Estrella sent her, and that might be to take revenge.”

“Don’t be so worried, dad. Estrella has already died. She’s not that smart as we think, because she killed herself.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Don’t you know that she might just suddenly appear and slash your neck with that?”

“But dad, I’m not as mediocre as you think, because Ruth already told me the whole story. That Estrella killed herself during your wedding, so you don’t need to worry about her.”

“Okay, and why are we talking about this? You still need to go to school and me, I’m going to work. How about Ruth?”

“You’ve said it already, Ruth is not that young anymore. Perhaps she’s doing something for herself.”

“So… Stalin will be left here?” Sebastian asked.

“Nah. She’s going to school with me,” Callisto replied.

“Oh? That’s nice; no one will be left here. You should prepare yourselves now if you want to join with me.”

“It’s still early, so we’ll walk to school, and we haven’t even eaten our breakfast yet, but you are so excited. You may go first.”

After tying his shoes, Sebastian opened the door and went outside the house. Every time he would open the door and see Mount Octover, the first thing which crossed his mind was how their lives were.

“Hi Dad. Are you going to work?” Ruth asked.

“Yup. And what is my baby-Ruth doing here?”

“I’m planning vegetables. I’ll make our surroundings green again.”

“That’s nice. You’ll be a certified plantita soon.” Sebastian then continued to the car. “You’ll be left alone here today!”

“Don’t worry dad, I’m accustomed to being alone!”

Hearing his daughter’s words, Sebastian felt guilty. He knew they weren’t paying much attention to her because they knew she wasn’t their biological daughter.

But what can they do? Ruth was reincarnated through her master’s power, and Sebastian can’t force himself to trust her any longer. He even wondered if she had a connection to his wife’s death.

With his bad inference and foreboding, Sebastian drove furiously. Then a car dashes off and accidentally collides against the post of unexpected death. The bench was the last thing that appeared in his sight before everything turned dark.

Callisto halted and held his chest when he felt a sudden heart ache. He and Stalin were going to school, but Callisto feels like he doesn’t want to continue. The uncomfortability is telling him something he can’t explain.

“Why did you stop?” Stalin turned back and walked towards him.

“Maybe, I feel like,” Callisto paused, “I don’t know what I feel.”

“Do you have a stomach ache? Head ache? Fever or what?”

“Heart ache; My heartbeat isn’t normal every time you’re with me.”

“And you still know how to joke regardless of that?” Stalin reprimanded him. “If you’re not in the mood to go to school, then we can go back.”

“But we have a test today. My grade will be affected if I don’t attend.” Callisto insisted, though his palm wouldn’t leave his chest.

“No more buts, send an excuse letter to your teacher. You have your phone right?” Stalin stepped back, but noticed that Callisto wasn’t moving. “Do you want to go or are you waiting for me to carry you?”

“If you’re strong, but I’m heavier.”

“Then let’s go. You might be tired of what we did last night. I’m sure your teacher can understand. Let’s go home and take a rest instead.” Stalin grabbed his hand and attempted to go when someone blocked his way.

“Hi, Callisto!” She greeted them. “Where are you going?”

“Adelaide,” Stalin remarked. “Do you know Callisto’s teachers?”

“Yup, why? And who are you anyway?” She asked.

“I’m, I’m,” Stalin stammered.

“She’s Milo! My girlfriend,” Callisto interrupted.

“Oh! So you have a girlfriend? I thought you were single.”

“Yup. We’ve been dating since March.”

“So what are you doing here? Are you going to school?”

“That’s exactly the reason why we stopped. He’s not feeling well, so I’m asking if you can help us by telling his teachers that he’ll be absent.”

“Of course. No problem. I hope that he’ll be fine soon.”

“Thanks, Laide!” Stalin exclaimed.

How did she know me? Adelaide wondered as she took her way. They were not even friends, but why was she calling her like they already knew each other? That gorgeous girl named Milo is perfect for a bread.

After a lot of moments of walking, Callisto and Stalin eventually arrived home. They saw Ruth, who still plants vegetables while humming a song as if she’s a bird with her catchy voice.

“Oh! Why did you come back?” Ruth inquired.

“Callisto is so theatrical. Perhaps he needs to take a rest for now.”

“Said the one who’s not!” Callisto half-shouted as he continued inside the house. She was the one who persuaded him to go back, and now she will tell him that he’s so theatrical?

“How about you?” Stalin asked Ruth. “Why won’t you take a rest first and drink some warm soup? It’s cold here.”

“It’s cold and I have no one to hug and to talk with except these plants, unlike you, but we can prepare a soup together,” Ruth suggested.

They went inside the house and continued to the kitchen while Callisto was inside his bedroom. staring out through the window with inexplicable feelings. His father, he suddenly thought, he hoped nothing bad had happened to him.