I sat there, at my table, to review one of the thousands of files that I got to see everyday. My routine was the most boring one could ever have.
Get up.
Come to office on time.
Review the files and go home.
The most fun and interesting part was when I got to have breakfast and dinner with mother.
Today, I didn't see her at the breakfast table. When asked the maid, that is the most close to her, she informed me that mother wouldn't be able to have breakfast with me as she went out early in the morning. When I asked the maids where she went she told me she didn't know.
I wonder, where could she have gone without informing me? She doesn't sulk in her room anymore after his death, so she might have gone to see one of her old friends, right?
I thought of all the other possiblities but none came to my mind. It worried me sometimes when she went missing for a whole day.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" From the other side of the door, mother entered, with the most beautiful smile and the most beautiful voice making that ugly song sound good.
"Happy birthday, my boy!" She said again, cheerily.
She was wearing a deep red dress, perfectly complimenting her light grey eyes. A pearl necklace, the one I had gifted her on her last birthday, adorned her pale skin.
She placed an envelope on my desk as I got up to thank her.
"What is this?" I asked , eyeing the oddly suspicious envelope.
"Your birthday gift." After father died and I took over his company, we started a tradition of our own. We would give each other things we needed whenever we felt was the right time. The pearl necklace, however, was an exception.
"May I ask what does this gift contains?" I asked politely, not to make it sound rude.
"Open it" She flashed a contagious smile at me.
I opened the envelope, only to realize, it was a ticket.
"A ticket to Brecei?" I asked, more confused than ever.
"I know you've been wanting to get away from all of this. I know you don't want to go near anything related to your father. So, take this trip as a getaway from all this stuff and responsibilities." She was right. I didn't want to be related to anything that was somehow related to him. That was the main reason I had changed my last name.
"But what about this company? What about...you? " I asked.
Who would take care of you behind my back?
"I'm capable enough of taking care of myself and this company. You just start doing the preparations and get ready for a trip to your aunt's house."
"What if she isn't happy to see me?"
"She will be. Don't worry." She replied, reassuringly putting a hand on my shoulder.
------------------------------
I always wondered, what makes one a human? Or rather, what gives one the quality of being a human?
Seeking out preys, killing them, devouring upon them, that's what makes one a desicle, right?
So if that's not what humans are supposed to be like, then what else? Even though, humans prey upon humans better than us creatures that they call 'non-humans'.
Maybe the fact that they cry easily or maybe the fact that they fake everything easily is what makes them human. Or maybe, those small tears that they shed in happy moments. Whatever it is, humans are no where near the qualities that they describe one requires to be 'human'.
-----------------------------
I've always hated hugs but when it came to having warm hugs from her, I wished the moment would never end.
"Mother, you can let go of me." We had been standing infront of the airport, holding each other for five minutes now and the side eyes of people were getting awkward.
"I'm going to miss you" she said in a sad voice hugging me tighter like a five year old. But I liked it. I loved it actually and I loved her more. After all, she was my only family.
"I'm going to miss you too." It was when we parted from each other that I noticed the tears swelling up in her eyes.
"I promise, I'll call you every week, only if you promise to take care of yourself."
"I promise, my sweet boy."
As I boarded the plane, and imagined with my mind's eye, as the plane took off, that she reached home safely, I look down the window to see clouds and the sun hanging above them.
It is at that moment that I realized, these small moments are what make one a human.
---------------------------
🔸Tip:
1. Rumis's father owned one of the largest company in Japan but he did not like to spend his money. When he died, Rumis took over the company, renovated their mansion and made their standard of living better. He also changed his last name from Asahi to Alexander.
2. Rumis's mother, was actually born in Brecei but she ran from her home to come to Japan and marry his father. Since then, the family cut off all ties with her except her older sister who still lives in Brecei. Rumis only visited his aunt's house once when he was 10.