It was the weekends. Usually, he'd merely lazed around, playing online games on his PC. The weekends, as he deemed it, were the days that were meant to be spent chilling around the house, in fact, if he wanted, he could randomly visit an amusement park, visit his friend, Kart–just practically anything that intrigued him. Unfortunately, today wasn't that way.
He had been laying around lazily after his mom sent him on an errand. He really didn't want to go to the Supermarket today. He just wanted to lay around, just doing absolutely nothing. Quite unfortunate his mom decided to be a thorn in the ass but what could he do? His mom… she was all he had. He was aware of how much stress she's gone through just to give him the life he had now. A bit sympathy didn't hurt. Being human didn't… but why did what his mum wanted always has to conflict with he wanted?
Derrick sighed before sitting up on his bed, staring lostly at the bookshelf filled with mostly fantasy-based novels and a few historical books. He remained like that for a several minutes. It wasn't known whether he was lost in thoughts or he was indeed staring into space lostly–his mind utterly void of any thoughts.
"Alright then," Derrick sighed tiredly as he stood up. He had accepted his fate.
"To the Supermarket, then Menc Park for an hour and then, return. I haven't finished reading Fallen Grace. I might read it… might. I could also just come back home and lay around doing nothing at all. Might fall asleep even…" Derrick voiced out his thoughts.
"Done. Let's get moving then." Derrick grabbed a hold of his wallet and phone that lay carelessly on his desk and briskly left his room.
Every single thing he planned to do had an appointed time, they had to be completed within that specific time frame and he had to. It was a weird habit of his that stuck–a weirdly great habit that was no different from a compulsive disorder. Thankfully, he knew how to manage it and benefit himself instead of disrupting his "normal" life. Even more contrasting was that he was a procrastinator on the norm.
"Mom! I'm going to the Supermarket, ok?" Derrick shouted as he rushed downstairs.
The television was switched on, meaning that his mom wasn't that busy even though she wasn't currently in the sitting room. She'd never leave the television switched on if she was really busy with anything that would take much of her time--A fact since childhood.
'Some snacks, a couple drinks, a drama channel…' Derrick's swept his gaze through the sitting room, taking in everything within view.
It made sense that all these were here today, after all, today was one of those days his mom didn't go to work. She was a nurse and she was always busy… it was nice having her around even if he didn't come down to spend some quality bonding time with his mom. The thought of knowing that his mom was at home was already enough for him.
"Okay. Thanks. Don't take long!" Mrs Onswell's sounded from the kitchen.
"I won't." And Derrick shut the door.
*****
"So… whatchu doing at the Park all alone?" Derrick asked as he sat down beside the girl that was about the same age as him, placing the stuffs he bought on the space left on the bench.
There was only this one bench in this specific spot and he wanted to sit at this specific spot. It gave him a raw view of the busy city of Aspros. Menc Park was really a weird place. Some spots, like where he was now, were so elevated that he could see most of the city from here and other spots were so desolate that you'd think you were in the Woods with how silent it typically was.
When Derrick saw the Redhead sitting at his favorite spot, it did cross his mind to leave–the Redhead was a conventionally attractive female–but he suddenly realized that he didn't care. As long as there was some space left, he'd still go ahead and take a sit there. If he was of any inconvenience, then, what was anyone gonna do? This was a public space, after all.
Yet, he didn't know what possessed him to try and start a conversation with the beautiful girl. Was he just simply bored or was just trying to embarrass himself? He simply felt impulsive, that was the explanation he gave.
"It been so long since I've seen you mortals. Eons. You've all grown a lot." The Redhead with a rare eye color, a pair of sharp red eyes, the first Derrick had ever seen.
'Are those contacts? Also, are you fucking delusional or what? What are talking about, my dear?' Derrick wanted to scream out these very words but chose to simply play along since he was kinda bored anyways.
"These pretty eyes are one quite literally 'one of a Kind', O Stranger. May I be honored to know your name?" Derrick turned his body slightly just enough for him to have her fully within view.
Her red hair was a deep shade of red, wine. Her pale complexion; smooth and without the slightest blemish, enhanced her overall attractiveness by a mile. She had a pink supple lips that currently showed a downward smile of amusement. A sharp prominent nose that gave her a seductress vibe.
As if following his manner of sitting, the Redhead turned her body slightly to face him too.
Her bright, red eyes staring straight into his, amusement obvious within those devilishly pretty eyes that were already pulling at his heartstrings, ready weave something into reality.
"I've gone by countless names and even more titles… Let's see, which should I go by in this age?" The bizarre Redhead began caressing her chin, her gaze shifted upwards as she acting like she was in a deep thought.
"Alright! I'm Sophia. A transliteration and abbreviation of the true name. Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to comprehend the real thing." All Derrick could see was a very pretty girl with some level of delusion.
He knew it was a wrong way of judging but had she not been this pretty, he wouldn't have decided to play along. Beauty privilege, I guess.
"Sophia? That's one beautiful name befitting someone as beautiful as you." Derrick flirted. He'd been told many times that he was conventionally handsome, he just wasn't the type to chat with girls as such, he'd never been in any relationship.
"Oh please. If you knew the reason why they gave me that name, you wouldn't call it beautiful." Sophia let out a cute chuckle.
"Oh really? Hope you wouldn't mind telling me? I mean the story behind why were given this name of yours?" Derrick would never pry this much into the matter of a stranger but today, there was just something about this Sophia that made him quite inquisitive.
"Really? You want to know about me? You are interesting, Derrick. Alright, I shall tell but do know if you refuse to believe all I'll say, it's of no concern of mine."
"How do you know my name?" Derrick blurted out in shock. He was certain he hadn't mentioned his name since this conversation began. He was suddenly truly weirded out.
"I'll also tell you that. So, do you still desire to pry, Derrick?" Sophia asked as her smile became radiant. Derrick felt like it was a false smile, he just couldn't put his hand on what about it was false.
"Of course, I want to know. You've caught my attention, my dear Sophia. I'm eager to hear these stories of yours. But first…" Derrick brought out some bags of chips and a couple carbonated drinks from within the bag holding the the stuffs he bought.
"Here." Derick passed her a bag of chips and a drink.
"Thanks a lot." She replied as she accepted them.
"You can begin now." Derrick said while opening his bag of chips.
And in that manner, three hours passed without Derrick noticing as he was suddenly thrown into a world of incomprehensible bullshits and delusions. Derrick felt like he was listening to the most structured and realistic fairytale being told as a true life story.
Sophia was extremely good at making it seem as if it was her own personal experience. She'd make a great author if she ever decided to write.
"Are you a writer, Sophia?" Derrick asked curiously.
"I've been thinking about it for a while." Sophia answered honestly.
"If you ever decide to go through with the idea of writing, I'd love to read your books."
"You'd do so? Thank you, Derrick. I might actually decide to write. Having someone like you is great." Sophia had a more genuine radiant smile this time around.
"No problem. Quite unfortunate though. I'd love to spend more time with you, dear Sophia but I've got to be somewhere a while ago. Gotta go!" Derrick picked up their trash and quickly threw them into the trashcan beside the bench.
Standing up, Derrick stared down at the overly delusional and pretty girl.
"You didn't tell me how you knew my name? Also, can I get your contact?"
"It's a secret." Sophia laughed mischievously. "As for my contact, I don't have a phone. Don't worry, I know where you live, Derrick."
"Huh? Is that some kind of threat?" Derrick didn't even know what to feel about the matter.
"Nope! Just the honest truth." Sophia tried to appear as innocent as possible, unfortunately, she was more of a devilish pretty than an innocent cutie.
"Byeeee!" Derrickz holding on his bag as he ran off, waved at Sophia.
Sophia waved back as her smile slowly faded.
"In another reality, you still suffer, my dear Derrick. I'm sorry." Sophia mumbled to herself as her body faded into the background.
*****
"Help me! Someone please help me!" Her agonizing scream rang out as the rubbles caved in even more.
"Hold on, mom! I'm going to get help quickly!" Tears fell from Derrick's eyes as he ran in search of anyone; anything that could help him.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…' He kept repeating, trying to distract him from the negative thoughts flowing into his mind.
Everything has been thrown into chaos. The world was in flames and shambles. People ran for their lives. Parents picked up their kids as they sought shelter but everyone had already began to realize that the buildings weren't safe, in fact, they were probably the worst place to be. All the collapsed buildings within sight were prove of that.
Derrick's house was one of such proves.
"Someone, anyone, please help me! My mom was caught under a rubble! Please, anyone!!" Derrick screamed as he ran.
Suddenly, he felt a powerful hand on his shoulder. Turning around, hope quickly ignited in his heart.
"What's wrong, child?" A large man, who looked like he was in his forties, asked.
"Mr Martin, quickly! The house collapsed on my mom! Help me quickly!" Upon realizing it was a familiar face, Derrick immediately grabbed a hold of the man and was already dragging him towards where his mom was. Tears were still flowing uncontrollably down his face.
"Is she…" Mr Martin didn't finish. He had stopped letting Derick drag him and was now quickly running alongside him.
"No! She's still alive! I could still hear her!" Derrick denied as he tried to clean his eyes to stop his vision from blurring.
"We are here!" As the rubbles, that was once his home, appeared in view. Derrick didn't realize he had gone that far in search of anyone to help him.
"Help! Help me please!" Her voice was evidently weaker now. Derrick felt his heart sink.
Along the way, Mr Martin had managed to get six other people to join in. In total, they were right. It was extremely better than if he was the one. Together, there might be a chance…
'Fuck no! There's no "might"! I'm going to save you, mom!' Derrick refused vehemently.
"Mrs Onswell, we are here. Please hold on!" Me Martin shouted.
"Please hold on, mom!" Derrick shouted as they rush forward.
But just before they could reach there, a pillar of infernal flames–forged and shaped in the deepest pit of hell, embodying all misfortune and miseey–fell from the sky and struck… the rubbles of his collapsed home???
The pillar of flame didn't stop there as it transformed into a residual wave of flames that swept away everything close.
Time froze, a single moment quite literally burnt into his mind. Derrick stood there… there was no words to describe the kind of tumult that went on within him. A chaos so ravaging that it gave the illusion of tranquility. Derrick died at that very moment that infernal pillar struck… what was left standing was an apparition.
Time resumed and then, he watched as Mr Martin used his own body to shield him from the wave of flames that came after. They had been too close to his home when the pillar struck.
The last thing he remembered before everything went dark was Mr Martin embracing him, protecting him with his wide body as a painfully hot air blasted past him. The smell of burnt flesh filled the suffocatingly hot air.
The last thought he had before he unconscious was…
'Mom? MOM!!!!!' A last and pitiful attempt to change the unchangeable.