Anywhere But 'Home'

good ol' days

CHAPTER TWO: good ol' days

KEADON

"It was my parents, again."

With just that one sentence I saw how his facial expression changed almost instantly from a stern look to a sad and knowing look, he had pity engraved on his face. Or was it sympathy? I wouldn't know nor would it do good on my pride if it was either.

Nodding his head forward, he encouraged me to go on.

"We fought last night, matter of fact, we had been arguing over little things over the course of the whole week and I guess last night I just couldn't stand it anymore and I packed my bags and left." I explained, my voice cracking towards the end as I started to recall all the series of events leading up to last night, not very pleasant memories.

"My darling," He cooed, quickly rounding the kitchen island to get my side. Gently pulling me into a hug as I hid my head in the warmth of his chest, and I cried. I cried. I cried remembering the words that were said to me. I cried remembering the threats that were made towards me. I just cried, remembering the treatment I had gotten after trying to make amends over and over again.

I cried until I remembered that the person comforting me right now lived with others and we were in the kitchen. I wasn't going to let myself be seen crying, so as quickly and as naturally as possible I wiped my tears away, sniffing as he checked my face and helped to wipe away my tears. After looking into my eyes and squeezing my face between his hands, he moved to kiss both of my cheeks causing me to giggle.

"Feeling better now?" He asked, I slightly nodded giving a lighthearted smile.

"Y'know," I whispered whilst leaning into his left hand, "This reminds me of back in the days when we'd have sleepovers and playdates all the time."  Beaming at the memories of when we were young, everything seemed so perfect. Well, nothing is perfect anyways.

AUTHOR POV:

—flashback

"Wait! Hold on Angel, I can't climb that fast!" five year old Keadon Hwang whined as his best friend, and friend since they had been crawling, was climbing on the biggest tree around.

"Hurry up slowpoke!" five year old Angelo Mokaedi yelled back. Both boys giggled as they continued climbing, set on their missions.

That day the boys collected many bugs and acorns. That day they also found out Keadons mother wasn't entirely pleased with him coming with bugs in his little adventure pouch and dirt decorating his clothes.

"Keaaa, let's have a sleepover, my mommy said that we can stay up past our bedtime and she promised not to tell your mom." five year old Angelo mischievously giggled as he looped his best friend's arm with his own.

"I'm not sure," five year old Keadon said while playing with his friend's bracelet. "I'm not sure what my mom will say. She's become meaner, my dad as well."

"I'm sure she'll let you sleepover! I'll ask my mom to talk to her for you, my mom is a lawyer remember," Angelo whispered the last part and winked as they walked into the house.

"Mama!" Angelo ran up to his mother, essentially dragging his best friend with him, who had been sitting with his father, both deep in their 'adult' conversation. She picked him up as his father picked up his best friend, both setting them down on the kitchen counter.

"Hi boys,"  she greeted them as she went to grab some juice for both of the boys. "What's wrong?"

"Can Keadon sleepover?" five year old Angelo asked as his mother poured both boys a cup of juice each.

"If he wants to sleep over then I'll talk to his mom, yeah?" She spoke and she looked between both of the boys. "Keadon, honey, would you like to have a sleepover?"

Keadon eagerly nodded. "Yes please."

"Then I'm sure your mom will allow you once she sees how eager you are," Angelo's mother cooed lightly, pinching his nose, giving both the boys their juices. The little boy giggled in response.

After a few sips of their juices and the motions of the TV in the background going frame by frame, the doorbell rang which Sebaga, Angelo's mother, answered.

"Hi, Lily! The boys and I were just talking about wanting to ask you something." And in came Keadon's mother, standing tall with her shoulders back and a stoic look on her face.

"Oh really? I wonder what you guys chatted about?" Lily slightly teased them as she gave Sebaga a brief hug.

"Nothing too serious, just chatting about a sleepover for the boys. Angelo and Keadon had wanted a sleepover together. I do not mind hosting at all since I know how busy you and your husband can get." Sebaga explained to her.

"A sleepover?... well..." Lily turned to Keadon who had a pleading look on his face, she let out a sigh. "I suppose one sleepover won't hurt." She smiled at the boys who had been jumping up and down with excitement.

One sleepover became two then three then four and just like that it was a common occurrence for the Mokaedi household to welcome young Keadon with open arms.

Until that day, the day young Keadon showed up with a bruise that had been clouding underneath his ribcage, almost like it had been outlining it.

Questions arose and the sleepovers stopped, the visits became less frequent and the two only ended up seeing one another at school, if they were lucky.

After months of persuasion from Angelo's mother, the boys finally had a sleepover again but this one felt different. Angelo could feel it, Keadon wasn't the same boy he had been just a few months before.

"Keadon, why are you so sad?" The small curly head boy asked as he studied his best friend's facial expression, worry decorating his face.

When Keadon locked eyes with his best friend, he couldn't hold in the tears that had been threatening to escape ever since he had arrived. "My- my parents- they don't love me anymore." He spoke in between hiccups.

Five year old Angelo had never heard of anything of that sort. Parents not loving their child? That seemed impossible to him so when his best friend started crying even harder, he didn't know what to say. He settled on hugging Keadon and planting soft kisses on the boy's cheek as a way to show support and comfort, the same his parents had.

"It's going to be okay Kea."