《Human: Paradigm》Chapter 7
Advertisement
A brown Toyota Shush cuts through our lane without any signal, making us swerve. Anne slams the horn.
"That stupid driver!" she says.
But it's useless because the Shush has already gone ahead of us. A trail of sweat drips to her neck. Anne bites her lips.
"I'm sorry about that. It's just there are so many reckless drivers they're getting on my nerves. I don't see why they implement driving exams when bastards like him can run on the road freely."
She grimaces. "Don't mind me. You should be resting."
"You can let loose how much you want. Don't worry about me because I rested a lot from staying the bed all day."
"I'm glad that you're coming home now."
Outside, a great number of people walk. A group of teenagers, who wears a navy blue shirt and jogging pants, are talking to each other. All over their faces are smiles.
"This is our community," she says.
Ahead, there's a gate where its posts are connected to form an arch above. So this is it?
"There are so many people," I say.
"Yes." she smiles. "You may not remember, but you've spent 4 years here."
"That's a pretty long time."
But only 4 years? How about when I was a child?
"Anne."
"Do you need something?" she keeps her eyes on the road.
"What kind of person is my mother?"
"Your mother?"
Of a sudden, the atmosphere becomes suffocating. Thankfully, the radio continues to play songs that fill the air between us. Maybe I shouldn't have asked.
"She's beautiful."
I lift my head. "I... ok. I understand."
"She's pretty tall too. Probably a few inches shorter than me? Fair skin, deep-set eyes, and a woman of classic fashion. You resemble her, you know?"
"Really?"
"I can't think of anything because I only met her once, but she's beautiful. Actually, you look like your father more."
"Ok."
"But whatever may happen in this world, keep in mind she's still your mother. The woman who experienced the hardships of bearing you, and the very same woman who went through the eye of the needle just to bring you to life. Don't hate her, alright?"
Advertisement
"I won't." I don't really have the right to hate her, not when I haven't seen her myself.
Hmm... I wonder why she and my father ended up in divorce. Alright, I'll ask indirectly. I turn my head to her.
"Anne?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry for being a burden to you—"
"What are you saying? You aren't a burden. You never became one."
"So, can I ask you another question?"
"Just keep throwing them."
Great. "Since I don't really get the chance to see him at the hospital, I'm wondering what kind of person is my father."
She leans forward with a pronounced sigh. "You're father is..."
The car stops. The view outside shows a big modern-looking house.
"We're here," she says.
She picks up all of her stuff. On the other hand, I prepare my things. Suddenly, the sketchbook falls on the floor.
"Need help?"
"I can do this." then, I get the sketchbook.
"I'll carry your bag so get out of the car and go inside."
"If it's not too much for you, sure."
Getting out of the car gives an odd feeling. The feeling when you're seeing things for the very first time. Is this freedom? Maybe happiness. I don't really know.
The house is familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The dark green metal gate stands rather tall as the brick red roof peaks above the division.
"Shall we enter?"
"Yeah."
The facade has mini steps leading to the door. Beside it, the brownish color of the bonsais calls to my attention. They... they don't look well.
"Those bonsais are your father's."
"He loves plants?"
"Only bonsais."
He must be a busy person if the plants he loves are dying.
Anne advances, I follow her.
A wide variety of geometric designs, contrasting in colors, are showcased on the vases in the living room. I point the one on my left.
"This is nice," I say.
"I picked that."
"It has this very modern vibe. Probably because it resembles the art pieces from Cubism."
Advertisement
"I'm not really that knowledgeable in arts, but I think it's amazing that despite having amnesia, you didn't forget about art."
"Well, I don't know how or why, but when I woke up, I have this strange perspective of things. And as my stay continues, my desire for art deepens. Thanks for bringing me this sketchbook Anne. "
A gentle smile appears on her lips.
"It's nothing, Matt. Even though I'm not your biological mother, you are my son."
At the center of the room is a couch. Its color on the bottom is a shade of dark brown that turns lighter to the top. It's weaved and made out of a vine. I sit.
"Are you hungry?"
"No. Not really. "
"We have no TV here, but we have a mini theater on the second floor. Come on, I'll show you around the house."
"Can we do that later? I want to stay for a moment to feel this place. Maybe it will help me remember my memories."
"Alright then. I'll just go change into something more comfortable before cooking." she gazes at the stairs. "Your father may come home at any moment now so greet him when he does, okay?"
"Yeah."
She takes her steps on the stairs. Out of nowhere, a series of heavy treads resounds from the surface. Going down the steps is a tall middle-aged man, and he's the one making the loud sound. His facial hair smoothens the proportion of his prominent facial features, but he appears stern. Looking at Anne, his expression softens.
Anne arches her brows. "You're already home! Your car is not in the garage, so I thought you weren't."
"I left the car at the mechanic, and Frank drove me home."
"I already told you, get a new car."
"I can't. That's my first investment, and it's full of memories."
He pulls Anne into a hug and kisses her on the lips at once.
Is this man my father?
"You're done at the hospital?"
She unwraps her hand from his neck. "Yeah. Why don't you gaze at the living room?"
He roams his head, and our eyes meet. He removes his arms around Anne's waist. The serious expression on his face returns. Then, he points to the sketchbook.
"What is that?" he asks.
I stand from my seat. "G-good afternoon, dad."
"Is that a sketchbook?"
"Yes." I take the sketchbook and hand it to him.
Bang!
But my father or the man who's supposed to be my father slams my sketchbook on the floor. He brings his foot to it and stomps the leaves.
"T-that's—"
"Since this is a new start, you should live in honor and not in disappointment. I raise you to be an entrepreneur, not an artisan. So it's better if you avoid doing stupid things like this."
Stupid things?
He sets an envelope on the spherical rattan table. "Here."
"What's that?" Anne asks in a bitter tone.
"That's an invitation from the office of the President. He wants to see Matthew. And since you're already here, you should meet him this Friday."
Her brows form a sharp curve.
"But Matt just got out of the hospital," Anne yells.
However, the man gazes at me. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm your father. Call me father. Anything besides that is not acceptable."
"Yes... I'm sorry."
Father walks to the staircase. Anne grabs him, but she fails to stop his walk, and so, she's left standing. After he is upstairs, she comes to me.
"I'm very sorry Matt. You did nothing wrong. Don't worry, I'll talk to him.
"Thank you."
Running to the stair steps, her shoes make clacking sounds.
CLAck CLack Clack clack...
Anne is right. I can see my face in that man, he's really my father. But somehow, I don't want to be like him.
Advertisement
Alarulin Dreamers
The Third Era has only just begun, yet the aftermath of the reckoning one year prior still haunts the mythical land of Alarulin. As a sinister plot to unravel the secrets of magic unfolds, the realms future hinges on the border between reality and one young lady's dream.
8 136SaUDaDe [completed]
Та ид шид байдаг гэдэгт итгэдэг үү?Бас чөтгөр, шулам, сахиусан тэнгэр, шидтэн зэрэг хүмүүст итгэдэг үү?Тэд бүр бидний дэргэд энгийн хүмүүс адил амьдардаг бол яах вэ?Хүн хэзээ ч харагдаж байгаа шигээ байдаггүй юм.......тэдний дотор нуугдах асар том нууцbxb биш болно.
8 222System Only Gives Me Useless Gifts
Li Yun grew up with a system that gave him useless gifts. He wanted a reward that could prove the existence of the system, but ended up with abstract gifts like culture. Without physical proof, he was stuck wondering whether his mind was truly sane, all the while dealing with the reality of life. How will the "useless" system help Li Yun navigate medical school, hospital politics, criminal cases, treasure hunting, farming and cooking? Author's Note: This is a slice-of-life novel about a doctor with a mission-type system. It's written as a faux modern Chinese novel, so there are many 1-off characters and episodic mini arcs. Just a bit of warning, the tone of the story is very different after the childhood arc and jumpy as it chronicles Li Yun's life. I'm trying to make it less apparent in the rewrite, but there are still a lot of time skips. RR is the rewrite version, no set schedule. See webnovel for OG. scribblehub is a combo of both . I recommend scribblehub since it has pictures. Copyrights of the novel and cover are owned by Chocomug. Novel is free to read and download for personal use, such as offline reading, only.
8 819Private Eye: The beginning of the adventure
Sam Willus, age 42, war hero, exhusband, father, hero, demon, savior, murderer, and private eye, has taken a job that seems to be simple at first glance, but what would happen if the situation goes south. Join Sam on the adventure he never wanted. will he live, or die a horrible gruesome death.
8 149Deep in the source Hawks x child reader Discontinued
Bullies, social anxiety, shy, scared, abused, and can't ask for help.This only defined one childA seven year old girl named (y/n). What happens when hawk takes a field trip to school.NO PEDOPHILIA
8 63SimpleMinded
"You can't do nothing for yourself?" She shakes her head while looking at her feet, "Look at me and answer me with your words."She slowly looks up, "N-No S-Sir." I walk pass her and she keeps her head down, "Don't just stand there, follow me. I'm taking you back, I didn't sign up for this. I was told to watch over a woman, but I wasn't told that the woman couldn't do anything for herself. Your basically a kid in a grown woman body." I look back at her from the corner of my eye and see a tear sliding down her face. "Are you crying? Why? You couldn't have gotten attached that quick." She keeps her head down and I groan, "Ugh, please stop crying." She wipes her face and sniffle, "Why are you crying?" "Because the old man promised me that you would take care of me. He lied to me, you're taking me back to that place." I throw my head back and close my eyes shut. By old man she means my father. "Okay, okay, okay. Stop crying, I'm not taking you back." ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££Niall Andrews is the son of a man who saves people that have been kidnapped. These people go missing from days to years. Niall is building up his own company to compete against his dad. As soon as Niall company starts growing, his father pushes a woman on him to take care of. Haven Posh has been in a basement since she was a baby. She was kidnapped months after she was born. Niall's dad is the person to find Haven and save her, but none of Haven family are around for her to go back to. Not only that, Haven can't do anything for herself. The only thing she can do is clean herself and read, but don't know what any of the words mean or what she's reading.What happens when Haven ends up in Niall's care?Cover By: @ihavenocluesoo
8 77