3: Departure

Zheira tapped the window of their red Ferrari and gaped at the racing raindrops. It’s been over an hour since they hit the road. She kind of missed the comfort of her bed, but instead of drowning in her emotions, she contented herself by staring at the dull line-up of trees in the corner of the lane.

Robert, a man of his thirties who had a longer neck than a usual man, looked at the rear-view mirror and sighed. Her daughter’s back was bent at the soft foam of her seat, yawning at each second. They shouldn’t have brought her with them, but Melinda, the counterpart of Robert who hardly had any neck, was unusually against the idea. It made him wonder what Theodore had said for his wife to act like this. 

They’d be going to New York, Timesquare, and it’s a pretty pact place. The very same place they’re supposed to distant Zheira from. If words came out that a girl with horns and odd eyes had entered the city, chaos was sure to reign. Hopefully, Melinda had a sensible reason for this decision. 

“You okay there, Zhe?” said Robert, his voice louder and throaty for such a small man.

Faking a smile, Zheira nodded. She should be juvenile that, finally, after a decade, she’s able to get out of her room, out in the open, where normal people usually were. It’s just that her hands couldn’t stop shaking, seemingly dancing with her throbbing heart. She kept tapping her toes, watching the raindrops, to calm herself down, but nothing seemed to make an impact on her.

When a car passed by, Zheira automatically looked away, shrinking to her seat, trying to steady her breathing. She kept forgetting the fact that the car’s window was tinted. She’s not to blame, though. She’s not used to being outside. 

Melinda, noticing her husband’s furrowed brows, said, “Is there anything wrong, Honey?” 

Robert didn’t know if the threat behind the words was intentional or not. All the same, it made her swallow hard. “I-It—it’s nothing to worry about.” 

“That’s good to hear.” Tying her dark, curly hair, she went on, “I’m just asking, though. Just making sure everything’s fine.”

Loosening his tie, Robert murmured, “Honey’s been so edgy ever since Theodore came. What did that bastard do?”

“You saying something?” 

“It’s nothing!” He smiled awkwardly. 

Zheira didn’t mind them. She was busy scrolling through the files on her iPhone. Her finger stopped at the only untitled document. When she opened it, she realized it was her diary. The dates told her she wrote it back when she was seven years old. A certain entry caught her attention. At the very top of the short letter was an italicized word that says, ‘zhezhe 2010.’

‘i wAnT to Have Frinds but i cant bekos they hate me'

There was a certain clench in her stomach at those words. She blinked, trying to stop her tears from falling. It’s been so long since she wrote anything at all, and reading one of her entries reminded her of a distant nightmare she’d long forgotten. 

“You reading fiction again?” said Melinda, turning slightly to have a look at her daughter’s features.

Zheira looked away, stuffing her phone out of sight.

Reading her silence, Melinda simpered. “That’s lovely, Zhe! But, as your mother, I want you to give business and nonfiction books a chance. It’s better than that pile of rubbish. Besides, it will also give you important lessons. After all, you are our only heir.” She stopped for a moment, formulating the thought she came up with. “You know what? Why don’t you read the books I’ve written about mining?”

“Oh, come on, Hon! That book is boring. They don’t even teach you anything—” He cleared his throat when his wife glared at him. “Just kidding.” 

Looking down, Zheira fixed the hood of her jacket, concealing the two sharp bulk on her head. “I-I’m only s-seventeen, Mom. I’ll learn—I’ll learn those next y-year or the year after the next,” she whispered, playing with her fingers.

“That is the silliest excuse I’ve ever heard, Zheira. Those books will not only help you be a good businessman but will also boost your confidence. Look at you, you’ve been concealing yourself with that jacket of yours. Do you think it’s okay? You need to learn everything before it’s too late. I’m warning you, Zheira! If I see you reading any fiction book again, I’ll confiscate your phone!” 

Zheira stole a glance at her mother’s face and saw a feature quite unlike her own. The thought of being adopted lingered in her mind yet again. 

“Am I really your daughter?” The words came out of her mouth even before she could stop herself. 

Melinda’s expression softened. She wiped Zheira’s tears, cupping her cheeks. Zheira winced but did not move back, letting her soft palms caressed her. 

“Listen, My Baby Zhe! Stop crying now, hmm? You are my daughter, and that’ll never change. That’s why I want you to be the best version of yourself. We’re not forever alive to keep you safe, you know? I know it’s hard, but you need to learn to be independent. You’re turning eighteen two days from now, but you’re still a crybaby.” She smiled. “Now look at me.”

Quivering, Zheira looked down, moving back even though she no longer could. Her mother put her fingers on her chin and raised Zheira’s head, but she closed her eyes tightly. 

“Zheira!” 

Knowing her mother wouldn’t stop, she blinked rapidly. A wild gasp escaped her throat when their eyes locked. At first, Zheira could only see the reflection of her eyes. Its red irises have a slit-like shape in the center and were stained with blue crystal-like particles; until, a dancing figure appeared in Melinda’s hazel orbs. It was her mother’s younger self. She was turning and humming while carrying a cute baby girl with a short golden flock of hair.

Melinda’s smiles widened. “I loved you even when you’re still a child and that would never change, Zheira. If you can’t feel it with the way I treat you, look straight into my eyes, and my memories will convince you.” She planted a soft kiss on her forehead before sitting straight on the passenger’s seat.

“That’s so sweet of you!” whispered Robert, squeezing his wife’s hands. 

Silence enveloped them for a while. Zheira was leaning against the car window, trying to stifle a sob. For a moment, the dull clang of the rain acted as a piece of music, drumming together with her heart. 

Zheira, considered to be lucky due to her parent’s wealth, grew up in the marble walls of their mansion, prohibited to ever step outside. No one could explain or even tell her as to why she looked different. Her mother convinced her that she’s pretty normal and that it’s not nice to perceive herself as a monster just for some weirdness. 

“Everyone is weird in their own accord, My Baby Zhe. It just so happened that yours is a bit… obvious,” Melinda used to say, trying to console a crying seven-year-old girl who’s beating herself for being monster-like, at least in her opinion. 

Unlike the other children, Zheira was already conscious of her surroundings even when she’s just two months old. She couldn’t talk, though. All she could do was look into her parent’s eyes and watch their memories, as though it was a movie until she fell asleep. 

Everything she’d seen, heard, and felt locked in her brain, unforgotten. Though knowing this bothered Melinda, she disposed of any uncertainty by believing that her daughter’s just gifted. Her mind’s happy to disagree because the first time she strolled Zheira, was the same moment she decided it best to keep her hidden. 

“G`morning,” said a sunken guard, standing by his post near the gate. 

Melinda gave her a bright smile, her hands firmly clenched at the stroller where her daughter’s resting, a soft blanket covering her waist. “Just familiarizing my Zheira in our little village.”

“She has a beautiful name.” He put his hand on his slacks and extracted a small bracelet with round, colorful beads. “Here. My sister gave me this for my daughter, but she died long after she’s born.”

Accepting it, she said, “I’m sorry for the loss.”

“Nah.” Waving his hand in the air, he went on, “At least she’s already at peace. She’d been suffering for days, unable to breath. She’s a premature child, see. Born a month before the expected date.”

Melinda’s heart clenched. She felt his pain and knew perfectly well what it’s like to lose a child, to feel it die inside her womb. For a few minutes, they commune with each other. She was pretty curious how he coped up. It was until Zheira cried that she felt the need to go home. However, she turned rigid at the sight of small, bulging veins creeping in Zheira’s fragile skin. Before the guard could see it, she pulled the stroller, wishing what she’d seen was just a trick of the light. 

It wasn’t, but it did vanish in the absence of the sunlight. Stopping nearby their gate, she checked the skin of her daughter, confused where the veins had gone. She almost jumped when a cold voice whispered in her ears, 

“Take care of her.”

It was gentle, but she’d heard the threat lurking underneath the voice’s coldness.

Melinda turned and found herself face to face with a cloaked man, based on how he stood. She narrowed her eyes; however, the shadow of his hood prevented her from seeing the stranger’s features. 

“Who are you?”

“That’s none of your concern, human! Just remember, I can always take her back!”

His cloak swished, and just like that, he vanished. It took Melinda a week of convincing that what she’d seen that day was only a trick of the light, that it was just an illusion. She even considered consulting a psychologist. Fortunately, there’s no problem with her mental health. 

A ring broke the pressured silence in the car. It came from Robert’s phone. “Hello? This is Robert Martin of ABC Company. How may I help you?”

Zheira put her phone in the corner and started scanning her diary. Though she couldn’t understand a word, she scrolled down anyway. She’s just distracting herself from the hatred rising in her soul. Like some venomous snake uncoiling itself. She loathed everything about herself. From her odd eyes down to her long legs.

Robert ended the call. “The Masons are on their way, Hon. They want us to be in Ippudo Westside before five minutes.”

“They’re really early, them. Let’s head there first.” 

“How about Zheira?” He jerked his head to the back. 

At the mention of her name, she looked at them.

“She can stay in the car.”

“We might be there for an hour. She’ll be bored.”

“What? Are you trying to suggest she’ll stay in the hotel all by herself? That’s not a good idea. She’s not used to be alone.”

“How can you teach her to be independent if you keep treating her like a baby? Stop worrying about her. She’ll not try sneaking out of the hotel anyway.”

Screwing her face, Melinda thought hurriedly, trying to find good enough words to impress what she’s worried about, but when nothing made sense, she was reduced to think in line with her husband. 

“If something bad happens, it’ll be your fault.”

Zheira’s heart started racing. She didn’t know what it felt to be alone, and she’s not willing to find out. Her mother’s wrong, though. She’s used to be alone. But that might not be the same case in a different environment. After all, her solitary had always been in her room, so she’s wary of what she’d feel when she’s all by herself. 

When they turned in a narrow street, they found themselves jammed in traffic. Robert glanced at his wristwatch and looked anxiously at the line-up of cars before them. 

“We’re going to be late!” said Robert, shaking his head. 

“Just calm down. This is out of our control, you know. Traffic is inevitable.”

“But how about the Masons?”

“You know, for a man you’re soft-hearted. Stop thinking about them. We’ve been traveling for a day, and we’re willing to sacrifice our rest just for them. They can afford to wait for a while.”

After their short argument, Zheira moved closer to the window. “Mom, where are we?” Her voice was shaking as she watched a lot of people passing through the corner.

“We’re in New York, Time Square, Love. Is there a problem?” Her brows furrowed, noticing the sweats on her daughter’s forehead.

Zheira shook her head and looked at the windshield. The cars were starting to move. She caught a glimpse of the big banners on the buildings, and the thought about other people melted. About a hundred posters were lining up against the establishments. What she loved was the big billboard airing different trailers of movies she had no time to watch. When they’re in North Hills, all she did was to fill her eyes with new movies or else read new books and sip a cup of coffee. 

She missed it now.

It didn’t take long before they stopped in front of a tall building. It has a red banner, just at its third layer, and has neat lettering of Casablanca. From its first and last letter was a greenish, round crest. 

Melinda faced Zheira, wiggling her tabby finger. “Don’t ever go out without us, understand?” 

Without looking at her, Zheira nodded. 

“Well then, let’s go.” She then proceeded outside.

Zheira wore her sunglasses and facemask. As much as possible, no one must see her bare skin. When she passed through the corner of the gate, she noted the two bonsai pine trees facing each other. It was shaded by a red rooftop engraved by the hotel’s name.

Her mother was talking to a guard, just by the glass door. After a while, she came out, patting the guard on the shoulder. Zheira found it hard to look at them straight in the eyes as they bid their goodbyes, planting a kiss on her cheeks and forehead. They reminded her once more to not stroll anywhere unless they return.

The moment the car moved away from her, she found herself shuddering. The guard looked at her with furrowed brows. Without another word, she was told to follow him. Once inside, her mind could only think of the possibility that this would be a long day.