Six

April listened as Iver whispered to her with wide eyes that Orion might be dead, like he just discovered a long-hidden secret.

"You have lost it." April shook her head.

"Think April. He might really be dead, we won't even know." Iver said seriously.

"And who killed him? You?" April snapped.

"Happy twenty second birthday brother, but you need to get out of my room," April said.

April stood up and grabbed Iver by the arm. She dragged him out of her room and locked her door, walking back to her bed.

Her mind started replaying what Iver had said, she couldn't stop it and somehow, her brain started believing that there's probability that Iver might be right.

*

The next morning, they gathered at the dining table to have their breakfast. April picked up the cutlery sluggishly.

"April, are you okay? You looked like you didn't sleep through the night," Mrs Caddel observed.

"That's because I didn't, Mom."

"And why is that?" Mrs Caddel asked.

"Iver said Orion might be dead," She replied bluntly. And the table went silent.

Iver literally choked on his saliva, coughing, strongly. Mrs Caddel passed him water and he drank. Mr Caddel waited for him to calm down before speaking.

"Iver, did you really say that to your sister?" Mr Caddel asked, visibly angry.

"I-it's j- just a possibility Dad," Iver stuttered out.

"Shut up, Iver!" Mrs Caddel said, glaring at Iver.

"It's -it's just that- I mean come on Dad, we don't even have any information about those he went to meet. There's no way to know whether Orion was really called by his biological father, no way to know whether it was all just a ploy by a crazy psychopath to my brother's organs. Or did you see the father?" Iver rushed out all in one breath.

April turned to her parents for answer and they were lost for words. Mr Caddel rubbed his aching chest, realizing he really made a huge mistake, while also trying to convince himself that Iver's assumption is not plausible.

"No, I didn't see him," Mr Caddel answered Iver's question.

He didn't say anything after that, he was feeling extremely guilty now, knowing he shouldn't have just let Orion go without proper confirmation and adequate knowledge about his journey and those he was going to meet.

He believed that was a great oversight on his part as a father.

"Exactly!" Iver exclaimed.

"That doesn't make your assumption right, Iver," Mrs Caddel said.

April just listened, turning her head towards each person as they speak. She doesn't have anything to say, all she was looking for is to be assured that Orion is safe and alive.

"How do you know I'm not right?" Iver persisted in his assumption.

"A mother knows when her son is in danger, Iver. Orion is safe and alive so quit it," Mrs Caddel said.

April finally smiled, that is what she has been waiting for, that assurance. Iver cleared his throat and April's smile wiped off her face knowing that is a sign that her brother wasn't done and he still has more negative things to say.

"But Mom, you are not his biological mother. Maybe that's why you can't feel it," Iver said, looking sneakily towards his parents.

Mrs Caddel exhaled and picked up her phone, jerking her hands backwards.

"Your phone will shatter, Mom," Iver quickly crossed his hands in front of his face as a shield.

Mrs Caddel paused and brought her hand down, placing her phone back on the table. Just then, there was a knock on their door and after a few seconds of no one moving, Mr Caddel glared at Iver. Iver quickly stood up, going to the door.

"A package for Mr Iver Caddel," a delivery man states as soon as Iver opened the door.

There were two boxes, Iver frowned knowing he never ordered anything. Perhaps, his parents wanted to surprise him with a birthday gift and that was why his Dad had glared at him to go open the door.

The realization put a smile on his face and he hurriedly took the boxes, signed, went back into the house and shut the door.

"Thanks for the gifts, Mom, Dad," he dropped the gifts on the table, smiling from ear to ear.

"We didn't order anything. Your birthday gift is still in our bedroom." Mrs Caddel revealed.

Iver frowned and checked the information on the boxes, something he should have done before making an assumption.

He read out the country it came from and their eyes widened, everyone stood up, getting closer to the boxes to confirm. It was the country Orion had travelled to.

April quickly got a knife from the cutler container on the table, handing it to Iver who collected it and carefully opened the boxes.

The first box contained a smaller box placed on a set of blue suit and black shiny pair of shoes. Inside the smaller box, were set of male accessories to go with it; cufflink, wristwatch, and a bracelet, all black.

April picked the tiny card found inside it, reading the content aloud.

"Happy birthday, brother. Have a wonderful graduation ceremony. I'm proud of you," April read.

That was all that was written there.

Mr and Mrs Caddel beamed in relief that Orion really was alive and well. Iver smiled and his mind became lighter after April read what was written in the card.

"It's really Orion," Iver stated, getting emotional.

"Or it could be the organ sellers doing this just so we won't suspect anything," April said with an alarmed look on his face.

Mr and Mrs Caddel gave her a disapproving look and she shrugged.

"Brother is the only one I spoke to about wishing I could get a blue suit for graduation. So, calm your horses, April," Iver laughed.

Iver opened the second box and inside it were four different items with their names labeled on each. For his dad, it was an advanced set of carving tools.

For Iver, it was a brand new phone. For his mom, it was a photo of picture of himself wrapped together with a wood carving.

It was a full length picture. He was standing straight in front of a huge mansion with his hands in his pockets. His dressing was sophisticated and his hair was let down, it was down to his shoulders now.

He didn't look that different but at the same time, he does. Mrs Caddel examined the picture more closely, her mind dancing in glee at the sight of him.

It was as if she knew what she needed the most at that moment, she was glad that he understood her so well.

Everyone was amazed by the carving that was sent with it, it was Mrs Caddel's image in a flared gown. It was carved so well it really looked like her. A tear slipped her eyes and she wiped it immediately.

Mr Caddel took it and observed it.

"He made it himself," He confirmed, showing them the subtle sign Orion always placed on anything he carves, a habit Mr Caddel always teased him about.

For, April, had gifted her an apple, a wooden apple to be precise. She took and her eyes watered.

"You can have the phone, April," Iver panicked, thinking she was going to cry because that was all Orion had sent to her.

"No. I like this," she said, blinking away her tears.

She was the only one who knew why Orion had sent her that, he was passing her a message.

*

It was the day before Iver's graduation, April sat beside her best friend, Blue, her head on the desk. She was bored.

"April!" Blue called and April raised her head.

"Is that not your brother, Orion?"