Ch.13 This will always be my home

Kellan: "So, what do you plan to do if you meet your parents? Are you going to tell them to not call you by the name they themselves gave you?"

"Once again, none of your business, go back to your village."

I had made a grave mistake. One that gave Kellan way too much freedom.

It was right before leaving the village. I, or it may be better to say we, became the leaders, but we still had our own path to take.

"Ossas, I like your name. reminds me of the good old times. Come forth."

Ossas was the name of Kellan's younger brother. I was too petty to name Kellan my second in command after what he tried to do, so I left Ossas in charge while I was away and had a small talk with him about my plans for the resistance.

What I didn't think about was how a brother will forever be a brother. After a minute of being deep in thought, the first thing Ossas did was send Kellan with us on a journey to "visit other leaders and build connections."

So, there I was, about to meet my parents after so many years with the girl I love and the dude I hit over the head with a bat.

Although, I have to give it to him, he didn't try any dirty tricks after that.

I had already decided to overlook his lame pick-up lines that Mori always answered with an uncomfortable smile.

I failed to stand by my decision, but I don't think I could be blamed for that.

I was just happy that now, reaching our destination, he would finally stop pulling me away from her tent whenever I wanted to go and talk with her.

...

The point of interest in The Hub was Tokyo, and Tokyo being at one end of The Hub meant that the other end was as far as we could get from danger while still being in close proximity to the walls.

I mentioned plenty of times that luck just isn't one of my strengths, but I was really torn on whether this was the case now.

On one hand, we had traveled for a year and a half to get here. On the other hand, I was not in the forest next to home, feeling safer than I have ever felt since going into exile.

There wasn't even a resistance camp around here. There was no need for one.

"Not that I would allow anyone to walk through my forest without my consent."

The degree of possessiveness that I had over this small area of land was enough to even make Mori pout. She didn't yet understand the reason I loved her eyes so much was because they would remind me of this exact view.

She looked at me, sighed, and then opened a hole in the outside field and in the wall. The old street I lived on was still there, even if the influences of the alien technology made it look different.

Kellan: "This is one of those times when you are supposed to smile, not make a dumb face."

Mori: "Pfft...Haha."

I couldn't hear them. I wasn't paying attention to them. My legs just started carrying me to the place where the entry to the building of my old apartment was supposed to be.

I went to touch the wall, and a hand appeared under mine.

Mori: "Focus on not getting yourself discovered."

It seems I had even forgotten how to keep myself hidden at that moment.

Kellan: "Go ahead, Chief, we'll wait here."

I looked back at them, both gave me a nod.

Inside the building, everything looked the exact same. I go to the door of my apartment, and I pull out the old key that I have always kept with me.

This time, things will go my way.

I could feel my heart all the way in my throat as I was pushing the door open.

Instinctively, my right hand threw my keys on the drawer while my left one was opening the door, just like I had been doing for so many years.

There, in the middle of the hallway, with a surprised face, I saw an old man.

"Dad..."

Dad: "Took you long enough. Are you with Andra?"

From only 8 words, I understood. Not everyone was here. Did that hurt? Maybe, but I finally met the first person I could talk to about everything that had happened.

"You know I can never have things go my way..."

...

We talked a lot. We talked the whole day. I presented Mori and Kellan to him. With Kellan, I just called him a friend to not complicate things. As for Mori

Mori: "Nice to meet you, father. I am the girl dating your son."

She didn't give me the time to even find an excuse.

Dad: "Tiberiu? Dating? I guess living this long, you get to see some crazy things."

Mori: "Tiberiu?...Ah...yes!..."

Kellan: "Pffft...Tiberiu."

What hurt the most from what he said was not the fact he was underestimating me. Neither was it the fact that he was technically right since I still didn't have the guts to ask her out. It wasn't even the name drop.

What hurt the most was the fact he completely forgot that I had dated in the past. Or at least acted like it to make me look bad.

...

After sending Mori and Kellan ahead to the camp, it was time to have a more serious discussion.

"So, I understand Andra is not here. It makes no sense for her to arrive too early. Maybe she is yet to be transported."

Dad: "This is what we want to believe, but there was an announcement here recently. Every victim has been transported to the future."

This means she is either in a situation similar to mine or even worse.

"Where was she before the disaster?"

Dad: "Your forest. She was just taking a walk."

"Just outside The Hub. It is just like her to walk the complete other way. Ok. Leave it to me, I will ask around for some search parties. If she is still around here, I will find her myself."

"Next...where is Mom?"

Dad: "With your mom, the story is more complicated..."

About ten years ago, Mom's time had run out. Yet she did everything she could to make it one more day in the hope of meeting us again.

There was this one way similar to cryostasis, but it was not permanent. She was able to prolong her life a limited number of times, being awake only for a short time every year to decide whether she would continue.

Dad: "The current one is her last time."

What...what am I even supposed to feel at a time like this? I can meet Mom. That's great. That's amazing! I get to see Mom! I get to see Mom...die! I get to be there for the hardest moment of a kid's life! Is this a good thing? Should I feel happy? Sad? WHAT THE FUCK SHOULD I FEEL RIGHT NOW?

But that was not the moment to throw a tantrum.

Not again. I am not acting like that every time something bad happens. I have to grow past that.

I was doing my best to keep a straight face, I could see Dad was doing the same thing.

"When does she wake up next?"

Dad: "Next week."

Talk about luck.