Spoiled

I was sat down in the sofa with a hot green tea in front of me, we already spend our time crying and hugging that the three of us had red eyes, I took a sip of the green tea and sighed the hot steam out of my mouth, the flavor was different, not only because my mother made the tea with natural herbs, but because this is the flavor that nobody could replace, even if it was just tea.

I already told them the story of why I disappeared and the truth behind it.

“So you made your way into another world, how is it?”

They believed me faster than I could imagine, maybe parents had a secret to know when their son was lying, or maybe I just had very good parents.

“It is incredible, is just like what you said in television or books”

“And are you like a knight?”

“You can say that, I actually adopt the professions of a warrior, a swordsman, look”

I took out my sword and unsheathed it.

“That… doesn’t look safe… are you ok?”

“Yeah, mom. This is a very risky job, I know but… I think for the very first time in my life I enjoyed myself, back when I was at the office, I even hated myself… I know you guys spend a ton of money on my studies and it seems I’m throwing away everything I build and your hard work but… I just…”

My dad came over to my side and patted my back.

“It’s okay, son. You know, maybe I haven’t talked that much about me, why would I? But starting over is not bad, I had to start over a few jobs too when I was your age, I even thought of going overseas or doing other stuff until I found the correct job. It’s not easy but if you really think it’s for the best, go ahead”

“Dad…”

My mom grabbed my hand.

“I wanted to ask you something, I can see it in your eyes. There’s a girl, right?”

I stayed silent for a couple of seconds and my mother smiled.

“I knew it, is she a good person?”

“She is the best mom… her name is Elizabeth, she is not only beautiful, but she gives me strength, when I am at the worst, she is there for me, when I don’t know what to do, she is there to comfort me, when I feel sad, she made me feel happy, when I am happy, she made me feel above that…”

“My, what a lovely person it must be if it made you said those things, you would never dare to said that before and even said I don’t need such thing as a partner”

My mother laughed as I blushed from embarrassment and my dad hit me.

“So, are you going back?”

“I want to… I think my life is better in that place but… I am worried about you two”

“Why?”

My father asked, I opened my mouth but no words came out of it, why should I be worried about my parents? They had a good income, they owned a house, I couldn’t provide anything but they were my parents.

“Just because…”

My father laughed and petted my head.

“We really raise a good child, right, honey?”

“Indeed”

“Eh? I don’t get it…”

“Maybe you will find out soon?”

“Again, with that… but maybe you are right… I want to believe I can go back and fort but I don’t know how many times I can do it, so this is not a goodbye”

“Great, you said you wanted to keep this a secret, right? Don’t worry, we have you covered”

“Thank you… I just need to find the site again, when I try to look it up at the coffee shop, I couldn’t find it… if only I have my stuff”

“You mean your computer? We have it upstairs?”

“What?! Really? How?”

“You remember Ayane?”

I nodded

“Miss Ayane was the first one to notify us that you have disappeared, she took care of your place for a few months until we told her to stopped, we didn’t know until we talk to her”

“Miss Ayane did all that? Why?”

My parents smiled at me like if they knew something I didn’t, I looked at them confused and my mom pet my head.

“You really are dense sometimes my child, but it’s okay, I think it’s better that way”

I scratch my head and think about looking up at the ceiling.

“We met with Miss Ayane that night and told her to not pay more, she was grab to the idea that you would come back, poor girl… but she paid the last month that day and we took out all of your stuff, maybe we got to the idea that you will come back too and we save everything you had”

“Everthing is at your old room”

I got up and went upstairs while my parents followed me from behind.

Miss Ayane… now I felt awful for that… but should I tell her… no… ugh…

My head was a mess with that information but now I had to focus on what was important, my room. When I opened my room I saw everything clean, my eyes couldn’t shed any more tears but if they could, I would probably leave the floor completely wet.

The room was clean, not a single particle of dust was at sight, my bed was made, my desktop had everything and the things that my parents couldn’t figure out where to keep were on boxes, I bit my lip and hugged my mom.

“Thanks, mom…”

“Your mother cleans this room every day”

“You saw your altar already, right? We thought you would spend the day here, and I wanted to clean it every day hoping that you were enjoying this, or that you may come back, honestly… I am… so glad… you are alive… and not…”

My mom covered her mouth with my arm and hugged me tighter, I put a bit more force in my hug.

“Mom… you still have tears with you”

My mom didn’t even respond, she kept hugging me until my dad took her and cleaned her tears and then she kissed her on the forehead.

I entered the room and look at my computer, the computer was also clean

She must have seen videos to clean it… the inside is perfect… mom… thank you…

I connect the cables and sit down on my computer; my parents look at my holding each other.

The startup filled me with nostalgia, I looked at the lock screen for a minute and then log in, my stuff, every program, every game, every file, it was like going back in time or rather, to the future, I smiled and looked at everything before going into the browser.

“The police try to enter into your devices and they entered at your phone but they couldn’t get your password”

“I was hacked a little while ago and used a very difficult one to be safe, never thought that would come in handy… I think is better that way”

I search in my favorite tab and find the site, the same words were recited and my parents touch my shoulders.

“I… I really didn’t think much about it when I went to this… I saved it when I was feeling down but that day… I really hit my lowest… I want to apologize for that but… I want you two to know that you never left my mind when I was in that world… I even believe you weren’t even worried about me, that you will just forget about me like anything and…”

My dad hugged me and patted me on the back.

“I may not say it that much, son, but, I want you to know that you are my pride, and I am proud of you, we saw how you struggle, how you did your life, how you work harder than anybody, school, work, your own social life, there is nothing you did wrong, and for that I am thankful to have such a good son”

“Of course, we cared about you sweetie, I never want you to say those words again, it hurt my heart, because for me, you are my precious little boy, and you are the best son I could ever have, I love you, sweetie”

“And I love you too, son”

I looked at them with tears in my eyes and nodded.

“Thank you”

I turn back to read the page.

“Please turn off the computer, I’ll be back!”

“Take care”

“Remember Christmas, I’ll make your favorite dish!”

I smiled and opened my mouth, looking at the screen, knowing that I’ll be back made me feel a lot better, but it was sad to leave my parents.

“I am tired of this world”

And so, I was gone, but not forever.