I Just Want Peace - Chapter 2 Birthday Chaos

Irritating ringing sirens disturbs Alex’s peaceful slumber. Alex tried to turn over and cover his ears with his pillow. Alex then realize he could not move a single inch. Alex could wiggle his fingers but can barely move his hands. Then realize he could barely breathe. Every time Alex try take the smallest of breath his chest hurts like crazy, surprising he not dead from the pain. It felt like every single ribs broke into tiny daggers, doing it best to stab him at the slightest movement.

Alex felt like a lion shredded his body and chew his organs like a chew toy. Then threw up after making sure he hacked everything apart before everything into a box. As if he was throwing a disgusting bug into the trash. It didn’t help that Alex’s right cheek stings. Like someone pounded with a meat cleaver.

Everything was drowning in pain, inside and out. Alex could feel hot tears slipping out his eyes. His mind swimming as Alex try to remember what had happen. But Alex could not focus on anything but the horrible pain coming from every single inch of his body.

Even thinking about his name felt nauseating. Relief finally wash over Alex when fainted. Nothing but darkness welcomed him and Alex embrace it with happiness, feeling blank and detach from the pain.

:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:

“Hey guess what? Today your lucky day! I got one of the best cake for you. Bake by Tia herself!” A man voice called out, his proud voice echoes in my small house. The first thing I thought was how did he get through all the defensive formation this time? I even triple check the formula carefully, looking at every single letter of Runes to make sure the formation could recognize this pesky fly. The formation should have used all it power to ward him off, showing no mercy towards him.

“How did you get in?” I said in a cold tone, looking up from a piece of paper with an old spell I was currently improving. Teleportation? No, the formation blocks teleporting magic. I, myself cannot teleport to make sure the formation does not have a hole. Brute force? It would be something he would do. I made sure to have a reflecting magic formation, having it reflect spells back to the caster by 10 folds.

“It was the easiest one by far honestly,” he laughs.

I silently glared at this annoying fly, white hot fires burning in my eyes. Catching my eye he quickly look away, as if he was scorch and hastily explain, “All I had to do was stand there and take the hits from your formation. I think you’re losing your touch. The formation use up all it magic so quickly. I’m quite disappointed. I find it fun looking for holes in your formation, breaking it as fast as I can. I even have a chart of all my times. Wanna see?” He finish and fished out a piece paper out of his back pocket. Taking one of my pencil on the table next to him and scribble something before offering me the paper.

“No need. I already have all your times,” Alex said, waving him away. A twitch in my fingers as it wanted to throw him out my door and to the other side of the world. Far, far away from me and my peaceful home. It took all my willpower to not kick him hard in the gut and out the door. As foolish and childish he can be. I could not deny that he could easily be my equal if he tried. There is no need to question that he is gifted in magic. One if the best he would always bragged.

I sighed, standing up and walking towards the kitchen. I grabbed a cup from the rack and pour water from a jug that I had fetch early this morning. Hiking up the mountain and fill my 2 buckets with fresh water from the mountain spring. Like I do it every morning to get some exercise and enjoy Eden’s garden.

Lazily walking through the forest, observing all the forest creature hunt for their breakfast. They use to run away from me the moment they heard my footstep. But after seeing me everyday, not holding any ill intention towards them. They got use to me being there. Soon treating me like I am one of them.

I boiled the water in a blink of an eye, using a simple heating spell I learnt from Tiramisu. Mastering it to the point I could easily manipulate the heat without a lift of my finger. Dropping some tea leaves from my personal garden inside the cup. I covered it and waited for the flavour from the tea leaves to be deeply embedded in the hot water, hot enough to burn anyone who touches it. Like a sleeping lion.

After 5 minutes of watching the garden creatures out of the window. I lift the cover and spelled the milk, sugar and a tea spoon to gently float next to the cup. A splash of milk and 2 spoons of sugar I then swirled the tea. Careful not to spill a single drop. I took a sip and satisfied with the taste. I walk back to my chair and continue my work.

“Wait are you ignoring me?! Did you forget that Alex was here?!!” He hollered. Alex did not spare glanced at the annoyance but continue his work. Full of neat, slanted writing as I break down the spell and finding places that could be improved. Taking a sip of warm, sweet milk tea, careful not to spill a drop onto the delicate white paper.

“Oi! Even if you ignore me it doesn’t change the fact I’m here,” He said, folding his arms.

“Tch,” I clicked my tongue. Thought if I ignore him he would leave, like a dejected child.

Ignoring my disapproval, he walks to my kitchen. Grabbing a knife and 2 plates out the cardboard. Placing everything on the small dining table fit for 2, he swiftly walks over to me.

“Stop working already and come celebrate your birthday with me,” he said, grabbing my shoulders and wheeling me to the table in the kitchen. I turn my head and look back at him, my eyebrows knitted and frowning.

“Don’t tell me you forgot your own birthday! This child,” he sighed. Treating me like a kid even though he only 1 month older.

“Oh shut it will you? You could walk the door you know,” I said. But of course he stays. Like he always does. Treating my house as if it his too.

He walks around me and cuts a slice of cake, carelessly dropping it on a plate. He then hands me the plate, showing a toothy grin and saying, “Happy birthday —!”

:.:.:.:.:

“I’m so sorry Alex. I should have let you be. I shouldn’t force you to be what you’re not. I-I-I,” someone muttered under their breath. Alex heard a small sniff and then the sound of someone blowing their nose. Alex turn his head sideways to see who sobbing. Looking at his mom and the sheets on the bed Alex lie on. Slowly the realization crept into his mind as he register the fact that he is in a foreign place.

“M-mom?” Alex croaked. It took a bit to say just one word. Some reason Alex throat felt so sore and dry.

She suddenly stop sniffing for a moment and hastily look up from her hands full of snot filled tissue.

“Alex! You’re awake!” She excitedly exclaimed, dropping the tissues on her lap to fall all around her as she jumps up from her folding chair and warps Alex in a suffocating hug.

“Ouch,” Alex yelped. Alex’s mom quickly loosen her grip and drop back down on the chair, head hung down and hands clutch together. Alex observe at her carefully, taking in her messy, knotted hair. The heavy black bags surrounding her blood shot eyes. She look like she aged 50 years after barely a day. But, where am he? Alex glance around the room, his eyes darting all over the place as he finds himself in a white, sunlit room.

Like someone snap their fingers, everything that had happened that evening came rushing in. Alex winced slightly as the memories came flooding in.

“Mom,” Alex said, testing his voice. She looks at him intently without blinking. As if Alex would disappear if she blinked for a split second. “Sorry I did not buy the things you need.”

She just look at me with a blank face. Blinking hard as if she could not believe what she was seeing.

“Honestly,” she sighed. “It fine. I rather you’re safe and sound then have some stupid ingredients I need to make dinner.” She leans forward, this time carefully embracing me.

“I’m just so happy you’re alive. Wish I could stay longer but I have to pick up your little sister now from her playdate,” she glance on the clock on the wall to my right. “I’ll be back soon with your little sister. Let me get you some food before I leave. You must be starving.”

“It is fine. I will get it myself,” Alex waved her away. Glancing at the clock too, seeing the time is nearing 4 o’clock in the afternoon. “Alice will cry if you are late to pick her up.”

“She would also cry if you’re sick you know,” she said as she pats Alex’s head. Alex brush her hand away. The fact she treats like a child displeases him.

“I feel fine, go pick up Alice,” Alex said. She looks at me, taking a deep breath.

“I’ll be back with Alice as soon as I can. She been crying since you haven’t woke up for 3 days straight. She’ll excited to see up and well.” With that said, she left the room.

“Use a taxi,” Alex yelled to her before she closed the door. It might have be Alex imagination but it looked like the corner of her lips curled up. Click.

Alex lie back down, staring at the ceil. As soon as Alex remember the accident came flooding back, a dream flew into his mind not long after. Alex could not help but ponder about the strange dream he had. It was so strange. Alex could remember everything that had happen and vividly too. Usually dreams would fade away the moment you wake up. Getting foggier as you try to remember your dreams. But why can Alex recall every single detail. He even remember every single thoughts the person in the dream that Alex was had.

But the most bizarre thing is the feeling in his heart. Alex feel relief about being alone and no longer bother by that weird guy. But when he remembers that guy face, his chest feels tight when he thought he would never see him ever again.

Whatever it not like he even knew that guy. They say the faces you see in your dreams are faces of people you know. But not a single person Alex know has a face like his. With that stupid, wide grin.

This is so troublesome let just forget about it, Alex thought. Rolling over onto his right side, looking at the chair his mother was sitting on. Soon his eyelids grew heavy and heavier. Not putting up a fight, Alex let sleep take over him. Soon his breath slow and steady, his chest barely moving up and down.