C17 Chapter 17 The last day of vacation

The warm, summer sunlight entered Callisto's bedroom, and it woke him up. For a while, the dark room blinded him, and everything gradually became apparent. He stood up, got out of his room and continued walking towards the dining room where his father, Sebastian, and sister, Ruth, were sitting on the chairs by the long table filled with delicious foods.

It feels like the first day of their vacation: their father isn't so depressed anymore, and his sister smiles at him. But there's something different about his mother. His mother is not with them right now, and perhaps she's happy wherever she is, as her family is happy because they are finally leaving the place where many bad things happened, but Callisto knew that they were not all bad.

"You're awake. So, how's your last day here, son?" Sebastian asked.

"Pretty good," Callisto replied. "How about yours, dad?"

"Not so good at all. But I'm grateful that we're finally leaving this hell."

"How about yours, Ruth?" Callisto sat down on the chair beside the table.

"Mine?" Ruth asked. "Um... um... I'm so sorry," she stammered.

"Huh?" Callisto sounded curious. "Why are you saying that?"

"I'm sorry brother, father, but it wasn't, it wasn't, really good, the same as yours, and perhaps it could be better if we didn't just visit here," Ruth attempted to maintain a normal tone of voice.

"I must be the one to say sorry to you guys, because it was me who chose this place for vacation. But everything has already happened. No one can turn back the clock and fix what they did wrong in the past," Sebastian remarked, then silence attempted to prevail as he sighed.

"I believe your mother is now in heaven, but regardless of that, she will never leave my heart, whatever happened, and also yours?"

"You've said that, dad. So you must not find another woman to replace my mom, or else she will ghost you," Callisto warned and began eating his food.

"But it can't be removed from me to complain about the difficulties of raising children!" Sebastian half-shouted as he walked out of the dining room.

Meanwhile, as silence returned, Ruth noticed her brother sad.

"Oh! I thought you were happy because we're leaving this house," Ruth said. "But why do you look sad? Don't you want to leave your girlfriend?"

"How did you know that I have a girlfriend?" Callisto queried.

"So you have?" Ruth asked as a defend to her hunch.

"No—I mean, I have. But please, don't tell Dad about it. I knew that he didn't like that crazy girl as much as I did. He didn't even want me to take care of her. How much more being her boyfriend?"

"I understand you, brother. This time I won't tell Dad about your plans. But let me warn you: it will be big trouble if he know it by himself."

"Yeah, I knew that. But don't worry. I will tell him at the right time."

"The right time? When?" Ruth stared at her brother's cheek.

"Sorry, but I can't tell you when, because the right time can't be predicted. It will come on its own, especially if we don't expect it," Callisto advised. "So you shall finish your food if you want to see the right time."

Callisto stood up and went towards the sink while his sister continued eating. Afterward, they began packing their things because they know that tomorrow is the day of going back to their own house.

While packing his things, something is playing in Callisto's mind. His girlfriend—there was not a second that went by that he wasn't thinking of her. He doesn't know when he can see her again, nor does he know if he can see her again.

It's difficult for him to make himself believe that her friend will take care of her when he's not in this place. But he can do nothing against the will of the wind—they are going back, and everything will just end like that.

Meanwhile, Sebastian went to their verandah and became curious as he began staring at the high mountain, which looked serene from a distance, but he knew it would never be as peaceful as it was, especially since it had witnessed a lot of tragedies.

"My love, if you're just here right now, I know what you'll say, 'Stop staring at the mountain, because that'll only give you a headache.' Don't worry, my love, we're leaving this place and we'll never take a glimpse at it," Sebastian promised.

As daytime had gradually turned to night, Callisto climbed onto his bed, still thinking about Stalin. He couldn't be complacent that she was just fine. He didn't even know where she went when she became a crazy girl.

It was the last night of their vacation, but he still couldn't believe it. Time is definitely quick when we rejoice, and it's slow when we grieve. Callisto insisted on sleeping, although the thought of her wouldn't set him free. He knew she would only make him cry if he saw her face again.

The roaster has just crow, but Sebastian and Ruth are already inside their car, waiting for Callisto to come out of their house so that they can leave early before the sun shines.

"Son!" Sebastian called. "What are you still doing there?"

Callisto was wearing his favorite clothes when he heard their car's horn. He knew it was his father who was so excited to go, so he hurriedly fastened his clothes and went out. He locked the door and got inside their car.

"I thought you would not leave with us," Ruth said.

Callisto replied, "No—I'm just checking if there's something I left."

"Perhaps your heart." Ruth chuckled.

The throttle was applied, and they are now taking the quiet road back downtown. It's still early, and no more cars are on the road. They are leaving, but Callisto's mind stayed here, thinking about Stalin. He had already became accustomed living with her craziness. It will surely be difficult for him to live without her.

A few moments after, Callisto, Sebastian, and Ruth felt like the car had struck something. Consequently, Sebastian stepped on the brake and immediately got out of it, and so did Callisto and his sister.

"Goddammit!" Sebastian scowled. "Is she crazy?"

It was totally surprising when Callisto saw what it was. His eyes turned big as his heart was hammered several times. Tears spurted out from his eyes like a fountain. His face could not be painted as he cautiously walked near.

His voice gradually came out, "Staliiiiiiiiiin!" He screamed.

Silence prevailed. Callisto spread his arms and cuddled her shiveringly. Blood was shed on the road near the bench where they first met, and now it turned out to be the bench where everything ended. With that terrible strike, blood tainted her worn clothes.