"Look at me," Rickardo said, pointing at his mask. "I can't flex, and there's others like me who can't—and you know the mistreatment I get in the dojo."
I see… so he won't—
"But you know what? You never know what will happen. He might like you and make you an exception if you do well."
"Do well in what?"
"You'll see when I introduce you to him."
Silas followed Rickardo. This time, they weren't heading home but somewhere different. Silas could tell instantly from the way the water changed colour as they stepped into this district of Thalassar. The water grew darker with every street he passed. It was murky and thick, turning the glow of algae lamps into something dull and sickly. Rusted walkways clung to the coral walls like parasites.
"You like what you see?" Rickardo said.
"What the hell is this?" Silas uttered in discomfort as he covered his nose and mouth, being careful about what he inhaled. His eyes scanned the structures around him—they looked less like buildings and more like things that had simply survived.
"Is this safe to breathe?" Silas grunted, holding his breath.
"I don't know. I was born with a mask, so I couldn't tell. But it should be, as Boss sometimes invites people who have Chi-Lungs down here for meetings."
"Boss?" Silas said.
"Yeah, that's what we call him."
Silas heard something and quickly turned his head. He noticed people lining the alleys like shadows, some wearing cracked breathing masks.
"People actually live here?"
"Shocked? This is the hood part of Thalassar. Welcome to Greasy Lagoon!"
"Greasy… Lagoon."
"Yep. All my friends, family live here."
"Family, friends? So how come you don't live—"
"Ah, it's because I moved out."
"Moved out? At your age? But you don't work? How are you paying rent?"
"Oh, I do pay rent."
"How? Isn't where you live abandoned?"
"Ermm… kinda? It's not on sale, but it's not abandoned. I made a deal with the landlord that I'll pay a bit more than usual if he lets me stay there."
"Huh? A kid paying a landlord? Isn't that illegal?! You're paying more?! Where are you getting the money from?!"
"So many questions, Silas. Isn't it normal for a man to move out from their parents' nest and start working?"
"You work? But you're only 15—how?"
"Well… you're about to find out."
Back in the present—
"WHAT?! You used to be in that gang?!" Gaedric screams, making Gadeon jolt up from his seat at the sudden outburst.
"Surprising? An ex-gang member now a Current Watcher. Life can always surprise you."
"No, that isn't the shocking part—it's the gang you mentioned!"
"Huh? I haven't mentioned the gang yet—"
"Rickardo was all I needed to hear."
Silas suddenly stands up from his seat. "You know Rickardo?! How?!"
Gaedric quickly shifts his eyes toward Gadeon, and Silas picks up on it.
"I see."
"But you can hear from my upbringing where my anger comes from. And since then, I haven't been able to control it. Time has passed, and even up till today, I still can't control it… which led to my son hating me."
Gaedric listens.
"However, I've made a vow that I will never lay hands on my son and wife—which is something I still haven't done, and will take with me to my grave."
"So why did your wife leave then?"
"She just got fed up with me… or more so, she attacked me…"
"She laid hands on you instead?"
"Well, yes… but it was understandable… especially with what I did to my own son."
"Okay, so I'm guessing you called for the divorce?"
"No… when my wife attacked me, the door was left open, so one of our neighbours witnessed it and called the Current Watchers."
"Wait, are you saying—"
"Yes, she was arrested for assault. And because I'm a member of the Current Watchers—especially someone with a somewhat decent status as a manager—the government took it very seriously, and deduced that she would no longer be allowed to mother Ami, as she's 'violent.'"
"Violent?!"
"Yes… although my wife isn't a violent woman… that day I almost lost my life."
Both Gadeon and Gaedric are shocked.
"But at the same time, I deserve it… maybe it would've been better for her to take my—"
"Don't you dare say that!" Gaedric cuts in sharply, silencing him. "Ami still needs you!"
"Ami needs his mother! And I took that away from him!"
"Is she currently in prison?"
"No… she's been removed from Thalassar and is somewhere living on the surface. I heard from some people I know up there that she has a child now… so I assume she's moved on with her new life."
Silas says this, but his tone carries a deep, quiet pain.
Gaedric can see it clearly in his expression—the discomfort, the weight he's carrying.
"Gadeon, I'm sure Ami is probably lonely. Why don't you go upstairs and play with him?"
"Go up and what? Am I a—"
Gadeon stops himself mid-sentence. Gaedric's eyes remain fixed on Silas, intense and unwavering. Gadeon hates being told what to do—but this time, his body knows he has to obey.
He clicks his teeth and makes his way to Ami's room.
Knock! Knock!
No response.
Knock! Knock!
"Open your damn door!" Gadeon yells.
"Gadeon! Be nice!" Gaedric shouts from downstairs.
"Who does he think he is to tell me to be nice? Am I a dog?" Gadeon mutters under his breath.
"Oh! It's you, Giddie?" Ami says as he unlocks the door.
"Who the hell is Giddie? Why are you calling me that?" Gadeon says, disturbed.
"Doesn't your mum call you that?"
"You're not Gloria to be calling me that! Is that what Gaedric told you?"
"Yep!"
Gadeon clicks his teeth and walks into Ami's room.
"Hey! You have to be invited first before you enter someone's room."
"U hav two bee invyted fest, befour u enta som-ones room," Gadeon mocks in a childish tone.
"Huh? I don't sound like that!" Ami says, annoyed.
"Eye don't shound lyke dat!"
"Stop it!"
"Sthap eit!"
Ami's irritation builds as Gadeon keeps mocking him. He starts stomping his feet on the ground like a cartoon character, his face turning red. Watching this, Gadeon ends up laughing.
"You think it's funny!" Ami says, but Gadeon ignores him and keeps laughing—until it suddenly hits Ami.
"Wait… someone like you can laugh?"
"Of course! Annoying kids is soo funny! The reactions and faces they pull! Ah, I used to love watching funny prank videos on kids."
"Prank videos?" Ami tilts his head in confusion, not understanding what he's saying.
"Oh yeah… you won't know what I mean."
"I will, so tell me what you meant."
"Nah, you won't get it."
"I will!"
"You won't!"
"I will!"
"Why do you care so much?! You should be more focused on how to leave this house!"
"Huh? How do you know I want to leave here?" Ami says, shocked.
"What? You don't remember when we first got here? You had an argument with your dad and you retaliated by saying you hate him and can't wait to leave here," Gadeon says, reminding him.
"Oh yeah… I did say that."
"Exactly."
"But that's random to just bring up," Ami says.
"I want to leave my home too."
"What?! Why would you want to do that?!"
"The same way you want to leave your home."
"Yeah, but my reasons are different. You have awesome parents, whereas my dad is just a big meanie!"
"Well… I don't get along with mine too."
That reminds Ami of when he fought Gadeon—when Gadeon referred to himself as Jason, showing clear hatred toward his mother. The memory surfaces, and Ami opens his mouth, about to ask something… then pauses.
Ah… I'm scared to ask, actually, Ami thinks.
"But are you serious about moving out?" Gadeon asks.
"One hundred percent! If I had the money, I would be out of here!"
"Okay, let's say you do have the money—which landlord is going to allow a child to rent a house?"
"Ermmm…"
Not only that… I don't even know the prices of homes in Thalassar—or in this world. But in my old life, houses were ridiculously expensive… always increasing. It's not realistic—especially as a kid—to have that kind of money. That's why it's a goal I'd have to prepare for in the future…
Gadeon pauses.
However…
He recalls Silas's story.
That Rickardo guy Silas mentioned… he wasn't much older than us, but he managed to find a place to stay on his own. Silas said Rickardo claimed he moved out—and is paying a landlord for a one-bedroom apartment…
"What are you thinking about?" Ami asks.
"Just trying to think of a way for both of us to move out."
"I know! What if we swap!"
"Huh?"
"So you come live here and I live with your parents—BOOM! Problem solved!"
Why am I even thinking for the both of us? I should just forget about this idiot, and he should deal with his own problem.
Gadeon thinks—but then pauses, reflecting on that very thought.
Why am I even thinking for Ami's sake? Is it because he's a child? But it's not like Silas is a bad man… as a grown-up, I should be telling him he's being stupid…
His thoughts shift—back home, with Gaedric and Gloria. Him wanting to move out because he doesn't want to share a home with another man… especially one paying the bills.
Then it transitions—
Ami yelling earlier that he can't wait to leave his home.
Then—
Silas mentioning Ami's mother now has another child… likely with a new man.
And suddenly—
A memory.
Jason. Sitting in a car. Hearing his mother complain about him to another man.
"Shit," Gadeon blurts.
"Stop swearing!" Ami snaps.
My reasons are different. His are just stupid. I'm actually an adult—he's just a kid.
"Shit," Gadeon blurts again.
"Why do you keep swearing?!" Ami scolds him again.
"Anyway, Ami, I think I've thought of a way for both of us to leave our homes."
"You have?!"
"Yes. But if we want to do it sooner, then we both have to work together—and get a home together."
At least this way, we can save money and find some dodgy landlord—like how Rickardo did. I don't mind sharing with Ami… it'll be like an adult raising a kid… as long as he's not too annoying.
"We're gonna live together?!" Ami says, excited—then processes it.
"Shit… we're gonna live together."
"Look who's swearing?"
"That's because you started it! And why do we have to leave together? I want my own house! You're rude, a meanie, disrespectful, don't respect your parents, think you're a cool guy but you're lame!"
Ami keeps going, throwing insult after insult.
Don't be provoked by a kid… he's just a kid, Gadeon repeats in his mind.
"Anyway, it'll make sense to you how real life works. Right now, you can't get your own house. It'll take longer if you try to do it alone—if you want to move out ASAP."
"Fine… but I call dibs on picking the first room."
That's only if we even find a two-bedroom. More likely it'll be one… or just somewhere to crash.
But now that he's on board… Ami's still a kid. He could back out at any moment. I need him to be sure.
"Ami," Gadeon calls.
"Yes?"
"Did you know that your mum got a kid with another guy?"