Chapter 25: Old wounds I
A young boy burst through the front door, a huge grin plastered on his face. "Mom, I got an A! Just like you said!" he exclaimed, waving his paper in the air. His mother, beaming with pride, swept him up in her arms. "I knew you could do it, sweetie!" she said, twirling him around.
Just then, the boy's elder sister walked into the house, looking a bit peckish. "Mom, I'm hungry. What's for dinner?" she asked, heading straight for the dining table. Her mom replied, "Dinner's still a while away, but I think there's some bread on the table." The sister rushed into the kitchen, her mom following with the young boy still in her arms.
As they entered the kitchen, the boy's mom asked his sister, "How was your math test, dear?" The sister munched on some bread, replying with a mouthful, "I gawt... A... bee." Her mom smiled, "You shouldn't talk with your mouth full, sweetie." She handed the sister a glass of water, which she gulped down eagerly.
After drinking, the sister turned to the young boy, saying with a smirk, "Ini, wait till you're out of kindergarten, then you can worry about grades. All you do is count and sleep." The boy's face scrunched up in determination. "That's not true! I know addition and subtraction and multiplication and division and..." He trailed off, unsure what else to add. The sister chuckled, "Okay, Mr. Smarty-Pants, what's seventy multiplied by one thousand four hundred and twenty-six?" The boy's eyes widened, unsure if those numbers even existed.
The sister's laughter filled the kitchen, and their mom couldn't help but join in. "Ore, don't bully your brother," she said, smiling. Ore protested, "I didn't bully him, he said he could do it!" Ini piped up, "Yes, I can! I'm four already." which only made his sister and mom laugh harder. The warm, joyful atmosphere filled the kitchen as Ini's mom began preparing dinner.
As the evening sun cast a warm glow through the windows, Ini's mother busied herself in the kitchen, the savory aromas of dinner wafting through the air. Ini and his sister, Ore, sat at their desks, studying and doing their homework. Suddenly, a deep, masculine voice boomed from the front door, "I'm home!"
Ini's eyes lit up, and he sprinted out of his room, racing down the hallway to fling himself into his father's open arms. "Daddy!" he squealed, wrapping his arms tightly around his father's neck. His father laughed, spinning Ini around in a joyful circle. "How are you, my boy?" he asked, his voice filled with warmth.
Ini grinned, still clinging to his father. "I'm fine, Daddy! I got an A in my math test today!" His father chuckled, ruffling Ini's hair. "That's my boy!" he exclaimed, beaming with pride.
Ore emerged from her room, a more subdued smile on her face. "Daddy," she said, trying to sound more mature, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. She hugged her father with equal enthusiasm, although with a bit more finesse. Her father laughed, hugging her with his free arm. "How was your day, Ore?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Ore's muffled reply came from the vicinity of her father's stomach, where her face was buried. "Fine..." Her father smiled, stroking her hair. "Dinner's almost ready," their mother called out from the kitchen, her voice a warm and welcoming sound.
Ini's father set him down, saying, "Let me go take a shower, I'll be down in a few minutes." The kids nodded, watching as their father headed off towards the bathroom. They then made their way to the dining table, sitting down to wait for their mother to bring in dinner.
A few minutes passed, and Ini's father reappeared, his hair still damp from the shower. He wore a simple shirt and shorts, a relaxed smile on his face. He took his seat at the dining table just as his wife began serving their dinner. The sound of spoons clinking against plates filled the air as they started eating.
The mother broke the comfortable silence, asking, "How was your day, honey?" Ini's father looked up from his plate, a warm smile on his face. "It was good, thanks. Yours?" he replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
The mother smiled, serving herself a portion of food. "Nothing much, just a few projects closing, and that's all," she said, her voice contented. The family continued eating, the only sounds the clinking of utensils and the occasional murmur of appreciation for the delicious food.
As Ore busied herself in the kitchen, the rest of the family settled into the living room. Ini's father picked up the remote control, flipping through channels, while Ini's mother sat down beside him, Ini snuggled up close to her.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. "FIRE!" Ore shrieked, her voice panicked. Ini's parents exchanged a horrified glance, and then they were both on their feet, rushing towards the kitchen.
Ini's father yelled, "Ore, get out of the kitchen, now!" as he sprinted towards the flames. Ini's mother grabbed Ini, pulling him close as she rushed away from the kitchen. "We have to get out of the house, now!" she exclaimed.
The fire was spreading fast, fueled by the kitchen's combustible materials. Thick, black smoke billowed through the air, making it hard to see or breathe. Ini coughed, his eyes stinging from the smoke.
Ini's father reappeared, his face smudged with soot. "We have to get out, now!" he yelled, grabbing Ini's mother's arm. "Ore, where's Ore?" Ini's mother cried, frantically scanning the smoke-filled room.
Ini's father shouted, "I'll get her! You get Ini out!" as he plunged back into the inferno. Ini's mother grabbed Ini, pulling him towards the front door. "We have to get out, Ini! Hold my hand!" she screamed, her voice hoarse from the smoke.
Ini's mother yanked open the front door, pulling Ini out into the night air. They stumbled down the porch steps, Ini's mother gasping for breath. She turned to Ini, her eyes wild with fear. "Ini, I have to go back for Ore!" she exclaimed.
Ini's eyes went wide with terror. "No, Mommy! Don't go!" he screamed, clinging to her arm. But Ini's mother shook him off, her face set in determination. "I have to get Ore!" she repeated, turning to rush back into the burning house.
Ini's cries echoed through the night air as he watched his mother disappear into the inferno. "MOMMY! NO! DON'T GO!" he screamed, running after her. But it was too late. She was gone, swallowed up by the flames. Ini stumbled to a stop, his eyes fixed on the burning house, his heart shattered into a million pieces.