6: The Red Cypress Flower

“What are you doing here, old man?” I asked when I saw Tanaka standing in the garden.

“I was waiting for you,” he replied.

“Why? Do you need anything from me, sir?” I said in a sarcastic tone. I cannot believe he’ll talk to me again after all those years. I still can’t bear to look into his eyes and talk like nothing happened.

“I see, you still harbor a grudge against me. I cannot blame you,” he said while looking at me. “This garden is so beautiful with all these lilac flowers.”

I immediately turn my gaze away to avoid eye contact. It’s just too painful for me to look into his eyes, it’s all coming back to me.

“Get the hell out of here already. I’m going to look after the garden while Fabio’s out,” I said while walking towards the new flowers Fabio planted. “Also this is called the garden of heliotrope, not lilac.”

“The gardener’s out?” he asked. I decided to ignore his question, I want him to get out of my sight already. “He’s not going to get out. You know?”

“What do you mean?”

Ah, shit. I was not planning to answer him but I was curious on why Fabio’s not going to get out. He needs to go and free his parents from slavery. That’s the whole reason why he's so diligent at working. He didn’t even bother to slack off with me.

“I can help him, but I have one condition,” he said while looking at me. I know it’s not going to be good but I have no choice. I need to help Fabio.

“Alright, I’m all ears.”

I wonder why Mr. Tanaka helped me. He said Ervin told him my reason why I needed to go out. Are they closed enough to talk to each other? The servants inside the palace are like royals to us, we cannot just interact with them normally. So does that mean that Ervin and Mr.Tanaka have a special bond?

I looked around to see if I was in the right address. I haven’t had any contact with my parents since we got separated, I’m glad that I’m able to get the address of the household they are in. I looked at the house in front of me and realized that I was in the right address already. I’m quite nervous, it’s been so long since the last time I saw them. I took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell, but it has been 5 minutes already but no one’s answering. I’m starting to think that maybe I was in the wrong address. I decided to look for the other house but before I walked out the door suddenly opened. A young lady appeared, she looked like she just woke up from a long nap. I immediately ran towards the front gate “Excuse me, is this the Akishimato household?” I asked.

The young lady looked at me while rubbing her eyes, “Sorry. The Akishimato Family left this house a long time ago,” she answered.

“Oh. Really? Can I ask if they are with 2 servants? An old man and an old woman?” I asked. I’m not informed that the Akishimato has left this residence, where am I going to find them now?

“What do you mean?” the young lady asked.

“There's two old servants that were sent here 5 years ago. I wonder if they left with them?” I guess this young lady doesn’t know what I’m talking about. She might not know who I am talking about. “I’m sorry,” I said before walking away.

“Wait!” she shouted. I looked back and saw her walking behind me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I think I remember who you’re talking about,” she said while looking at me.

“Really? That’s great! Thank you so much,” I said with a smile on my face. She looked at me blankly.

“Tell me first, what is your relationship with those two?” she asked.

“They are my parents,” I answered. She told me to get inside her house so we can talk properly.

“Mr. and Mrs. Almazar are dead.”

Everything around me stopped for a moment when I heard what she said. I was filled with different kinds of emotion that I don't know if I should believe in it or not.

“What are you saying?” I asked while laughing, trying to convince myself that it was just a joke.

“I was one of the servants of the household and I can say how nice and caring they are, but unfortunately the work here is too much for them. They died after a month,” she explained. I can’t seem to believe what she is saying, but tears already started to fall from my eyes. They already died just a month after we got separated, it was because they made them work so hard! I’m raging with anger but the fact that i cannot do anything is making me frustrated. How am I going to get through with my life? I was working so hard for them, everything I was doing is for them. How am I going to continue? “I know this is hard for you, but I wanted you to know that they died happy.”

“I was here to get them back. I have enough money to give to the Akishimato family,” I explained while staring blankly at the space. I’m lost for words, I want to know everything but what is it to know if they are already gone? I know they won't lie to me that my parents died just for us to not reunite again.

“They were always talking about their son. They said he’s such an independent person and that even if they were to leave you they won’t have to worry. It was unfortunate that you didn’t even get to see each other before they die,” the young lady said.

I didn’t know my parents thought of me as an independent man. I always thought to myself that I needed them, that I cannot live without them. I was alone all this time, all those years I worked hard so much just to earn money to set them free. They’re already free a long time ago, I just feel so bad that I didn't even get to say goodbye properly. But now, I know they are already resting in peace, together, forever.