Chapter 15 - Live in the Dream

Mandy

DESTRUCTION.

The very thought of going on an adventure in the most dangerous of places and/or getting killed by the incoming danger sucked! She wanted to experience neither of them. In the show, Dragon Balls are scattered in unlikely places both safe and . . . unsafe. She wouldn't want to risk going to the North Pole just for that, or go to the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Also, these Dragon Balls, once collected, could make one's dreams come true. Because of that, she was bound for getting murdered by the guys that would want to steal it from them—well, if they knew. But, Goku was already here, and that meant that maybe the others with the likes of Frieza would come here.

This was getting ridiculous, bonkers! She just finished eating, but she already felt like needing food to relieve her frustration.

"Uncle Danny, we have a confession." Her bother now stood, standing in front of Uncle's back.

Uncle stopped washing the dishes. "What is it?"

"You have probably known already about Alisa's disappearance, correct?"

"Sullivan told me that this morning, through the phone. Why?"

"Then why does it seem like you don't care at all?" Mandy asked.

"Well, I was, in fact, nervous when I heard the news, knowing she wasn't here." He dried his hands with a white cloth. If he was nervous, why was there a smile still creeping on his face? "So I thought maybe she was at your place."

"Wait, you know that she's not with us right now," Andy said, in an accusing, know-it-all tone voice that her twin found irritating. "So why do still seem to be nonchalant about this?"

Sure, Uncle wouldn't have lost his mind into a world of insanity, would he? What could be his valid reason for not caring for Aliza's whereabouts? He still had that smile cradled atop his not-too-hairy jaw, and the glint in his eye suggested a world where there would always be a tomorrow. Perhaps that "tomorrow" was Aliza's well-being, if that made sestip

"Aliza," he started, giving a dramatic pause while sitting on the chair by the table. "She's a special girl, a one of a kind."

"Expound," Andy said.

He had the right to ask for an explanation. Aliza's father, Sullivan, didn't really consider her special, through action or words.

"That even I couldn't explain well," Uncle said.

So, how would that help? Admittedly, Mandy would have said that he had lost it, with additional face-palms, but she couldn't, and she felt that she shouldn't. The enigma in Uncle's responses was reminding him of his brother's, though his were much more indirect. And he had lesser words than her brother!

"It doesn't matter. Just try your utmost best," Andy said, now sweaty from getting pissed off.

"It'd be better if we let Goku join with us. Where is he?" he askedm

"He's by—" Wait a minute. Did she hear it right? She had to look at Andy's expression to clarify . . . and yes, she did hear it right.

How in the world did Uncle know Goku's name. Did Goku tell him?

"—the lake . . ."

"Oh, so why don't we call him?" He pushed the chair back and strolled past us, a smile never leaving his facem

He was called, and then Goku scampered in, chased down by three kids as he held his boot. Looking down, Mandy realized his left foot was bare. He still trudged the whole house, half-barefoot, as those triplets giggled. He came to an abrupt stop on the top of the table to look at her, and that's when he gave her a peace sign with his million dollar smile, warming her insides. Before jumping onto the floor—lightly, mind you—and movie around like a kid

The way those kids would chase just for a boot was funny and had little sense. Even junk could be the treasure of some people, she guessed—wait, that came out wrong.

"Just look how simple their joys are, their minds away from the ugly stench of society," Uncle Danny said. From the looks of it, Andy didn't agree with him. To Mandy, she wasn't sure what side she's in.

"Alright, kids. It's time for you to go to your rooms!" Uncle Danny went for the kids.

"Awwe!" The triplets complained in unison.

"His boot is smelly," Uncle Danny said, giving a grin of a jokester.

"Eww!" was their reply.

Soon, they agreed, bright big smiles on, something she didn't have for a while. Goku said "Good night" to them, his father side showing.

"Man, I'd like to train then," Goku said.

Mandy initially thought that Andy would have a comment on that, but she was proved wrong when Andy just neared Uncle Danny.

"Uncle Danny, could you explain why and how you know Goku's name?" Andy asked, his tone giving an impression that he's not tolerating any un-straight answers. What a hypocrite . . .

"Aliza would always tell me about the show called—"

"Okay, okay, okay, okay!" Andy said, drawling on the last "okay" as he gagged Uncle's mouth. "We get it. You needn't explain any further."

"What show?" Goku asked.

"Nothing of importance. There wouldn't be any futility if you know of it," Andy said.

Mandy would have never thought that Aliza and her uncle were *that* close. She would seldom talk to us about him, and they would only do that if only his name would arise. The twins knew Aliza for four years, yet their knowledge of her seemed too . . . small. Or maybe this was Mandy's doubts doing the guessing.

There was still one question in mind.

"Uncle Danny, can we talk, alone?" Mandy felt the urge to heighten her stand for this one, making her face look more sterner to let even her brother feel that he should stay away. Of course, he wasn't fazed—what could she expect? But he did respect her decision, thankfully.

"Yes, what is it, my dear?" Uncle asked.

"Does Aliza sometimes talk about me and my twin?" Mandy asked.

He said yes.

"The good things, or . . ."

"My dear, Aliza doesn't count the wrongs you two made. She'll never talk behind your back. Trust me, I know." He smiled, while she contemplated. Aliza was a good friend, too good, but the way she'd treat Mandy as if she were special was just . . . overwhelming. She didn't deserve that kind of treatment, ever; she was just a nobody. "You two are asking where my niece is, correct?"

Mandy nodded, not knowing what to expect.

"It takes seeing the impossible for a man to believe. I think she's living her dreams, a temporary escape, if you will."

"What do you mean?"

"Seeing Goku here, I guess they switched places. I can tell that's what you two have been meaning to tell me, correct?"

"Yeah . . ." So he did know . . . "But how can you say that? How are you so sure?"

"I'm sorry, but as I said . . . 'It takes seeing the impossible for a man to believe.'"

"You're gonna zip your mouth on this one, right?" Mandy asked.

"Definitely."

Mandy had no choice but to just accept that he won't answer. What's importance was that he won't tell a single soul.

Uncle Danny went inside shortly after. During the whole conversation, she couldn't help but notice his voice lacing with sweetness. She knew it wasn't intentional, but the tone of his voice somehow reminded her of the scenes where old geezers, like the Turtle Hermit, would drool over a girl's . . . most tempting body part, she guessed.

Andy made a questioning look once Mandy was inside, but he was just ignored. Mandy just wanted to save the Q-and-A for later.

"Uncle Danny, you do know where Aliza is right now, don't you?" Andy was getting impatient, and she could tell that Uncle Danny could sense it.

"Yes."

And no more words exchanged. It took a matter of seconds before Mandy said, "Uncle Danny, we'll be going now. Thanks for the time."

"Visit here whenever you want."

Andy picked the Dragon Ball from the couch, still letting that annoying look of his face annoy her, the one that wouldn't stop until all his answers were released from Mandy's mouth. He was sure nosy, but she guessed that was because of the situation they were in right now.

Goku followed, and before they could step outside the shack's porch, Andy asked uncle about something: "Uncle Danny, why do you prefer living in solitude?"

"I just hate mourning in the end," he said.

*What?* Again, that was weird, indirect—and maybe deep.

"Like crying?" Mandy said.

"Yep."

Now that was clarified, her confusion only rose. Luckily, Andy didn't comment on that, obviously rolling his eyes for that one.

Uncle Danny gazed at something, and that something was the wishing orb. "Dragon Ball, right?"

"You know what that is?" Goku asked, smiling in interest.

"Let's just say I have ways to know these kind of things," he said, then proceeded to lock his gaze at Andy. "You can live your dreams well with this one, but I hope you'll make the right choices."

They left the shack, and despite the glaring fact of what Uncle Danny knew about Goku, they still went down the hill to hide before they could take off. Andy had a hard time clambering onto his back with how steep the hill was, but he managed.

During the whole flight toward their house, Mandy was having a thinking marathon, with all of her attempts to interpret the hidden meaning of Uncle's words. It was as if she was solving a weird puzzle, or maybe she was the weird one for over-thinking something Andy would call "superficial." Then she wondered how Aliza was able to have a good conversation with Uncle Danny's responses.

It wasn't that she couldn't understand; she just felt like he's hiding something.

Or maybe he's just being deep.

Also, how was Uncle Danny so sure? Did he know they switched places at the same time?

This thinking marathon—a five-kilometer marathon, where the road was her brain—was making her head ache. She didn't even know if she was still making sense. She was sure they still had the search for the six other Dragon Balls to worry about.

And it would sure he great to be Andy's punching bag, except his punches were words, and the bag was her emotion. It would also be better when there would be villains who swore to take over the world.

She just realized that they were now directly above their house, so they flew down, onto their backyard. Andy didn't say a single word during the whole flight, which meant he was thinking about something, too.

When they were at the porch, Andy stopped to see if there was someone that had seen them. Gee, this wouldn't be too much of a problem if they could just act normally. Plus, Goku was already fast enough for an average person to see. So why would he waste time, being like a pirate looking for a nearby island through a telescope?

"Goku, you know where to hide, right?" Andy asked.

"In the basement," he said, his expression dull. Probably bored for not having anyone to spar with. He just went by the side of the house to wait for the perfect time to sprint into their basement.

Andy knocked on the door, thrice, repeating it over and over again since there was still no response. Seriously, her brother had no patience.

And at long last, there was a click, and as the door opened, Mandy would expect being greeted by their nagging mother for staying out too long, but no, that's not what happened—the cute barista happened, now standing by their doorway, with a smile, his eyes directly at Mandy. And to say she was barely freaking out on the inside was an understatement.

Seriously, she was acting like a drama queen, a fat one.

"Mandy, I'm glad you're here," he said.

Well that was new. "What are you doing here, Kyle?"

"Just wanna give you something before I take my shift, and your mom was really nice to let me stay while I wait."

"You were waiting for . . . me?" That was newer.

"I have something to give you," he said, his smile never leaving. He handed her something paper-ish, and as she took a look at it, she almost squealed—almost!

"Bye, see you tomorrow!" Then he went off.

Mother of all waffles, it was his number This was the newest. Wait, this must be a dream!

His tone may be insulting, but the context of his words wasn't! Goku's head perked from the side of the house, still waiting. That's when Mandy's mother came out, an obviously mischievous smile on her lips.

"I see how you two interacted," Mandy's mom said.

"Mom, stop it!"

But she didn't stop right there, and was now faking her cry. "My daughter's all grown up."

"Mom!"

"Alright, alright. Just get in." And with a laugh, she strutted in. Mandy took that chance to signal Goku to sprint inside.

Again, was this a dream?

Andy just begrudgingly stared at her and moved past her. "It's not a dream."

The smile on her face never left, and the heat on her cheeks were probably melting the fats away. This was just too good to be true—kind of like a dream.

Perhaps this was, as speculative as she could get, what Uncle Danny was talking about. To live in the dream. The stray kids were now happy with their new homes, Aliza was now in the world of her favorite anime show, and Kyle gave her his number. All this seemingly impossible things had happened.

She didn't know what force drove it all to happen, but she was lucky it did. For now, she would just live in a dream.

"Mandy, get inside the house and stop daydreaming about that guy!" Mandy's mom screamed through the kitchen halls.

"Mom, I'm not!"

"Just get inside!"

She did so, going for their basement to see if Goku was there. Yep, he was, striking multiple punches and kicks in the air. "Hey!" Mandy whispered.

Good thing he heard it. "Yeah?"

"Want me to give you food?"

"That would be nice. Thanks!" Then he proceeded to shadowbox.

Her mom was at the kitchen, washing the dishes, remnants of food all over the whole table. Andy wasn't there—that jerk. She went through stairs, into his room, and revolved the knob, only to find out that it was locked.

Typical. She just knocked on it.

"I'm not hungry! Stop disrupting me!"

That was just harsh. She couldn't do anything about that, and that sucked, big time. She guessed the only time when they really hung out with just the two of them was . . . the time before their dad died.

So much change did really happen, didn't it? The weight inside her chest was getting heavier. Guess she should go down to stress eat. And she shouldn't forget about Goku.

Pasta was on the table, her favorite, yet she didn't have the appetite. Forcing herself plop onto the chair and eat, a tear seemed to have trickled down her cheek.

Damn it all!

She gripped her fists, and that's when she remember Kyle's number. It was now crumpled. She unfolded it, seeing Kyle's number. After all, she would just live in a dream, right?

Then she noticed thick black marks engraved on the other side of the paper. She flipped it, her eyes widening.

Meet me. Alone.