The Past (8) The Mermaid Portrait

"Dad-"

"Keep quiet, son. You could have told me that you dreamt of your sister first thing in the morning," Justin said as the both of them entered his room.

Ronnie remained quiet, he also entered the room and walked straight to the chair. He sat down carefully, his eyes staring at a portrait that caught his attention. It was placed on the wall just beside the full mirror. "Dad, I am just seeing that." Instead of sitting down like he had planned he stood up instead and walked to where the portrait was placed, "what is that all about?"

"That is not what you are here for."

"Mermaids?" He crouched further, "Never knew the CEO is into unique sea creatures that don't even exist."

Justin sighed and took his wrist watch, and then he took his phone from a table very close to the bed. He scrolled through his phone and then dropped it into his pocket, "Ron, who took your childhood innocence from you?"

"What do you mean dad?"

"You are just fifteen-"

"Sixteen tomorrow."

"I know, you are still fifteen and you talk like you are already an adult. Can't you for once behave like you don't know or see some particular things?"

Ronnie chuckled, "but dad, why do you talk like I am some genius or something? I'm not even the smartest in class. You should encourage me to become smarter as I would become the CEO in future," he paused and took a glance at the portrait, "This looks quite familiar."

Justin walked to his son. He stood directly at the front of a full mirror and stare at himself before glancing at his son beside him. His son was tall but he was about a feet taller than him. The both of them had black spiky hairs but his son's was more spiky, they had the same ink black eyes. Orelse they do a DNA test, it was hard to find out that Justin wasn't his biological father because the both of them had tight resemblance. They never quarreled and Justin cherished him even more than his mother.

Justin eyes met the portrait, "I had ordered many portraits last week, I wonder why you could see only that." Hearing that, Ronnie looked around confused until his eyes met about four portraits opposite the wall he had been staring at. The others were landscape designs. On one was different mountains and springs, on another was a hunted house and another was a black and white painting of hills, and the last was a very large forest with thick and dried barks while a few monkeys played around. "So back to our discussion, what was your dream?"

"Dad, don't you think this mermaid portrait look familiar?"

"Of course it is, you must have seen different pictures of mythical creatures, so it's not surprising."

"No, dad but this is-"

"Your mum should be on her way here now, you know we would be late for the PTA meeting if you tarry any longer. Besides, I have some appointments at hand and I would also need to proceed with the search on your sister."

"About my sister, why did you- I mean, why do you think she is in danger?"

"I have the feeling she is and also you just said you dreamt of something related and you can see that yourself. Son, tell me what your dream is about."

Ronnie grinned childishly before scratching his hair, "Are you sure you want to hear it from me even though it doesn't look true?"

Justin looked at his watch in a split second, "Go on."

"Let's imagine, a dark earthhole under a river or an ocean. She was tied down and she was crying for help. Then, there I was. Crying also and looking at her, unable to help her."

Justin looked at Ronnie confused, "Is that what you dreamt of?"

"No, it's an imagination."

"An imagination?" Justin's voice was mysteriously thicker because he wasn't expecting that, his hopes were drastically brought down. He had thought there would be clues in finding his little girl but how would they ever see her if they had zero to little clues?

Ronnie nodded and sat down on the bed, "Dad, you know how mum is, so I just had to tell her lies so that she could maybe be scared or something. I really don't like how mum behaves while my sister is somewhere there in danger."

"Did you just lie to me?"

"I never did. I didn't lie. I told us to imagine. I just have a gut feeling that something is wrong with Delilah."

"But still, you shouldn't tell that to your mum. You know how she is and what condition she is, you can't-"

"Dad..." Ronnie called him, he had already stood up and was walking to the door, "I understand but I would love to ask you a question. That should be later anyway."

Justin nodded and walked to his bed, there was a small box situated on his bed he held it and faced Ronnie, "I have something for you, Ron."

"Okay dad." Ronnie walked to him, when he saw the box in his father's hands, a smirk came to his cheek but he was so fast to control himself, "Is this a birthday gift?"

"Oh no, Ron. It's actually not a gift. It's something I know you would need one day, so I want you to keep it till you need it." He handed the box to Ronnie who took it hesitantly.

Ronnie looked at the box in his hands almost touching the opening, "can I open it?"

"No, you can't." Justin immediately pointed out, he gave out a slight sigh before he continued, "You can but under two conditions."

"Ah dad. Two is a bunch."

"If you aren't okay with it just give it back."

"Dad." Ronnie called with a cheeky smile, "this isn't a gift remember, it is a necessity like you stated."

"Ron. Okay, fine. It's so sad that you were unable to enjoy childhood innocence."

Ronnie sat down on the bed while his father looked at him dramatically, "ah... innocence this and that. There are two different things between you growing up and I growing up. We grew up in two different places and time, dad. Anyway, what are the conditions?"

"Ensure you open it once and then close it and not again until you really need it."

"What could be it?" Ronnie asked his dad as he stood up to shake the small box. It was light and it was hardly believable that there was something precious there." What is the other condition?"

"Well, son. Do not show or tell anyone about it. It is meant to be a secret between you and I. Father and son."

Ronnie smiled, "Yes dad, as long as you keep telling mother that I would be the future CEO of Kilzo when you know how you strongly deny it."

"What? What are you saying?"

"Uhm... I thought you would take the position to your grave. I heard you clearly saying something about Ron and the property like you were dying soon and you saying I am not your biological son. I understand, dad. Even though you adopted me when I was just five, I am no blood of yours and I can't be a heir. I just don't want mum to hear about this. Her condition is so-"

"You are grounded, Ron."