Unexpected Farewells

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A transfer? Leaving in two days? Aunt Meera's house for two weeks? It all felt like a whirlwind of emotions crashing down on me.

Sadness because I have to stay away from my family for 2 weeks; it is the longest time I have ever been apart from them.

But somewhere in my heart, I was also excited about this ordeal. For two weeks, I will stay at Preeti's house. Maybe we can have some fun. I blushed at my thoughts, clearing them. I looked at my mom in distress.

"But isn't it too sudden, Mom, and can't you stay with me at least?" I asked my mom, hopefully.

"I am sorry, Daemon, it's just sudden, and your dad's company was not paying him much, so after complaining to the main office, they decided to send him to a neighboring city where he will get a raise," My Mom explained to me in detail.

"Also, your exams are coming, so you can't leave right now due to the fact that right now your father has gone to talk to the landlord about this; he should be coming back soon," Mom said to me as she took her keypad phone and dialed a number.

After my mom finished her call, she reassured me that everything would be alright and that staying with Aunt Meera would be a good experience. That reminded me of all the fun times we had during our visits there and how much she loves me.

[Hey, Daemon Isn't it a good opportunity? First, you get to stay at Preeti's house, and after you go to a new city, you can start a new life.] Damien explained: Well, he is right about that, I thought.

"Okay, Mom, let's do the packing. I will help you," I said to Mom. As I helped mom with some chores, there are still two days before her departure, so there should not be any problems with this.

As we were packing and cleaning the room, my father soon came.

"I have already informed the landlord about my sudden transfer and also talked with Ethan about Daemon's stay." My father informed my mother as he looked at me apologetically. I was surprised to realize that even though I initially felt distrust, I was actually not bothered much by all this.

'Am I changing?' I muttered to myself, not understanding where this change came from.

[ Isn't it a good thing? Eventually you will have to separate from your parents, and you are not truly alone, as I will always be with you?] Damien assured me.

After a quarter of the packing was done, we rested a bit. Mom made some tea, and we ate some snacks along with it.

After my Mom went to talk to some neighbours, which will eventually take hours, even though she said she would come back in half an hour,

After two hours, my mom eventually returned from her conversation with the neighbours. It seemed like the discussion took longer than I anticipated. As she entered the room, she looked a bit flustered but still had a warm smile on her face.

"Sorry for the wait, son; it took longer than I had anticipated to say goodbyes," she said, sitting down on the chair.

As the day progressed, we continued with the packing and preparations for my stay at Aunt Meera's house. My dad pitched in as well, and we worked as a team to get everything sorted. Even though I still felt some mixed emotions, the act of doing something productive helped keep my mind occupied.

In the evening, after we finished half of the packing, I decided to take a walk outside to get some fresh air. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the neighbourhood. As I strolled along the familiar streets, memories of my childhood spent here flooded my mind. It made me realise how much I would miss my home and my surroundings after the next two weeks.

I decided to say goodbye to my only friend. I walked towards the house of my friend Alexander Sterling. I sighed.

"No matter how many times I see it, his house always seems beautiful," I said as I looked at the big mansion across the street.

As I approached Alexander Sterling's mansion, I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and envy. The sprawling estate stood as a symbol of wealth and privilege, a stark contrast to my own humble surroundings. Despite our friendship, I couldn't deny that our lives were worlds apart.

His father was a politician, and from childhood on, he got everything he wanted. Our mutual friend, Lucas Bennett, was the son of Alexander's secretary.

Taking a deep breath, I rang the doorbell, and a guard dressed in uniform opened the door. "Hello, Daemon, how may I help you?" He inquired with a polite smile.

"Yes, I'm here to see Alexander," I replied, trying my best to sound confident.

"Certainly, please come in," the butler said, stepping aside to let me enter.

When I finally met Alexander in one of the lavish living rooms, his initial response did not surprise me. He greeted me with a dismissive attitude and seemed more interested in showing off his family's wealth than in catching up with a friend.

"Listen, Alexander, I am leaving this city two weeks later because my father got a transfer. Even though you didn't like me, you stayed friends with me till now, even though nobody else wanted it. I am very thankful for that," I said to him, bowing a little. Even though he was an asshole, he never bullied me.

"What! So suddenly, why didn't you tell me before?" He said it in a slightly shocked tone, his arrogant demeanour momentarily dropping. I was shocked at his words. I thought he was my friend only to mock me, but today I could hear concern in his voice as well.

"I also got news today, so I came to inform you that my parents will leave after two days, and due to exams, I will leave in two weeks," I told him as he grew silent. He came closer to me.

"I... I wanted to apologise; I was mostly a jerk all the time, even though you didn't do anything, but before you leave, I want to make sure you leave with no grudges, "he said, bowing a little. I was shocked that Alexander Sterling, an arrogant kid who always loves to brag, was bowing to me. I was confused, so I asked Damien.

[There is nothing much to think about; he is just a brat who wanted an outlet for his frustration because of his family issues, and he found you, but in the course of time he grew attached to you, and now you are leaving suddenly, which compelled him to face his true feelings about you.] Damien explained in detail.

'And how do you know about it?' I asked him. 

[Don't ask me] he said, and as he ignited my follow up questions. 

I grabbed him by his shoulder, looked at him, and said, "Raise your head Alexander there is no need to apologize," as I decided to forgive him. 

After that, we toured his mansion again and played a little. Lucas also came between us, and I was able to learn that he was a genuine asshole who wanted Alexander to be only his friend because of money.

I could read it in his eyes as he looked at me with jealous eyes.

Eventually it was already night, and I decided to go home, bid farewell to Alexander, and promise to play with him a little in these two weeks.

After I returned home, dinner was already prepared. During dinner

"Son, sleep early tonight because William and I have to go to the market early in the morning, and we will wake you up early so you can take care of the house," my mom instructed as we ate food.

During dinner, I listened to my parents discussing their plans for the early morning market run. The responsibility of taking care of the house and studying while they were away rested on my shoulder, and I nodded in understanding.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly," I replied with a reassuring smile.

As we continued our meal, my mind kept drifting back to the events of the day. The ups and downs with Alexander and the revelation about Lucas left me with mixed emotions. However, I chose to focus on the positive aspects of my impending trip to Aunt Meera's house and my new life in the new city.

After dinner, I helped my mom clean up the kitchen and prepare everything for the next day's early start. As we worked together, she shared some wise words with me.

"Daemon, these next two weeks may be challenging, being away from home and your family. But remember, it's also an opportunity to experience new things and grow. Embrace this time with an open heart and mind," she said, giving me a reassuring hug. I was genuinely happy with my mom's affection.

The next morning, my parents left early for the market, and I took charge of the house. I made sure everything was in order and attended to any tasks that needed attention. Despite their absence, I didn't feel alone because Damien was with me. Rather than living alone, I felt a sense of independence and responsibility as I managed the household.

As the day progressed, I tried to keep myself busy, engaging in various activities and hobbies to pass the time. My excitement about the upcoming trip to Preeti's house helped alleviate the little sadness of leaving home...