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21: Box

Chapter 21: BOX

"I'm spending the weekend in my friend's place." I said to mom. We were watching a movie while waiting for dad to arrive.

"Friend or girlfriend?" She grinned and I chuckled.

"You of all people know I don't have one."

"Why? You're my son. You're handsome. I used to have a lot of boyfriends when I was still in your age." She said and I smiled.

"I just don't want to have a girlfriend, they're just a headache."

"Are you saying girls are a headache?"

"No, I mean the relationship. I'm fine on my own." What's the deal being single? And I don't like anybody else yet.

"But its still nice going out with someone." She really insist.

"I don't have time for that."

"And you have a lot of time for your friends."

"Because they're friends."

Friend would never leave you and you got to stay friends until the end. No break ups.

"Are you going with Albert?"

"No. I'll be with Hal."

Her face lit up when she heard Hal's name making me frown. "Oh, that handsome man?"

"That tall man." I said and she smiled at me. It was creepy.

"Are you going out?"

"Mom!" I exclaimed and my body betrayed me when I felt my cheeks heating up.

"What? I was just asking. Don't sound so guilty."

"I'm not. I'm going to bed." I should go before mom will try to harass me even more. I quickly went to my room upstairs and locked the door. I checked my phone for some messages or maybe missed calls but none. I threw my phone to the bed and then myself.

"It's not like I'm waiting for your text or call." I said and closed my eyes to sleep.

**

I think Hal forgot or maybe I was just too excited. Maybe he would come and get me tonight.

"What am I thinking?" I scratched my head after plugging my phone. I felt so bothered about Hal not contacting me after asking if I was free this weekend and said that he wanted to hangout with me.

I wanted to sulk and I didn't know why I felt like that. I was going crazy. I wanted to run around the room and stomp like a kid. I stood up and I was about to go out when I heard my phone that was plugged, rung. My hand was trembling when I read that it was Hal calling and I answered it.

"Hey." I greeted.

"Good morning." I couldn't help but smile but I fought it even though no one could see me smiling. "Are you busy?" He asked.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm free the whole weekend?" I heard him chuckled.

"I'm picking you in your house two PM." He said and I looked at the time on my phone. I still have four hours to kill.

"Okay." I said.

I felt like I don't know. I couldn't explain it but I was sure that it was the first time I felt something like this to someone.

I laid back on the bed and I never daydreamed but it was my first time doing it. I wanted to smack myself but I was too happy do it. I sat up and picked my phone when I heard the notification tone. It was a message from Hal and I couldn't hold myself from feeling happy.

Can't wait to see you.

"Idiot." I muttered and stood up before I rolled again on the bed and let my happiness drown me.

**

I went down because I felt hungry and mom was sitting on the couch, watching some Korean drama, if I wasn't mistaken. "What are you watching?" I asked and sat on the couch also.

"Legend of the Blue Sea. My young co-workers were talking about this."

I nodded. "You act like a teenager."

"I am." She said and I chuckled.
"I thought you're going out?"

"Later." I also watched the drama with her because I have nothing to do and I forgot that I was hungry.
"What are they doing?"

They were placing a black plastic bag on their face while watching a sad drama and start crying. Mom explained that they are mermaids and they were doing it to produce tears because it turns into pearls. I didn't know that mermaid's tears turns into pearls. I just nodded and remembered about Hal and his pearls. I chuckled thinking that he maybe a mermaid.

I watched the rest of the episode with my mom and we were laughing like crazy. The woman was crazy.

"This reminds me of your grandma. She really loved them that she collected a lot of mermaid books and speaking about your grandma." She turned to me. "I was cleaning the storage room below the stairs and saw the box that she gave to you."

"Really?" I felt excited. I've been looking for that thing since forever.

"I placed it on top of the books but I can't open it. It's locked in an odd way."

I stood up immediately and went to the storage room below the stairs. I never went there because I think I am going to have asthma because of the dust but since mom cleaned it already, I guess it would he safe.

I immediately saw the box that mom was talking about and I didn't expect it to look like that. It wasn't that big yet it wasn't that small also and it was made of wood and carved with old intricate designs and a lock. I grabbed the box and went out of the room.

"I'm taking this to my room." I said to mom and she just nodded.

I sat on my study and placed the box on the table, scanning it carefully. It looked simple yet beautiful and what intrigued me was the lock. It doesn't composed of numbers but characters. It looked like Chinese character as I rolled the three parts of the lock.

"What the hell is the combination?" I muttered. I didn't remember grandma telling me the combination. I even forgot what the box looked like so I didn't expect myself to recall any password if ever grandma told me.

I pulled my phone and opened Google. I searched for Chinese characters and looked for similar characters that was on the lock and I found out that those were numbers.

I familiarized the characters and tried to guess it until I gave up and just looked at the box. I felt so curious what was inside.

******