Chapter 138: Extraordinary

The gang woke up the next day feeling really good about themselves.

Granted they didn’t know why, they could only attribute it to having had a really good time yesterday, and perhaps a sense of excitement that came with knowing they would be getting their funds today.

Having filled in the new bank details of Crashout Interactive amidst all their shenanigans yesterday, Aiden was expectant of the alert coming in anytime from today till tomorrow.

In any case,

"I feel great!" Larry flexed both of his slightly lanky biceps as Aiden walked into the house.

"I bet you do." the coal-haired youth humorously commented.

"I’m telling you man. This sleep, definitely hit different!" Larry nodded his head in satisfaction as he caught his reflection in the LED screen whilst adding;

"And dare I say, I look goooood~... though we all know that’s the morning effect."

’If only you knew, buddy. That effect’s there to stay.’ Aiden lightly chuckled to himself.

Clyde, however, threw a pillow at the lanky youth, the fluffy thing bonking off his head.

"Oi!" Larry slowly turned to face him, and Clyde dismissively roasted him;

"You’re worse than an alarm clock and your imitation’s even worser."

"Right out the gate, huh? You literally just woke up." Larry couldn’t help but remark in response.

Ignoring him as a smirk lingered on his features, Clyde turned his attention to Aiden, his eyes a bit puffy as he squinted at the youth whom had just come back from his morning run;

"How are you always up so early?"

At the same time, his hand was searching for his glasses case on the small stool next to him, his hand missing it a couple times before finally latching onto it.

"My cardio demands it." Aiden shrugged in response as he made his way into the kitchen.

There, an already awake Benjamin had just switched on the electric kettle with a yawn, while his Pops whom was already neatly dressed poured himself some coffee into a mug and greeted warmly;

"Mornin’, Champ. Waiting on you."

"Morning, Pops. I’ll be ready soon. Trust." Aiden replied with a warm smile as he opened the fridge to retrieve the overnight oats.

Casper’s hand casually slipped in out of nowhere to retrieve a jug of milk, alongside the jar of pickles.

’Da hell kinda combination is that?!’ Aiden’s gaze narrowed.

Swiftly, he slapped Casper’s hand away, and the blonde-haired youth raised his hands in defeat;

"Okay, okay. I deserved that."

He had woken up much earlier to work on his novel--around the same time Aiden had to be specific--so none of the morning fog was getting to him at this point.

Not that it stopped him from muttering afterwards;

"Still a helicopter mummy though."

Aiden whipped a spatula from the counter and whacked him with it!

"Hey! I was just--"

Aiden whacked him again!

"Alright, alright! Chill, bro! Chill!"

Richard shook his head in amusement, as did Benjamin, while Clyde and Larry moved towards the kitchen to check what was up.

Soon enough, they got the general gist of things and found themselves eliciting the same reaction as Aiden’s Pops and their chubby buddy.

A few minutes after, the overnight oats were ready, everyone passing the toppings around as Theo shuffled into the kitchen while rubbing his bleary eyes.

Still, he eased onto the last stool by the counter, his eyes blinking slowly to clear the morning fog as he continued booting up.

Then he raised his gaze up to meet everyone’s and waved with a polite greeting;

"Morning everyone."

In sync, they all individually reciprocated with greetings of their own, one that was followed by a comfortable silence as they resumed eating.

A bit later, Aiden made his way to his room, stepped into the bathroom and scrubbed himself clean, put on some of his nicest yet comfortable clothes afterwards, then made his way downstairs again.

All under ten minutes.

Currently scrolling through his feed, Richard pocketed his device the moment his son arrived as he asked;

"Ready?"

"As I’ll ever be," Aiden replied with a curt nod.

"Alright then. Let’s head out." Richard turned around to leave and Aiden trailed behind him.

"Hey, Aiden?" Casper softly called out just before the youth stepped out the door.

"Yeah?" he turned to face not just him, but also the rest of the gang, all of whom wore sincere smiles as the blonde-haired youth spoke;

"Tell your mom we said hello, yeah? And... that we’re grateful to her for raising such a great guy."

For a brief moment, Aiden simply stared at him, caught off guard by the unexpected sincerity. Then, a small smile found its way onto his face;

"I will. Thanks, guys."

"Don’t mention it." Casper waved it off.

With that, Aiden stepped out the door and slipped into his Pops’ vehicle.

The drive over to Green-Wood Cemetery was quiet, father and son seemingly mulling over what to say once they reached her tombstone.

On the way, they branched by a flower store to purchase her favorite flowers--moth and cattleya orchids.

Soon enough, they’d arrived at the cemetery. Unsurprisingly, the place was a quiet as one would expect, save for the occasional, families, friends and loved one that came to pay their respects.

A little procession was also ongoing, the bereaved and grief-stricken individuals in black attires standing in wait as the priest read the prayers, his voice carrying softly across the grounds as he led them through the final rites for their departed loved one.

Within a couple of minutes of walking along the pathways, their movements guided by familiarity, the duo soon came face to face with the tombstone.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

Richard simply stood there, his gaze fixed on the engraved name, a familiar ache settling in his chest as memories of the woman he’d loved came rushing back.

Beside him, Aiden remained equally silent, his eyes tracing the letters carved into the stone that had become his guiding principle.

-

In loving memory of;

Leilianna North,

{1979 – 2015}

Always try to nice, but never fail to be kind.

-

A gentle breeze swept through the cemetery, rustling the leaves overhead as father and son stood before the final resting place of the woman who had once been the heart of their little family.

And though they had come much earlier last year to visit, Aiden and his Pops had figured that it would be best if they did it later this year, when it was nearing his time to leave for college.

For a moment, neither seemed quite certain of what to say though.

Afterall, no matter how much time had passed, there were still some absences that words could never quite fill.

Letting out a deep breath, Aiden slowly lowered to a knee before the tombstone whilst placing the flowers in the same motion.

Then he spoke, a bittersweet smile on his lips;

"Hey, Mum,"

"It’s been a minute..."

"...and yes, you’ll be glad to know that I’ve been eating healthy, and I’ve kept your husband away from some of his more... unhealthy habits." Aiden added, and Richard chuckled quietly behind him.

"The gang also sends their regards. Though you never got to meet them, I know you would’ve loved them all."

For a brief while, words failed the youth after that.

Still, he pushed on with another deep breath;

"A lot has happened since we last came by, and I mean a whole lot,"

"I kickstarted an indie studio with my buddies, got with a girl worth fighting for, graduated high school, landed a college scholarship, opened a beverage business..."

"I’ve also learnt a lot more about you in that span of time... and I intend to open up an art gallery in your memory..." he added and Richard was genuinely surprised to hear it.

Yet, his surprise quickly morphed into warmth as he wiped the bead of tears pooling on his eyelids while his son quietly continued;

"I just wish you were here to see it."

Brushing away the dry leaves that had settled onto the tombstone, Aiden eyes turned a bit teary as he softly said;

"I miss you, every day,"

"But I know you would’ve wanted me... us, to keep going forward nonetheless." he added with a deeply affectionate gaze.

"So that’s what we’ll do, and I know that you’ll keep watching from high up with love in your heart as well." Aiden concluded as he rose to his feet.

Stepping back to stand side-by-side with his father, Aiden watched as the man stepped forward a moment after, placing his flowers on her grave and giving his own heartfelt words.

Through it all, Aiden listened, a light chuckle escaping him when his father--much like he had--said something humorous pertaining to him.

Soon enough, the man was done as he rose to his feet as well.

For yet another long while, father and son lingered before the tombstone, a poignant air settling between them.

Then, with a quick glance to one another, they decided it was time they left.

With a sense of reluctancy, they began moving away, Richard assuredly patting his son by the shoulder as he drew him in by slinging an arm across it.

Aiden simply allowed the interaction to happen, a warm smile settling on his features as they walked further way.

However, Aiden suddenly felt an indescribable, almost extraordinary pull towards his mother’s tombstone he couldn’t quite put into words.

One that prompted him to whip his head over in its direction... only for his gaze to widen in stunned disbelief.

Standing right before his mother’s grave, was none other than the strange old man whom had given him his family heirloom, the sage placing the most beautiful flower Aiden had ever seen before it.

Then, his gaze drifted over towards Aiden and he flashed him a brief grin, the placed a finger over his lips in a secretive gesture.

Then he vanished into thin air.