-Kuori-
I walked home and there really wasn’t anything happening on the streets. Some kids were playing hopscotch on the sidewalk and a couple of middle schoolers were playing two on two basketball. ‘This town is so quiet, it’s actually pretty nice.’ I thought. I walked into the house and went into the kitchen mom was in there making cookies. I could smell it in the hall when I walked into the house.
“Hey I’m back.” I said sitting down.
“Oh your father called when you were taking Miyuki home he said that he has to go out of town for a week. “ My mom stated.
“Business conference again?” I offered.
She nodded then looked over her shoulder at the oven.
“What’s wrong?” I asked and she shook her head.
“It’s nothing.” She told me.
“Mom, you usually only bake sweets when your worried about something. Don’t get me wrong I love it when you do make sweets but tell me what’s wrong.” I said.
“I’m just worried that something bad is going to happen.” She sighed.
“Mom every time that dad has to go out of town for a conference you always think that something bad is going to happen then he comes home and he’s fine.” I smiled I went to go to my room when mom took my hand.
“Kuori I have something to tell you.” She said.
“What is it?” I asked sitting back down.
“Rashi is not your real father. Your real father died in a car accident when you were little.” My mom told me and I stood there staring at her.
I couldn’t do anything. I just stood there with a blank expression on my face. ‘So this entire time…I haven’t known my real father?’
“Kuori, sweetie talk to me, are you okay?” My mom asked and I snapped out of the trance that I was in.
“I-I think that I need to go and lay down for a while.” I muttered and my mom let my hand slip from hers and I went to my room and fell onto my bed. ‘Mom…why didn’t you tell me? That makes since that I don’t look like him at all and people keep telling me that I look more like my mother…but why didn’t mom tell me sooner?’ I laid there and stared at the ceiling. I head the beeping of the oven saying that the cookies were done. ‘It makes since now why mom is always worried when dad has to go out of town for a business conference. Well he’s not really my dad.’
“Sweetie…” My mom said quietly and she walked into my room. The aroma of the freshly baked cookies filled my room. “I brought you some cookies.” I heard her set them down on my desk and then she sat on my bed. Started running her fingers through my hair and playing with it. “You got your fathers hair, and the curse.” My mom laughed a little.
“People always told me that I looked more like you then dad, well I guess I understand that now.” I replied no moving from my spot and I let her keep playing with my hair.
“We moved here after your father died. And a few months after we were moved in I met Rashi. Because you were still little when ever he came over you called him dad. You grew on him so fast that he couldn’t stand to let you grow up without a father so we got married. I’ll admit that he’s not as good looking as your father though.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner though?” I asked.
“Because I just didn’t know when was the right time to tell you. You’ll always be my little boy. You look so much like your father now that you’re older.” She laughed a little “You know one day when Miyuki’s mother and I were doing our usual walk together she told me that she thinks you and Miyuki should go out.”
A small smile spread across my lips “It wouldn’t happen mom.” I commented.
“And why do you say that?” She smirked.
“Because we’re best friends and we just don’t feel that way towards each other.” I answered.
“You say that now but if your as smooth a talker as your father was I’m sure that you’ll steal that sweet girls heart.” My face turned red.
“Mother!!” I laughed a bit.
“It’s the truth.” She smiled and messed up my hair “I love you Kuori.” She said kissing my forehead.
“Love you too mom.” I replied and my mom stood up and closed my door as she left. ‘Wait she said something about the curse.’ I thought and got up really fast and ran out of my room. “Mom.” I said and she was in the kitchen again this time she was trying to get down a measuring cup from one of the upper shelves.
“Yes sweetie.” She said.
I walked over and got it down and handed it to her. “Mom you said something about the curse.”
“Thank you, and yes your father’s side of the family was the one with the curse. I told you this before.” She mentioned.
“I know, I know but did dad have the curse?” I asked.
“No he didn’t. But the interesting thing was is that his twin sister your aunt Aia did.” I blinked at her.
“You mean Taisuke’s mom had the curse but dad didn’t.” I stated. “But if they were twins that doesn’t make any since. Shouldn’t dad have gotten the curse too?”
“No necessarily hun, your father explained it to me. He said that only one person in the family has it at a time and when the generation with the curse has a child then the curse is passed on to the next generation.” She explained.
“But Taisuke was born before I was so why didn’t he get the curse?” I questioned.
“Maybe it was because technically you two are twins.” She commented. “Pass me the flour.”
I handed her the flour “No we’re not we were born eleven months apart how can we be twins?” I asked.
“Irish twins hun. They are two people in the same family that’s born eleven months apart.” She answered.
“Oh okay then.” I blinked. “Anyways is that why I got it and not him?” I asked.
“Yes.” She smiled “And when did you tell dad that your side of the family was a bunch of thieves?” I smirked.
“I told him when we got engaged.” She answered.
“Well at least you told him. I thought you were going to say that you never told him.” I answered and handed her whatever he pointed to.
“We decided to be completely open with each other before we got married. Your father was hoping that you wouldn’t be the one with the curse but you usually don’t find out until the child is older.” She said mixing all the ingredients in the bowl.
“But dad could never find out because of the car accident.” I said connecting the stories.
“Right and when I finally told Rashi about the curse was when you were about 8.”
“And obviously he took it well considering that he’s still here.” I answered.
“Yea he was fine with it.” She smiled.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I jumped.
“What’s wrong?” My mom asked.
“My phone is vibrating.” I replied and she laughed a little.
“Go ahead and talk to Mi.” She smiled and I pulled out my phone and slid it open.
It was Miyuki and I looked at my mom with a questioning look. “How did you know it was her?” I asked.
“I know things.” She waved her hand at me. “Now go and have fun.”
I opened the text then looked up at mom. “She says hi.” I relayed the message.
“Tell her I said hi back.” I nodded and walked out of the room.
Mom says hi
Okay. So how have you been?
I’ve been doing alright
Are you feeling any better
Yes mother
lol very funny
I’m just saying
So anything new?
Well…
Well what?
I found out that my dad really isn’t my dad
Wait what do you mean
I mean my real dad died in a care crash when I was really little
Do you want me to come over?
No it’s alright. I’ll ask my mom if I come over to your house. I’m sure that mom wants me to take you some cookies anyways.
Oh is she worried again
Yep
I like her cooking
I know also I think she’s making a funfettie cake
Really oh you should bring that over
Really?
YES I love funfettie cake
No you just want it for the homemade frosting you hate cake
You caught me
I caught you I know you every time my mom made cupcakes you would steal all my frosting
Lol oh yea good times
So I’ll just grab some cookies and tell my mom that I’m heading over there.
Sounds good to me
I know it does it means that you get food
Without having to bake damn straight
Is it alright with your parents if I come over?
Oh yea it’s fine
Okay I was just wondering was all
You could walk in here use the bathroom and walk out without my parents even noticing that you were here
I know. Well I’ll be over in a bit
Alright take your time
Okay I slid my phone closed and stuck it back in my pocket.
“Mom is it alright if I go over to Mi’s for a bit?” I knew that she would say yes but I wanted to ask anyways to more tell her where I was going.
“Of course you can hun. You know you don’t have to ask.” She said and she got out a big freezer bag and stuck a backers dozen of cookies in the bag. “Take these over to them when you go.”
“You always make so much.” I laughed a little taking the bag.
“I know but it makes them happy when they get my cooking.” She smiled. “Now you go and have some fun.”
I got my shoes on and left for Miyuki’s house again for the second time today. I knew it was late but my mom knew I would be home before eleven.
