CHAPTER SIX
2014 Words
A week later, at the airport,
"Don't leave." Crescent's friend, Mike, threw a tantrum like a toddler.
"It's time for me to return home." Crescent smiled.
"I'm going to miss you so much!" Mike said, hugging Crescent.
"I, too, will miss you." Crescent laughed softly.
Mike could barely keep a straight face as he spoke with Crescent, who was about to depart. They were currently at the airport. Mike was there to see Crescent off.
"You better keep in touch, okay?" Mike asked, breaking the hug.
Crescent nodded and smiled. "I absolutely will," he said.
"This is the final boarding call for the passengers booked on flight 257B to America. Please proceed to gate 2 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately five minutes' time. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for the passengers. Thank you."
Crescent and Mike, who were saying their goodbyes, were drawn to the announcement. Mike was even more upset by the announcement because it reminded him that Crescent had to leave soon now.
Crescent forced a smile and replied, "I have to go now."
"Yeah." Mike replied meekly, without looking Crescent in the eyes, since he didn't want Crescent to see him crying.
Crescent grinned to himself as he realized how difficult it was for Mike to say goodbye.
For the final time, Crescent drew Mike into a quick hug.
Crescent hurriedly said his goodbyes to his friend and proceeded to the terminal.
Crescent checked his boarding pass after hearing the announcement, but just as he was about to switch his phone to flight mode, he received a call from the caller ID saying "Mom."
As he picked up his phone, Crescent smiled at himself.
"When are you landing?" As soon as he picked up the call, his mother impatiently asked. Before Crescent could speak, he could hear his mom's excitement at seeing her beloved only son.
"Let me board on the plane first." Crescent chuckled,
"How much longer? I can't wait to see you." Hearing his mother, Crescent sighed.
"I'll miss my flight if you don't hang up, and you'll have to wait another 14 hours. Is that all right?" Crescent asked, sarcastically.
"No! I'm going to put the phone down." His mother said hurriedly.
Crescent laughed at his mom's impatience.
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A few hours later,
In New York,
Crescent finally landed in New York. He took a deep breath when he landed in his homeland. It's been three years since then.
He smiled a little to himself as he realized he would be seeing his family after such a long period. However, he grimaced somewhat the next instant he remembered why he had left his homeland. His departure was motivated by a certain someone from his past whom he wished to forget.
The smile on his face quickly disappeared as he realized he needed to brace himself for the worst because there was a good chance he'd run into the person he hated.
Crescent was lost in his thoughts when he heard a male voice calling out to him. Crescent snapped out his thoughts when the familiar male drew his attention.
"Sir?" The person before Crescent asked. The person was his father's manager, Ralph Walter.
"Please don't call me that, uncle." Crescent said embarrassedly, "You know I'll always be the same little kid to you."
"The young master I knew was a happy child with a smile as bright as the sun." Ralph Walter said, "But I don't see him, what I see before me is a stranger."
Crescent sighed, smiling bitterly as he grasped what Ralph was talking about, "I changed a bit, I guess." He said.
"Not just A BIT." Ralph said, correcting Crescent, "You changed a lot."
"You sure have a lot of complaints." Crescent laughed a little. Anyways, I'm back home," he said.
"Welcome back." Crescent's father's manager greeted him with a smile as Crescent nodded his head.
"Your parents had to rush off to a meeting, but they'll be back in a few hours. So they have asked me to assist you." The man in his late thirties adjusted his glasses.
"Understood," Crescent replied.
The manager walked Crescent towards the car and opened the door for him. Crescent got inside.
"And your parents have asked me to inform you that there is a party tonight, so you must attend with them dressed appropriately."
The manager said as he sat near the driver's seat in the front of the car, Crescent in the backseat.
"Thank you for informing," Crescent replied.
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In the evening at Hart Villa,
"And, that's it." Crescent looked pleased with himself in the mirror as he prepared for the party he'd been invited to.
"Are you prepared? My Gosh, my son looks so handsome!" A middle-aged lady with a sweet smile walked in admiring him.
"You look lovely, Mom." Crescent kissed his mother's hands as the lady smiled at him, complimenting her.
"It's wonderful to see you right in front of my eyes; I've missed you for the past three years." Crescent's mother, Fay Hart smiled, relieved to have her son finally beside her. Crescent, on the other hand, offered his mother a sour look because he couldn't explain why he had kept himself isolated from everyone for those few years.
Crescent couldn't forget his bitter memories no matter how hard he tried. He went through a lot of things; a painful past and especially a horrible ending.
"I'm here right now, mom, and I'm not going anywhere." Crescent's voice was low, since he had decided to restart his life rather than run away from his troubles.
"You are really here, right?" Crescent's mother cupped Crescent's cheek. Her eyes were glistening with tears.
"I'm really here." Crescent smiled a little as he assured his mother.
"And there you have it, you two." Crescent's father, Richard Hart, a man in his mid-50s, smiled as he stood leaning against the door.
"Dad!" Crescent exclaimed happily as his father walked over and patted his shoulder.
"You've grown so much, enough to let go of your lavish lifestyle and decide to get on your own feet." Richard Hart said with a big smile on his face. Crescent smiled as he heard his father's words because he yearned to change his old self.
Crescent Hart, Age 24.
His mother used to be a model, and his father owns a real estate firm that is presently ranked second in the city.
Crescent comes from a well-to-do family, blessed with both excellent beauty and fortune. He lacks nothing except himself, which he has lost through the years.
"Now that you've finished your education, have you made up your mind about what you want to do?" Crescent's father, Richard Hart, questioned. "You know, we will support your choice no matter what it is, right?"
Crescent took a tough stance after hearing his father. "Isn't that obvious? I will succeed your company." he said with a smile. "It's about time I gave my hardworking dad a break,"
His parents exchanged glances as they saw their mature son standing before them. Who'd have guessed that such a carefree and fun-loving young man could have changed so much?
"My son is all grown up." Richard Hart smiled, but it was a forced smile. He sincerely wished Crescent would act like the spoiled pampered child he had always been.
His parents loved him more than anything, so when their son asked to move abroad for studies three years ago, they knew it would be difficult for him to adjust because he had lived an extravagant life his entire life, but they understood their son had something going on in his life that he needed to take care of himself.
And they agreed to let him.
They can't express how joyful it made them see their only son in front of them again, but seeing this changed version of their son, they were prudent enough not to inquire as to what had happened, realizing that there are some things parents should leave to their children to handle on their own.
"Well, since we're all set, how about we get started?" When his father asked, the other two agreed.
They walked all the way outside the house to the car.
"I feel like driving you guys myself, so if you both could please grant me the honor, that would be great." Crescent's father asked and Crescent extended his hand and his mother took it.
Crescent's father started the car.
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In the car,
Crescent stared out the windows, peering at the streets, while Mr. Hart drove. It has been a long time. He was unsure if everything had remained the same.
Mrs. Hart, on the other hand, noticed that her son lacked interest. "Is everything okay?" she asked Crescent, who was staring at a blank space distractedly.
When Mrs. Hart inquired Crescent. He responded with a nod.
He noticed his parents' unhappy expressions as they realized their son wasn't as lively as he used to be, so he struck up a solo conversation to distract them.
"So, what's up, dad? What's going on at the office?" Crescent asked.
"Oh, everything is so lovely. But as you said, it's past time for me to step down so that the next in line can take over." Mr. Hart replied happily.
Crescent knew that his father had actually intended for him to take over the company. But since Crescent's father, Richard Hart, valued Crescent's choices more, he never pressured Crescent.
"You will not be dissatisfied," Crescent said confidently.
"That's my boy." His father's eyes gleamed with pride.
"So, where are we going?" Crescent questioned as they circled a familiar street. A thought seemed to cross his mind but he quickly shook it away. Surely it can't be what he's thinking right?
But to Crescent's surprise, his mother answered the question with the most unexpected answer, "To your Uncle Daniel's house. Since it's the reunion, they've thrown a little get-together." Mrs. Hart answered happily.
Crescent's mother's response left Crescent dumbfounded, "WHAT?!" Crescent yelled out in disbelief. His face had turned almost as pale as a ghost's, and he was left totally speechless for a second.
Crescent's unusual reaction drew the attention of both his parents, who were confused as to why their son was behaving this way.
"D-Daniel Uncle, as in Daniel Elrod?" Crescent inquired just to be sure, to which his mother replied with a little laugh.
"How many Uncle Daniels do you know?" Mrs. Hart asked.
"Is everything okay?" Richard Hart anxiously asked his son.
"Uh, no." Crescent answered nervously, "I'm fine. I just got a bit excited. I haven't been there in so long, right?" He had an awkward laugh.
"Silly boy." Mrs. Hart sighed exhaustedly, "You had us scared."
It was only a matter of time until the car crossed the massive gates, from where Crescent could see the vague sight of the magnificent castle-like structure and it didn't take Crescent very long to notice that he was finally at the Elrod Mansion. When their car entered the Elrod Mansion, Crescent felt his insides twisting into a knot, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Let's go." Crescent's mother's voice snapped Crescent out of his thoughts and Crescent finally realized that he was standing in front of the mansion.
Crescent got out of the car and silently followed his parents as they walked down the path towards the entrance.
The three of them entered the mansion, where there were staff waiting to assist them.
"Greetings." One of the servants at the entrance courteously bowed before the Hart family.
Richard Hart and Fay Hart nodded politely, walking forward while Crescent was still lost in his thoughts.
"f**k me!" Crescent muttered under his breath, cursing his luck.
Why, of all places, the Elrod Mansion?
No, why didn't he inquire about his parents' plans earlier?
He could have just called in sick; there were so many possibilities fluttering through his mind that he could have been in, instead of being there.
- Writer
