What if?

Chapter 20: Lights

Nick

Mom has a really good heart. She made sense when she said that we should call them helpers not maids. My admiration for mom even went up after she said that. The helpers, Maria, Leonora and Theresa have these good aura. This makes me think that they may have a good attitude. I have been in this house for some days but I didn’t have the chance to talk with them that much. I hope that we will have a good relationship with each other.

Michael was right, I give him praise knowing that mom will introduce us to the helpers. I mean, how could he know that? “Michael, how do you know that mom will introduce us to each other?” I went to Michael’s direction, sitting on the sofa while playing with my phone. “I just can feel it.” Michael paused his game and answered my question. “Wow! That’s a skill you know?” I said to Michael. “I know, and I am definitely proud of this skill.” Michael replied proud fully. Pfft! So full of himself. “Fine.” I replied because I really think he is though.

“What time is it?” I asked myself because mom and dad went upstairs after mom introduced us to the helpers. Also the helpers are here at our sides on the sofa now. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that the time is now almost 6 pm which is the time that we will start watching. “Hey, what movie do you think mom and dad will pick?” I asked Michael. Since Michael knows his parents more than anyone inside this house. I didn’t know what movie yet and I am really curious now. Besides, if they pick horror, I will not be able to watch it because I don’t like horror. I used to see that on our neighborhood in the past the horror movies and I can’t stand the background music that is so chilling and the shoutings of the leads. If they are going to pick horror movies, it will be my end. 

“I don’t know what the title is but I think it will be horror.” Michael said while playing on his phone. “What?! Ugh!” I exclaimed as soon as I heard Michael’s answer. “Why? Do you like horror?” Michael paused what he was playing and put down his phone on the sofa and said. “Who likes horror at this age?” I replied to Michael. “Me and maybe some more people except you and others I think?” Michael answered. “Whatever Michael, I think I will not be able to watch it.” I replied to Michael.”Well, you have to Nick, you will ruin the night if you won’t.” Michael said.

What Michael just said is right. If I don't watch it will ruin the rest of the night. Besides, Mom and dad prepared all of this because they wanted to bond with the both of us. But wait, it is still not yet said that we will watch a horror movie. Mom and Dad wouldn’t do that since they know that we are with them and we are still young to watch such movies. I think Michael is playing with me again. “I don’t think they are going to choose a horror movie for us to watch.” I said to Michael. “Oh really?” Michael replied in an annoying voice. He likes to play like this. “Well yeah. Let’s see about it. Wanna bet?” I asked Michael with a confident voice. “No. That’s bad.” Michael replied, trying to neglect the bet that I asked him. “You just don’t want to lose.” I irritated him more. “I’m not.” He replied shortly. “Then bet.” I replied to Michael. “Fine, what are we going to bet?” Michael replied. “I want you not to sleep in my room when mom and dad are not allowed for a week.” I answered Michael’s question. 

Let’s see how he will react to this. He likes sleeping in my room and I never liked it since I can’t sleep well whenever he is in my bedroom. “Fine. But if they will watch you need to let me watch in your bedroom for the whole week, even mom and dad are here.” Michael replied. I smiled a little when he said that. “It is agreed then. Shake my hand.” I said to Michael as I offered my hand to him to shake. He then shaked my hand. I like it when he is being obedient.

I heard steps on the stairs so I turned to look at it. Mom and dad are on their way here to the living room. They are both wearing violet sleepwear. Both of them have the same color. It is somehow cute because they look good with each other. As mom and dad are getting closer to us I noticed that the violet sleep wears that they are wearing are velvets, just like what Michael and I are wearing now. “That’s velvet too.” I said as they finally are together with us here in the living room. “That’s correct!” Mom said and sat on the sofa. I looked at dad to see his reaction but he just smiled and also sat on the sofa. 

What Michael and my guess was true. Maybe mom and dad planned to let us dress like this so we can be more like a family. “We planned to buy these clothes for us, isn’t it cute?” Mom asked the both of us. “No it isn’t.” Michael replied. I neglected Michael’s answer as if I did not hear him. “I like it.” I answered mom's question. I don’t know why I like it but I just like it, you know the fact that they prepared something like this just makes my heart melt. 

“Yay! I feel so good that Nick likes it. For you Michael, I didn’t even think about good feedback coming from you because you always have negative feedback from you.” Mom said and pouted as soon as she finished her statement. “I like it also mom. Don’t care about Michael, he just doesn't like sweet things.” Dad said to mom. “I don’t even know where he got that attitude.” Mom replied. “From dad.” Michael replied to mom. “Whatever!” Mom replied. “HAHAHA” Dad laughed. I think Michael did get it from dad because dad is like that in the past, well, that is what Michael said to me. 

“Dad stop it. It is because of you.” Mom said to Dad while softly slapping dad’s chest. “Well honey I changed because of you. When Michael will grow up, he will find someone that will change him too.” Dad said to Mom while holding mom's hand to stop her from slapping dad’s chest. “Yieeee!!!” The helpers shouted. I think they are shippers. They like mom and dad. I just smiled because they really do look so sweet together. “Ew! Let’s watch now. I don’t like what I am seeing now.” Michael on my side. he really like dropping the environment’s good energy. 

We all turned to look at Michael when he said that. “Ugh! Let’s choose a movie then.” Mom replied. Dad turned on the tv and mom started to look for a movie to watch. She first entered an application where you can watch a movie then started to look for movies. “What kind of movie do you want to watch?” Mom asked openly. “We are going to watch whatever you choose madam.” Maria answered. I think she is the spokesperson of their group. In my case I just stayed silent. “Horror.” Michael answered mom’s question. Mom looked at Michael. “Okay then let’s watch… COMEDY.” Mom answered. 

When mom finally chose what movie I almost laughed out loud. But of course I can’t do that because that is embarrassing to do so I giggled and hid my laugh inside. “What? Mom, I want to watch horror.” Michael said. Gosh! He is just so competitive. “No. We can’t watch that, look at Nick and also the other people that will watch together with us. Think of other people too.” Mom replied to Michael. After Mom finished her statement, Michael started to look at the people around. He looked at me as the last one. I smiled and gave him an annoying face. “Fine.” Michael answered. 

Michael’s face is so funny. “Hey! Told you. Mom will not choose a horror movie and I know that you know that too but a while ago you were just trying to make fun of me. So now, you got what you wanted. Karma serves so well.” I said to Michael. “Ugh!” Michael exclaimed. I giggled after hearing him getting annoyed. 

“Okay I will choose this movie.” Mom said as she clicked the movie. The movie title that she chose was HOME ALONE. I heard about this movie. They said that this is a very funny movie and the story is about a young boy. “Nick, have you heard about this movie before?” Michael asked me. “Yeah. But I never got the chance to watch it. You?” I asked Michael. “Yeah I heard a lot about this movie but never got a chance to watch it too.” Michael replied. So he also hasn't watched this yet. “Before we start watching, we are going to turn off the main lights and then let us turn on the small lights that surround the TV screen and this room.” Mom said. Maria, Leonora, and Theresa then went to turn off the lights in the whole house while the last light was still on. “Janice at the count of three please turn it off okay?” Mom instructed Janice “Yes ma'am.” Janice replied with full excitement in her eyes. 

Janice looks so cute in that face. She looks so excited to see the lights like a kid. Actually I am excited to see the lights off with these small lights around the TV. I already have imaginations inside my head that it will be really good to see all these small lights shining like a firefly. “Let’s count to  three.” Dad said. “One..Two..Three!!!” Everybody counted as well as Michael who doesn’t like this kind of thing. Janice then turned off the lights. 

“So beautiful.” I said as soon as the lights were turned off. 

Michael

Actually I know that Mom and dad will never choose horror for us to watch but I just want this day to be Michael's happiest day so I acted as if I was annoyed not to win the bet with him. Besides, even if he wins I will still sleep in his bedroom. This is my evil plan. Mom chose the movie title home alone. It is a really good movie, I haven’t watched it yet but I heard a lot about this already from John. So I asked Nick if he heard about the movie or watched. Luckily, he still hasn't, which will make him more happy this evening. The movie will be good for a family gathering around to watch because it is full of fun scenes as John said to me. 

I also know that Michael thinks I am not that excited about things like this but he is wrong. I like doing things like this most especially when he is around. I just want to see him smile, so if this will make him, why would I oppose that? 

Mom instructed the helpers to turn off all the lights inside the house. They already turned off the lights except the center light inside this living room. Janice stood next to the switch to turn off the lights. Dad then instructed her to turn off the lights on the count of three. We all counted to three. As soon as we finished counting, Janice turned off the light. Everyone looks so amazed. Mom, Dad, Maria, Leonora, Theresa, Janice and lastly Nick. He was the last person I looked at . “So beautiful.” Michael said with amazed eyes. I smiled as soon as I heard him say that. “I know.” I said as I was staring at him.