Malachi Azure
June 2014
“Dad, I don’t want to.”
“This isn’t up to you, Malachi.” Kai’s father looked him over for a moment, analyzing, as if he was making certain his son was up to his standards. Though, it was only a moment before he gave a disapproving look. “Stand straighter. Keep your hands out of those pockets. And please, act like you want to be there.” Kai began to open his mouth, intending to protest that he didn’t want to be there, but the look in his father’s face said not even to try. There was no getting out of it. All Kai could do was what his father was asking, well, telling him to do.
Kai had lost track of how many people his father had brought him to talk with. Some conversations seemed to barely be a few moments to say hello, while others felt as though they took forever. It was then that an older man came up to them, he must have been at least 20 years his father’s senior, and even at a distance Kai could tell he was highly intoxicated, with yet another drink in hand. “Leonardo, it’s been too long.”
“Far too long, Gregory. Enjoying the evening?”
“Always.” The man said, slurring just slightly at the end as he took another sip of his drink. However, that was when his attention finally came to Kai. “Is this your boy?”
“Yes, this is my son, Malachi.”
“How old are you, boy?”
“I…” Kai hesitated, almost unsure if he wanted to engage in the conversation, or if he was even supposed to. “I’m thirteen.”
“Thirteen? What an age. Nearly a man now, aren’t cha?” The man slapped Kai’s back, as though he were chatting with an old friend. Though it may have been nowhere near the abdomen, the jarring motion was more than enough to knock the air right out of Kai’s lungs. His face paled, and taking in a shaky breath, he looked to his father, who only seemed focused on conversation with the man. “You remind me of your father here when he was your age. He was just a little thing last time you brought him.” he added, returning his gaze and attention entirely to Kai’s father.
Kai was distracted, no longer paying attention to the conversation, when his father finally looked at him and whispered, “Go. Take a minute, compose yourself, then come back.”
With his father’s words, Kai immediately turned and walked out of the room as quickly as he could. He turned, walking down the hall to an area none of the guests would be found, finally sitting on the floor, nearly collapsing. He was barely allowed to be at a busy social event like this. It hadn’t even been long since he left the hospital. He still wasn’t even used to the idea of being without his twin for this long. The doctors were supposed to help her, help her mind, and keep her calm, but she was alone, and what if she was scared? How would that help her? Even if she hurt him, he’d still rather be with her, or any of his other siblings, or helping his mom, or anything, anywhere over being there at this event.
He sat there, head between his knees, for what seemed like a long time. Certain movements still hurt, and just being present for this event took all the energy he had, but he had to be there. Reluctantly, he forced himself to get up and go back inside. He still didn’t want to be in there, but he at least wasn’t feeling light headed anymore.
He carefully made his way through the party, trying to not be stopped by the guests that noticed him, though there were a few who stopped him, asking about who he was, why he was there, or simply make small talk. Kai did not like the attention being on him like that, not even for a minute, so he did his best to excuse himself from the interaction as quickly as possible every time. That being said, when he got to his father, who seemed to have noticed Kai and his reluctance with the event guests, there was no hiding that he wasn’t pleased.
“I assure you, this situation will not happen again. Miranda would have been here to personally make sure of that, but she wasn’t feeling well this evening. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.” Kai’s father turned, walking away from the woman, and towards Kai. His father grabbed him by the shoulder, keeping him close by, yet not saying a word to him, as they continued through the event. Socializing, constantly shifting between guests as Kai watched his father work the room. Kai felt out of place, the feeling of not wanting to be there only growing stronger, until finally as the event was nearing the end, his father took him to the side.
“I have more business to attend to. Business that you’re not ready for. You know numbers, but you need to learn to deal with these situations with your head. These events are business, and you can’t let your personal feelings about being here, or about anyone attending, get in the way. Every conversation is for a purpose, to get what you need out of it. You have to know everything going on so there are no surprises. You have to learn that no matter how you feel, you can’t just run and hide. You have to be present, aware, and engaged at all times. You have to learn to do this, because one day you will be taking over from me.” Kai watched his father turn and start walking, clearly disappointed in Kai not being up to his standards, which would only make him all the more strict on everything Kai did for the foreseeable future. His father didn’t check to make sure he was alright, just walked away to continue his business as usual, to deal with some aspect of the Blue Royalty game that Kai wasn’t ready for, and would possibly never be.
If there was one thing that was clear, it was that things would have to change. Kai would have to learn how to be the way his father wanted him to be. If he didn’t, who would? The more Kai played by his father’s rules, the easier life would be for Raph, Akielah, and then his baby sister. When his father wasn’t happy, only Kai would have to take the heat. Kai just had to adapt, put on a facade, and be who he had to be.