Author note: because I feel absolutely happy.

                 ***

While I was currently in the kitchen sitting on a stool, watching my mom cook something to fill my empty stomach and nagging constantly on organized sleeping pattern or something, I had sneaked the freaky card under the table and pressed it to my thigh and the back of the table for it not to fall. I wanted to leave it alone in my room, but something tugged me at the back of my head to not leave it alone, for what reason though; I have no idea.

“Just because it's summer break doesn't mean you get to sleep for how many hours! Summer breaks aren't only about having fun and acting with no responsibility. I'm glad I did not make you go to that horrible party,” 

My mom kept on nagging and nagging while having her back facing me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her, an action my dad caught because the next thing I knew, his newspaper came face to face with my head with a loud smack. I groaned loudly, giving the old man a glare which he smugly shrugged at.

“And I thought you would actually be more resp..- Moon Hani, why are you glaring at your old man?” My mom’s stern voice brought me out of my game with my dad, and I stared innocently at the lady with a spatula in her hand with a furious glare. Oops! I didn't think she would actually stop frying my bacon to notice me giving my dad the infamous Hani look. I gave my mom a sheepish smile, one dripping with innocence and hearts that made her sigh in helplessness. If there is something my mom is weak against, it's my beautiful cute actions, considering I’m her only child and she likes it when I give her my puppy looks. Something along the lines of ‘first borns should know how to make use of their parents wisely,’ 

“My beautiful and gorgeous mother, I was totally listening to your rant..- I mean your advice attentively,” I could totally hear my dad stiffling his sniggers, and I wanted to give him a deadly glare if only my mom wasn't using her hawk look on me. 

“Then why were you glaring at your father? It's disrespectful,” My mom had a stern look behind that mask of hers, and I know she didn't exactly mean it. My family and I have a deep kind of relationship with each other; my parents treated me like I’m their best friend most of the time, but they automatically switch into my parents when I’m in need of them, or during a lecture, which is what's happening right now with my mother. 

“Ay, Ay, captain,” I playfully saluted her, and my mom sent me a deep glare before twirling around to continue her cooking while my dad and I got ourself engrossed with a debate on what is much better, diet cola which I liked very much, or sprite which he loved a lot. 

“Hani, there is something I need you to do for me,” My mom cut our conversation while placing a plate of fully cooked bacon strips and cheese. I looked at her with my innocent eyes while gobbling down my food like a beast. I asked her what she wants me to do with my cheeks stuffed with food, and she gave me a white paper of a variety of things listed down from drinks to vegetables and fruits. I groaned loudly, I almost forgot about my usual goings to the supermarket every two weeks to restock our house needs, and honestly, I did not want to go this time because I want to sleep again ( even if I knew my mother would kill me ) I was a sleep monster, sue me, not to mention I actually felt like a pound of rocks is sitting on my shoulders. 

I gave my mom a puppy look, wishing that she would forget about it just this one time and leave me alone to sleep. She could read my stare easily, and the next thing I know is my mom pulling me out of the chair and dragging me to the front door with her hand on my arm. I groaned loudly when she started lecturing me again, and I whined one more time for her to just let me sleep for now and wake up another time where I actually would be willing to go. She refused – as expected, she had always been a hard-headed person – and urged me to go out, opening the door to my car that was, dare to say; simply parked outside our house in a slightly, curved angle. Okay, I’m a horrible driver, hope I have established that information clearly. 

“Here, your keys and cash. Don't be back before you get all the items on the list,” My mom huffed, throwing – quite literally – the damn keys to my lap and snapping an accurate amount of money – I know how she always does the math before she hands me the correct amount – on the dashboard, before trotting inside the house rather elegantly. I sighed, slumping my head on the wheel and puffing a big amount of breath out. Then, suddenly; I remembered the card that was lying on my thighs, and stared down at my thigh to confirm it's presence, while knowing clearly it would be impossible for it to stay. A wave of panic rushed inside of me. It came out of no where, but the emotions that attacked me were real, raw even; the thought of it being alone, in a house filled with strangers made me horrified. I couldn't help but open my door and dash inside the house in a frenzy. 

“Mom! Sorry but I forgot something!” I yelled the moment I barged the door of the front yard open, and rushed inside the living room. I passed it, and was ten inches close to the kitchen when I stopped altogether. 

It wasn't very strange, the view in front of me. But my Mom’s eyes were wide; my Dad too, and my eyes reluctantly widened like them when I caught the reason of their sudden panic. Apparently; the card was in my mom’s hands, holding it a little roughly where her knuckles turned white. She has a stupefied look on her face, that my dad mimicked amazingly well. My shock suddenly turned into confusion, as I did not expect the card to evoke such an expression out of their faces. For all I know, they should be uninterested about a mere presence of a colorful card; but they seem to be exactly the opposite. I raised an eyebrow up. The way the kept on staring at the card so creepily gave me the shivers. Apparently, they still haven't noticed my presence.

“Do you think she did it?” I heard my mom whisper lowly to my father; and sent him a look that I did not understand the meaning behind. My dad gave her the same look; and slowly shook his head. Then, after a second he started nodding his head.

“I..I don't really know. The card seems very.. Alive,” my dad replied. Okay, they are officially being weird. What is it about the card being alive? I mean sure the color choice is pretty thrilling and bright; exciting even, completely different from the first time I’ve caught the card. But it being alive? What are the odds of that?

“Ehm.. Mom? Dad? Are you okay?” I stepped inside their view fully now, surprising them with my sudden appearance because they flinched and stared at me with equally, surprised eyes. I raised an eyebrow at them, and then lowered my eyes to the card with a still suspicious expression on my face. My parents both gulped at the same time, and I was amused but the situation was too serious to be laughed at. 

I marched inside, placed all of the money and car keys my mom gave me to the side. I stopped in front of them; expression confident yet confused. I still couldn't get the sight of them talking about the card like that out of my mind. I gave them a pointed look that screamed ridicule and absurdity, and my mom could easily catch it – apparently - because she started to chuckle awkwardly and completely out of character.

“Yes Honey, we are fine. What made you ask that..” She kept on awkwardly sniggering to herself and giving my dad the famous look of hers that screamed danger. I stifled a smile; she looks absolutely thrilling when she is feeling threatened. I wonder what's the reason behind that. 

“Okaaaay,” I dragged on the Okay and sneakily tried to peek from behind her, at that specific card that was pulsating with energy. Now that I’ve noticed; it suddenly appeared like there was a fourth presence inside the house. Some sort of power, aura, coming off from that card, and I realized to my absolute horror that it was calling out for me, for my refuge. 

“Then, can I have my card back… please?” I asked again, taking another obedient step closer to them and offering my hands for them to drop the card into. My mother once again exchanged a glance with my dad, and I hereby officially accuse them of being suspicious. Then, my dad stepped closer to me, took a rough grip of my shoulders and looked at me seriously in the eye, peering at my soul. I honestly felt very small under him and his sudden serious demeanor. He never gets serious, he is always the jokester type; but those few little times he gets serious, it means whatever it is had passed those limits he had. 

“Hani, where did you find that card?” Bizarre question to an equally bizarre situation. Fair enough though, because the card looked creepy, suspicious and down right mysterious. Me, for all I care was far from obtaining things that clashed with my personality that much. Besides; my father looked terrified, pale even; but I realized, to my disdain that he already knew from where I had found that card before he can get an answer.  

“Somewhere in the pit of a dark alley. Why?” I questioned, eyebrows creasing and meeting in the middle without my knowledge. My dad broke into a sigh, and his hands around my shoulders tightened their grip on me.

“Then.. Did you by any chance drop some blood on it?” Odd, how did he know what exactly he should ask? I gave him my look, the I’m-suspecting-you look, and he didn't even react upon it.

“Yes, sort of. I kind of accidentally brushed some blood on it when I sneaked…-“ I stopped myself momentarily, my cheeks flushing red and eyes widening. Damn it, was I about to spill the beans and tell my parents I sneaked out of home last night? I stared at them, horrified that they might catch the slip I made. Thankfully, they didn't, and only retreated back to the couch and sat on it sadly. Okay, who died this time? (Dry humor)

“Oh dear,” my mom mumbled incoherently under her breath, which I noticed thankfully. She clutched on her palms tightly, eyes closing and expression blue, solemn. I looked at my dad and he had the exact same expression on his face. I crossed my arms over my chest, overly confused and worried to the max. What is it that they are hiding and I seem to be very oblivious of?

“Can someone please explai