"Ugh, can you believe they still have us stuck in this place?" Jessica cried. In the middle of the first week of school, the final year of high school dragged on, each day feeling fleeting and stifling to her, a bittersweet countdown to freedom. "Like, hurry up and graduate us already! Seriously, could this year be any slower? High school drama is so last season. I don't have time for these teenage brats with different issues; I'm a grown woman."
Jessica paused, glancing at Kai with a mixture of gratitude and frustration. "Thank you, Kai. Without you, I would have dropped out and gotten strangled by my parents a long time ago. Make sure you note that somebody, my first good compliment as an adult, but that's all you're getting from me today. Going out of my way to thank someone is draining."
Kai responded effortlessly, a wry smile playing on her lips as she spoke, "Yeah, you're welcome, and I'll make sure I note that. By the way, teen drama is what high school is kind of about. A bunch of people who have four years to find out who they are and what they want to do in life. That includes you and me, Jessica. You have had your spotlight more times than I have fingers and toes to count."
In The Labyrinth of Teens, where the high school symphony serves as the warm-up to life, Kai understands the basics of a teenager's complicated and confusing life. Metamorphosis was not limited to physical changes—hormones surged, bodies transformed, and personalities and mentalities profoundly evolved. Kai, a compassionate soul, tried her best to keep an open mind throughout these stages and became entangled in the diverse teenage cliques. Effortlessly, she befriended the Goths, Athletes, Nerds, Anime enthusiasts, and even the well-known Class Clowns.
Amidst the chaotic landscape of her Senior year, Kai, like every teenager, grappled with the quest for identity and belonging. Even so, she oozed a magnetic positivity at school that endeared her peers to seek comfort with her. Kai's compationate nature manifested as a cape and mask. Setting her problems to the side and performing acts of kindness, from tutoring struggling classmates to assisting teachers and even giving her lunch to those who didn't have money to pay for their own. Her brilliance only spread her popularity as more students sought to use her, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to give them the answers when they chose not to study. She was even chosen to be Valivictorian but gave up the opportunity to someone else who she felt was more suitable for the title or so she tells herself.
Aside from being the best she could be at school, Kai already had plans after High school. She aimed to be a doctor, and in addition to her intelligence, which made her feel more than ready, she thought she knew a secret no one else in the world knew. When the release bell rung in the school halls and everyone said there goodbyes. With nothing left to block the true obstacles, reality hit her mind before she could even exit the buliding. The obstacle, well, Kai was also trying to find out who she is, along with dealing with her personal life at home. Which wasn't the best nowadays, thanks to one of her dad's old friends, who got drunk and spilled his true feelings.
Over the summer, Kai's father, James, and one of his friends, Aaron, got into another argument about the same thing as usual. Aside from having a promising career, James also inherited a large piece of land in his family for centuries. Aaron was someone James knew back in school, and after Kai's grandpa passed away a few years back, Aaron appeared like a forgotten relative at a family reunion when the food hit the table. Aaron was going through a hard time then and knew James had about fifteen acres of land he inherited and lived on. James didn't care for the land; it was like a family heirloom, and he allowed Kai's mother, Sarah, his wife, to do her gardening and grow their food. Even then, she only used a few yards, so to Aaron, he had more than plenty.
Aaron saw it as a waste and often devised get-rich-quick schemes to suggest to James. First, let's join the farming business. Then, there was limber production, recreation, leasing, energy production, and lastly, the one that made them fall out for a year. Was the argument to sell at least ten of the fifteen? So, at the beginning of this summer, they started talking again, and Aaron never brought it up to Kai's father again. Instead, he uses his son to get close to Kai. He knew the land would be passed down to her at some point, so the goal was for his son to get close to Kai. Marry her and persuade her to let him control the land for her. Besides, this was going to be their last year in school. The plan was perfect; the family had money, land, and benefits, not to mention Kai planned to be a doctor. That means she will barely be able to manage the land, and she didn't look that bad in his opinion.
The problem with that was Kai was only interested in school and home. She wasn't into hanging out, and she wasn't interested in entertaining boys. Just that fast, Aaron's plan burst in his face once again, even though he hid it while he was sober. He felt that Kai was stuck up, and how dare she reject his son. He was angry that he even had to resort to her as his last chance anyway when she wasn't even James's real daughter.
One night, the last week before school started, Aaron came over to hang out and bring his son over again. Just like the previous time, Kai did her own thing; whenever Aaron's son spoke to her, she replied with a smile. Unfortunately, that's where it would end; she would continue to do her own thing, whether texting her friends, talking with her mom, or watching TV. Aaron and James end up drinking as they watch the fight on TV. James was into the fight, asking Aaron repeatedly, "Did you see that, man? Those boys did not come to play!"
On the other hand, Aaron wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was watching the conversation between his son and Kai continuously go nowhere, which caused him to grow angry, go overboard, and get really drunk until he had the last straw and asked James a question out loud.
"So!" He shouted really loud in a drunk voice, drawing everyones attention in the living room. "When you two final have yo own kid?" He continued his words slurred, "You're going tell that girl she adopted right?" James slammed his beer down and quickly stood up, searching the area for Kai, who was on the couch with her mother, both of them staring at Aaron.
Aaron continued before James could do anything, "I mean, you do want… own flesh and blood, don't you? You're not going to leave everything you have to her!" He said his finger following Kai as she quickly jolted to her room, hiding her face.
Before anyone knew it, James suggested Aaron get his son and leave. Kai's father, James, is known to be a calm man and a gentle father. However, Aaron ignored the level-headed suggestion and pretended not to see the problem. That's when James showed a side his family rarely gets to see. James snatched Aaron's collar and shouted while staring him in the eyes.
"Get the hell out of my house now!" with his finger pointing toward the door, his entire body shaking as he breathed heavily, every muscle fighting the next, a war to contain leakage from bursting.
The truth was, Kai knew her parents love her without a doubt in mind; she also knew they had been trying for a baby recently. However, with this blurt and twist of words, how was she sure that's why they had been trying for a baby. In addition to that, being told that she was adopted didn't make the situation any better. Thats is one heck of a way to find out isnt it.
That week ended awkwardly, with the topic of the new child never discussed and the beginning of Kai's school year started knowing that her parents weren't her birth parents and was given little to no knowledge of her biological parents. The only thing on her mind during the first week of school, they hid the truth from her. Initially, when the topic of being different was first brough up at a younger age. Kai's parents told her their family had different people with different height, color, size, and health problems. The subject first came up in elementary when Kai was old enough to ask why she bore no resemblance to the family she had seen. All of James and Sarah's family undoubtedly loved Kai and treated her no differently. But even a child could see she was like a tropical flower in a field of daisies. Compared to James, a towering figure with obsidian hair, emerald eyes, and pallid skin. The stark contrast echoed in her mother, Sarah, whose complexion mirrored James's. Yet, Sarah's hair was a fiery brunette, and with the help of her oceanic gaze, painted a woman James couldn't ignore. Not to mention, Sarah was shorter than both James and Kai.
The protective lie of them being her birth parents had been drilled into her for years, but after the incident with Aaron, the truth was demanded to come out! Even then, with the little information given nothing still made sense once Kai's parents told her the truth. What she sought was the truth and hopeful answers to other things she had been experiencing that could be linked to her biological parents. However, they mentioned nothing about why Kai had weird dreams of a woman standing over her. Saying over and over, "I Love You." They didn't even know anything about her birth parents to tell her.
To fill Kai's mysterious origin, her adoptive parents wove tales of discovery, faith, and fantasy that bordered on the unbelievable, but they had documentation to prove the actual tale. At the tender age of two, Kai was found adrift on a small raft in the vast expanse of the ocean, clutching a necklace bearing the name "Kai" and two amazing bracelets. The chilling narrative unfurled as Sarah reflected —an unusual-looking toddler's tiny body floating atop the open waters, a mysterious puzzle shrouded in the secrets of the deep.
James and Sarah, driven by a compassion that transcended reason, took Kai into their embrace. They reported the two-year-old to the local police but still wanted to be able to watch over the girl until her birth parents were contacted. Knowing the local authorities' protocol regarding children's safety is important. The couple knew it was unlikely for the police to allow strangers to keep a child. However, James was a high-ranking navy at the time and with a few strings pulled. They were able to take care of the child with close watch and multiple check-up calls only until the biological parents were found. Weeks turned into months with no clues or responses regarding the lost child. Faced with the profound silence of an unforgiving sea, they chose to adopt her, offering sanctuary and giving the child their last name, Dean.
Besides the adoptive part, James and Sarah are still covering multiple issues, waiting for Kai to find out the truth soon. For example, Kai's health and beauty, she had never been sick. Ultimately, this caused Kai to recognize her dream job early. As mentioned, Kai feels she has the secret no one else has all figured out, and this is why. Another moment when a child was too smart for their own good, and their parent didn't have an answer. With it asked over and over, they just give them one.
During eighth grade, Kai came home from school one day and asked Sarah why she had never been sick like the rest of her classmates. It surprised Sarah initially because she never paid attention to just how unusually healthy Kai was. Since they adopted her, Kai didn't have chickenpox, a cold, a fever, hand, foot, and mouth, not even the unavoidable acne every teen has during puberty. Sarah was stunned, and she knew telling Kai she didn't know wasn't going to work, so she looked toward James for help, who struggled with his shoulders while eating a carrot. Then Bam, the answer, rooted in the wholesome lifestyle of her adoptive family. The only answer Sarah could come up with was that Kai had a ton of allergies, giving Kai a sense of normalcy, but she quickly told her that they had it under control. This is why she never noticed and could only eat healthy—the perfect parental answer to give your child a reason to keep eating the veggies.
So Sarah took Kai out to the garden in the backyard and revealed the family secret to creating a bounty of organic produce—fruits, vegetables, and an assortment of plants. The lush became the backdrop for Kai's flourishing existence, her vitality seemingly nurtured by the earth beneath her feet. Only a handful of times has Kai had soda or candy, and if she did, her parents were strict about brushing her teeth and drinking plenty of water.
To add, Kai's godfather, DeShawn, James's best friend since elementary, was the over-cautious type. After high school, they joined the Marines and saw way too much; now, DeShawn didn't trust anyone or anything, at least that's what Kai was told. He had been working on a prototype to make clean water from the spring near their house. Of course, it worked, but he could never get approved for a bank loan for numerous reasons that needed clarification. One was his appearance; as far as Kai knew, he was a homeless veteran said to be delusional. His dark skin was always ashy, and his hair was thick and untamed. Though he didn't have any wounds visible to Kai, he was built like he was born for war. Still, there was no excuse; the man's invention worked, and it was clear to see his brilliance. Kai's father always offered to help but was rejected by the same speech.
"No, no, you have your family. Focusing on that makes me happy. This is my foolish journey; whether it's complete or not, I will cross it on my own." Deshawn would say whenever he came to spend time or upgrade the prototype.
Kai's father would always respond, "All I'm going to say is, if I walk in those doors with you, it would be a different story, and I'm sorry it's like that. But my doors and anything of mine are always available to you. Even if I had to cross seven seas to pick you up off one knee, I would. As a fellow soldier, friend, and my blood brother." After a while, Kai started to assume they weren't always talking about getting his invention approved. It began to seem like those words weren't what they seemed but their own lingo instead, but she didn't know. They would always end their fun hangouts with a handshake; both their hands damaged my long scars, a pact they made long ago. Thus, according to Sarah, Kai grew up with the best resources to make her extraordinarily healthy, at least that is what was told.
With her mind still racing Kai's body continued on the familiar route home on autopilot. When her strolled home from school, was disrupted by the unexpected gathering of familiar faces. A group of students who saw her walking extended an invitation, shouting her name and putting a stop to the meditative walk. After shouting her name again and fully getting her attention, the invitation to partake in the midweek tradition of creek swimming was offered again. They always invited Kai but could never get her to come, even though they were persistent, this was the first time they caught her outside of school.
"It's Wednesday! And you want to hangout at the creek when there is school tomorrow? That's not random at all, especially when you can be studying for the test tomorrow, Jessica," Kai mused.
The instinct to decline hung at the edge of her consciousness, ready to escape in a resolute, "No, i'll will have to pass but thank you." Yet, a subtle echo nudged her thoughts, reminding her how awkward its been at home lately. Also it was suggested she learn the deeper meaning of friendship—an insight imparted by her mother, who didn't want Kai to feel trapped at home. "One minute, let me text my mom," Kai declared, momentarily keeping the eager group waiting.
Text Thread
KAI: Hey Mom! I think I will take your advice on being more social. I got invited to hang out at the river, so why not give it a shot.
Momma Bear: Aww, dats my lil girl. I'm so proud, n I wish U the best of luck!!!
Kai: Umm, what are you doing? Why are you texting like that? Do I need to come home, because you are freaking me out!
Kai: I'm about to call! Better yet, I'm on my way home!
Momma Bear: No! Have fun. I just wanted to try and stay trendy. Up to date, you kids nowadays text each other like that. I saw your phone the other night. Proper grammar is out and slang or abbreviations are in LOL.
Kai: Wow, Privacy?!
Momma Bear: Speaking of privacy, your father and I are trying to have some alone time and finally let loose some frustration. So yes, you can make some friends. Momma Bear is so proud of you. See you later.
Kai: Oh, My Goodness! Just reading that was disgusting! I'm going to delete this whole thread.
Momma Bear: Listen, honey. All jokes aside, I wrote this a while ago and I know this might not be what you want to hear, and maybe a text isn't the best way to say it, but we've tried everything else, haven't we? The truth is, your father and I love you more than anything. We would never even dream of replacing you. That's something I need you to believe, even if it's hard to right now.
Momma Bear: What we didn't realize until recently, as much as we say your not replaceable. We can see how the situation shows the opposite, but that's not the case. It's just how much we were holding on to you. You're almost ready to leave the bear cave and make your own life, and honestly… what are we going to do when you're gone? Since we brought you into our lives, we have dedicated nothing short of our last breath to you. And maybe, somewhere along the way, we expected you to stay with us until you grow old.
Momma Bear: It sounds silly, I know. Parents are supposed to prepare their children for the world, and some parents can't wait to send their kids off. But what no parent can deny is that no one really prepares us for what happens when you're ready to leave. That's why we thought if we had another baby, it might soften the blow a little, you know? Give us something to hold on to when you're out there chasing your dreams. Or... maybe you could give us our first grandchild one day. Maybe then you'd visit more often, and we could help take care of a little you.
Momma Bear: I know this is messy, and I'm probably making it worse. But you deserve the truth, even if it's a clumsy one. We love you. Nothing and I mean Nothing in this world will ever change that."
Momma Bear: I don't have time to read the long message but i'll text you when i'm on the way home. Love you mom.
Momma Bear: I love you. Have fun, honey.
END
"Hey, Kai, are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, come on, the sun won't be out forever!"
"Seriously, what's taking so long?"
"Jeez, is she asking all of our moms!"
"I hope not, my moms out of town and she wont hesitate to call my stepdad. I am not trying die today." They all shouted.
Succumbing to the collective spirit, Kai approved, and the group made their way to the river. The air buzzed with the energy of teenage friendship, yet jealousy and mixed feelings surged beneath the surface. Upon arrival, the boys proudly unveiled a cliff they regularly leaped from, coaxing Kai into partaking in their bold tradition. But they didn't know Kai was a fluent open-water swimmer taught by her father, who told her she was beyond natural. Without hesitation, she launched herself into the abyss, producing a choir of spirited cheers from the onlookers.
However, this spontaneous display of fearlessness did not merely echo across the riverbanks; it rumbled through the social dynamics. The boys realize Kai is just as fun and brave as she is smart. A cauldron of envy and resentment stirred among those less inclined to venture beyond their comfort zones. The loud cheers of the boys as Kai tried whatever trick they demonstrated while jumping off the cliff. As time passed, the boys grew more curious about Kai's extent in bravery. She swung off vines, backflipped, and spun; her athletic abilities matched the boys, and Kai even began to amaze herself as she tried most stunts for the first time. Jealous glances and simmering fury began to show, and the other girls grew tired and suggested moving on to different events and leaving Kai clueless to navigate in the upcoming uncharted waters of adolescent alliances.