5 Feb 2024, 21:03
Gift of Gab
| Date | : | December 24th - 25th, 2023 |
| Color code | : | Written|Thought|Said |
★★★
Gift of Gab
"The ability to speak easily and confidently in a way that makes people want to listen to you and believe you."
★★★
Gift of Gab
"The ability to speak easily and confidently in a way that makes people want to listen to you and believe you."
★★★
Christmas Eve, once in a year event that Sere usually spend in different countries because of her parents' business trip. It required her to accompany them during almost every school holidays. In a year Sere could be in America, and in another year she could be in Asia. It is really tiring because she would just ended up left alone in the hotel, but she knows why her parents always force her to come along: to maintain their family's tradition, Christmas Eve's Family Dinner. Just the three of them, not a big event, but also become something that a Sere Nade can't refuse at the same time. Sere can't find anything negative about that 'dinner on the Christmas Eve' tradition.
But, there is something special, something's different this year. Something really relaxing that makes Sere happy: They don't go on business trip on Christmas Eve! Sere's parents said that they will leave for the business trip tomorrow, not tonight, and under the reason that she is tired after the long journey on the Hogwarts Express, Sere's got permission not to follow her parents to Adelaide's business trip this breaks. Have I really succeeded in persuade them just now? Since when did they become this easy? Do I have the gift of gab?
Sere feels happy when she's walking down the stairs. The first Christmas Eve's Family Dinner at home in many years. "Happy Christmas Eve, Mom, Dad." Sere received a nod in return. They don't respond excessively, as usual.
Roasted chickens completed with mashed potatoes on the table are spread the really-yummy aroma. This is my favorite food! Usually, they will only eat steak with salad on Christmas Eve, but this time they granted my request to eat roasted chicken with mashed potatoes? Since when did they become this easy? Do I have the gift of gab?
Dinner goes quietly according to the rule 'no talking while eating'. After finishing their main course, Hana -Sere's mother- served berry-flavored ice cream as dessert. Sere hid her surprise inside when she realized that the ice cream served wasn't the Neapolitan one that was boringly served year after year at their Christmas Eve's Family Dinner. This time, the ice cream served is according to what she likes. Everything goes very smooth, relaxing, and happy as she expected. Is this because I wish for a happy Christmas to Mr. Santa? Is he really exist? Is he the one who granted my wish? Or is it because I have the gift of gab?
Doesn't stop there, Sere's parents said that they have prepared a gift for Sere. Ashton -Sere's father- left the dinner table, took something from the master bedroom, and then come back with something made from leather in his hand. Sere received the gift in surprise. "This is... enchanted satchel! My friends use this at school. Where did you get this from?" Sere cleared her throat, "Thank you, Dad." This British-Korean girl indeed said that she needed a bag to support her school activities to her parents few days ago, but she didn't expect that she would get an enchanted satchel from her parents. This is more than enough to support her study. Is this real? Mom and Dad give me something I need in just a few days! Usually, they wait until I showed something that proud them off to get what I need. Since when did they become this easy? Do I really have the gift of gab now?
Ashton doesn't directly answer his daughter's question. He preferred to look at his wife first for a few moments before finally opening his mouth, saying something that made Sere's initial intention to smile disappear instantly.
"W-what? You're asking me to quit Hogwarts?" Sere's voice sounded shaky when she repeated what her parents asked, "Why?"
Several reasons emerged from the lips of both in turn. Ashton said that he got to know two other families in the Platform 9¾ when Sere left with the Hogwarts Express. From the network that he built, Ashton knows what Sere did in her first months at Hogwarts. Her father got information about which students Sere considered as 'friends' and Ashton says that they are all 'useless' for Sere's academics and future.
Hana added that Sere never sent them letter during her first months, and that she knows how hard it is for Sere to adjust her life at Hogwarts with all the 'useless in reality' magic things. Hana also mentioned about how dangerous the wizarding world is for Sere who doesn't know anything about magic. Coupled with the fact that Sere is recently accepted as one of the duellist roster -which for some reason this information had reached her parents-, they both asked Sere to stop all the dangerous activities she is doing. They are not assigned Sere to Hogwarts with this extent of dangerousity and it will be much better if Sere decided to left Hogwarts... like right now.
In a low and trembling voice, Sere Nade replied, "You don't know how precious this three months are to me. You don't wanna hear about how happy am I in this three months. You don't know how hard I'm trying to get along and how satisfied I am when I'm reaching this certain level in my study," Sere got up, raised her red face to hold back the tears that has filled her eyebags, "I'm not leaving. Never." Sere nodded as a sign of politeness as she said, "Thank you for the food. I'll excuse myself." She left her parents at the dining table, doesn't wanna know how they react.
Sere locked the bedroom door and threw herself onto the bed, buried her face in her pillow, and cried uncontrollably until she ran out of energy and fell asleep.
This night instantly turned from the best to the worst Christmas Eve. I should have known that they both won't give me something with no reason. I definitely... don't have the gift of gab.
The next afternoon, on her worst Christmas Day, Sere sits on her bed. She heard the sound of her parents left for Adelaide's business trip this morning, but she had no intention to going out and let the words 'safe trip, take care' came out from her mouth, not to two people who don't even care about her happiness and more willing to listen to other people's words rather than their daughter's.
"Wait... Huh? Hold on,"
Sere's brain suddenly working like a flash, combining all the shattered pieces of the things happened last night. She sighed and rubbed her face roughly when she came to a conclusion, "Is there someone spying on me?"
The girl isn't stupid enough to realize that the fact that her parents knowing her conditions and all her activities at Hogwarts means the same thing as them having an informant for spying their daughter's school life. "Two families: meaning four parents and two potential Hogwarts students, both of them at least have the same age as me," Sere looked at the enchanted satchel her father gave her last night. She knows that this item can only be bought in Hogsmeade, the wizards' village. It means... Sere is quickly moved to grab a pencil and paper, and write down what she has concluded.
But, there is something special, something's different this year. Something really relaxing that makes Sere happy: They don't go on business trip on Christmas Eve! Sere's parents said that they will leave for the business trip tomorrow, not tonight, and under the reason that she is tired after the long journey on the Hogwarts Express, Sere's got permission not to follow her parents to Adelaide's business trip this breaks. Have I really succeeded in persuade them just now? Since when did they become this easy? Do I have the gift of gab?
★★★
Sere feels happy when she's walking down the stairs. The first Christmas Eve's Family Dinner at home in many years. "Happy Christmas Eve, Mom, Dad." Sere received a nod in return. They don't respond excessively, as usual.
Roasted chickens completed with mashed potatoes on the table are spread the really-yummy aroma. This is my favorite food! Usually, they will only eat steak with salad on Christmas Eve, but this time they granted my request to eat roasted chicken with mashed potatoes? Since when did they become this easy? Do I have the gift of gab?
Dinner goes quietly according to the rule 'no talking while eating'. After finishing their main course, Hana -Sere's mother- served berry-flavored ice cream as dessert. Sere hid her surprise inside when she realized that the ice cream served wasn't the Neapolitan one that was boringly served year after year at their Christmas Eve's Family Dinner. This time, the ice cream served is according to what she likes. Everything goes very smooth, relaxing, and happy as she expected. Is this because I wish for a happy Christmas to Mr. Santa? Is he really exist? Is he the one who granted my wish? Or is it because I have the gift of gab?
Doesn't stop there, Sere's parents said that they have prepared a gift for Sere. Ashton -Sere's father- left the dinner table, took something from the master bedroom, and then come back with something made from leather in his hand. Sere received the gift in surprise. "This is... enchanted satchel! My friends use this at school. Where did you get this from?" Sere cleared her throat, "Thank you, Dad." This British-Korean girl indeed said that she needed a bag to support her school activities to her parents few days ago, but she didn't expect that she would get an enchanted satchel from her parents. This is more than enough to support her study. Is this real? Mom and Dad give me something I need in just a few days! Usually, they wait until I showed something that proud them off to get what I need. Since when did they become this easy? Do I really have the gift of gab now?
Ashton doesn't directly answer his daughter's question. He preferred to look at his wife first for a few moments before finally opening his mouth, saying something that made Sere's initial intention to smile disappear instantly.
"W-what? You're asking me to quit Hogwarts?" Sere's voice sounded shaky when she repeated what her parents asked, "Why?"
Several reasons emerged from the lips of both in turn. Ashton said that he got to know two other families in the Platform 9¾ when Sere left with the Hogwarts Express. From the network that he built, Ashton knows what Sere did in her first months at Hogwarts. Her father got information about which students Sere considered as 'friends' and Ashton says that they are all 'useless' for Sere's academics and future.
Hana added that Sere never sent them letter during her first months, and that she knows how hard it is for Sere to adjust her life at Hogwarts with all the 'useless in reality' magic things. Hana also mentioned about how dangerous the wizarding world is for Sere who doesn't know anything about magic. Coupled with the fact that Sere is recently accepted as one of the duellist roster -which for some reason this information had reached her parents-, they both asked Sere to stop all the dangerous activities she is doing. They are not assigned Sere to Hogwarts with this extent of dangerousity and it will be much better if Sere decided to left Hogwarts... like right now.
In a low and trembling voice, Sere Nade replied, "You don't know how precious this three months are to me. You don't wanna hear about how happy am I in this three months. You don't know how hard I'm trying to get along and how satisfied I am when I'm reaching this certain level in my study," Sere got up, raised her red face to hold back the tears that has filled her eyebags, "I'm not leaving. Never." Sere nodded as a sign of politeness as she said, "Thank you for the food. I'll excuse myself." She left her parents at the dining table, doesn't wanna know how they react.
Sere locked the bedroom door and threw herself onto the bed, buried her face in her pillow, and cried uncontrollably until she ran out of energy and fell asleep.
This night instantly turned from the best to the worst Christmas Eve. I should have known that they both won't give me something with no reason. I definitely... don't have the gift of gab.
★★★
The next afternoon, on her worst Christmas Day, Sere sits on her bed. She heard the sound of her parents left for Adelaide's business trip this morning, but she had no intention to going out and let the words 'safe trip, take care' came out from her mouth, not to two people who don't even care about her happiness and more willing to listen to other people's words rather than their daughter's.
"Wait... Huh? Hold on,"
Sere's brain suddenly working like a flash, combining all the shattered pieces of the things happened last night. She sighed and rubbed her face roughly when she came to a conclusion, "Is there someone spying on me?"
The girl isn't stupid enough to realize that the fact that her parents knowing her conditions and all her activities at Hogwarts means the same thing as them having an informant for spying their daughter's school life. "Two families: meaning four parents and two potential Hogwarts students, both of them at least have the same age as me," Sere looked at the enchanted satchel her father gave her last night. She knows that this item can only be bought in Hogsmeade, the wizards' village. It means... Sere is quickly moved to grab a pencil and paper, and write down what she has concluded.
Sere clenched her teeth, "I will definitely find the spy. Whoever you are, I won't let you make the all this things worse."Parents asked me to leave Hogwarts
Reason:
They know things happened to me >> highest possibility: from their acquaintance >> met in Platform 9¾
Suspect:
2 Families >> approx. 4 parents >> approx. 2 potential Hogwarts Students
Clue:
- Satchel (Hogsmeade) >> at least one of the parents has wizard blood