IX

Illiad and Silver watched sparingly as Kimi scarfed his food, his eyes observing the couple like they will jump him at any moment.

Silver cleared his throat and rubbed his neck. “You still have a big appetite.” He spared Kimi an awkward glance.

Illiad hummed in astonishment and picked up his cup of water. “He really does.”

Kimi watched closely as Illiad brought the cup of water to his lips and he held the fork in his mouth and nibbled absentmindedly on it, his eyes like a hawk’s against its prey.

Silver cleared his throat, catching Kimi’s attention. “Don’t swallow.”

Kimi lifted an eyebrow and Silver motioned to the fork in his mouth. Realization dawned on him and he slowly dropped the fork on the plate and exhaled lightly.

“So,” Illiad started as he dropped the cup. “What year are you in Kimi?”

Kimi held a napkin to his mouth. “Sophomore.”

Illiad nodded and then scratched his stubble awkwardly. “Um, I didn’t know Silver had a cousin living faraway.”

“You wouldn’t because I’m his only cousin,” Kimi grumbled as he moved to stand.

Silver perked up with furrowed eyebrows. “Where are you going?”

Kimi suspired. “I’m done eating.” He moved to leave but Silver stopped him.

“W-wait. Don’t we like, have some catching up to do?” Silver sighed as he fiddled with his sleeves.

“There’s nothing to catch up about. I’m leaving.”

Rushing footsteps disturbed their silent, little corner as Qharis approached them, her expression a mix between anger and fear.

“What’s the problem?” Illiad asked as Qharis placed her hands on the table.

“Don’t go,” she said to Kimi as he moved to leave.

“What?!” Kimi furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

Qharis sighed as she leaned closer to her brother. “I heard what happened and he is not happy.” She motioned to Kimi with her eyes, her eyebrows raised.

Illiad frowned in confusion. “Who?”

“Apparently the twins lost more than half of their reasoning.” She motioned for Kimi to sit. “Please sit.”

Kimi looked confusedly angry. “Excuse me?”

“Sit!” Qharis pulled off her jacket and draped it on the chair beside Kimi’s. She swallowed a deep breath. “Please just sit.”

Kimi locked his jaw. “No.” He walked away.

“Wait—”

“Qharis,” Silver warned as she moved to stop him.

She groaned loudly and gripped her bobbed, silver-coloured hair tightly. “Dad. Is. Mad.” She sat on an empty seat. “Very mad. And if we don’t do something...” She released a strained sigh.

Silver stood up. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him.” He leaned down and pecked Illiad on the lips before leaving.

Qharis exhaled and drummed her fingers on the table. “I hope I don’t get in trouble because of them.”

“Don’t worry.” Illiad took Qharis’ hand in his. “Nothing bad is going to happen.”

*

Kimi breathed heavily as he struggled to open his locker. Balls of sweat rolled down his face as he pulled the locker open and shuffled to take his bag and a few books. When he was done, he shut it with a bang and opened his bag to place his books in it, his hands fidgeting.

“Kimi.”

Kimi looked up and saw Silver approaching him with a faint frown. He groaned. “What?”

“You need to calm down.” Silver sighed. “She was just upset. Don’t take it personal.”

“Calm down?! I should fucking calm down?!” He struggled to put his books in his bag.

Silver leaned forward and placed his hands on Kimi’s shoulders but his cousin jerked out of his grip; Kimi’s books and bag slipped out of his hands due to the force of his jerk.

“You’re telling me to fucking calm down!” Kimi roared with a raspy voice. His shoulders shook with each heavy breath he took. “You...! You don’t know what you’re saying because you mingle with them like they’re your family!”

Students around looked towards them as Kimi’s voice shook the hallway, their voices coming out in whispers.

Silver sighed and rubbed his arm. Shame and disappointment had crept onto his expression. “Please just lis—”

“Listen? I am fucking done with listening.” He crouched to retrieve his items and stood. “Tell those fucking parasites to leave me the hell alone. You can start with your fucking boyfriend!”

“Don’t be like that,” Silver sighed. “Please don’t say things like—”

“Those eyes.” Kimi had a menacing glint in his eyes as he tapped his temple. “I can never forget those fucking eyes.”

Silver frowned in confusion. “What eyes?”

“Why don’t you fucking ask your fucking family?” He swung his bag over his shoulders and marched away, the whispers of students whooshing past his ears.

Silver exhaled through his nose and pursed his lips tightly. He moved away from the lockers, but the buzzing of his phone stopped him. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned it on; it was a message. As he read it, his expression twisted and he frowned deeply.

“Oh really.”

*

Kara sat by the window, a book in her hands. Her eyes swept across the book as she sipped from a cup of tea, her ears listening to the whistling breeze. The sitting room was silent, except for the ticking of the wall clock, the sound of turning pages and the occasional groaning of the couch as she moved.

She was interrupted by the groaning of the front door and she looked up and dropped the items in her hands.

“Kimi?” She stood up and walked to the corridor. “Kimi?”

Kara peered out but saw nobody and she became tense as she walked towards the door and pulled it open; she looked out, only to see nothing except for passersby. She blinked away her fear as she shut the door and locked it.

The slight creaking of floorboards made her turn and hold her breath. She covered her mouth with her hand in order to reign in her loud breathing and she walked warily towards the source of the noise. Her heart palpitated as she peered slowly into the living room; the whooshing curtains greeted her.

She sighed and leaned against the archway. “Why am I so ten—”

Something flew past her in a thin slice and buried itself in the wall behind her. She screeched and turned hysterically, her eyes widening in fear as the knife which had been lodged into the wall dispersed in sooted words.

“‘You have a debt to pay’,” she read out loud as she slipped to the floor, tears blurring her vision.

*

Kimi banged the door shut and pulled off his bag and shoes, and dropped them on the floor. He  groaned as he stretched.

“Kimi? Is that you?”

Kimi rolled his eyes. “Who else?”

Kara walked out of the living room, her eyes rimmed by red blotches and her hair falling onto her face. “Welcome back.”

Kimi moved forward as he noticed his mother’s ghastly expression. “What happened?”

She inhaled deeply and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

Kimi scowled. “It’s not nothing.”

His mother laughed lightly and swept hair off her face. “Um you’re right. I-I finally got that dream job. I was finally going to tell you but my employers found someone better and younger.” She sighed. “Not very healthy.”

Kimi raised an eyebrow. “Really? Mum—Mother...” He exhaled through his nose. “You can’t expect yourself to bear your burdens alone. I’m your son. Tell me things sometimes.” His shoulders drooped.

“I wish,” Kara whispered as Kimi picked up his belongings. She sighed and waved away a bit of her problems. “So, how was school today? Make any friends?” She smiled as Kimi walked past her with a glare. “Meet anyone familiar?”

Kimi stopped. “I did meet someone familiar.” He turned to look at his mother. “My cousin. Argyr.”

Kara blinked. “Who?”

“Silver Mikaela.”

“Oh.” Kara shook her head and waved a hand in understanding. “I... didn’t realize his family still lived here. I thought they had relocated.” She shrugged. “Maybe they returned.”

“Yeah... maybe.” He held unto the handle of his bedroom’s door. “I’m just going to take a quick shower.”

“D-do you still have the pen?” Kara looked hopeful and fisted her fingers.

Kimi lifted an eyebrow in confusion. “What pen?”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “The one that I had given you as a gift. The one with my name engraved on it.”

“Oh.” Kimi opened his bedroom and threw his shoes into it before shuffling in his bag to provide the pen. “Here.”

“T-thank you.” Kara received the pen with both hands. She rubbed her fingers across her engraved name. “You know your father—”

“Mother... don’t.” Kimi heaved a sigh and walked into his bedroom; he shut the door with a loud bang that made Kara flinch.

“I need...” She sighed and clenched her fists with confidence. “I need to do something quick,” she said in a firm voice.

Author’s Note: Hewo! How was this chapter? Please vote, comment and share while I brainstorm, write and publish. If there is something that seems too annoying or insulting to you please DM me. All voices at to be heard and please don’t send me hateful words. I might die. (◎_◎;)

I have a question: what font do you read books in? Mine is the serif. “ψ(｀∇´)ψ Any ‘Serifians’? ;)