chapter 73

Noah sighs as he inhales, there is nothing to be nervous about, it's his mother.

Sihan is sitting around the table absent-mindedly, he can't think why he feels weird.

“Um… mom?”

Sihan slowly turned his face hollow with the expression, “Oh, Noah…”

Noah is nervous, is his mom giving him the cold shoulder? “Can… I spent the weekend at Ashton?”

Sihan tilts His head, “yeah, of course.”

Sihan's voice was numb, he felt numb, like literally he can't feel a thing right now. Noah feels awkward by his cold exterior, he really hurt his mom didn't he?

Noah scratches the back of his neck, “Mom, you know I love it when it's just us dad, you and I, I'm not gonna be happy when others try to force their way in.”

Sihan tilts His head, what's this about?

“Noah, no one will break us apart, you don't need to feel threatened by everything.” Sihan said, still cold I'm tone.

Noah breath smiling, “Oh okay,”

Soon Sihan brows furrowed, as a look of dissatisfaction came on his face. “hey Wait a damn minute! You yell at me!”

“Eh?”

“You even swore too!” Soon Sihan shoved the chair.

“Huh? Mom!”

Noah feels a trail of sweat under his chin as he sees Sihan's shadow Cast over him…

Noah was now kneeling in a corner with a lemon stick out of his tongue and both hands in the air.

‘This is weird’

Noah looks at his mother who was peeling the mango as if he was a professional thug, why did his mom look so scary?

“Mmm~”

Amani was sitting next to Arian, poking his arm, “here?”

Arian shakes his head, Amani eases back writing on the notepad. “I See, and your visitations to your therapist/psychiatrist?”

“They weren't doing me any good so I stopped going.” Arian said firmly.

“Did you stop going or you were withheld from going?” He asks with a rolling lollipop In his mouth.

“...” Arian looks away. “It's pointless anyway.”

Amani Scuffs, “therapy is not pointless unless you make it so.”

“It can't help me,” Arian said.

“Because you won't let it, you're a 9 year old kid with a brilliant mind. But your brilliance comes with a lot of things that you don't understand and you won't understand if you don't let whatever is bothering you through.”

Arian went silent, he didn't know what to say. After all, Amani couldn't possibly understand.

“Arian, what is the burden that your young heart carries? What is the burden that is withholding you from your true potential.” Amani asks softly.

Arian bites his lips as he thinks, “Julio.”

Amani smiles, tilting his head, “you care so deeply for your older brother.”

“Mr. Amani you don't understand… if I leave… Julio has no one.”

Julio who was outside the room with a bag of snacks bit his lips angrily, he hisses walking away. “stupid kid.”

He wish, that kid hates him, he doesn't want his sympathy. If he had never been born he'd never be in this predicament his parents would love each other, but the moment he was born all there was… vendetta.

And the worst part of it all is that Arian is very much aware of the pain he brings others around him, he knows, he realises that day after pushing him down the stairs.

Amani tilts his head, “Ariannae. No… you are not re–”

“Ari,”

Amani turns when Julio walks in with a bag of food, Amani looks at him. “Julio? Where are your parents?”

“Dr. Amani I'm 16 I'm old enough to travel by myself.”

“I see, how thoughtful.”

Julio sits on the side of the bed next to Arian, “I bought Muffins, I know you are obsessed with them.” He said taking out the box. “But discretion on your intake.”

Julio’s voice was cold without emotions, soon he held Arian observing his face. He really hates him… but honestly seeing him hurt made him feel Something he wished he didn't.

Julio sighs looking at Arian, he carefully takes a bite of the muffin Not daring to make a mess.

Amani studies their interaction, it's Like there is this hidden barrier between them. Some unspoken rule, the tension is apparent. They do care but at the same time they don't, how can he help them?

Sihan is now in The bakery, he feels sleepy, the day is slow today so there aren't many customers. He sits at the counter waiting for something to happen as he picks out the different sweet beans by colour.

suddenly a ring of the door bell signalling a customer entered, he looks up to see alex entering.

“Alex, it's been a while.” He said calmly.

“Sihan, I see the bakery is flourishing as always.” He smiles while taking off his coat.

“Yes, is there anything you'd like? How are the boys? Noah hasn't been seeing much of them.” Sihan inquires.

Alex looks at Sihan observing, “they are fine, there is… It's… just some household situation you know.” Alex said awkwardly.

Sihan goes silent for a moment, as he probably thinks of some argument.

“Oh, well Noah just wants to see them… that's all.”

“Why don't you bring him over? Now that I think about it, you've never brought him over. He goes on trips, my boys visit but I've never seen him over.” Alex said as if realising something.

Sihan is taken aback, Noah can't visit, too much risk. “He is going with friends this evening though.”

“but our sons are friends, in fact. They're so close that they seem like family…”

Sihan still kept his poker face; he feels weird as if Alex is feeling him out.

“Alex, are you okay?”

Alex's eyes darken, “no, lately Nathaniel seems different… cold and I'm not very used to that side of him.”

Sihan is worried for him, he looks at Alex who was using one hand to rub the other. Sihan thinks he doesn't know how to interject but he wants Alex to not be hurt.

“How about I close up early and we hang out?” Sihan said.

“But aren't you busy?”

“No, I'm actually very lonely at the moment.” Sihan said, smiling.

Alex smiles softly, “Sihan I really like you a lot you…”

Sihan blushes returning the smile, “I do too”