chapter 76

Sihan was outside the hospital lawn, taking a break he felt a bit tired after an all night burner.

He was really alarmed, the doctors said that he'll be okay that his body just overexerts Itself. They said after a few days of rest and relaxation he will be okay, Sihan is not surprised. Amani is just that person he'd work hard at his own expense, his eyes tearing up.

He wonders will it also be like this in the future? Will have to worry about Amani working himself to death?

Sihan wipes the tears that were about to fall but when looks up once more his body tense up seeing Nathaniel's father and grandfather.

He wants to hide, it's one thing if Nathaniel sees and knows he is here but it's another if it's his parents.

Where can he hide? Please don't let them see him!

Nathaniel's father's eyes soon turn to meet Sihan, who in turn holds his breath. The man didn't say anything as if not recognizing him turns back to the man in the wheelchair entering the hospital.

Sihan's body is tense, why? Why?! Just when he thought things could work out…

Sihan could remember it, the day, the day he met Nathaniel's father… They kidnapped him in broad daylight and were going to throw him on the operation table if Nathaniel hadn't come in time… he'd lose… he'd lose Noah.

‘Don't take Noah from me, don't take my Noah.’

Tears were falling uncontrollably, as he felt his chest tighten. He can't breathe, he can't breathe!

He needs to calm down, he needs to for Noah. He is not that same teenager as before, soon he calms himself down. He will not lose, he promised himself.

Noah was in the large kitchen with Ashton, they were being supervised by the nanny as the young master (Ashton) cooks.

Ashton feels nervous, carefully preparing the ingredients as he feels Noah's observant eyes. He knows he is a big foodie with a mom who cooks great meals so his food must be perfect.

After finishing he preps their table and Noah must say, he felt useless, he had no basic survival instinct, he can't cook, never really tried cleaning much less preparing and setting a meal. It was now that Noah realized he was a very privileged child and spoiled rotten.

“Ah… let me help!”

Ashton was startled seeing Noah take the dish from him helping setting the table, he carefully listened to the instructions of Ashton and soon upon finishing he noticed how neat and lovely the table was soon he sits and Ashton too sits.

“What made you so interested in cooking though?” Noah was looking at the delicious chow Mein.

Ashton smiles, twisting the chopsticks as he begins, “because, you like food and dad loves my cooking, I make his lunches every now and then.” Ash brags.

Noah looks around surp before adding “now that I think about it… I Don't see your mom”

Noah thinks Ashton had a cool Mom, he was very energetic but reality was cruel to him to give him a husband like his.

Soon the atmosphere becomes heavy as Noah notices Ashton's apparent frown.

Soon something triggers inside the mind of Ashton, “Sorry kid, I love but not enough to stay.”

“Mommy left, he couldn't stay anymore.” He said.

Noah feels bad, he guess they divorced its best to not pry further into it. But he was glad, when came here once he remembered a traumatizing image.

“Let's enjoy dinner,”

Ashton nodded but then said, “Noah, don't ever leave me okay?”

Noah tilts his head, “why would I? we are friends”.

Ashton smiles warmly then laughs, ‘Noah, let's never path. So don't… don't abandon me’

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Josh was piling some oranges for Arian, the air around them was thick and eerie, soon Josh began to break down as his arms felt weak.

“Your mom and I are getting a divorce.” Josh said, trying to hold it in.

Arian doesn't understand why Josh is crying, he seems like he hates Sofia more than anything, it's like he was always waiting on her to divorce, Arian can say Sofia wants him but he can't say the same for his father, he disappears off to work or to have an affair. When he is around he avoids staying with them. So why I'd he crying now?

“But you hate Sofie,” he said.

Josh pauses sniffling a bit, “it does come off as that way does it? Who am I kidding, you saw us.”

Arian looks at Josh firmly, “Josh, it's good for the divorce, I'm tired.”

Josh sighs, “Ari adult life isn't so simple, it's complicated.”

“Then let me understand, eventually I'll become an adult one day.” He said softly.

It's easier to converse with Josh, it's easier for him to feel guilty about his actions.

“That's why I don't want you to rush, I want you to be a happy child.”

“How can I be happy, when my surroundings don't?  how can I be, all I am is confused? and the adults won't help me to understand? Tell me Josh, how can I  be when you hold such heavy secrets that dangle in front of me?”

Josh bites his lip softly then smiles warily, “Julio is not my biological son, you see, I've never told you how we got together have I?”

Arian shakes his head.

“Arian, when I was young I was a little more wilder than now, I was also reckless and carefree so when your mother came to me about being pregnant. I had no reason to doubt because… I knew who I was, our family social status couldn't allow such disgrace and so we married. I'd vow to be faithful and cherish her and think we were genuinely happy… until you were 3.”

Arian knows that incident when he “fell” down that tumble of stairs.

“We were terrified, I was scared to lose and all that test, I was glad you made it out mostly well, so just to make sure I had Julio run the test and body scans for him to be okay, no sickness or unidentified illness, only for me to look at his blood charts.” Josh took a deep breath continuing, “Julio wasn't mine, I felt something broke inside of me, but I'd never say anything about because I love him, but I know your mother if we get a divorce she'd take you guys away from especially with my continuous way life, can fight you but Julio I'll lose in this struggle… Arian, believe me when I say this I love the both of you.”

Arian couldn't say anything, he wished he could but by the end what can he say?

The world of adults is crazy and honestly he is not looking forward to it.