MY FATE

Chapter 23- Degrading

"Why?"

Hiroki looked behind and saw Mikarin. He quickly flipped his head towards Hakuto and didn't say anything.

Hakuto looked at Mikarin and said," Because I said so."

"Oh please, dad. He doesn't need any of this. Rather he doesn't deserve any of this. Why did you even decide to bring him back? We were all very much happy without him here. And now look, no one is even ready to eat together."

Hakuto frowned at Mikarin's words." Don't say such things about your brother."

"He is not my brother. Never was. He caused our family so much sadness. He is just a selfish brat who just thinks about him-"

"Mikarin! Enough! This isn't the time to talk about this. Call everyone for dinner."

Mikarin was relectuant but then also left.

Hiroki sat there silently while listening his sister degrade him like that. He thought he deserved it.

Hakuto looked at Hiroki. He wanted to comfort him but didn't know what to say. They were never close to each other. Rather Hiroki was never close to any of his parents.

Hiroki said," I don't need all of this. I was doing fine before coming here. Pl-"

"You were doing fine? Really? How long do you intend to hide the damn fact that you suffered from a major heart attack or that you are on the waiting list for almost three years? Why do you have so much ego? Why didn't you come back? It would have been much more better than now!"

Hiroki was angry." For whom it would be better? You and your family or me? You ask me why I have so much ego then why didn't you try contacting me all this time? And I never intended to hide any thing  from you. You just never cared to ask me."

Hiroki got up and continued," And yes, I was doing fine without your help all this time. That's why I don't need any of those people you are providing me. What you have done is already more than I expected so don't bother to do anything more. Also, I will eat dinner in the room you provided me and not with everyone else so as to not cause you any inconvenience."

He left after saying this.

"Hiroki wai-" 

Before Hakuto could say anything Hiroki was gone. He sat back with a tensed expression. He didn't mean to say such words to him but couldn't help getting mad at Hiroki for not saying anything about his health all this time.

Mikarin listened to all of the conversation from dark corner. She thought,' What waiting list?'

Hiroki reached at his room and went directly into the bathroom. He turned on the knob of the sink and started splashing cold water on his face. He did so for long time before calming down. He looked at his image in the mirror and couldn't help cursing it ,' Look how ungrateful you are. Your dad is doing so many things for you and you are getting mad at trivial matter. You really deserve to be abandoned. You don't deserve their kindness. You are just an eyesore. Yo-'

"Young master Hiroki."

Hiroki looked towards bathroom's door. He took a towel, wiped his face and came out. Aunt Min was standing there with a tray. She smiled at him politely and said," I brought you your dinner. You must be hungry."

She started arranging the dishes at the small table present in front of the sofa.

Hiroki stared at her for a while, then went in his walk in closet to change his clothes.

Aunt Min stood there and thought,' Why was young master splashing water like that? Is he alright?'

Hiroki returned back and sat down in front of the table(gap between sofa and table) and said," Thank you."

"Ah! You don't need to thank me. This is my job."

Hiroki smiled," Please, next time don't bring so much food. My appetite is less and I don't want to waste any food by not eating it."

" But young master, you need to eat at least this much. Well then, I will bring more light food for next time so you can eat this much and will also get a lot of nutrition.'

Hiroki couldn't help but smiling at her more brightly. It had been so long since anyone care for him like this. He felt really happy.

He ate his dinner while chatting happily with Aunt Min. He even offered her to eat with him but she declined firmly saying it was against her job rules. Hiroki found her expressions funny while saying so and laughed a bit.

While cleaning the table she noticed the IV drip on his hand and couldn't help but asking," Young master, is your health really bad that you have to wear that thing on your arm."

Hiroki stared at the IV tube and said," It isn't bad. This thing just make it look like it it is bad."

"Young master is truly strong. I wouldn't have been able to wear it at all. "

Hiroki couldn't help shaking his head," Aunt Min."

"Hmm?"

"Stop calling me young master. It really makes me feel uncomfortable. Call me Hiroki or Hiro."

Aunt Min said, surprised," But you are my young master, young master!"

Hiroki said teasingly," If you won't stop calling me that then I will call you Madam Min."

"What?! Why would you say that? I am your servant. You deserve respect as you are my master."

"Who taught you such things? And you are not my servant but my helper. Also, not every master deserves respect."

Aunt Min looked at him in surprise and couldn't help smiling.

"Then, I will call you Hiro when no one is around and young master in front of others."

"Agreed."

They chit-chatted for some more time and Aunt Min then left to complete her remaining chores.

Hiroki took his medicines when a message popped up on his mobile........

Character Introduction

Aunt Min :

A really lively person. Is married to her wife happily and has two kids. She loves flowers a lot and also respects Hiroki a lot. Doesn't like when anyone bad mouth Hiroki.

Age: 54y.o