𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 [𝙴𝙽𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴𝚁𝚈𝙴 #1] 𝙹𝙰𝚈

26.

Sunghoon's

"Mom!" Sungjae ran towards Mom as soon as they entered the house. Dad is with her. Mom smiled thriftily and gave him a warm tight hug.

"Mom." I greeted. She nodded and gestured me to take Sungjae. I suddenly had a feeling that something isn't right. Ate Sungjin has been acting different since yesterday. She even went home last night drunk and wasted.

"Where's Sungjin?" Dad asked. His voice was always been full of authority. With his tone right now, I knew something was going on.

"Sungjae, let's go upstairs?" I tried to convince my brother. He looks a bit confused. "Let's play?" I smiled at him. I hesitantly looked at Mom then she mouthed "please".

"But, I want to be with Mom." Sungjae answered, in the verge of crying. I sighed heavily.

"Manang Dolor, told that kid to go down here. We need to talk." Dad ordered with a firmness in his voice.

"I'm not a kid." Ate Sungjin answered. She's walking down the stairs and looks irritated.

"Sungjae, let's go." This time, I didn't asked him but put an obligatory tone on my voice.

Sungjae looked so confused on what was happening. He is an intelligent kid. I know he isn't unaware that something is wrong right now.

He lifted his arm so I can carry him. I smiled at him and went upstairs. We went to his playroom, aiming to distract him from the things that he should not think of at his age.

"Is Dad mad at Ate?" He asked as soon as we entered the room.

"No, Sungjae. They will just talk." I gave him an assuring smile but he doesn't seem convinced.

"I don't think so." He said shrugging his shoulders. I know he will not believe me. Sungjae is a kind of kid that has a lot of questions and at the same time very observing to what's going on around him.

"What are you building, baby?" I asked him. He's busy now on his lego blocks.

"It's a birthday cake!" He exclaimed excitedly. "It's your birthday tomorrow, Kuya!" He added. Yes, I almost forgot. I'm turning eighteen tomorrow. Time flies so fast, indeed.

"Kuya, you'll invite Ate Christine at your party?" Sungjae asked again.

"Kuya is not sure if there will be a party." I answered him. He stopped on what he is doing.

"But why?" I don't think it's a good timing to hold a party or to celebrate, when obviously there's something going on between Ate Jin and our parents. My birthday isn't that much important at this moment.

"Maybe, next time? I will invite your Ate Christine." I gave him a pat on his head. He didn't answered and just pouted.

I glanced at the clock and it's already nine. I was about to tell Sungjae that it's time to sleep when he yawned.

"Kuya, I'm already sleepy." He brushed his eyes with his hand.

"Let's go to sleep, Sungjae." He nodded.

I stayed at his room and waited for him to doze off. He told me to read his favorite book and before I finished it, he's already sleeping so soundly.

"Goodnight, Sungjae." I kissed his forehead and went to my room.

My phone beeped and Christine's name flashed in the messenger notification. I can't help but to smile.

"Our valentine boy, please don't be absent tomorrow." Tomorrow's Valentine's Day and my birthday.