Phil wondered when everything went downhill. Maybe it was yesterday, or maybe it was 5 years ago.
"Tommy!" Wilbur's cry startled Phil out from his thoughts, the brunette rushing over to his younger brother like a man reuniting with his long-lost missing baby brother who was raised by forest animals.
"Wil... Hey..." Tommy shifted his gaze to the wall, guilty of breaking his brother's promise.
Well, promises were made to be broken, anyway. A gentle smile of the past briefly appeared on his mind before he pushed it away.
"Tommy, why didn't you answer our calls?" Wilbur asked his brother softly, but noticed how the young blonde stepped back once he walked closer to him. Tommy had never done that... Not to him.
"Uh... Could we... Not talk about this right now?" Tommy tried his best not to sound rude. He's had a bad day, and he's not really up for a conversation with his family right now.
"Tommy." Phil stood up from his chair. His voice sounded almost... caring...
Tommy scoffed at his caring tone. He would have never expected such a voice from a father whose neglected him for years.
Not that he would fall for it, of course.
"Tommy, you've been acting strange since---" Tommy quickly walked past Phil before he could finish his sentence.
"Sorry, gotta go. Good night!" Tommy shouted at the three men as he ran up the stairs frantically, a few leaves and branches falling out of his pocket. And especially, a conspicuous, fresh tulip flower.
None of the men noticed the flower though as they were still trapped in a trance of shock and bewilderment. Well, except for Techno, of course.
Techno quietly sighed, irritatedly puzzled about his troublesome family situation he and his nosy twin brother had accidentally gotten themselves into. His head would always hurt whenever he tried to solve the mystery surrounding his household.
Silence covered the entire house from the ceilings to the corners. That is, until a certain greek mythology fanatic spoke up.
"....Who's up for a hot chocolate?" His nonchalant tone echoing throughout the walls received scrutinizing gazes in return. What? Did they not like hot chocolate?
Wilbur looked back to his tea placed on the table, and seemed hesitant for a second. "...Yes, please." He finally nodded his head in desperate agreement.
From out of nowhere, Wilbur suddenly felt his neck go cold. He turned his head to the culprit, and was met with Phil's stare of betrayal.
"What?" Wilbur coughed back.
"...." Phil dropped his gaze. "Nothing. Make me one too." He spun his head towards Techno.
Techno smiled at their silly interaction, adding in a snarky comment of his own. "Dad, you're still 38 years old. Don't act so elderly."
Phil blushed again in embarrassment, wanting to bite back but couldn't. It was too difficult to find at least one of Techno's weaknesses.
Or even remember them.
...Remember them?
Phil was struck by a sudden pang of guilt. How could he not remember his son's childhood memories?
His thoughts were constantly full of work, work, and work, so much that he forgot about his son's childhood.
Even a madman would know that didn't make sense at all. Who liked boring, dull work that much anyway?
