Shutter

Chapter 26 - Act 5

[Act 5 - Soren Chandler, Age 16]

Nightfall came and it was time for dinner. The table was set by the butlers while Mikhail and the maids did the cooking.

"Hmm... Something smells good..." Soren just waltzed into the kitchen after an afternoon-long hide in his room. His mood had obviously brightened after his thought contemplation once he knew what to do now.

There was no rush. He had three months to himself and enjoy Mikhail's company.

Soren then went to where Mikhail was cooking and he stood behind the man's back. He looked over his shoulders and saw that it was beef stew he was cooking for dinner.

"You're a great cook," he muttered in Mikhail's ear which caused the latter to laugh at the compliment.

"Do you want to cook?"

"Can I?" Nodding his head, Mikhail was about to give Soren the wooden spoon he was using when all of a sudden, Soren's arms went under his and grabbed the hand that held the spoon.

From the perspective of others, it looked like Soren was back-hugging Mikhail. The maids and butlers on standby glanced at the two before reverting their eyes back to what they were doing and their positions.

Throughout the years they have served the young master and the two heirs, they have gotten used to this sight already. Ever since Mikhail met Soren on that one fateful day after successfully escaping a bomb-strapped car, he had shown great care for the young Soren.

Years have passed and his treatment never changed. Maybe, for Mikhail, Soren was still a young kid that he needed to watch over because it was just in the previous two years that Soren had gained a positive mental state.

Even as Soren grew into a fine, young man that was taller than Mikhail, the latter still treated him like a child and everyone had been accustomed to this practice.

"You're stirring too much. Go sit down while I finish this in a few minutes," Mikhail instructed as he slapped Soren's hand away because it looked like he was playing with the beef stew by making a whirlpool in the pot.

"Nan, can you hand me the salt and pepper, please? It's a little bland."

"Here you go."

"Thanks, Nan."

"You're welcome, dear."

The subtle conversation in the background continued as Soren sat in his usual seat and opened his phone. Messages were flooding in from people at school inviting him to various parties and getouts.

He simply left the messages on read because he wasn't interested in going with them.

"..." Soren contemplated for a while before opening his phone again and the messages he left on read.

Right. His hyung and brother won't be in school the next opening anymore and he has to maintain his friendship with these guys. So, at the very least, he had to respond to them, right?

He started tapping on the keyboard.

"I'm sorry, guys. My hyung is here. Had to spend summer with him before he went to uni :("

Everyone in school knew the trio. While Mikhail and Allistair were seniors, Soren was the youngest member who was in tenth grade. They hung out at lunch always and would also go home together.

Once he was done texting them, Soren went back to listening to the conversation of the maids and Mikhail.

"Have you packed your things yet, dear?"