i hate everything about you, percy jackson

FOUR. the fault line

FOUR. THE FAULT LINE

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"I'M SORRY FOR YOUR loss. It is an unimaginable pain — what you must be going through."

Matheo Shin was sitting next to aunt as an older man talked to her. She had tears rolling down her face, her pretty makeup washing off slowly.

Matheo remembered watching her do it, mesmerized by the way she seemed so talented. He didn't think it was weird to watch her, but she certainly did. "Stop looking at me."

Matheo peered up at the man, who had a hand over his heart as he closed his eyes. "Ewan was a wonderful man. He will forever be in our hearts." Matheo had heard that name before. It took him a little while to realize it was his dad's real name. He was only three.

He didn't understand why everyone seemed so sad. His dad was just sleeping, right?

"Hana, know that if you need any help taking care of his son, our family would be more than happy to help." The man said kindly, placing a gentle hand on Matheo's head. The young boy smiled at this and looked up. His aunt cleared her throat as she nodded at the man.

"I appreciate it. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thank you." She said, looking at Matheo with a glare. It went unnoticed by everyone.

"I will be taking my leave. I hope this life becomes nicer to you." The man bowed and turned, walking over to where his wife sat, holding their infant daughter. Matheo wondered if he would be able to play with her when they got older.

"You did this to him." Matheo hummed as he shifted in his seat, looking at his aunt. She was angry, and sad, and not pretty. Matheo frowned as he reached up, wiping some of the tears off of her face. "No cry. Not pretty."

The woman only seemed to cry more at that, and Matheo wondered what he had done wrong. He looked around and noticed a box of tissues on a table near them. He got off of his seat and made his way over to them, just barely being able to reach them.

He walked back up to his aunt and held them out to her. She gripped the fabric on her black dress as she looked down at him, her lips curling as she tried to stop crying.

She reached forward and snatched the tissues from him, wiping her tears away. When she pulled the tissue away, it had been stained with black and tan. But she looked pretty now without the black tracks going down her face.

Matheo smiled at her and pointed at her face. "Pretty now." His aunt sniffled and reached forward, picking Matheo up from the ground. She got up from her seat and let him rest on her hip.

"No cry. Happy." Matheo whispered, placing on of his small hands on her face.

"How can I be happy when you took him away from me?"

He didn't understand. . .

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"I WOULDN'T GET TOO close to him if I were you."

"His dad died a few years back. I heard he's the one who did it."