A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

Stunned

As I accompanied Jess to our house, memories flooded back as soon as I stood in front of our fancy gate. Despite my brief conversation with my father last time, where he asked me to come back home, I refused. The house still felt uneasy to me.

"Jess, I... I'm not sure I can do this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It's okay, Ryu. I'm here with you," Jess reassured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I took a deep breath and nodded, mustering up the courage to enter. Together, we walked through the familiar gates and into the grand foyer of the house.

"It feels strange being back here," I confessed, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Jess replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

One of our gardeners spotted me and greeted me warmly. I struggled to place her at first, as we had many gardeners. But then she said, "Is it you, Ryu?" It was Ms. Jane, who had been working with us since my dad was young. Her presence was comforting, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Ms. Jane, it's been too long," I said, returning her warm smile.

"Indeed it has, dear. You've grown into quite the young lady," Ms. Jane remarked, her eyes twinkling with affection.

Jess had already gone inside, but I lingered to chat with Ms. Jane. She mentioned a flower that she had planted when I was little and how it had grown so big now. It touched my heart that even though I wasn't home, she still cared for my flower as if I were.

"Do you remember that little rose bush you planted when you were just a girl? Look at it now, thriving and blooming!" Ms. Jane exclaimed, gesturing towards the blooming bush.

"I do remember! It's amazing how something so small can grow into something so beautiful," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips.

Much like me, Ms. Jane had been a constant presence in my life. She had always been there for us, speaking to me even when I didn't talk much as a child. She was like a mother figure to me, especially since ours had passed away when I was young. Her constant presence by my side brought back a flood of memories.

"Ms. Jane, thank you... for everything. For being here for us, for taking care of me," I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

"Oh, my dear, it's been my pleasure. You and Jess are like family to me. I've always seen you as my own," Ms. Jane replied, her eyes misty with emotion.

She asked if I was planning to live at home again, but I shook my head. Still, she expressed her happiness that I looked healthy and could live on my own now. She asked if I could visit more often, and I promised I would try.

"Ryu, dear, are you planning to stay for a while? Your room is just how you left it," Ms. Jane inquired, her tone hopeful.

"No, I can't. I appreciate the offer, but... I have my own life now. But I promise I'll visit more often, okay?" I replied, offering her a small smile.

In the midst of our conversation, my aunt suddenly appeared, her anger palpable. She accused me of brainwashing Jess to leave as well. Before I could even respond, she slapped me, leaving me stunned and hurt.

"Auntie, no! I didn't do anything! Jess made her own decision," I protested, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Don't lie to me! You've always been a troublemaker. I won't let you ruin our family!" my aunt shouted, her voice filled with rage.

With tears in my eyes, I turned away, unable to bear the accusations any longer. Jess rushed to my side, trying to calm our aunt down.

"Auntie, please, stop! Ryu didn't do anything wrong. We both made this decision together," Jess pleaded, her voice shaking with emotion.

"No, Jess, you're just confused. You'll see soon enough that Ryu's influence is toxic," my aunt insisted, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Let's go, Jess. We don't need to be here," I said softly, feeling defeated.

Jess took my hand, and together we walked away from the house, leaving behind the hurtful accusations and the painful memories. But even as we left, I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and the sting of my aunt's slap.

---

Back at our apartment, Jess and I sat in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't believe what had just happened. My aunt's accusations had hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me reeling with hurt and confusion.

"Ryu, I'm so sorry," Jess said softly, breaking the silence

Lexa's concerned voice broke through the silence as she rushed over to me, her eyes wide with worry. "Ryu, what happened? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

I struggled to find the words to respond, still in shock from what had just transpired. Beside me, Jess remained silent, her expression a mixture of sadness and resignation.

Lexa's gaze intensified as she noticed the redness on my face. "Did someone slap you?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief and anger.

Jess took a deep breath before responding, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "It was my mother," she admitted, her words hanging heavy in the air.

A heavy silence settled over us, the weight of Jess's confession filling the room. Lexa's expression softened as she took in the gravity of the situation, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding.

"I'm so sorry, Jess," Lexa said softly, reaching out to offer her comfort. "No one should ever have to go through something like that."

I nodded in agreement, grateful for Lexa's support in that moment. Despite the pain and confusion swirling inside me, her presence brought a sense of calm and reassurance.

As the tension began to ease, Jess attempted to lighten the mood with a joke, her words infused with a hint of sarcasm. "Well, I guess now I have a good reason to run home," she quipped, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

A soft chuckle escaped Lexa's lips, her laughter mingling with Jess's in the quiet room. Despite the heaviness of the situation, their shared moment of levity brought a sense of relief and camaraderie.

At that moment, I realized how lucky I was to have both Jess and Lexa by my side. Their unwavering support and understanding helped me navigate through life's challenges, even in the darkest of times. As we shared in that brief moment of laughter, I felt a glimmer of hope amidst the pain and uncertainty.