Unexpected Cohabitation

Part 3

This can't be happening...

They can't agree to this. Young Master is their favourite child, after all. His siblings also adore him. They cannot abandon him.

I know they won't.

They know Young Master hasn't worked a single day in his life. His school results were terrible. He doesn't have any particular skills either. Young Master doesn't even get dressed on his own!

As my worry increases, my pleading gaze finds Young Master whose eyes tear away from mine that very moment. I follow his line of sight, only to be met with his parents' backs. Even though I know they can't see me, my pleading eyes stay on them. I am too scared to blink.

"How would abandoning Young Master right now be any different from driving him to his death?"

There's no way Madam and Mr. will take his words seriously and act on them.

But I'm once again proven wrong when Madam stands up. Wiping her tears away furiously, she says, "You'd rather severe ties with your own family than admit your wrongs? All right then. I'll consider I never had a son from this moment onward!"

The declaration was made out loud. However, her back was turned when she said that last part. It was obvious how she couldn't bring herself to say it while looking at Young Master-- her most cherished child--in the eye.

"Aga--"

Mr. Gartner starts hesitantly. Seeing the conflicted look on his face, I perked up fully expecting him to smooth things over. But Madam cuts him off by raising her hand while turning her face to the other side. He couldn't even call out her full name...

"Let him leave. He's no longer a Gartner. He can go wherever he wants, but he's going with only the things he has on his back."

Madam went from swaying slightly to walking with a little bit more firmness in her steps by the time she reached the main staircase.

Looking down from the floor above, with the sterness she reserves to those she's unfamiliar with, she warns, "Make sure everything he leaves in returns to this house within two days. Since he's no longer a Gartner, he should leave without anything that belongs to a Gartner."

Unlike with those she's unfamiliar with, Madam didn't have any coldness in her voice, but her voice wasn't soft either.

Still, Madam disappears from our sight after saying her part. She left without casting a second glance towards Young Master.

I want to see Young Master's face to see his reaction in front of his mother's attitude. When I lower my head again to do just that, I realize Mr. Gartner has moved from his initial spot, probably he was about to go after his wife but stopped in his track for a reason I can't figure out.

Mr. Gartner stayed rooted in place for a while. It seemed like he was on the verge of turning his face to Young Master but he ended up stopping himself midway. Then, he walked away as well.

He didn't follow after his wife. Instead, he chose to shut himself in his study. Mr. Gartner always buries himself in work when he doesn't want to deal with his feelings. Madam is the one who usually drags him out and helps ease his worries.

I look up once more. There's no one in sight, though I hear the distant sound of a door being locked while another closes closes shut not too far where I stand.

I don't think things will be the same this time around. Mr. Gartner might end up spending the night here if Madam doesn't personally come for him.

The intensifying sobs of Young Master's sister brings me back from my thoughts. Yet, no matter how hard she cried, she didn't reach out to Young Master. All she did was glance at him before she, once again, buried herself in her husband's chest.

I felt slightly annoyed at her for her reaction. From the way she acted, it felt as though looking at him shattered her heart. A part of me kept saying I shouldn't blame her, but a louder voice asked:

"What about Young Master's heart?"

I didn't want to see her anymore.

Young Master didn't waste any more time here, either. As soon as his father walked away, he started making his way towards me. No. He started making his way towards the door.

While one door closed shut while another was being locked, I watched as Young Master walked past me with his head held high. His face showed hints of boredom, but I knew better than to go simply based off what he was willing to let out.

Although I quickly shook the thought away, I can deny that his outer demeanour in that moment reminded me of Madam's, not even five minutes ago.

My fingers squeezed the cassette--the only thing that could have stopped the situation from escalating to this point.

In the end, I ignored my desire to rush to Mr. Gartner and show him the video; I chose to follow after Young Master instead.

As I walk behind Young Master, the wailing of his elder sister intensifying further in the background, I don't know whom to pity.

Should I feel bad for all of them? I'm not sure. All I know is that I can barely bring myself to not swear at them for being stupid, as I try to reign in the anger building inside of me.

Does the fact that I instinctively sided with Young Master come from the fact that we grew up together?

I mean, even if I can't really call our relationship a friendship, I did spend most of my time by his side ever since our first meeting. I'm sure this has got to count for something.

Well, regardless of the reason, even though deep down I know all of them are suffering, somehow Young Master is the only one I want to comfort.