The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

As dinner continued, Kato elected to only participate in conversation and not sit at the table. His only true sense of solace was his mother, Athena and Antonio. The three simply looking similar gave him the mercy of seeing a level of family in each. He was mature enough to not simply hate Odele and Bianca for looking like their father. Though he couldn't say he liked them any more than he would an average everyday item. Merely Adonis was that one he hated through and through. A somewhat guilty distaste of his. It reduced him to his bare instinct; hating the man. It boiled Kato down with a fine simmer to the fact that no matter what he did, he was still a 17 year old boy who hated that man. So no, Kato didn't eat with them. He stood off to the side, by the doorway and spoke when spoken to. Otherwise, he did as he was most comfortable doing; standing sentry. The first two to leave were Elena and Adonis, at the request of the man to speak to her after glancing at Kato, they both went into the other room. Kato watched the children reflect their dismay. Except for Antonio.

They were muttering and poking at their food. Small cavils and complaints floated over the table, spoiling the food. Kato had no interest in why, though obeyed when invited to sit. The three older children attempted to empathise and assumed he was scared of being so familiar with his boss and client. Though he'd rather they didn't empathise at all with the likes of him. They wouldn't be the same. And they never would be.

"Can you see with that blindfold?" Bianca implored suddenly, how she pointed towards him with her fork as he pulled back a chair and sat beside the eldest brother.

At first, Kato wasn't willing to respond. Though buying his grace and regarding his future in his plans. It wasn't good to look so incompetent. And the mere glance and gaze at Odele, Kato felt he was assessing what the next few moves would be in this game of chess they seemed to figuratively be playing.

Kato was never fond of the game.

"Yes." He nodded and felt a proper posture,

"How many fingers am I holding up?" She grinned, sticking up two fingers,

"Two," he replied, she put up three more, "five," she put down one, "four," she brought up her second hand and pulled up all ten digits on her hands, "ten." He concluded, she smiled brightly and her hands formed a heart, she cheered,

"Good job!" She congratulated him with a giggle, he nodded and looked towards Athena who was staring at him. There was no one even remotely surprised, though it was Odele who caught everyone's attention with his groan and disregard for his food,

"No!" He exclaimed in agitation, "I don't wanna leave tonight!" He complained.

"Are you going somewhere?" Kato quickly queried. Where they went, he'd have to go.

"Didn't take you for someone who cared," Odele shot back begrudgingly.

"I'll have to accompany you," nonchalantly, he responded to cool down the rising heat of frustration from the boy beside him,

"Oh yeah! Maybe it'll be a good ice breaking experience." Bianca decided to try and mediate.

"But I really can't be asked to book us a hotel." Odele sighed, Athena raised her hand quickly,

"I'll do it!" She offered excitedly. Her siblings felt they knew what she was doing. After all, she never was the one to settle admin. As a model herself, she never really needed to get technical with her prospects. Especially since her father and two younger siblings had done it for her.

"No it's fine. Thinking of you ordering the rooms, you'd blow out thousands." Odele chided in amusement,

"So what, we're millionaires." She shrugged and rested her elbow on the table. She had no regard for money at all.