What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

An Overturn

Indoors, a wind whooshes and passes off in a specific direction. Thinking back, Joell looked like she wanted to flee, but her being stuck in Sov's embrace had her feet glued to the tiles of the dining hall and frozen in time.

The two talk a lot. It's best to assume no one else here is visible, none here are more important, or rather, time apart had them obsessing for a conversation, in Sov's case at most. Joell just looks like a face of guilt, the feelings a little too heavy for her to hide with a mask.

Looking down in my arms, baby Esden coos, drool dripping from his mouth. A smile unconsciously lifts my lips; he wouldn't let go of my finger with his small hands.

It's been a stressful couple of months since he's been happy about me holding him. The number of check-ups didn't solve anything until- My eyes looked to Joell, who was being pushed down into a chair, guilty of something I still can't point out, she looked like she wanted to run away.

The slight movement of her head had me looking back down at baby Esden faster than existence itself. I checked from my peripheral vision, the begging look in her eyes to help her out of here wasn't missed.

My eyebrows pinched into the middle at the thought. What's worrying her so mu-- Nevermind worrying about someone else's worry. The mere thought should not exist.

I waved a hand and everyone in the kitchen came out with hot and ready dishes of different cultural food, just when everyone was seated. The hall quiets down as the food keeps coming out, every few head turns, some looking at me. Did I go overboard with the many dishes to be made?

"Are you seeing this?" I hear a whisper from behind, "My eyes are forced open with the help of invisible matches ..." I hear a reply in disbelief; a reference from Tom and Jerry.

"Do you think he request such a big dinner because of the honorable guest? All of different cultural buffet too!"

"You best believe!-" The exaggeration hushes deeply, "A woman who's not possibly his mother could calm his cryings with just her presence, if his father-"

"Buys him the entire world he still won't quiet down a nibble!" The other finishes.

"Ahem." In a second they both shut up faster than their hunger being filled up, everyone else's eyes were on me.

"Something stuck in your throat?" I look to see Sov asking, in my peripheral vision Joell stares at me unblinkingly but the moment I look back her eyes drift to Esden. When I follow her eyes again and then look into them, she looks elsewhere.

She doesn't normally avoid me.

"Yes, -" I look behind me, at the ones who shut their mouths faster than the beginning of life, "I'm well." I finish my sentence looking at Sov, turning a blink of attention to Joell whose entire attention is on her interlocking fingers under the table.

Everyone was ready to dig in before Esden reminded everyone he's still here. My son slaps around me, angry for something. Looking to the direction that curiosity hits; Joell's chin is supported by her hand, staring at Esden with cute chuckles.

Esden doesn't see her but he looks around like he knows the voice by heart. The close attention from somewhere breaks my gaze, looking ahead I see Sov smiling through the action of sipping her wine before looking towards her steak and cutting through it as slow as the frozen of time but she eats it like time was never frozen.

My emotions are back in check. "Is his milk ready yet?" I raised a hand to remind them with my palm open, my throat itching to cough.

Footsteps here and there chased the hall. Sounds like someone must've forgotten with their attention visible only to gossip. By the time Esden's milk was in my hand I had to decide how long I needed to stay here. I'm still in suits, which is terribly uncomfortable, my jacket still on and all's too tight.