Namtan's sudden return sends shockwaves through Earth. Her presence alone brings a whirlwind of emotions that Earth thought he had put behind him.
Earth stands frozen, his mind racing as he processes the sight of Namtan in his home after so many years. She had walked away-left him and Edin behind when things got hard-and he had long stopped expecting her to come back. But now here she is, looking remorseful, with soft eyes that plead for forgiveness.
"Hi," Namtan begins, her voice shaky.
Earth furrows his forehead, confusion vivid in his face. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Earth." Namtan says, not quite answering the question. "I know I messed up. I left, and I shouldn't have. But I've been thinking about Edin every day, and I want to make it right. I want to be in his life."
Earth feels like he's been hit with a tidal wave. He doesn't trust her words, not yet. Too much time has passed, and her abandonment still stings. Namtan just opened up old wounds.
But, deep down, Earth also knows that Edin has a right to know his mother. As a father, he has to put Edin's well-being above his own feelings, but as a person, he's filled with doubt, anger, and confusion.
"It's not that easy, Namtan. After all those times..." Earth says, his voice filled with bitterness. "I don't know if I can let you back in like that. It's been years. I've been raising him alone. You can't just show up and expect everything to go back to how it was."
Namtan's eyes shimmer with unshed tears as she gazes at Earth, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I know, Earth. I don't expect it to be easy. I don't expect you to forgive me right away." She swallows, her gaze briefly shifting to the ground before lifting again, pleading. "But I want to be there for him now. I want to try."
Earth stands frozen in the doorway, his mind spinning with too many thoughts, too many emotions. He opens his mouth but no words come. The familiar weight of responsibility for Edin collides with the shock of Namtan's sudden return. All he can do is stare at her, his silence heavy and palpable.
Namtan lifts her hand hesitantly, revealing a neatly wrapped gift. "It's Edin's birthday," she says, her voice softer now, almost tentative. "Please... tell him about me. Soon."
The words hang in the air, thick with unspoken meaning.
Earth doesn't reach for the gift, doesn't move at all, lost in his internal chaos.
It's Mix who steps forward, his gaze flickering between the two, understanding the weight of the moment. He takes the gift gently from Namtan's outstretched hand, his fingers brushing against the box and the awkward tension between them seems to shift.
Namtan's eyes linger on Mix a second too long, filled with curiosity, maybe even something like bewilderment. Her gaze is searching, as if trying to decipher what Mix means to Earth and how he fits into this new dynamic.
Mix holds her gaze, but his own thoughts are muddled, unsure of what she's trying to see in him.
"I'll be going then," Namtan finally says, breaking the silence. Her voice wavers slightly, and she glances at Earth one last time, hoping for something-anything-that would offer reassurance. But Earth's eyes remain downcast, fixed on the floor, unwilling or unable to meet hers..
Namtan turns and walks away, her footsteps soft yet echoing with the weight of her departure. The door clicks shut behind her, and the sound reverberates in the quiet space.
Earth leans heavily against the door, sliding down to the floor as if the strength has left his body entirely. He sits there, eyes closed, exhaling slowly, the exhaustion of the moment pressing down on him like a crushing force. He looks lost, like the ground beneath him is unstable and about to give way.
