No Angels

.chapter twenty-six.

Sharon's house was small, but well-decorated.

Handmade wooden baskets were nailed to the walls, and other handicrafts like cushions covers, rugs and table runners decorated every bit of the old, vintage furniture.

Drawings adorned the walls, - some of them looked very expensive - most of them childlike scribbles or doodles.

I'd recognize the art style anywhere.

It was nice to see that Ken was able to add his own touch to his new home.

Sharon led us into the dining room - it was actually the living room and the kitchen combined. Somehow, with careful planning and arranging, Sharon had managed to make the apartment look spacious.

I noticed that she had set the table for three before we'd arrived.

"Where's Ken?" I asked, wondering why the house had gotten so quiet suddenly.

"Probably upstairs drawing with his sister."

What?

"Sister?"

Sharon nodded, getting out extra cutlery and tableware from the cupboard underneath the sink.

"My daughter, Mae. From my first and only marriage."

"I didn't know you had a daughter," I said, feeling horrible. "I didn't bring anything for her -"

"You don't have to." Sharon turned to me and smiled. "Call them, if you want. They're most likely in their room. Second to your left."

I nodded, then turned to Ravi.

"Your boy can help me set the table," Sharon said, as if reading my mind. "He won't mind. Won't you, Ronald?"

Ravi looked surprised - and a tad bit wary.

"It's Ravi, ma'am," he said politely.

"That's what I said."

Ravi shot me a pleading look, but I was already halfway up the stairs.

"You'll survive," I said to him, and saw him roll his eyes.

The second floor was short and small - it consisted of two bedrooms and one bathroom.

I found Ken's room easily enough - it had a drawing of a skull with a red X on it for danger taped onto the door. The words "No Entry" was scribbled along the bottom of the paper.

I heard soft laughter coming from the room and hesitated.

They both love you.

Ravi's words echoed through my mind, and I willed myself forward, stepping into the room.

The laughter ceased.

"Um...hi," I said awkwardly.

The room was bright, painted a vibrant baby-blue with hand-painted clouds all around the sides. Pictures littered one side of the wall, where a bed with a race car frame sat. On the other side of the room was another bed, this time with a castle frame.

It was on this bed that I found Ken, seated on the edge, a sketchpad open across his knees.

A slight girl of maybe four or five was bundled up in a hand-woven quilt, her dainty face upturned towards the boy's voice. She had long, white hair - almost as silvery as Ravi's - and it made her look all the more tiny and fragile.

Ken looked up absently, and I had the pleasure of seeing his face light up.

"HYUNG!"

Before I knew it, tiny insistent hands wrapped around my midriff, cutting off the flow of blood.