Wonderwall

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•Wonderwall•

"I felt like choking when I saw him—on the edge of death. As if coming face to face with one of my demons."
-

"What? No warm welcome?" The cockiness of the father's voice sat thickly on his tone, following his face features.

Rose stood behind watching the scene. She spoke no word after Edward claimed that she was just another one of his son's toy—Grayson.

Her eyes scanned the atmosphere—Grayson was long gone upstairs. He ran away and avoided the presence of his father. Her heart swelled. Maybe I should go comfort him.

Seemingly, she only met the father few minutes ago but she could see right away how toxic of a person he was.

"Hey," Lisa came in frame, taking him in her affectionate arms. She doesn't deserve him. Grayson is right.

Rose noticed right away Ethan's eyes and the light wince that he left once watching his parents together. His face was emotionless, almost plain—he couldn't dare step closer towards his father, only welcoming him with a firm shake of a hand.

"Hey dad," he simply said. No I miss you's, no tears of joy and no affection present. Maybe this was always how it's been. Maybe the father didn't let them display their emotions in front of him.

He taught them to be firm, cold and heartless. Maybe this was the definition of how a man should be—to him. This was a reminder that maybe his absence was a blessing after all—a good thing.

Maybe the reason Ethan was the opposite is because he was raised for the most part by his mother. Maybe the reason Grayson was the way he is because he was the most influenced by his father.

It all made sense. This is why Ethan and Grayson coped differently. Rose only been here for a day but seemingly the puzzle was gradually getting unsolved for her.

The loud footsteps from upstairs came clearer as the seconds passed by. She already saw the faint figure of her lover approaching little by little.

Her breathed hitched. Her eyes widened. This was the moment she's been afraid of.

Grayson's company was sensed. Silencing everyone in the room. His father clenched his jaw, standing still with no words muttered.

Grayson's eyes were unpredictable. They couldn't be read at that moment. It scared Rose. She tried to see pain, agony—there was none.

Everyone stood watching him take further steps towards his father. Reaching and becoming closer than ever, he looked him in the eyes—fearless and emotionless.

And once they've become nose to nose, a spit attacked Edward's face. "You," Grayson started, low tone and gritted teeth. "Disgust me."

"Grayson," his mother warned, wanting to step between the two. However, before she even got the chance to, he was long gone upstairs again with a flared nose and white knuckles.

Ethan and Rose's tongue became tied, being lost for words as they initiated eye contact.

The father's expression wasn't surprised. It was almost pissed as he silently wiped the spit off of his face with shut eyes and locked jaw.