Keifer's POV
New house. This isn't the same as our old house, but it's still big. Though, the old one was bigger.
"Mom... Who lives here?" Keigan asked.
"No one. It used to be my parents' house, but they are dead." Mom answered.
Mom stopped the car in the garage. The front yard of the house was spacious. Two women and two men greeted us.
"Good morning, Ma'am Serina!" they greeted Mom as we got out of the car.
"Good morning as well. Are the rooms ready?"
Mom and the woman talked for a while. Meanwhile, the two men took our bags from the car.
"Kuya..." Keigan called me. "...Do you think there's a ghost here?"
I shook my head. "Ghosts are not real."
After talking, Mom signaled us to go inside, and we followed. To be honest, it was only now that I realized how big the house was for all of us.
Mom led us to our rooms. It wasn't as big as my old room, but I liked it more.
I saw Keigan standing by my bedroom door.
"Do you want to sleep here?" I asked him.
He nodded and immediately ran to my bed and lay down. But even though I was tired, I couldn't fall asleep. I was still thinking so many things.
One question kept running in my mind. What now?
"Your house is so cool!" Percy said excitedly.
"Psh! Kid..." Yuri commented.
I looked behind them. Someone was missing—Aries.
"He's not here," Yuri said when he noticed I was looking for someone.
"Why? Where did he go?"
"His whole family went back to the province. Something happened to his cousin—what was his name again?—Jay-R? Jayson? Tsk! Whatever, it starts with J!" Percy explained.
He has a cousin? He never mentioned that before. Anyway, I let it go and invited them inside.
There were many maids and butlers cleaning the house. Mom brought back the old house staff so we'd have company at home.
"Where are we going?" Percy asked.
"I want to show you something," I answered and kept walking.
We headed straight to the basement and stopped in front of a door. I opened it, revealing my discovery.
An instant hangout spot!
The room was fully equipped.
jThe room was fully equipped. A billiard table, a bar at the corner, a sofa set, and a flat-screen TV. I might as well have a large speaker and a game console installed here.
Percy suddenly clapped in excitement. "Bro! Is it my birthday?! Why are you giving me a present?!"
"Tss... This is for all of us. Not just for you," I said while shaking my head.
"Such a killjoy. You should've just played along," he said and walked right in.
Yuri and I just let him be. We stayed by the door, watching him.
"How is your Mom?" Yuri asked me.
"She's fine. A bit busy because of this house."
"How about Keigan?"
I paused. How is Keigan? He's not alright. Something is wrong with him.
"I'm not sure."
"What are your plans about your Dad?" Percy suddenly butted in.
"Mom and I haven't talked about that yet."
I knocked on Mom's bedroom door. No one answered, so I opened it. She wasn't in bed, so I walked towards her walk-in closet, thinking that maybe she was there. But before I could take a step, I heard someone throwing up in the bathroom.
"Mom!" I shouted while running toward the restroom. "...Mom! Is there a problem?"
I kept knocking on the door, but she wasn't answering. Fear started creeping in.
I must've stood there for a few minutes before the door suddenly opened on its own. Mom faced me with a smile.
"I'm okay," she greeted me.
"Since when was throwing up considered okay? Let's go to the hospital."
She shook her head and smiled. "I already went."
"You did? What did they say?" I asked worriedly.
Even though we were no longer under that man's control, I still worried about her. Sometimes, she preferred staying silent instead of telling us how she felt.
"They said it's normal. Especially for someone who's two weeks pregnant."
Pregnant?
Speechless. That's what it is . I didn't know what to say. Not that I wasn't happy—it just caught me off guard.
Mom suddenly laughed at me. "The look on your face, son. Don't you want a sibling?"
I shook my head. "Not that I don't want to. But... I... I... don't exactly know what to say."** I forced a smile.
She hugged me tight. "Please... help me take care of your new brother."
I hugged her back. "I will."
Mom's belly was huge. So this is what pregnancy looks like. Then in a few months, the baby will be born.
"When will you give birth?" Keigan asked Mom.
"In two months," she answered with a big smile. "...Are you excited to see Keiren?"
I looked at her, confused. "Keiren?"
"That will be your baby brother's name. Mike Keiren Watson."
Nice name. But it felt weird. I think Mom is obsessed with the initials M and K.
My name is Mark Keifer, while Keigan is Mir Keigan, and now my new baby brother is Mike Keiren. What's with the M and K?
One of the maids walked toward Mom and whispered in her ear. Mom nodded and forced a smile.
"Is there a problem?" I asked her.
She stood up and signaled us to follow her. I felt uneasy. As if I wasn't going to like what was about to happen.
We went straight to the house lobby. The door opened, and I was shocked when the person I hated the most walked in.
"What is he doing here?!" I asked angrily.
"Keifer... That's still your Dad."
I looked at him furiously. What is he doing here?! He shouldn't have come! I hate him.
"What do you need from us?!"
"I just want our family to be whole again. We're about to have a new member, so—"
"No!" I shouted. "...You are not welcome here! So leave!"
"Keifer!" Mom scolded me. "...Don't talk to your Dad like that!"
"Mom! Please... Don't let this guy hurt us again."
"I won't, Keifer," he cut in. "...I apologize for what I have done before."
Apologize?!
That's it? After everything he did to Mom, to me, to Keigan? Apologize?!
"I will never accept your apology—"
"Keifer! I did not raise you to act like that!" Mom said angrily.
I looked at her hands. She suddenly clenched her belly tightly. I didn't want Mom to get angry. It wasn't good for her and Keiren. Something bad might happen to them.
"S-sorry, Mom."
"Apologize to your Dad," she ordered.
NO!
I looked at Mom, pleading. I don't want to! I won't do it! Please, Mom!
"Keifer... Apologize to your Dad." She repeated.
I clenched my fists. This is so frustrating!
"I-I'm sorry... Dad."
He won the battle between us. He smiled at me and spread his arms for a hug. When he noticed I wasn't moving, he stepped forward and hugged me himself.
But I didn't hug him back. NEVER!
This will be the last time I apologize. I will never lower myself like this again. Mark my words!
I chose to lock myself in my room. I couldn't stand seeing them together. Sometimes, Yuri and Percy would come over, but they wouldn't stay long either.
As much as I wanted to stay and watch over Mom, I just couldn't.
"You can leave the house if you want to," Keigan said while standing at my door. "...After all, that's what you really want to do."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him irritably.
He didn't answer. He just walked away.
There really was something off about Keigan. I didn't know what it was, but I thought he was okay after we moved. Now, here we are again.
But his words made me think. He was right—I didn't want to stay in this house.
I grabbed my phone and texted Aries.
The good thing about this house was that I lived closer to them. Even if I took a taxi, I could get there easily. I changed clothes and immediately left my room. I ran into Keigan, but I just walked past him.
Even if I invited him, he wouldn't come along.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Hearing his voice only made me walk faster, but I stopped and turned to face him.
"Out with my friends," I answered, bored.
"Even here, huh?"
I didn't answer. I just stared at him directly. If you weren't here, I probably wouldn't be leaving.
"...If I can't stop you, then fine. Go!"
I didn't respond and just left the house. Out of frustration, I kicked the potted plant on the side.
Annoying! I'll fight back against you someday! Mark my words!