Drops of water could be heard from the leaking sink in the kitchen, the creaking sounds from the door echoes throughout the empty house. He peek through the gap between the door, his hands clutch to the sling bag strap over his shoulder. Ahn Qiao Fu's eyes scans the quiet house, hoping for that person would not be around.
His heart slowly calms down when there were no traces of his mother at home, he heaved a sigh of relief. After a tiring day of busking, he trudges his way to his bedroom. Ahn Qiao Fu's shoulders drop as soon as he saw his sick sister lying on her mattress.
Both siblings share the same cramp room since they moved from their previous home, Ahn Qiao Fu did not mind as he could check up on his sister's condition from time to time easier. Plus they were not in a condition to buy a bed frame, they did not mind sleeping without it. He shuffles towards his sister with a sad smile and adjusts her blanket, he brushes her bangs aside so it does not poke her eyes when she is sleeping and kiss her forehead.
Slipping his hand into his bag, he pulls out a plastic fill with money he earned today. Ahn Qiao Fu glances at his sister once more before he lifts his mattress and hides the money underneath it along with his earnings from before, he whispers to himself " Yujin, brother will definitely make you healthy again so hang on a little longer."
It took a big toll on the Ahn family after their only breadwinner passed away from an accident, not only they lost their home, Ru Hui Yue spent the family savings to relieve the grief over her husband's death instead of her child's medication. The thought of where his own mother is doing right now is like a stab to the heart.
Sometimes Ru Hui Yue openly bring men back home for a night and leaves the next morning like nothing happens. Ahn Qiao Fu never spoke up, hoping his mother would quickly return to her former self.
His thoughts were interrupted when the bedroom door slams open, a woman, fuming with anger stood at the door. With her hands clenched into a fist, she storms into the room and grab her son by his ear " Where is the money ?! "
Ahn Qiao Fu's eyes squeeze shut as his tears threatens to fall, he grabs his mother's wrist, hoping she would let go as his knees lift slightly off the ground " I don't know what are you talking about, mama... It hurts..."
Just as Ahn Qiao Fu thought it was over when his mother lets go of his ear, a loud slap echoes through the room. He felt a burning feeling on his cheeks, Ru Hui Yue's eyes turned even more hostile " When did I teach you to lie?! "
Ru Hui Yue overheard her colleagues talking about a handsome boy busking at the mall for the past few days. She was curious and went to check out today, never she expect was her own son.
She looks around the room and head towards the small shelf not far, turn it upside down till all the books are all on the ground. Seeing that she could not find what she was looking for, Ru Hui Yue scan the small space once more. She smirks and lifts her son's mattress up, her eyes sparkles at the sight of the money on the floor.
Before Ahn Qiao Fu could stop his mother from taking away his hard earn money with his fragile body, she grab his hair and shove him to the wall. Ahn Qiao Fu gathers his tired body and crawl towards his mother, he hugs her leg to stop her from leaving the room " Mama...please.. that is for-"
Ru Hui Yue ignores her son's plead and kick him to the side, she looks at her children in disgust " Are you even my child? How dare you hide money from your family, from your own mother?! You should repay my blood sweat and tears giving birth to you !"
" What is the point of having that face when you and your sister are a burden to me !" Ru Hui Yue storms out the room and slams the door shut, thinking on where to spend the money on her hand next.
The room went silent only filled with tiny sobs from the young boy in the room, a tiny cough interrupts him. Ahn Qiao Fu wipes off his tears quickly and force himself to his sister side to check her condition.
A fragile hand reach out to his cheek where the woman left a mark, tears flow out of her eyes " I am so sorry, brother... because of me..."
Ahn Qiao Fu held his sister's hand and shakes his head, he sniffs" It's not your fault.. I promised father to take care of you... we will get out of here one day.."