"What did you say?" The words managed to escape Irianda's lips as she treaded in short paces towards them– looking directly into Chanyeol's eyes. "Do...do you mean Dad is still alive?" She asked with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes as she came to a stop in front of her brother who was by now on his feet; anticipating a positive response as the main aim of knowing about her father overshadowed the shock of suddenly finding out she had an older brother all these past years. Mandy and Leticia were no different either.
Chanyeol was for a second lost on words– not knowing how to relay news on things as they stand. Who will even be happy knowing his or her father died for their sake after finding out he had all along been alive all these years? That he didn't die as she had heard.
Thinking on these, the former couldn't help being hesitant with tight lips.
"Are you just going to stand there without saying anything?" Irianda said, getting irritated by Chanyeol's silence. "I bet you hated me that much, right? Who would even want a half-breed for a sister?" she scoffed as silent tears trekked down her cheeks. The latter on the other hand felt hurt by his sister's words. That was not what he wanted and there was no way he hated her. "Did I choose to be born this way?" Irianda's words hit him before he could even say a word.
"I didn't hate you." He retorted without thinking–the pain of his sister's words lingering in his eyes while he tried to subdue the urge to shout out the truth. As that was the least happening he would wish for. "It's..."
"It's what?" Irianda snapped in, cutting him off with no interest in what he was about to say. Seeing how impulsive the former was getting, Mandy thought to calm the waters to ease the tension.
"You should listen to him first dear." She interrupted as she neared her but then, there was no way the former was going to pay heed to it. She needed answers which she felt her brother was being silent on. There were lots of events that made her question her existence and now that she had found a source for her queries– she wasn't going to let it slide.
"I get it that he hates us but I also have the right to see my father," her voice rang through the hall as she cast her mother a gaze. "I lived like an outcast these past years. Don't you think I deserve some answers?"
Irianda was still ranting out her concerns when Chanyeol's suddenly sensed the presence of some strong forces from afar. He knew he had to tone his sister down before they trace down to them but then how? The latter was trying to figure a way out but then his sister's ruckus was making it quite difficult to concentrate.
"Father is dead Irianda, he died protecting you." the words escaped his lips before he could get a hang of himself. The former on the hand stood with her mouth agape with shock as her brother's words hit her. It was then that Chanyeol realized what he had done.
At that moment, Irianda's knees felt numb and she staggered. "Irianda!" they chorused, rushing to her side as she collapsed to the floor.
**********
Darkness had already settled in when Neo finally got home. He didn't know how long he had been in town after school but when he sauntered into the house, he found his mother seated on the sofa. Reading from the look on her face, one could tell she was genuinely concerned about her son's absence.
Just on hearing the sound of the door, her gaze swiftly went to it as she shrugged to her full length.
"Aigoo," she huffed as her son neared her. "Where have you been dear? I was so worried." She added.
Neo on the other hand stared at her with some sense of indifference. "Were you waiting for me?" he asked.
"Well, I..." Ye Rim fumbled with her words, not quite getting what Neo was heading at.
"I will be in my room then," Neo said while he passed his mother– taking the path to his room but paused. Looking over his shoulder, he warned her not to wait for him when he is out as he might be spending the night over at his friends' house. He turned to leave but then, his mother's words brought him to a halt once again.
"Do you hate me that much dear?" She inquired but was met with silence. The former seeing no need of answering her question– continued off to his room. Ye Rim, on the other hand, plopped into the sofa with a deep sigh that carried the heaviness of her heart.
She wanted to make things right between her son and herself but none of her efforts seem to be working. All she wanted was to see her once cheerful and down-to-earth son being himself once again. Was that too much to ask?
At that moment, Hwang In Yeop walked in on her from his study as he came down for a glass of water. Noticing her mood, he settled beside her– wrapping her into his arms while he tried to console her as always.
*********
Back at Leticia's apartment, situations seemed calm and under control. The evening itself was still with the cold breeze hovering through the entire city of Seoul. Somewhere in the apartment, Leticia managed to get a room closer to the rooftop for Chanyeol who was fond of views.
Irianda lay on her bed as memories of the earlier incident rushed through her mind. Thinking about it, she felt remorseful and decided to make amends. Without hesitation, she glided off the bed– placing the book she was holding on top of the bedside drawer.
Finding her way through the hallway, the former scampered to her brother's room but met his absence. She was about to return to her room when she heard some murmuring on the rooftop. Her brows instinctively furrowed as she turned on her heel to the top– still not sure who it was.
On getting there, she noticed Chanyeol seated with his back facing the entrance– both palms set on the table; shoulders slightly hunched with legs crossed on each other like a budda praying while his gaze remained fixed in the sky, not in any way bothered by the chill breeze.
Without a word, Irianda staggered over to him not making the slightest sound.
"Hey," she mumbled on nearing him. As if in sync, Chanyeol's gaze traveled to her and was met with the warmest smile.
"Hey," his lips curved into a soft smile while he watched Irianda settle beside him. For a moment, there was dead silence while Irianda fidgeted with her fingers.
"Mianhae, (I'm sorry)" she suddenly muttered, as if on an impulse– breaking the silence. Chanyeol intuitively cast her a gaze then smiled; raffling her hair in the process.
" Aigoo..." he mumbled– allowing her gaze to travel back to the sky; his younger sister was now his responsibility but then if he was ready for what lay ahead~ he had no idea about. But one thing was certain– he will go to every length to keep to the promise he made to their father.
Irianda smiled at her brother's warm and fuzzy personality as she rested her head on his shoulder. It was her first time experiencing such bonding with anyone apart from her mother. And to think that that person was her brother, felt so cozy.