CHAPTER 25 (Our Father)

Year 2010

It was a rainy night, and it was already past nine o'clock. Unlike the other kids, who were already asleep that night, Gunner and Slasher were still awake. Lying on the bed while pulling their blankets next to their chin. They were just four years old and they could hear their parents fighting again. They do not know what they are fighting, but they feel loneliness and sadness.

"Is everything going to be okay?" Gunner asked in a whispered voice, and in tears, Slasher immediately got out of his bed and walked next to his twin brother.

Slasher combed Gunner's hair using his hands and said, "Yes, everything will be okay," he responded, and for a four-year-old kid like him, he can already stand next to his twin brother, who is afraid.

Meanwhile, their parents were still debating downstairs.

"How many times do I have to tell you I will be back!" a hoarse voice boomed inside the entire room as he gripped his hands, which caused his knuckles to turn white.

And after that, the room filled with their mother's cry. Their mother was crying all day because of their father. Their father was a workaholic doctor and their mother just wanted her husband to stay for their anniversary. Because in a month their father goes home just one day and sometimes he doesn't come home. And just this month, their father is going home and yet he will leave again.

"Just this day please, Brace," she pleaded and knelt on the floor as she put her hands on her face and cried.

"Davina, please, not today," he said as he got his jacket and luggage.

Davina finds her husband now a stranger because of his actions. They are a happy family way back, especially when she gives birth to twins and they are boys. Brace, who was a doctor at first, Davina, understands his hectic schedule because he is a doctor, but Davina wanted her husband's time for her. He didn't even bother to check his sons or even ask how they were doing. Davina lacks time and love from her husband. And now, instead of having a good quality time, they are arguing.

"You just got home, Brace, and today is our anniversary and the twins miss you so much. Seems like you love your job more than us. You don't spend time with us anymore, Brace," she said in a low voice, and looked at him with love in her eyes, but he didn't look back. Instead, he walked near the door and gripped the doorknob.

And that night, Brace leaves his family again and Davina just watches her husband left devastated and sobbing.

HARSH wind welcomes Brace as he walks to the hallway of the building of Dr. Vega. He was working under him and he was also affected by Dr. Vega's experiment. However, Brace can control it.

"You're back," Dr. Vega stated. Brace nodded and put his luggage next to his table.

Brace massages his temple as he recalled what had happened between him and his wife. She was right. He had been lacking time for her, especially for his twin sons. He was not like that before, but why is it somehow he was different and he could feel it? But he was doing this for their future because he believed in the supremacy of Dr. Vega. And he knows about the war going on. And if he was on the side of Dr. Vega, he and his family will be protected and be safe as soon as the war goes on. Brace believes that Dr. Vega's experiment will be successful, even though he finds it amusing and difficult.

"Something up?" Dr. Vega asked as he saw Brace looking troubled or having a problem.

Brace slowly shakes his head and waves his hand. "Nothing. Is it okay if I have to go to rest first? Besides, I have checked the data on my laptop earlier and everything is fine and none seems to be a problem," he said, and got his luggage.

"It's okay. Go ahead and give yourself a rest. I think you deserve it and you really are. Don't worry about the data for now and I'll take care of it. Have a rest because tomorrow we will have a visit to one of my father's experiments and we are going to get it," Dr. Vega said and Brace nodded in agreement and walked out and headed to his room.

As soon as Brace walked into his room and put his things next to his cabinet, he slumped his tired body on the mattress and took a deep breath. He did nothing that day, but he felt tired and weak. He hated himself for ditching his wife in that situation. And his twins were expecting him for a bonding time and more quality time. He could remember those days that he had spent his time with his family and he loved it, but why could he tolerate himself ditching his family so easily?

Brace groaned and placed his arm on his forehead to cover his eyes from the light.

A tear escaped from his eyes and he just let it flow and he did not realize he was already sobbing. He can't even look into the eyes of his wife as he leaves. And he wanted to punch himself and bleed to death as he heard his wife's cry. He had vowed to the altar that he wouldn't make his wife cry and wouldn't give her a burden and feel the loneliness, but he had failed and that was a great sin for him. Brace grip the bed sheet next to him and curse until he was satisfied. His actions are unforgivable. He did not even give enough time to his twins, and he also heard the sobs of the twins, which made his heart grip in heartache. He did not know what had gone into him.

Brace fell asleep upon thinking of his family. Little did he know that Dr. Vega was watching him from the monitor and a smile was written on his thin lips.