A Little Family

It was the middle of July, where the weather was hot since it was summer. However, that day, the clouds covered the sun, with a slight breeze, making the day a bit tolerable.

The birds were chirping, singing their happy tune as they voiced out their happiness at the good weather.

A boy, who looked like he was in the sixth grade in elementary school, held his mother's hand as they walked together to their house.

He looked up and smiled brightly at the pregnant woman beside him, asking, "Mom, when will I have a younger sister? Dad said that I will have a younger sister soon!"

His mother, who was a few months pregnant, smiled back down at her son. She had just picked him up from school before heading to a nearby mini market to buy some necessities. 

With her eyes filled with adoration and love, she gently patted his head and smiled. "Soon, Arthur," she said gently. She was quiet after that, making Arthur look up at her with a confused look in his face.

Before he could say a word, his mother continued, "Promise me that you will love and protect her forever, alright?"

The boy gripped his mother's hand tightly, as his expression turned serious. He then nodded his head vigorously. 

"Of course, mom! I will!"

———————————————————

A month later, in a certain hospital in the city, a boy and his father were walking together inside the hall. The scent of antiseptics and medicines filled their noses as they walked down the corridor. The boy became more agitated and a bit excited as they walked further down. He gripped his father's hand tightly as if he wanted his father to quickly walk. 

A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a door with a label that reads,

"265"

(A/n: Mozart :smug face:)

"Dad! This is mom's room!" The boy said in a loud voice as he pointed at the room's label.

"Hey Arthur, don't shout in here."

The young Arthur paid no heed to his father's words as he knocked on the door and opened the door. 

"I'm first, dad!" He ran inside and then saw his mother on the bed, holding a baby.

The baby was small, she looked like she was sleeping with her eyes closed and her tiny hands gripping her mother's finger.

The mother, who was holding the baby in her arms, was quite pretty herself, even with signs of exhaustion in her face. With her hair tied up in a messy ponytail and her weak smile, she still gave that gentle and soothing aura to those around her.

When the young Arthur saw his mother, he couldn't help smiling brightly. In his eyes, his mom was sparkling like the stars in the night sky. "Mom!"

"Ssshh, don't be too loud. She had just fallen asleep."

Arthur hurriedly covered his mouth, nodding his head vigorously. "Okay... sorry.," he whispered.

His mother shook her head in bemusement, smiling at him. She then beckoned him closer. "Come and sit next to me," she invited, patting the space beside her.

Arthur nodded. He walked closer and slowly climbed the bed, careful to not make a single sound.

"Take a look at her, isn't she beautiful?"

Arthur smiled brightly as he poked the baby girl's cheek. "Yes! Just like you, mom!"

"Hahaha," his mother giggled, "stop poking her and let her sleep."

Arthur nodded. He then turned to his mother and asked, "What's her name?"

Husband and wife looked at each other and then smiled. His father then replied, with a huge smile on his face, "Velvet. Her name is Velvet Adler."

Arthur grinned and turned his gaze back to the sleeping child in his mother's arms. He gently slid a finger down the child's cheek and repeated softly, "Velvet. Velvet Adler."

"Velvet, brother will keep his promise and protect you forever!" he continued with a determined look in his face.

Just then, the door opened and a man walked in with a smile. "How's Velvet?" he asked, shutting the door behind him.

His mother smiled at the man and answered, "She's asleep now."

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked.

Arthur's mother nodded. "Yes, I have," she answered. She then turned to look at Arthur, "You two haven't gotten your lunch yet, right? Why don't you two go to the cafeteria here. Arthur must be hungry now," she suggested.

Arthur nodded as he slowly got down from the bed. "Yeah, I'm famished!" he exclaimed. He then grabbed his father's hand and tried to drag him to the door. "Come on! Let's go, dad! I want to eat porridge!"

His father chuckled. He turned to look at his wife, who was also smiling. "We'll go and eat first then. We will be back soon, alright?"

"Alright," she said, still smiling gently.

———————————————————

Three years later, Arthur was already fifteen years old. He was in his third year of junior high school. It was that year that things have started to change in his home.

His warm and loving family was starting to fall apart.

His father started to change where he used to be so loving and warm. But now, he was cold towards his wife and children.

As Arthur grew up, he too started to notice and feel the changes around him. 

At first, his father started to return back home late and soon after that, he would only return once or twice a week.

Whenever he tried to ask his father what had happened, he would answer vaguely, saying that it was about work.

Arthur tried to ask his mother as well. She would hesitate at first before shaking her head, smiling that fake smile of hers. For a fifteen years old boy, he already understood what those expressions meant.

And he too could tell what was reflected in her eyes. 

It was sadness.

Nowadays, her eyes were always empty. But sometimes, there was a bit of fire inside, but that was only when she talked or looked at Arthur and Velvet.

After his never-ending questions about his father, his mother would always answer him with:

"It's just work, Arthur. You don't have to worry much," she said with a sad smile. But Arthur knew that there was something wrong.

He used to think that every time his mother smiles, it was brighter than the brightest star in the night sky. But now? It seems like the star was gradually losing its light.

Soon after, he stopped asking as he didn't want to pry any further. He could understand that his mother didn't want to talk about it. If she did want to tell him, she would.

Until one day.

It was 11 PM on a Saturday night. His mother and sister were already asleep. He already knew their routine. They would already be fast asleep after 9 PM.

Truth be told, he usually would be asleep at that time as well. Unfortunately, he has some homework to do and he usually finished it before Sunday because he doesn't like to do any work on a Sunday.

They lived in an apartment with three bedrooms. One was the master bedroom, which was next to another bedroom. That bedroom belonged to Velvet.

The two bedrooms were at the back, before the living room, the dining room and kitchen. His bedroom was near to the front door.  

Just as he was about to go to bed, he heard a faint voice outside his room.

"Why are you calling me at this time? I told you not to call me when I'm home."

Arthur instinctively walked slowly to the door and put his ear on the door.

"What? okay, okay, I'm going out."

He then heard the sound of the door being opened and closed.

"That was dad, wasn't it? What is he doing at this hour and who was it that called him?"

Arthur knitted his brows thoughtfully. Without thinking much, he decided to follow his dad. He grabbed his dark blue hoodie and put it on. He then slid his phone and wallet in his front pockets and grabbed his black framed glasses. Opening his door quietly, he looked at the direction where his mother and sister were sleeping and went out of the apartment.

He then saw his father getting inside the lift. He waited for the lift to shut before heading for the other lift. He made sure that he would not get spotted by his father.

"Come on, come on!" he urged quietly, his fists clenched.

Shortly after, the lift came and he quickly get inside. He hurriedly pressed the button for the ground floor and waited anxiously.

The apartment that they stayed in was on the 18th floor. The apartment itself had 20 floors.

As the lift went down floor by floor, Arthur's mind was slowly becoming a mess. He really wanted to know the reason as to why his father had been acting weird the past few years. 

Yet, at the same time, he was also scared of knowing the truth.

He had a bad feeling in his heart. He could sense it.

As he thought about it, he realized that his father had changed a year after Velvet was born.

His father was not the same man he knew before. He never asked about his mother nor did he care about her. Even if he still supports the family financially, it wasn't enough.

Arthur could feel the harmony in his family was slowly drifting apart.

'Ding!'

The sound of the lift indicating that he had arrived at the ground floor brought Arthur back to reality as the lift doors slowly slid open., he He discreetly hid on the side of the lift's door and peeked outside.

He then saw his father walking, heading for the exit. He hurriedly followed from behind, careful not to be seen.

The ground floor was already quiet. No one was around except for a security guard, sitting at his table, playing with his mobile phone.

The man paid no heed to Arthur as if a fifteen year old kid going out at such late hour did not concern him. With this, Arthur could easily follow his father.

Once outside, he saw his father walking towards the direction of the city park. 

"Why is dad going there?" He thought to himself.

When his father reached the park, he entered without looking back, as if he was confident that he wasn't being followed.

Arthur waited for his father to walk further in before following from behind.

The park was quiet with cold winds sweeping through the air. Only the sounds of cicadas could be heard. The moon was blanketed by clouds, making the park a bit dark. The only lights were the park lamps that helped with brightening the area.

Just then, he saw his father stopping in front of a bench. A woman sat alone on the bench.

The two of them were talking in soft voices. From the way they talked and their body gestures, he knew that they must have known each other very well.

But he wondered what kind of person would want to meet up in this kind of place at this time of the night?

And before Arthur could think of an answer, the woman suddenly jumped up and kissed his father on the lips. They kissed for a long time.

Arthur suddenly felt very angry as he gritted his teeth. What made him more furious was the fact that his father did not even try to stop the woman!

Tears slid down his cheeks as he watched them still kissing. He now knew why his father was being cold to him, his mother and sister.

Then he began to feel confused. He did not know what to do. He felt… scared.

"Why, dad...? Why are you doing this to mom and us?"

It was then realization dawned on him. He thought back at times when he asked his mother about his father's strange behavior. He now understood what those eyes held.

Sadness.

It seems like his mother had known that her husband was cheating on her.

The realization broke Arthur's heart. 

Apparently, his mother knew all along and did not want him to worry about her.

Without another look at the cheating couple, he ran out of the park and back to his apartment. He really did not know what to do.

He was scared to confront his father. He did not want to listen to the truth. He also did not want to find out the impact it would make to his mother and sister after he confronted his father.

It was then he decided to keep quiet.

———————————————————

After that night, Arthur did not speak of what he had seen that night.

He did not want his mother to feel more hurt. All he could do now was to support her.

And it was also that night, Arthur gradually changed.

In school, he doesn't interact with his friends as often as before. He completely shut down. He only talked to them if necessary.

And after school was over, he would immediately go straight back home, instead of hanging out with his friends.

His close friends became concerned with his changes. However, no matter how many times they asked him whether he was alright, Arthur would brush away their concerns and kept quiet.

It was like he started to make a wall around himself.