The Third Son Died

Adrian hurriedly ran to the car that was waiting for him. Urging the driver to go faster. Sweat trickled down his face. He never ran like crazy in all of his life.

He opened the door in his house with a loud bang. He directly ran upstairs and went into a room. Then he saw his youngest brother, Allan crying and shaking the silent young man in his bed.

Adrian felt numb for a moment.

"What's wrong?" Adrian nervously asked. "He is not waking up. He … he's dead." His elder brother Adam answered him. Trying his best not to choke on his words.

Adrian felt cold. His brother, Allen just died. They just argued yesterday and now he was dead.

Just like that.

Adrian never really knew how fragile life can be.

Everyone was silent. Allan also grew silent. He never expected this to happen.

Allen was transferred into the morgue after some time. Leaving it all to his father's secretary to handle.

Allen and he were not close. Not only him but everyone in the family. Though he did not understand why Allen was quite close with the servants. To think that such a thing would happen. Adrian did not know why his brother took suicide over just an argument.

Edgar, their father also did not expect Allen's sudden death. He also did not know what his son is thinking as they were not that close. He wishes that his wife Susan was with him. If only she did not die early saving Allen from the kidnappers when he was little, she could have been here with them.

His sons; Adam is 26, Adrian is 23, Allen was 18, and Allan is 16. They were quite close in the past if it was not because of the tragedy. He could not help but blame Allen for the death of his mother although he knows that it was not his fault. Now that he was dead he started to reflect on Allen's moments with him. In which he realized they are all scarce. He failed to remember his third son's smiling face nor him having time for the child.

Edgar realized, he neglected Allen. Adam and Adrian are three years gap despite this they were quite close. When Allen came, he was immediately followed by Allan. Although their age was quite close, Allan was such a bright and happy child while Allen was silent and sensible.

Everybody liked Allan too. Adam who was a bit of an iceberg has also preferred the Allan. Probably because their mother died a bit early and everyone was concerned with the youngest that they forgot there was also Allen who was completely alone.

Now that they thought of it, they did not treat him nicely at all. They always ignore him as he would go hurriedly to go the youngest. Yesterday was quite surprising too. They had never heard Allen shouting at him like that.

"I … I could have at least say that I'm sorry."

Silence came in after Adrian said that. They are the same too. But they did not think that Allen died so suddenly. The guilt is haunting them.

It was the servants that discovered Allen. They noticed that it was already noon yet the young master still had not replied when they invited him to eat. They had no choice but to go inside his room but what devastated them is that Allen was no longer breathing.

Alarmed they called a doctor over, but it was too late. Allen was already dead. Such a thing happened so suddenly. They called Edgar who was resting at home, Adam who is in the company, Adrian who was eating out, and Allan who is in school. As soon as the news came in, all of them hurriedly went back home. Only to find out the current predicament.

The shock finally calmed down and was replaced by silence.

"Dad, brother… Why did Allen die again? I cried immediately when I heard he died. What happened?" Allan asked sniffling. Like a pop of the bubble, the haze died down.

Edgar immediately called his secretary. "Mark, where are you right now?"

"I am still on my way to the funeral parlor, sir."

"Stop, immediately and take Allen for autopsy. Keep everything confidential."

"Yes sir!"

Doubt was rising in their hearts. Although Allen has a reclusive personality, they refuse to believe that Allen would take suicide nor would they believe he died in his sleep.

"Adam, call the doctor who came in to check him and also the maids that discovered him. Adrian, call Allen and Allan's school and tell them that there is a family emergency and they will not be in school for a while. Allan, call your grandparents."

The Alba family got busy handling everything. The bustling crowd was the scene the visitors saw when they arrived at the Alba Family mansion.

"What's will all the fuss about?" Caroline asked towards his brother, Dame.

"I called Adam earlier but he is not answering. It must be an emergency." Dame said.

"Well, forget about what kind of emergency that is. What is taking them so long to let us in the gate?" Francine pouted as she glared at the guards who is on the phone asking for permission.

It took quite a while for the gate to be opened. Dame drove to the entrance but notice no one was guiding him where usually the butler or the head maid always comes forward to greet him. The whole house was going here and there and they had no choice but to wait in the living room.

Francine got angry at the service that they are getting and ruthlessly grabbed a servant passed by. The servant was shocked at the sudden force and could not help yanking her arm out of caution.

"What is with you? Why are you not serving us? Can't you see that we are guests?" Francine yelled at her.

The servant was called by Adam, so she was in a hurry. "Look, Miss, I don't know who you are but this is not the appropriate time for the mansion to receive guests. Please leave or wait for our Masters to meet you. Excuse me." The servant was stopped again by Dame when she was leaving.

"What happened? I called Adam earlier but he was not answering." The servant finally noticed Dame and recognized him.

"I apologize, sir. I did not notice you. I was called by Sir Adam. I will inform him about your arrival. Please excuse me."

Dame frowned. What kind of emergency is it that they were this busy?