"Ryan! Ryan! Come here quickly, you will get late for school!"
A feminine voice echoes in the house, loud, tired and distracted. The sound of clinking metal and the clank of a spoon against a glass fills the busy air of the kitchen. When no reaction comes even after her call, the woman lets out a sigh and glances toward the dining table, or to be precise, at the man who sits there. "Do something about him. You know I have to hear the lecture in the PTM if he gets late again?"
The man who appears to be in his late twenties just presses his finger against his temple and mutters, "Well, this wasn't what I had in mind during those steamy nights with you. You could have told me to use protec..."
The kitchen seems to feel suddenly hot as those words leave his mouth. Her voice follows, now less tired and colder. "Rowan."
The man, Rowan, goes still in his seat suddenly. He couldn't complete the sentence. A chill runs down his spine when he feels her gaze falling on him, and he immediately decides to use the ultimate tactic he has. His mouth opens and then he yells, "Ryan! Come down right this instant before I come up there!"
…
Pat-pat-pat-pat
The soft pat-pat sounds of footsteps come from above, then the urgent steps on the stairs as someone comes down. After a moment, a figure hurries inside the kitchen, his silhouette becoming clear as the light falls upon him.
The small dark hairs, messy from sleep. A small body, but incredibly healthy. And wide, bright eyes which stare at both of them.
The woman's cold expression disappears as if it was never there. Rowan opens his mouth as if to scold him, but the moment his eyes fall on the boy, he just shifts his gaze back to his book, a small smile he tries to force back for the sake of maintaining some sternness.
"Sit down at the table, Ryan. And, no. You might have a cold or fever today, but you are still going. No excuses. I have heard enough of them," she says as her hands busy themselves again with the chores.
The boy, Ryan, just watches with a bewildered expression as he starts walking toward the dining table, while muttering under his breath with a childlike sigh and a pout.
She doesn't even let me protest now.
"Maren, I am getting late. I will lose my post as a professor one day, seriously…," Rowan murmurs, but doesn't dare speak aloud his protest. He just flips open the next page and glances subtly toward Maren.
Maren appears near the table after a moment and slides the meal toward Rowan's side without even looking, and then she puts the glass of milk down in front of Ryan, coupled with the sandwiches on the plate, her attention fully on Ryan. "Here, eat this quickly. And then get dressed in your uniform."
—
Half an hour later, Rowan opens the car door and slips inside. As he starts the engine and drives the car out of the parking lot, Maren and Ryan appear outside too.
Ryan stands ready in his school uniform, the hairs combed neat, shirt tucked beneath the pants properly, and a water bottle hanging by his hand. Maren still brushes over the wrinkles on his shirt as he takes a step forward. "Study properly, okay? I will come to get you from the school. Don't wander off alone after school."
After a moment, the car leaves the house behind.
—
The constant chatter-chatter and noise of children fills the hallway. Ryan waves his hand goodbye to Rowan one final time… before he walks inside. In the classroom, noise is even louder. A bag flies from one end to another, or sometimes a random girl cries as her ponytail is grabbed by another girl.
A group of boys turns their heads toward the door the moment Ryan enters, then they run. Ryan's eyes widen and he takes a step instinctively before a smirk crosses his lips. He hides it under his hand. And then he runs too.
The group and him get closer, the leading boy's chest puffs out, Ryan's chest does the same. For a moment, many heads turn toward the scene. And then, the heavy sound of chest hitting chest echoes.
The leading boy scatters a few steps back, Ryan only takes one step back before letting out a hmph and starting to stroll toward his seat. "Next time, try better."
The group behind the leading boy watches the scene with surprised eyes for a moment and then just giggles before rushing toward the leading boy and Ryan. "Haha! Tomorrow it's our turn to do that!"
—
The school day comes to an end. The students sprint outside through the entrance. Ryan and the group walk more calmly behind. One of the boys leans toward the other to whisper while pointing at the male teacher near the teachers' area. "I complete my homework every day, just forget for a day and that… motherfuc—"
"No." Ryan turns his head back toward the two boys and shakes his head. "Don't use that word. That's wrong. My father said not to mingle around with people who use that kind of word."
The boys look at him and then sigh before the boy who almost said that word pats Ryan's shoulder from behind. "Okay… okay. No cursing. Sorry."
The other boys just laugh before all of them also walk out of the gates.
—
After meeting with Maren outside, both of them now walk back to the house. She holds his hand with hers to keep him on the sidewalk, while her free arm has his bag hanging there.
"So, how was school today?"
"Good. But you don't have to pick me up like this, I am able to return home alone now. I am already old enough!"
She just scoffs at his words and shakes her head once. "Not yet. You are still too young. You already have a hard time staying in line."
Ryan stomps his feet on the ground to protest, but one sharp glance from her brings him back into line immediately. "Huff…"
The walk back to the house takes some time by walking, but not too much. They reach the house after some time…
He quickly sprints forward after entering the house, "T.V.!" Maren closes the door behind and starts walking toward the living room too with a sigh. "Help me…"
The sound of television quickly fills the living room. After hanging his bag, Maren takes the seat beside him on the couch, her leg crossing over the other as she looks at him and opens her mouth. "Your uniform…"
Ryan replies without looking away from the screen. "Just five minutes!"
"…Hm." She lets out a hum after hearing his promise and she also leans back afterwards, relaxing finally. She turns her head toward the screen too. Minutes later, she feels him leaning against her already. She spreads her arm properly to take him in her embrace.
—
Several hours pass.
Maren does her work as usual, her hands cutting the vegetables while her gaze flickers to her phone occasionally. Ryan sits near the table, his small palms tucked under his chin and elbows on the table. He watches Maren attentively, following every shift in her movement, and occasionally glancing at the phone too. He speaks finally, "He must have gone out with his friends, Mom. Don't worry!"
The words don't relax her completely, but she does break out of her thoughts after hearing his words. She nods slowly, focusing on cutting the vegetables for now. "Hm… He must be. He will get a long hearing tonight for making me worry like this."
A few more hours pass, and the food on the table grows cold. The phone sits at the centre of the table. Maren sits on the chair, with her hands pressed against her face. She stares at the screen silently, her fingers tremble slightly as her throat goes dry slowly.
Even Ryan is silent now, his body half-slumped on the table. His forehead shifts against the wood. He doesn't reach out to eat even though his portion is already in front of him. He waits, not for the call like she is doing. Instead, he waits for her to break this silence and fill it with her comfortable voice again.
But she doesn't speak.
Seconds pass… then minutes…
Just then, the sound comes. Not of the call, but the doorbell. Maren's chair scrapes back as she stands up abruptly and sprints toward the door without looking back. Ryan follows after her more slowly.
The door opens.
Standing outside is… Rowan. However…
Maren's hands fly to her mouth, her eyes open wide as the tears start spilling down her cheeks immediately. She takes a step forward, her hands reach out. "W…what?"
Rowan's hand finds hers, followed by a slightly shaky laugh. "Come on, Darling. Don't cry now…" He takes an unsteady step forward, one plastered leg flinching before he grips her hand slightly tighter for support.
Both of her hands move to support him, her gaze moves over his body, taking in the sight of plasters and bandages over his arm, leg and waist. She looks up at his face again, her voice tries to gain her sharp edge but it still comes out shaky. "How did this happen? You should have called me!"
Ryan stands several paces behind Maren, watching silently, his cheeks already soaked with tears.
Rowan looks at her, and then at Ryan inside, and finally lets out a sigh but still forces a small smile on his face.
"Just an accident…"