"Arthur, even if you stay ho-"
As the three in the living room were all silent, Kelly, who was waiting for Arthur's loud cheering, wondered why the usually loud Arthur and the whole house was silent.
So she had to check and just like Arthur, she also froze, stunned just as she entered the living room.
And her mouth dropped open as she then clutched her chest, tears streaming down.
Then she ran to hug her.
"Natalia...Oh my god, you are back. Kevin! Our daughter is back!"
Arthur watched as Natalia gave a small nod, hugging back aunt Kelly or...her mother.
Arthur couldn't deny he felt a hint of jealousy as aunt Kelly sobbed, hugging Natalia tightly.
He wondered...
Will his mother also be the same when they meet again?
but he already has his answer.
Not every mother loves their children.
His mother wasn't like aunt Kelly.
Of course a mother who gave away her son to her best friend to raise because she didn't need baggage from her past in her new life wouldn't be happy to see that 'baggage' again…
Yeah…
Arthur was that baggage.
It was aunt Kelly who took him into her home without any words.
And that 14 year old Arthur was already broken when aunt Kelly took responsibility of him.
But she didn't give up.
She was literally Arthur's saviour.
Truthfully, now, Arthur doesn't even remember what his mother sounded like.
It's been 10 years since they parted ways after all.
He doesn't wish to see her again either.
And, he doesn't wish for any love from her either…
But seeing aunt Kelly's love, he can't help but think of his mother again.
He is really unfortunate to not have that privilege...a good mother or a family.
But he got a second chance through aunt Kelly and also uncle Kevin though.
They loved him like he was their own.
He is forever grateful and he tries his best to keep them happy too.
So he was happy for aunt Kelly.
And also for this Natalia…
She was such a lucky person.
She had the best parents in the world.
They were the ones that raised Arthur too so he knows well...
Noone is better than Kelly and Kevin.
They are the best.
A smile drew on Arthur's lips as he watched Aunt Kelly smile while holding her daughter's face in her palms.
"Arthur, what about you staying home today?"
Arthur turned as he heard uncle Kevin whisper to him.
"Well, I came to find you to say that actually."
"Ah, then stay home today."
Arthur nodded and let uncle Kevin pull him to sit down next to him as the other two also sat down on the couch.
"You shouldn't have surprised us like this. I thought I was hallucinating for a second and then having a heart attack."
Kelly said, her hands gripping Natalia's hands tightly.
"If I said I am coming, you would have bothered to come to the airport to pick me up. It's easier like this for everyone. I didn't want to bother."
Natalia said calmly, impressing Arthur a little. She was so right on that. Aunt Kelly basically giggles for a whole day if Natalia calls, which she did like five times a week. So if Aunt Kelly knew she was coming, of course aunt Kelly would have gotten so worked up.
But, beside that, Arthur was a little annoyed by how beautiful Natalia was and how effortlessly charming even her poker face was.
So he couldn't help but roll his eyes to suppress that admiration, a little jealousy taking over…
And, her arrival now feels a little threatening to Arthur because well- he is going to have to share uncle and aunty's attention.
He was quite jealous actually.
And a must fact to know. Arthur has an ego bigger than a sea too.
'Yeah yeah...If aunty had a heart attack that also would have been easier.'
Arthur sarcastically thought as he stole a glance but only to find out she was already staring at him, making Arthur flinch and heat up.
'F-fuck!'
Arthur suddenly forgot to breathe, even cursing in his mind.
Just that gaze of hers alone made him stiff and anxious. It flustered him so much.
'God she is scary...'
Like a scared puppy, he closed his eyes, moving closer to uncle Kevin as he grabbed the hem of his shirt.
Arthur was embarrassed for whatever the reason and he didn't raise his head to face anyone. He just stared at his thigh, scratching and pulling at the fabric with his nails.
But he could sense it.
Her gaze...
It was still on him.
As intense as it could get.
'Huh! Is she jealous that I have taken care of her parents while she stayed abroad? Well, yeah. She should be…'
Arthur collected more reasons as to why she might be looking at him with such 'interest' and the reasons somehow became from serious to very childish. Well...that was expected from him. He tends to get really delusional sometimes.
Delusion is the solution after all.
Sigh…
Actually, what's going on is that Arthur's ego is a little hurt now.
The fact he feels intimidated, flustered and small by her, who is actually a year younger than him...
It was quite a humiliating feeling for him.
But he can't help it.
This alpha...
She makes him feel weird.
It was a sense of fear, a little excitement of getting her attention and then...this weird feeling that makes all the feelings more intense.
It was like a tingle. In his heart...in his stomach....
He hated it.
But he liked it too.
It makes him shudder but...it feels nice in his head.
He knows he is weird.
Maybe this was also something like that.
But...this does feel familiar, somehow.
He doesn't remember what it was like with her six years ago.
He didn't even look at her straight.
He was that scared at the time.
He was seriously worried about being the annoying omega who started living in the house of all the high school omegas' crush.
So he stayed very far away from her, both at home and school.
They were never close anyway. So it wasn't a problem for Arthur to stay away.
Alas, he even stayed hidden in his room from aunt Alex and uncle Kevin too.
That also for 5 years! Exactly 5 years!
At the time, he didn't want to be a 'baggage' to them too.
He was scared he won't have anywhere else to go if aunty also kicked him out.
Even though he had met Aunt Kelly a lot of times and was very comfortable with her, he felt he couldn't be like that anymore. He has to prove he wasn't a burden… and he tried so hard to prove himself...
However, it was when Natalia left the country 6 years ago that Arthur finally got comfortable around aunty and uncle.
But he actually started to approach them only because he knew they were sad and he had a responsibility to be a support to them.
Eventually, he found the truth out after almost five years of staying away.
They didn't see him as a burden, ever.
They cared about him as much as they cared for their daughter.
And, they were grieving the sudden departure of their daughter at that time. From what Arthur understood, Natalia's omega boyfriend who she had been together for a long time and only cared for, had betrayed her by getting marked and pregnant by another alpha.
That must have been horrible.
Arthur could imagine the pain of betrayal.
To cope, Natalia had left the country where she pursued her studies and took over uncle Kevin's business. Arthur didn't really pry into much details but he knows it's Natalia who is taking care of half of the family business.
And, while she was abroad, she never came to visit her parents.
Yeah…
Never in those five years did she come back.
Arthur didn't understand why and he was very upset with her because aunt Kelly was really sad as video calling wasn't just enough.
But uncle Kevin once explained Natalia is still doubting about stepping back to the country where she left all her pain.
Only the person with pain knows how much it hurts...
So Arthur stopped judging her and hoped she would come back soon while taking over the task to take care of them.
He seriously regretted making them worry for him all those years by staying away thinking he was doing them and himself a favour.
Getting along with them actually made Arthur feel better about his life.
He had them.
Even if his mother pushed him away...
He has this mother.
Even though not his, she was like one to him.
That must be why he in the end just let himself out.
The personality caged inside him just popped out, surprising them but also making them adore him more.
And Arthur now can't stop.
He is so chatty, so clingy and so childish sometimes.
Even though he is 24 now, everyone adores his child-like behaviour that comes out naturally.
Also, Arthur was indeed spoiled and will be spoiled and pampered too, for sure.
This 24 year old still gets tucked under sheets at night and taken care of like a five year old. So yeah, he is very pampered.
They all love it.
Their little family...
It is always so full of laughter and warmth.
'Might not be in the future...I can't believe my beautiful aunty and handsome old man has a daughter that doesn't even know how to smile.'
Arthur's mouth itched to say something sarcastic but he needed to make a good first impression so he controlled his tongue.
Well...she might already have had a first impression. This is not the first time they ever met after all.
But it's been six years since they last saw each other face to face.
So...
It's time for a new beginning.
A new impression.
And,
A start over...