After a while, he slowly got up and retrieved his phone. He opened Rachel's message again and read it carefully, taking his time.
Then he began to type.
Nathan:
"Aunt Rachel, if it's allowed… may I meet you in person? I just want to know more about Uncle Mikael. If it's not convenient, I will understand."
He hit send. One tick. Then two. But they remained gray.
It didn't matter. Nathan knew some wounds simply required time to trust again. But he wouldn't stop until he found closure.
—
No further reply came. The phone screen stayed silent, and Nathan simply stared at his white ceiling. A lingering tightness remained in his chest, but he let it sit quietly with time.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, yet before he could respond, the door swung wide open and Priscilla burst in, shouting cheerfully, "Abang's awesome!"
Nathan half-raised himself, arching an eyebrow. "Hey! After knocking, you should wait for the room owner's permission before barging in!"
"Hehehe," Priscilla grinned and casually sat on the edge of the bed. Her half-loose hair swayed as she moved, her face still brimming with energy as usual. "At school today, I heard about Kezia. But I only got to talk to her just now."
Nathan just nodded. He still hadn't fully processed the news he had just read, but he tried to focus on Priscilla.
"Your idea to bring copies of the marriage certificate and birth certificate was brilliant," she said, giving two thumbs up to Nathan. "If I were Kezia, I'd just have the originals photographed and show them from the gallery. Case closed!"
Nathan exhaled softly and shrugged. "Sometimes people only believe when the proof is shown right in front of their face."
"Exactly!" Priscilla nodded enthusiastically. "And that'll be the sweetest slap ever."
Nathan finally gave a small smile. Priscilla's presence, no matter how simple her antics, somehow always managed to bring warmth into the chaos of his thoughts.
"I don't mind being called the little sister of two tough guys," Priscilla exclaimed, grinning proudly. "Let my friends be scared! They won't dare mess with me!"
Nathan shook his head slowly and tapped his forehead. "Good grief… You're supposed to be proud of having accomplished siblings, getting scholarships abroad, parents who get along, a grandfather who's the pastor's assistant, a loving grandmother… not because of a 'tough-guy' image!"
Priscilla smirked, patting the bed. "But if it's an elegant tough guy like Abang, that's a different story!"
"What's so elegant about it?" Nathan groaned, half amused.
Priscilla laughed, then stood to straighten the hem of her shirt. "Enough, I'm going to help Oma in the kitchen. When Kezia comes out of her room, she's probably still upset."
Before leaving, she looked back. "But really, Abang… thanks. You're always there for us. I know you've got a lot on your mind, but you're still the coolest brother."
Nathan could only give a small smile, unable to reply. The door closed softly behind Priscilla, leaving him alone in the quiet room once more.
He stared at the ceiling for a long time, muttering to himself, "If only everything were that simple…"
---
At the warm, bustling dining table, the aroma of stir-fried dishes still lingered in the air. Priscilla studied Nathan with a teasing look while chewing slowly.
Nathan, reaching for the chili sauce, felt uncomfortable. "Why are you staring?!" he exclaimed, glaring as if being watched.
Priscilla grinned mischievously. "Abang… why are you so handsome?"
Nathan nearly choked on his rice. "WHAT?!"
Oma stifled a smile, while Opa laughed heartily. "He's the fairest-skinned in this house," Opa commented, pointing at Nathan's chin with his spoon.
"That's why people say he looks like a washed-up Korean celebrity," Kezia chimed in from across the table, already cheerful again after the school incident.
Priscilla got even bolder. "My friend Natasha sends her regards. She said, 'Say hi to Handsome Abang!'"
Nathan buried his face in his hands. "Please, world… just swallow me whole right now."
Oma chuckled softly. "Alright, don't bother your brother. Let him eat in peace."
Priscilla giggled, still glancing at Nathan, whose face was now flushed with embarrassment, half amused, half confused. Amid all this, Nathan felt strangely… the world had indeed been spinning oddly lately.
---
Nathan lifted his chin, striking a faux-cool pose, and said, "Tell her hello back from the handsomest Abang. But don't fall in love yet, you're still too young. I've got at least four more years of college."
Kezia and Priscilla immediately shouted, "Ew, so full of yourself!"
Nathan casually scooped more rice, playing the hero.
From the kitchen, laughter erupted. Miss Kristin, carrying an extra plate, couldn't contain her amusement.
"My goodness, this kid. Not even enrolled in college yet, and already starting a fan club."
Opa chimed in, nodding seriously while pretending to be wise, "That's called being visionary, Ma. Young people need branding from the start."
Oma nudged Opa's shoulder while laughing. "Alright, alright. Don't brag about our grandson. Eat properly first."
Priscilla kept giggling, jotting something down on her phone. "I'm screenshotting this and sending it to Natasha. She needs to know that the handsomest Abang is ridiculously arrogant."
Nathan glared. "Send it once, and I'm blacklisting you from the house Wi-Fi!"
The dining table was filled with laughter, warm, boisterous, and for a moment, everyone forgot the quieter stories still lingering beneath the surface.
Priscilla had already raised her phone and opened the front camera. "I'm recording! So Natasha can see for herself the handsomest Abang talking directly."
Nathan quickly waved at the camera. "Hey, hey, don't! Just a voice note, VN! No video! I'm not ready to show my face!"
Priscilla giggled. "But didn't you just say I'm the handsomest?"
"Being handsome is enough to know, no need to show off," Nathan replied, grabbing a cracker from Kezia's plate.
"Typical," muttered Kezia, smiling along.
Priscilla finally gave in. She opened WhatsApp, recorded a VN, and aimed the mic at Nathan. "Come on, say it directly."
Nathan lowered his voice slightly and spoke in a sweet, teasing tone, "Hi, Natasha. Nice to meet you from Handsome Abang. Focus on your studies first, don't think too much about Abang."
Priscilla sent the VN immediately, and laughter erupted around the dining table.
"If that girl catches feelings, you're responsible, Than!" said Miss Kristin, shaking her head.
"Just morally responsible, Ma," Nathan replied with a mischievous smile.
---