Keiren
Keifer's POV
New house. It's not the same as our old house, but it's big too. Though, the old one was bigger.
"Mom… Who lives here?" Keigan asked.
"No one. It used to be my parents' house, but they're dead," Mom answered.
Mom stopped the car in the garage. The front yard was spacious. Two women and two men greeted us.
"Good morning, Ma'am Serina!" they greeted Mom as we stepped out of the car.
"Good morning too. Are the rooms ready?" she replied.
Mom and the woman talked for a while, while the two men carried our bags from the car.
"Kuya…" Keigan called me. "Do you think there's a ghost here?"
I shook my head. "Ghosts aren't real."
After a while, Mom finished talking with the woman and gestured for us to go inside. We followed. Honestly, it was only now that I realized how huge the house is for all of us.
Mom showed us to our rooms. My room wasn't as big as my old one, but somehow I liked it better.
I saw Keigan standing at my doorway.
"Do you want to sleep here?" I asked him.
He nodded and immediately walked in and lay on the bed. But even though I was tired, I couldn't sleep. Everything felt so unfamiliar.
One question kept running through my mind:
What now?
"Your house is awesome!" Percy said excitedly.
"Psh! Kid," Yuri commented.
I looked behind them. Someone was missing — Aries.
"He's not here," Yuri said, noticing that I was looking for someone.
"Why? Where did he go?"
"His whole family went to the province. Something happened to his cousin. What was the name again? Jay-R? Jayson? Tsk! Something with a J!" Percy explained.
He has a cousin? He never mentioned that before. Anyway, I let it go and invited them inside.
There were a lot of maids and butlers cleaning. Mom brought back her old staff so we wouldn't be alone in the house.
"Where are we going?" Percy asked.
"I want to show you something," I said, continuing to walk.
We went straight to the basement and stopped in front of a door. I opened it to reveal my discovery:
The ultimate hangout spot!
The room was fully equipped: billiard table, bar in the corner, sofa set, and flat screen TV. I'd probably have a huge speaker and game console added soon.
Percy clapped with excitement. "Bro! Is it my birthday? Why are you giving me gifts?!"
"Tss… This is for all of us. Not just you," I said, shaking my head.
"Buzzkill. You should've just gone along with it," he joked as he entered the room.
Yuri and I stayed by the door, watching him.
"How's your mom?" Yuri asked.
"She's fine. A bit busy because of the house."
"How about Keigan?"
I paused.
How is Keigan? He's not okay. Something's wrong with him.
"I'm not sure."
"What are your plans with your dad?" Percy suddenly joined in.
"Mom and I haven't talked about that yet."
I knocked on Mom's door. No answer. I opened it. She wasn't on her bed, so I walked to her walk-in closet, thinking she might be there. But before I could take another step, I heard someone vomiting in the bathroom.
"Mom!" I shouted, running toward the restroom. "Mom! Is something wrong?"
I kept knocking but she wouldn't answer. I was starting to get scared.
After a few minutes, the door finally opened on its own. Mom faced me with a smile.
"I'm fine," she said.
"Since when is throwing up fine?! We need to go to the hospital."
She shook her head and smiled. "I already went."
"You did? What did they say?" I asked, worried.
Even though we were no longer under that man's roof, I still worried about her. She often kept things to herself rather than tell us how she truly felt.
"They said it's normal. Especially since I'm two weeks pregnant."
Pregnant?
Speechless. That's what I was. I didn't know what to say. It's not that I wasn't happy… I was just shocked.
Mom laughed at my expression.
"You should've seen your face! Don't you want a sibling?"
I shook my head. "It's not that I don't want to… I just don't know what to say."
I forced a smile. She hugged me tightly.
"Please… help me take care of your new brother."
I hugged her back. "I will."
So that's what's going on with her. She's really pregnant. And in a few months, the baby will be here.
"When will the baby come out, Mom?" Keigan asked.
"In two months," she replied with a smile.
"Are you excited to see Keiren?"
I looked at her, confused. "Keiren?"
"That's going to be your baby brother's name — Mike Keiren Watson."
Nice name. But it's kinda weird. I think Mom's obsessed with the initials M and K.
I'm Mark Keifer, my brother is Mir Keigan, and now the baby will be Mike Keiren. What's with the M and K?
One of the maids whispered something to Mom. She nodded and gave a forced smile.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
She stood and motioned us to follow. I had a bad feeling about it. Like I wouldn't like what's coming.
We walked to the house's lobby. The front door opened — and to my shock, the person I hated the most walked in.
"What is he doing here?!" I asked angrily.
"Keifer… That's still your dad," Mom said.
I glared at him. What's he doing here?! He shouldn't have come!
I hate him.
"What do you want from us?!"
"I just want to fix our family. A new member is coming, so—"
"No!" I shouted. "You're not welcome here! So leave!"
"Keifer!" Mom scolded. "Don't talk to your dad like that!"
"Mom! Please! Don't let this man hurt us again."
"I won't, Keifer," he cut in. "I apologize for what I've done before."
Apologize?!
That's it? After everything he did to Mom, to me, to Keigan? Just "apologize?!"
"I will never accept your apology—"
"Keifer! I didn't raise you to be disrespectful!" Mom said angrily.
I looked at her hands. She suddenly held her belly tight. I didn't want Mom to get angry. It's bad for her and Keiren. Something bad might happen.
"S-sorry, Mom."
"Apologize to your dad," she ordered.
NO!
I looked at her, begging with my eyes. I didn't want to! I won't!
Please, Mom!
"Keifer… Apologize to your dad," she repeated.
I clenched my fists. This is so frustrating!
"I… I'm sorry, Dad."
He won. He smiled and opened his arms for a hug. When he saw I wasn't moving, he came over and hugged me.
But I didn't hug him back. NEVER.
This would be the last time I ever apologized like that. I'll never lower myself again.
Mark my words.
I locked myself in my room. I couldn't stand seeing them. Yuri and Percy would visit sometimes, but they didn't stay long either.
As much as I wanted to stay and watch over Mom, I just couldn't.
"You can leave the house if you want to," Keigan said, standing by my door. "That's what you really want anyway."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, annoyed.
He didn't answer. He just walked away. Something's really off with Keigan. I thought things were okay when we moved, but now… this again.
But he made me think. He was right. I didn't want to stay here.
I grabbed my phone and texted Aries.
The good thing about this new house is that I'm close to them. Even a taxi could take me there.
I changed clothes and left my room. I bumped into Keigan on the way, but I just walked past him.
Even if I invited him, I knew he wouldn't come.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Just hearing his voice made me walk faster, but I stopped to face him.
"Out with my friends," I said dryly.
"Even here… it's the same."
I didn't respond. I stared at him straight.
If you weren't here, I wouldn't need to leave.
"If I can't stop you, then fine. Go!"
I didn't say anything and just left the house. I was so pissed that I kicked a flowerpot on my way out.
So annoying! I'll fight back. Remember that!