Chapter 7

"How is he?" Jeremy asked Ms. Fei as soon as he entered their house in Horizon Town. 

"Sir Dave has been sleepless for a week now, he keeps throwing a fit." The old lady answered.

Her voice cracked, obviously she would want to cry. Jeremy stopped his quick steps as they reached the fourth floor. 

He worriedly scanned Ms. Fei up and down. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"

But before she could answer, Tony Sean is already standing in the hallway. He looks more restless than Ms. Fei.

"Dad!" Jeremy rushed to him. "Are you okay?"

Mr. Sean assured his son that he is okay by flashing a big smile. But Jeremy knows he is not telling the truth. He is not okay. His dad's eyes could not lie though.

"You can take some rest, Dad. I'll be staying here." Jeremy said.

He looked at the old lady, signalling her to escort Mr. Sean down to his room on the third floor. Ms. Fei nodded.

Though the fourth floor of the house is big enough for having three spacious rooms, the hallway can still reflect off someone's loud cries.

The door opened.

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A man in a wretched state is crying desperately, burying his face on the floor. 

The room is a total mess. It is obviously because of him throwing a fit.

Jeremy hastened to approach Dave, his older brother.

"Don't be scared anymore, I am here." He said calmly, giving Dave the kind of comfort he knows he needs the most. 

The miserable guy stopped crying and then, he lifted his head. The moment Jeremy sat on the floor, he began gently touching his older brother's tearful face.

Dave held Jeremy's hand. "They... They are h..here..  Je..Jeremy. H..Hide me.."

"I'm here. No one can harm you."

Dave's eyes are still reflecting fear. 

Jeremy helped him get up, slowly.

"B..but..? D..Don't l..leave me."

Dave's body is quivering. He immediately buried his face in Jeremy's arms, as if someone is haunting him.

Jeremy calmly caressed his brother's hair. "I won't leave you. Trust me."

Dave did not respond. Jeremy's heart is shattering into pieces, feeling Dave's sorrowful tears that are flowing on his arms.

Dave held on to his arms more tightly.

"J..Jeremy.. I..I'm s..sorry." The man cried out. His shivering hand is slowly pointing at the big bed.

Dave threw Jeremy an anxious look. Jeremy let out a deep sigh. He already knows what it is.

Jeremy carefully assisted him and made him sit on the chair near them. "Close your eyes."

He then put earphones in Dave's ears and played a tranquilizing song. Tears keep rushing down on the man's face. This dreary mood is crushing Jeremy's heart. He turned his back and made heavy steps to the bed.

One thing he is sure about, his older brother did it again. He shook his head, feeling hopelessly exhausted. But more than that, he feels sincerely sorry. 

He stopped when he reached the side of the bed. "I just calmed him down. Get up now."

But there's no answer. Only his brother's sorrowful sob is heard in the room. 

Strong guilt began to swallow Jeremy. "I apologize and I will always apologize. Putting up with Dave is extremely draining."

He continued. "The driver is waiting for you outside. He will drive you home. You can come back Sunday evening."

Still not getting any response, Jeremy can't help but feel terribly sorry.

The new nurse must be feeling scared, witnessing Dave throwing a fit. Or worse, she probably got hurt by him. 

Drowning in guilt and sorry, Jeremy let out a heavy sigh. "Please tell me. Did you get hurt??"

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"What are you doing here???"

The girl in sight completely flustered Jeremy.

Into her arms, Serin is curling herself on the floor. Her back is leaning on the other side of the bed.

Serin has been in the mansion for a week now, taking care of Jeremy's older brother.

Yenny is the one who offered her the job. She is the only caregiver who nursed Dave for so long. But she decided to quit two months ago when Dave intensely threw a fit that almost killed her.

She told Serin everything about Dave. He has post-traumatic stress disorder. Oftentimes, during his depressive episodes, he would hurt himself or the people around him.

The strenuous job did not give Serin a second thought because it would pay her a good compensation. She has always wanted to save money so she could legally register her name and live a normal life.

But on the day Serin came to the mansion, she found out that Dave is Jeremy's older brother. From that moment, she completely understood what Chris and Ken told her before. That Jeremy has been going through a lot. And that is, for sure, because of his terribly sick brother, putting heavy and burdensome responsibilities on his shoulders.

Knowing everything on that day has given Serin genuine sympathy for Jeremy who has been going through life's painful battles.

Recalling that day when he found out Jeremy's cruel life story, she can't help but feel that she's really meant to meet Jeremy. Because just this moment, fate played with them once again, making their paths cross for the second time.

Jeremy hurriedly approached Serin. He tried to help her get up but she refused the guy's hand.

Dave already hurt Serin and Jeremy feels like getting punished. That is breaking his heart. 

His worried expression is making Serin feel uncomfortable. For some reason, she really hates to see Jeremy in a troubled and distressed state. 

Serin almost stumbled, losing strength in her body the moment she stood up. But she still managed to appear fine, not wanting to worry Jeremy. 

"I'm okay." 

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"Ms. Fei, can you leave us? I need to talk to her." The old lady left the two in Serin's room.

Serin is sitting at the edge of the bed, applying some ointment on the wounds on her hands.

"If you are going to ask me to leave, I am sorry but I won't listen to you." Serin said, firmly. 

Dave's miserable condition, Mr. Sean's kindness and Jeremy's burdensome responsibility have driven Serin to continue working for them despite the danger she would be facing from nursing Dave.

She is eager to help Sean's family, especially the guy who saved her on Desf Road. She is no longer after the good compensation, but for Dave to get better, so Tony Sean and Jeremy would embrace genuine happiness again. 

Looking at Serin, Jeremy could not deny the truth. He has longed for the girl's presence.

"Don't push yourself that hard. If you get tired taking care of Dave, you can leave anytime you want." 

Jeremy's gentleness is a whole new picture for Serin.

Jeremy stepped out of the room. The door closed.

He hates himself for his shameful lack of courage.

'Are you okay?' This is the question Jeremy has been wanting to ask Serin.

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"Is everything okay, son?" His dad gave him a concerned look.

Jeremy has gone out with his dad after having breakfast. They are at Orange Bay, fishing together.

This precious time with his dad is what Jeremy always looks forward to. It is one of the reasons why he would feel excited to come home on weekends.

He stopped putting bait on his dad's fishing rod. "Yes, dad. Don't worry, everything's okay."

Tony Sean gently patted him on his back. "Happy to hear that."

Jeremy reached for his dad's hands to give him the rod.

"How about you, dad? Is everything okay in the house?" The thought of Yenny quitting the job has been worrying Jeremy.

Tony Sean sighed heavily. "Your brother's condition is not getting any better."

What Jeremy heard pained him. "Is he doing that again?" He asked even though he already has a hunch why Dave has been emotionally and mentally unstable lately.

"Yes. That's the reason why he is getting worse." Tony Sean's voice almost cracked.

Jeremy did not respond anymore. No words to describe what he is feeling. Dave is hopelessly miserable. 

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"Where is it????? Did you hide it?????" Dave's nervous breakdown triggered again.

Serin doesn't know what to do. It is past 11 in the evening. Jeremy just left Horizon Town. 

Dave grabbed Serin by her right shoulder, making him face the girl closely. Serin's eyes could not hide her fear.

"Sir Dave, I didn't hide anything. If something is missing, please tell me so I will know. I will find it for you." Serin tried her best to sound like she's not terrified, but the truth is, she's extremely fearful. 

Dave shot Serin's eyes with his delirious stare.

His eyes grew bigger in extreme rage. "Why should I???? I am not stupid!!!!!!"

Dave violently pushed Serin into the table. Everything on it fell and got crushed on the floor.

He then angrily walked towards her direction.

"S..Sir Dave.. Don't w..worry. I.. I w..will call y..your brother." Serin could no longer hide the dread that crept on her.

"Don't!!!!!!!!!" His screams got more deafening.

Serin forced herself to stand up but another violent push exerted on her. She landed on the smashed things scattered on the floor.

Rage on his face instantly changed to a scary laugh. "I know what you are thinking right now. I look crazy. I look pitiful. I look miserable. Am I right?????"

Serin avoided his monstrous-like eyes and tried to stand up.

But Dave grabbed her by the shirt. "Answer me!!!!!!"

Suddenly the door opened. Someone came rushing.

Jeremy hurriedly took Dave's hand off Serin.

Serin closed her trembling eyes, feeling such a great relief. In an instant, her tears overflowed. She is silently gasping for air, as if she has fought with a monster. 

Anxiously and insanely quivering, Dave ran to his bed.

"I.. I am s..sorry, Je..Jeremy." Dave pulled the blanket and covered himself, fearfully panicking. 

Jeremy released a heavy sigh. Then, he turned his back to check on Serin.

She is picking up the smashed things on the floor. She got cuts on her palms, bleeding.

Dripping tears and blood on the shattered pieces of broken glass. This sight is shattering Jeremy's heart.

He bent down and stopped Serin's hand. "Let me clean this. Go to your room."

But Serin ignored her. Her silent sobs and bruised hands are frustrating Jeremy. He lifted his hands and held Serin by her arms.

With his worried eyes, he faced Serin. "Please leave. Not this room, but this house."