Chapter 4: Mother is Sick Yet Father is...

I hopped out of our truck when we reached home. Today’s training is hard as usual, but the last sparring I had with Father was better. I managed to scratch his cheeks after all.

It may be only just a scratch but I considered it a successful blow. I am so happy about it that I wanted to tell my brothers immediately.

The house was silent similar to the other day. But unlike last time, I did not panic at all. Mother must have gone somewhere with the twins again.  When I entered our house using the kitchen backdoor, I went straight to our living room where the stairs upstairs are at. But my steps were halted upon seeing Mother, on the floor, and unconscious.

“Mother!!” I called out in worry.

Things then happened so fast after. In just a short period, our house was filled with people I once saw the faces before. And Mother… she was finally awoken earlier but went back to sleep again.

I wanted to know what was happening, but our aunt Selib won’t let us. She said that Father ordered her to keep us three away from our parent’s room. Hence, I and my siblings were inside my room as we waited for Father to let us see Mother.

When the door to my room opened, Father was there. “Come, you three.” He simply ordered us.

We entered our parents’ room and there we saw Mother, looking back at us on their bed. “Come.” She told us and we rushed to her. It was I who noticed first that it was not only Father and the Doctor that treated Mother earlier, who was inside the room, observing us.

I could see it. Those familiar looks of disappointment. Similar to Father’s.

“Ahem!”

Father’s clearing throat made those looks stop. “Duke.” Mother’s call made me forget about them as well. I went closer to her. “Yes, Mother.”

“I heard that it was you who discovered me unconscious.” She said.  “I’m sorry to have scared you, son.” Mother’s gentle voice made my forgotten worry and trauma earlier return. I’m a coward. But what I saw earlier is the scariest thing I have encountered ever since. My tears welled and I hugged my mother tight.

“M-m-mother…” I wept. I was so scared. So scared that despite feeling Father’s piercing looking behind me, I couldn’t stop myself from crying.

--

“Training again, big brother? How about Mother?” Koby’s asked me the same question again today.

After a week since Mother collapsed due to an illness, we went back to training once more, trying to use the remaining two weeks of my summer break at school. I, as well, wanted to ask the same question to Father but before I even tried to, Father had already cut me to it. Telling me that he had already ordered an Omega sibling to take good care of Mother.

“What’s taking you this long?”

Koby and I were startled when we heard Father’s voice from the door. Koby, especially, since he just asked me to stay earlier. “Nothing, Father. I’m already on my way.” I said and glanced at Koby before leaving with our father.

At the camp, my thoughts were still with Mother. ‘Training again, big brother? How about Mother?’ I remembered Koby’s question this morning. I wanted to stay and take good care of Mother. She’s sick. And she must want me to stay as well.

I looked at Father. He doesn’t look like he was worried at all. But why? Mother is bedridden for a week now.

“Father.”

I called out to him. He turned to me with a blank expression. But for some reason, I wasn’t scared. Something inside me is burning and I couldn’t name it. “W-why are we still training out here?” I finally asked.

Father’s stern expression turned dark. “To make you stronger. What else?”

“But Mother’s health is growing weak. I saw her last night and she had already lost some weight. I wanted to be by her side and take care of her.”

I saw how Father’s brows met. “Didn’t I already tell you that I had already ordered a few to do that? What would you probably do to help your mother?”

I gritted my teeth at Father’s reply. It was the first time I felt this anger towards him. [“Why? Why?!”] I kept asking those questions inside my head.

“If you have nothing else to say, then change to running this time. You can cool your head by then.” He coldly ordered. I turned around, wanting to follow his order but I couldn’t bring myself to. So, I turned back to him and asked, “Then what about you, Father? Don’t you want to take good care of Mother? You were worried sick of her last time, right? So why not now?”

Shooting those questions without a pause made me catch my breath after. But despite that, I didn’t take my eyes away from my father. I want to see him answer my question with my own eyes.

Yet, Father just turned his back away from me. “I’m no doctor, Duke. Your mother’s health is something I cannot do about.” He paused. But I remained silent. I wanted to hear more from him.

“The only thing I can do right now is to train you. So, quit your whining and do as your told.” He turned back to me again wearing his piercing eyes this time. “Or else, you will also remain helpless like this when the time comes.”