Chapter 1

Ding-Ding

Nino takes out his phone nervously and cautiously after hearing the notice. However, all the expectations fade with just one single peek. Well, it is not surprising at all that it’s another rejection from the interview. 

He throws himself into the bed leaving the poor phone nowhere to be found in the mess, though it seems that he should be the poor one actually. 

Life sucks. Nino doesn't even remember how many times he has cursed his life ever since he started to find a job as he will graduate from college in months. The insecurity and anxiety are killing him, though all his classmates probably are experiencing the same.

It is even more disappointing when it starts to rain. “Urrr…” “Couldn’t expect something worse, thanks, my lord.” Just when Nino is complaining about the bad weather, he hears a slight ring from his phone which is buried deep down in his bed.

“Hello…Sis Lana?” Nino answers the phone with a big question mark because it is quite weird to receive a call from his neighbor Lana at the moment even though they have known each other for 2 years already. 

She is a young woman who was wasted by a womanizer when she was new to her first job. The leader’s gentle and sweet mask let the naive girl get lost in her blinded love, and when she gave herself to him, her dream broke. She was hit by the cruelty and what was more suffocating was her pregnancy. However, she was a strong and kind woman who decided to raise the baby on her own because she could never think of abortion. As years went by, she is now living in the apartment next to Nino with her 5-year-old little boy as a hardworking single mother. 

“Hey, Nino. It’s Lana. I know the call might be a bit abrupt but I really need your help.”

“Not at all. I don’t have anything to do right now anyway. How may I help?”

“You see, it’s raining and I might not be able to get Aaron home from the kindergarten because I am kind of stuck in my job...”

“Oh, sure. It is indeed really important. I would go and get him back to my house. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you so much, Nino. You literally saved me. I owe you a big favor.”

“Nah, it’s nothing. Fine, I’m leaving now. Don’t wanna keep little Aaron waiting too long.”

Hurried to the kindergarten, it is easy to find Aaron waiting anxiously at the gate. Though, it seems he has got a companion with him.

“Heeey, Aaron! Mom is busy today. So you will be leaving with me. Come on, I will get you some hot chocolate when we get home. ” Nino says when getting closer to the child. 

“Hii, it’s brother Nino!!” The little one rushes towards Nino giving him a huge embrace. 

“Haha, chill out buddy. Anyone wants a ride-on-neck?” But just then, he notices the other boy at the back staring at him. 

“Aaron, is this your friend? No one comes to take him home?”

“No. I tried to play with him, but he didn't want to talk with me.” The little Aaron replies while shaking his head.

“Okay…Poor little one. Aaron, what do you say if we stay and give him a little companion? I’d say he would be lonely if we leave now.”

“Sure! But he doesn’t talk at all.”

“Maybe he is shy. Let’s see if we could make him feel happy and play with us.”

….

*cough*

The sudden sound made them stop and looked back only to find a well-dressed man looking at them. No other words came into Nino’s mind except for elite businessmen. 

It had been almost an hour since they started to play. Though it seemed only Nino and Aaron were actually playing while the child was only watching from the side. 

“Time to go, son.” The man said coldly while looking at the two as if they were crowns. 

Nino felt the extremely awkward atmosphere, yet he waved goodbye to the little one with a rigid smile. 

Seeing them leaving, Nino thought in his mind ‘This man must think I am even more stupid now.’ However, to his surprise, the little one turned back before he got on the luxury black car and left a meaningful glance even though it just stayed for a second.

“Get in.” Said the man. 

The door closed quickly and the car was soon nowhere to be seen, leaving the two standing silly in the rain. 

"Damn this man! Who the hell does he think he is. How could he be so cold even to his own son? Is that boy truly his son? I would rather die if I had such a dad like him."