He vividly remembered the day of his so-called father's passing… he was just four years old.
"Can't wait to show Dad what I drew!" the young voice of Hana remarked brightly.
"What is it?" young Sen questioned. "It kinda looks like a bunny."
"It's not!" Hana puffed. "Can't you see it's a dinosauw." She held up her drawing proudly.
"You mean dinosaur?" Sen snorted. "I'm a couple of years younger than you, and even I say it better."
"Oh, shut up. You should see the drawing I showed Mom before you woke up." Hana pointed at a drawing on the coffee table. It was a simple large tree with a frowning stick man. Something about it sent a shiver down his spine, and he wasn't sure why. "She was so shocked at how good it was. I bet you can't do anything half as good!" Hana challenged.
"Okay, I will. Watch this. Give me a piece of papeo."
"Aha! See, you CAN'T say words right either!" She cackled.
"Yea, yea, I know. Alwight...- I mean– See, this is why I shouldn't hang out with you anymore. You're making me lose my vocabulary," Sen muttered grumpily.
"DEAL WITH IT!"
"Idiot sister." Despite his remark, Sen couldn't help but give a soft chuckle of amusement. "No, but seriously, give me the paper, and I'll show you the correct way to dra-" At that moment, he heard the front door open... and instantly, the mood in the air shifted. Something was wrong.
"Oh, is mom finally back home from meeting that strange man?" Hana wondered.
She hopped off the sofa and skipped brightly to the door. Sen hesitated, feeling as if he'd done this before. I don't like this... he thought while cautiously following his sister.
They saw their mother enter through the front door, the hinges creaking ominously as a result. Her eyes were dull and lifeless when shutting the door behind her. The first thing Sen noticed, was a different black jacket resting on her shoulders. And it wasn't hers. It was too big and broad to be worn by a woman. It was a men's jacket…
Coming closer to their mom, Hana worriedly tugged the bottom of her skirt, yet she barely even met her daughter's gaze. She always smiled. It was odd not seeing that bright face.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Hana asked. Sen just watched behind his sister, waiting for her answer.
Their mother didn't cry or seem upset often, so this was a rare occurrence. Even after Hana's urgent question, their mom didn't reply. Her only response was another whimper of sadness. Then, as if she didn't have a single ounce of energy left in her, the mother collapsed to the ground, letting out violent wails that were a mixture of pain and grief.
"M-mommy! Don't cry. What's wrong? What did that man do to you?" Hana whimpered in distress. But the room remained silent, absent of any response. The only thing close to a reply was a volley of horrifying sounds of distress. Man? Which man? His sister never mentioned anything about a man to him. Hana cracked under stress and embraced her, crying regardless of the reason for their mother's tears. Sen still kept his distance, waiting for a logical explanation. He yearned to comfort his mother but convinced himself against it. He needed to be composed in these situations. That was what his father taught him.
Then his mother looked at him. Her mascara-dripping eyes pierced into the depth of his soul. What was that look on her face? Sadness? No, it's that at all, Sen realized. It was anger hiding behind a wall of tears. But why was she angry at him? As if he caused this…
But soon, that twisting expression changed again into helplessness. It was as if upon looking at Sen's calm behavior, she had given up. Given up hope. Or perhaps it was a realization of something…
"Oh, my dear children..." she finally let out a murmured sob. "I'm so sorry."
"Mom, please don't cry!" Hana wailed in distress.
Finally, she lifted her head and looked at them with tears dwindling down her cheeks. That expression, he realized, was genuine. This wasn't the same as when she cried on occasion. Sen couldn't imagine the reason that warranted his mother's severe mental breakdown.
"My dears..." she started her fingers gripping the new black jacket, "I don't think Dad will be coming home today..."
The world around Sen faded to black.