"Arthur, even if you stay ho-"
As the three in the living room fell silent, Kelly, who was waiting for Arthur's usual loud cheering, wondered why the typically loud Arthur and the entire house were so quiet.
She wanted to check on him, and just like Arthur, she also froze, stunned as she entered the living room.
Her mouth dropped open as she clutched her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Then she ran.
And, pulled the taller and younger one into a tight hug.
"Natalia… Oh my God, you're back! Kevin! Our daughter is back!"
Arthur watched as Natalia gave a small nod, hugging Aunt Kelly...or, you could say, her mother.
Arthur couldn't deny that he felt a hint of jealousy while Aunt Kelly sobbed, holding Natalia tightly.
He wondered… would his mother react the same way when they met again?
But he already had his answer.
Not every mother loves their children.
His mother wasn't like Aunt Kelly.
Of course, a mother who gave her son away to her best friend to raise, simply because she didn't want the baggage from her past in her new life, wouldn't be thrilled to see that "baggage" again.
Yeah… Arthur was that baggage.
It was Aunt Kelly who took him into her home without hesitation. Fourteen-year-old Arthur was already broken when Aunt Kelly decided to take responsibility for him. But she didn't give up. She was literally Arthur's saviour.
Truthfully, Arthur couldn't even remember what his mother sounded like. It had been ten years since they parted ways after all. He didn't wish to see her again. He didn't crave any love from her either…
But seeing Aunt Kelly's love made him think of his mother again. He felt unfortunate not to have that privilege- a good mother or a family.
But he had received a second chance through Aunt Kelly and Uncle Kevin.
They loved him as if he were their own.
He was forever grateful and still tried his best to keep them happy too.
So he was now genuinely happy for Aunt Kelly.
And for this Natalia too.
She was such a lucky person. She had the best parents in the world. Since they were the ones who raised Arthur too, he understood that no one could compare to Kelly and Kevin. They truly were the best.
A smile spread across Arthur's lips as he watched Aunt Kelly smile while holding her daughter's face in her palms.
"Arthur, what about you staying home today?" Uncle Kevin whispered to him.
"Well, I came to find you to say that, actually."
"Ah, then stay home today."
Arthur nodded and allowed Uncle Kevin to pull him down next to him as the other two also settled on the couch after them.
"You shouldn't have surprised us like this. I thought I was hallucinating for a second and then having a heart attack," Aunt Kelly said, gripping Natalia's hands tightly.
"If I said I was coming, you would have insisted on picking me up at the airport, mom. This way is easier for everyone. I didn't want to bother you," Natalia explained calmly, impressing Arthur a little. Because, she was absolutely right.
Aunt Kelly would be giddy all day just from having a call with Natalia, which happened five times a week. So if she knew her daughter was coming back, Arthur was sure Aunt Kelly would go crazy.
However, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling of annoyance at how beautiful Natalia was and how effortlessly charming even her poker face could be.
He couldn't help but roll his eyes to suppress his admiration, a wave of jealousy washing over him.
Her arrival now felt a bit threatening to Arthur because, well, he was going to have to share Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kelly's attention.
He was actually very jealous now.
'Yeah, yeah… If Aunt Kelly had a heart attack, that also would have been easier,' Arthur thought sarcastically as he stole a glance at Natalia, only to find out she was already staring at him, making him flinch and heat up.
'F-fuck!'
Arthur suddenly forgot to breathe, even cursing in his mind.
Just her gaze alone made him feel stiff and anxious.
'God, she is scary…'
Like a scared puppy, Arthur closed his eyes, moving closer to Uncle Kevin while grabbing the hem of his shirt. Arthur felt embarrassed for reasons he couldn't quite figure out, so he kept his head down, staring at his thigh while scratching and pulling at the fabric with his nails.
But he could sense it.
Her gaze…
It was still on him.
As intense as it could get.
'Huh! Is she jealous that I've taken care of her parents while she was abroad? Well, she should be…' Arthur thought, collecting more reasons as to why she might be looking at him with such 'interest.' His reasoning went from serious to childish soon, but that was expected of him.
He tends to get rather delusional sometimes.
Delusion is the solution after all.
Sigh…
What's really going on is that Arthur's ego is a little hurt now.
The fact that he feels intimidated, flustered, and small by her, someone who is actually a year younger than him…
It was quite a humiliating feeling for him.
But he couldn't help it
This alpha...
She makes him feel weird.
It was a sense of panic, a little excitement of getting her attention and then...this weird feeling that makes all the feelings more intense.
It was like a tingle. In his heart...in his stomach....
He hated it.
But he liked it too.
It makes him shudder but...it feels nice in his head.
He knows he is weird.
Maybe this was also something like that.
But this is very unfamiliar to him.
He doesn't recall what it was like with her six years ago, but back then, he couldn't even look her in the eye because he was overwhelmed with fear. He was worried about being the annoying omega living in the house of all the high school omegas' crush who was this Natalia.
As a result, he kept his distance from her at home and at school. They were never close, so avoiding her wasn't an issue for Arthur.
In fact, he even chose to stay in his room, keeping away from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Kevin too, for five long years.
He didn't want to be seen as a burden by them either. He was concerned about what would happen if Aunt Kelly decided to kick him out since he had nowhere else to go.
Even though he had spent time with Aunt Kelly before and felt comfortable with her, he felt he couldn't be that way anymore. He was determined to prove he wasn't a burden, and he put in the effort, by staying away and being very silent.
However, when Natalia left the country six years ago, Arthur began to feel more at ease around Aunt Kelly and Uncle Kevin. He started to approach them and spend time with the couple, feeling a sense of responsibility to comfort them as they grieved the absence of their daughter.
Since then, he has discovered many things and realised just how wrong he had been. They had never seen him as a burden; they cared about him as much as they cared for their daughter.
Arthur believed them. He had to. He came to understand that he had worried them for the past five years with his foolishness. He couldn't believe he never thought to talk to them about how he felt. If he had, those five years could have been much more comfortable and friendly for everyone.
Sigh...
He also came to understand that the reason their daughter had left the country was that her boyfriend, an omega with whom she had been in a long-term relationship, had betrayed her by getting marked and pregnant by another alpha, leaving her heartbroken.
Arthur could imagine the pain of betrayal.
That time must have been horrible for her.
To cope, Natalia had left the country where she pursued her studies and later took over Uncle Kevin's business. Arthur knows Natalia is the one now responsible for half of the business. And, he knows Uncle Kevin is very proud of her too.
However, Arthur couldn't find himself feeling the same or even close during those times she was away.
Not because he didn't know her well enough.
But because during her time abroad, she never visited her parents.
In fact, she hadn't returned even once in the past five years...
Arthur expected her to be more mature than that, and he was very upset with her because Aunt Kelly was really sad because video calling wasn't just enough for her.
But he also remembered that he had once been as bad as she was, ignoring this kind couple who never gave him anything to complain about.
However, he later got an explanation from Uncle Kevin and realised Natalia's situation wasn't that simple. Even with professional help, she had been depressed for three years, and she had promised to only return when she was completely fine because she didn't want her mom to worry about her.
Arthur understood. Even though he didn't know her well, he thought she would be okay soon. In the meantime she is away, he decided to fill the empty space she left behind.
So he changed.
Or rather, he was changed...
These two people were so kind to him, and he made more effort to get along with them, which soon made them all close. It all got better and better with time and effort, blending them into a family by heart.
So before long, there was an Arthur who was so happy, so clingy, so childish, and comfortable enough to joke around.
And like that, he soon earned the title of the "Son they never had."
Even though Arthur is 24 and a grown-up now, they still adore his childlike behaviour that comes out naturally.
This 24-year-old still gets tucked under the sheets at night and is taken care of like a five-year-old.
So yeah, he is very pampered and well taken care of.
They all love the way it is.
Their little family...
It is always so full of laughter and warmth.
'Might not be in the future...I can't believe my beautiful Aunty and handsome old man have a daughter who doesn't even know how to smile.'
Arthur's mouth twitched to say something sarcastic like the brat he was, but he needed to make a good first impression, so he controlled his tongue.
Well...Natalia might already have had a first impression. This is not the first time they have ever met after all.
But it's been six years since they last saw each other face to face.
So...
It's time for a new beginning.
A new impression.
And,
A start over.