Chapter 8: Why?

In spite of the fact the right key has yet to resolve the ill questions inside their heads, the audience couldn’t be more meddlesome in such special event. Some hurried over to the entrance while a few were glad to grasp the opportunity to familiarize the new and pristine faces laid out fresh in clear sight. Those genes are simply out of the world.

The grand RV carpet was laid out for a woman and a child, it’s already a catchy headline to boast. Just whose property these two belong?

The crowd was thrilled, their prying eyes glued at the child alone who outshined the rest of them in his simple white designed sweater. Their curiosity soared even higher. Call it future investment as it may sound. They have to know who this young boy is. He would make a good pair to one of their young daughters.

"Welcome to Crown cinema theatre of Yuro. We are deeply honored to be at your service," the manager smiled widely, brushing the fact that she almost stammered due to excitement.  

But not this time. She’d rather leave the country than bring humiliation to herself and her family. She cannot bring shame to her ancestors and family once they knew she was near on slipping her tongue in front of the guest of the great Marquez Corporation. Judging by the guests’ connections, they must be well-known socialites from another country.

Not every person as her is given the same opportunity to stand this close from someone different from her current status or breathe the extravagant scent coming from these royal specimens.

The nervous manager, squealed internally, fangirling as her toes curled beneath her heels. She can already smell cash and luxury in the air.

She made sure to take note of the Bentley's plate number, registering it on 'AA guest list priority' when the security post by the entrance gate had notified them beforehand that a guest under one of the five biggest business industry was present, yet here she was delighted despite failing to stabilize the situation.

“It’s not polite to welcome someone when the entrance is blocked,” Kieran paused, his face turned grimmer as he tilt his head looking far ahead. How upsetting. Do public places have to overdramatic for a simple entrance? Well, at least it’s not as crowded as it is in the amusement park to be certain, but it’s still quite a hassle. 

Eh? The manager blinks. The entrance is blocked? She nervously turns her head to the side and just as the child said the entrance was blocked by a small portion of crowd, a group of troublesome socialites who are known to make six figures a month. She beams towards her subordinates, standing on the side lines, their heads immediately drop, refusing to look at her.

Why haven’t they taken care of it?

The corners of her lips twitch slightly. Well it looks like status could really intimidate someone easily. The manager named Kayla, set her eyes at the gorgeous human in front of her, her throat ran dry, “I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“Shouldn’t you handle it first before apologizing?” Kieran replied without hesitation. 

Again, the manager felt attacked, causing her to rub her sweaty palms against her thighs. She found herself unable to respond.

Out of pity, Hillary extend her arm, thoroughly brushing her fingers against her son’s jet black hair, "It’s okay we’ll see ourselves through," she comforts the manager, "And excuse his rudeness, he's not used to communicating with other people yet." This arrogant bun has yet to receive hundreds of nagging to tame his stubbornness.

The manager nods, biting her lips as she gulps when her eyes caught the child’s keen gaze that could cut through the skull of her head

With her quivering like that in sight, Hillary knew the manager was better to be elsewhere apart from here, furthermore she gave up the idea of explaining in behalf of her son's reputation as she could only release the heavy sigh she was holding in for too long. From where they stood, she can fully see the staffs heading back inside together with the group of people that started to disperse. Not a single shadow can be seen in sight.

"Would you like our staffs to accompany you to avoid any inconvenience throughout your stay, Ma'am?" The manager suggested. After all the sharp intake of breaths Hillary heard from her, she was amused the manager could still utter a word.

On the other side, Kayla's head went blank for a brief moment. What is she doing? This is what she lives for, to live her life talking to goddesses, to continue being such a simp, and carry on this odd excitement. She was truly attracted to her same gender, but what a shame. She mistakenly thought the child next to her was her younger sibling. Kayla bats her lashes towards the saintess presence in front of her who seems to be too young to be known as a mother of any child.

Speaking of child, the young boy whom she believed that clogged her airways, causing her breathing to turn unusual had now kept his mouth sealed and eyes aimed down towards the carpet. Kayla was somewhat relieved that she was made to be human rather than the carpet that had no other option but to receive the wrath from the child's eyes.

The only thing lacking in sight was a hole to magically appear from the raw material due to how keen the child could stare. She can still feel the odd sensation from his heavy gaze engrave in her memory as she felt every hair on her body rises again.

Hillary shakes her head and knowing her son is actively listening to the exchanges of their conversation, she could only settle with formal words, "No need."

Running out of patience, Kieran interferes once again, “Just leave already.”

Without further ado the manager quickly nods in response. "Please do reach out to our staffs or you can personally ask for my presence if you have any concerns we can help you with." The young manager finally turns her back against them and walks away.

Seeing there was no one else in sight, she angrily place both of her hands at her hips, looking down at the grumpy child beside her. If he’s upset, so does she!

The corner of her lips bent into a frown, “You promised to behave.”

The burning weather was no match at the fury inside his eyes. She witness how tiny bullets of sweats drip from his forehead down to his reddened and moist cheeks and she knows how uncomfortable he feels under the heat by the sight of his uneasy green eyes, yet here he was, so stubborn to argue at everyone trying to approach them politely.

Hillary was dismayed that her child’s still acting up just as he is in the mansion.  She thought everything was clear when they talk about this inside the car? Without question he was clearly obedient a moment ago and now he’s like a child who’s filled with resentment towards everyone around him like they had just murdered his entire family before his eyes. It finally hit her. Kieran has trust issues.

His upset eyes lock with hers, "Mother, am I being offensive? I was only stating facts," her child solely defended himself.

Really? She just heard him shooing the unfortunate manager away, no? In addition, she did not miss the cold glances he gave the manager while she was talker to her.

Doesn’t he know he’s making the situation more complicated and uncomfortable to the other person? She couldn’t help but watch how the manager was struggling, anxiously glancing back at her like she was growing more impatient as the clock was ticking. It was obvious that the manager too, felt the sunrays stinging her skin the longer they stand under such situation.

“I noticed she was uncomfortable and since I’m a good boy I suggested her to leave out of mercy.” He beams. Yes, truly the woman was lucky enough to escape. He’s being considerate.

Hillary clench her teeth, ugh, she just can’t stand how strong-willed he is when he settles his mindset to his own judgment alone. It was advantageous of him to acquire such traits, but he’s using it the other way around. He's grown stubborn to ignore what she just told him. So it works like this? Whenever she wants to discipline this young boy, he would deliberately go against her now?

She can almost feel herself sighing hopelessly again. He's already wayward at a young age, what more when years will pass? She knew her naggings would only work on him for a moment before it passes through his other ear.

"No more excuses," she leans forward, whispering at his ear sternly, ignoring the doubts she had in herself in the case of keeping this child in check. What could she do? This stubborn kitten is her beloved.

She could only tame him in a way she knew it would be best for him as early rebellion in childhood is normal. She, too, experienced this phase herself and what he needs is a parent who would make him understand that he's making mistakes he should not have been in the first place. After all, her purpose was to guide him.

To end a battle it’s not necessary to defeat your opponent to stand alone in the battle field. You cannot always fight fire with fire. Sometimes softening your pride can even calm the roughest waves ahead.

Soon as the young boy heard the firmness and disappointment in her voice, his shoulders fell and his head drops once more. Even though she wasn't able to see the fury in his eyes any longer, his chest was heaving up and down in a disordered manner, a sign that he's now keeping his temper in check.

She knows he’s also trying his best to listen.

Kieran grips the side of his sweater as tightly as possible, his knuckles turning paler than usual. It was barely possible to calm himself from irritation without breaking or throwing things where he usually vents his frustration at. He breathes slowly, in and out. ‘I must not anger mother further. I must not anger mother further.’ He chants silently, forcibly shoving the idea inside his head clouded with fury.

He bites his tongue underneath the frown of his lips. For now he decided to endure the strong urge of his itchy palms by clenching his fist and avoiding further eye contact from his mother.

The fact that she's furious at him because of the people he considered as pure strangers to their family was unimaginable. There's no way in hell, he would treat such lowly lives with the slightest effort or attention he can provide. He doesn't see the point why he would spare his energy acknowledging such typical beings who rather portray insignificant role in his life.

He wants to understand why? What part of him lacks to capture her attention? What do these ordinary looking peasants have that his mother finds it worth defending?