After two days...
The sound of a running mixer in the kitchen echoed through the living room while birds screeched outside. Gentle morning sunlight filled the room.
"It is expected to rain in the afternoon..."
The weather report played from the TV. Ko's father sat at the table, watching the broadcast.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed his neck and pulled him into a headlock.
"You brat, the moment you let go, you're finished!" Dad said in a strained voice.
The hand slowly released its hold. The father turned his head and saw a half-asleep Ko standing there, laughing like an idiot.
"Can't you leave me alone on weekends? I only get one day to rest during the whole week, and you do this to me. Hmph."
Dad turned back toward the TV with an annoyed expression.
"Haan, don't be like that. I only get to play with Daddy once a week," Ko said as he affectionately rubbed his cheek against his father's.
With an exasperated look on his face, Ko's dad rolled up the newspaper lying on the table and bonked him on the head.
"Go brush your teeth."
Ko ran to his mother in the kitchen and complained,
"Mom, Dad bonked me on the head with a newspaper."
He looked at her with puppy eyes.
"Bonked? What does that mean?" his mother asked in confusion.
"He hit me on the head with a newspaper," Ko whined.
His mother, knowing what usually happened when she gave him attention, ignored him and heated a pan of oil to sauté the onions.
Seeing his mother avoid him, Ko playfully came up with something evil.
He turned on the faucet and drenched his hands with water.
"What are you doing? Didn't you say you're going out with your friends today?" Mom asked suspiciously.
"Ah yes, yes. I'm just washing my hands," Ko replied with a mischievous smile.
While his mother was cutting onions, Ko took a few steps back and flicked the water from his hands into the pan.
The hot oil erupted with a loud popping sound and splattered violently.
"Kooo!"
His mom screamed as he ran straight to the bathroom.
After taking a bath, Ko entered his room and declared,
"For today's battle armor, we're going with the Ezio white suit."
He grabbed a casual white hoodie from his closet and changed into it.
"Ezio suit on, and now it's time for the Leap of Faith. SKREEE!"
Ko jumped and crashed onto his bed.
"I'm going out with Kenny after a long time, hehe."
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the events at the Raibon mansion flooded back into his head.
He remembered the strange sensation he had felt in the corridor.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he wondered,
"What was that all about?"
"Ko, come eat your breakfast."
His mother's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ko walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table without saying a word.
Noticing his unusually blank expression, his father asked,
"Ko, did something happen?"
"Nothing," Ko replied.
His father turned toward his wife.
"Did you say something harsh to him?"
"No, I didn't."
She walked over, gently stroked Ko's head, and asked,
"Do you have any problems, Ko?"
"Ah, I was just thinking about where to take Kenny," Ko replied with a forced smile.
"Is that all? You brat, don't scare us like that," his dad said with relief in his voice.
A few seconds later...
"Daddy, do you need some ketchup?" Ko asked innocently.
"Yeah, sure."
His father moved his plate closer.
Ko squeezed the ketchup pouch while the nozzle was pointed directly at his father.
A stream of ketchup shot onto his father's chin and tank top.
"Uh-oh. Sorry, Daddy. I didn't notice the nozzle was facing you."
Ko tried to suppress the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Seeing him smile after his earlier gloomy mood, his father couldn't even bring himself to get angry.
Instead, he burst out laughing while Ko's mother handed him a towel to wipe off the ketchup.
After breakfast, Ko headed for the door.
"Okay, Daddy, Mom, I'm heading out. I'll be eating lunch outside and should be back before five. Byee."
As he left the house, his mother turned to her husband and asked,
"Is he only like this around us?"
"Maybe, yes," the father replied as he watched Ko leave the house.
The two of them sat in silence for a minute.
"ARE WE SPOILING HIM TOO MUCH?"
Both of them asked the question at the same time.
After hearing each other, they let out an awkward laugh.
"We are not the kind of parents who are obsessed with their child. We taught him everything we could, and we have been strict when necessary. Yet he has never shown us hatred or resentment.
Maybe he just loves us too much instead of us spoiling him too much. Don't you think?"
His expression remained calm, but the warmth and love he held for his son were visible in his eyes as he spoke.
Seeing her husband's expression, the mother wrapped an arm around him as tears filled her eyes.
Ko walked toward the café where they had agreed to meet.
When he arrived, he found Kenika standing beside the flower display outside the café.
She looked perfectly at home among the flowers, eagerly waiting for the rain.
As dark clouds gathered overhead and the world around Ko grew dimmer, Kenika seemed to stand out even more.
The café lights flickered on, bathing her in a warm glow that only added to her beauty.
And the way she kept looking around restlessly for him made her seem even cuter.
Watching her from a distance, Ko couldn't help but wonder,
"How am I even dating her?"
With that thought, he started walking toward Kenika.
To be continued...