Chapter S6

He has no other choice.

It's winter break, everyone is happy to finally spend time with their families after a long time.

Aki isn't everyone.

Hartez was looking forward to spending some time off campus. The cold winter air had settled in, blanketing the city in a soft blanket of frost. The snow had started to fall, and the sky was a rich, midnight blue. It was a beautiful, peaceful scene, and Aki found himself feeling calm and content as he made his way through the school.

But as he walked through the empty hallways, Aki couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The holidays were coming up, and that meant he would be spending time with his family. He knew it was something he had to do, something he couldn't avoid, but it still caused a sense of dread in the pit of his stomach.

He had grown up in a loving family, but over time, that love had faded. His parents used to be supportive, but after his mother became addicted, they started to fight more often.

After he grew up, it was as if they didn't truly know him, as if they didn't understand what he wanted or who he was.

He had tried talking to them, telling them how he felt, but it always ended in arguments and misunderstandings. He couldn't help but feel like he was a disappointment to them, a failure in their eyes.

As he packed his bags and prepared to leave for home, Aki felt a sense of nervousness and anticipation. He wanted to spend time with his family to try and mend the fences between them. But he also knew that it wouldn't be easy.

He knew that the holidays could be a difficult time, a time when family dynamics were thrown into sharp relief. He knew that this might be a moment when old wounds were once again opened, and the pain would be too much to bear.

And yet, he had to try. He had to face his fears and his family to try and salvage what was left of their relationship. It was a daunting task, one that made him nervous and uneasy, but he knew it was something he had to do.

So, with a heavy heart and a sense of determination, Aki made his way home. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to try.

Aki's heart raced with anticipation as he packed his bags for the trip to Washington by train.

He used to love the adventure and thrill of train rides.

The train platform was bustling with activity as Aki made his way to the train station. There was a lively energy in the air, with people rushing to catch their trains and tourists eager to explore the city.

As he boarded the train, Aki's nervousness grew with every passing moment. The train was sleek and modern, with spacious seats and large windows that offered a glimpse into the heart of the city.

As he settled into his seat, he could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, ready for what was to come.

Aki's heart sank even more as he looked up to see the boy he had been trying to avoid sitting in the seat next to him. Raven Peňaz.

Aki knew that he should just move seats, but he knew that Raven would start having a conversation with Aki again.

So Aki turned back to his book and tried to ignore him.

Raven was reading his own book, but Aki could see out of the corner of his eye that he was occasionally peeking at him, as if daring him to say something.

Aki tried his best to ignore him, but it was impossible.

The constant feeling of Raven's gaze was like a weight on his shoulders, making it difficult to concentrate on his reading.

As the train lumbered forward, the minutes felt like hours. Aki felt a sense of anxiety washing over him, as he wondered what Raven would do next. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Raven would say something to annoy him, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

And then it happened. Just as Aki had feared, Raven spoke up, his voice dripping with his usual air of superiority. "What are you reading?" He asked, his eyes fixed on Aki.

Aki sighed, cursing himself for not having seen this coming.

He knew that he should ignore him, but he also knew that Raven would just keep asking questions until he answered. He took a deep breath and closed his book.

"It's a science fiction novel," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual.

Raven raised an eyebrow, an amused expression on his face. "Science fiction?"

He leaned back in his seat, a smirk on his face. "So, what's it about?"

Aki hesitated for a moment.

"Science and fiction."

Raven's smile dropped. "Interesting."

And with that, he rather ignored Aki because he knew that Aki was trying to ignore him, too.

From the stunning mountains and lush forests to the bustling towns and cities, he was in awe of the beauty of the country. Aki watched in amazement as the train passed through majestic scenery, marveling at the grandeur of nature.

And then came the moment when he finally arrived in Washington.

He got out of the train, and before he could even leave the train station, Raven spoke:

"Wee, happy early Christmas and New year."

"Oh, yeah, thank you. You too." Aki annoyingly answered.

And so, they both go separate ways.

Hartez knocked on the wooden door. His younger sister Amari had opened the door for him. Amari, who looks like if she just got out of her bed, wasn't happy with Aki's sudden appearance.

There was a long, awkward silence between them.

"Where are parents?" He asked.

"At work, where else?" She replied, rubbing her eyes and scratching her long, black tangled hair.

Aki nodded. He took a moment to check out the apartment.

The apartment was dark and dingy. Peeling paint and cracked walls were a constant reminder that this place was far from the glamorous lifestyle that many sought. The kitchen sink was filled with dirty dishes, and the appliances looked as if they hadn't been cleaned in months.

The floor was covered in a thick layer of grime and crumbs, while dust gathered on every available surface. The furniture was old and worn, with worn cushions and stained upholstery.

'Shit.' He thought for himself. 'This is worse than living in the streets.'

"Amari? Did you have breakfast? Should i order something?" He concernedly asked while Amari was in her bedroom doing her skincare. "Quit worrying, I had cereals and milk."

Aki had no idea what to do. He sat on the floor, sighing and looking around. That's when he got an idea. Instead of lazily sitting, he could clean the house and make his parents happy when they get back from work. This idea brightened him.

He quickly got up to clean this apartment. He started with the kitchen, living room, and lastly, bathroom. He could clean the parent's bedroom, too, but he didn't, because they are not allowed to go to their bedroom since childhood.

While he was cleaning up the entrance, he saw Amari getting all dressed up.

"Where are you going?"

"Going plane spotting with my friend." She told him, tying her shoes.

"Can i go with you?"

"No."

"Okay, be safe."

Aki finished cleaning the apartment, and after an hour and a half of hard work, he finally felt a sense of accomplishment. However, his sense of pride was short-lived as he heard the sound of knocking on the door.

He opened it to find his parents standing outside. His mother's expression was one of disappointment, and she immediately noticed the state of his lips. "You look dehydrated," she said, "I bet you didn't even bother to fucking drink water.."

Aki felt a hint of shame at the accusation, but he couldn't deny that he had forgotten to hydrate himself during his cleaning spree. He knew that his mother's concern was well-founded, but he couldn't help but feel a bit resentful at the accusation. He had worked hard to clean the apartment, only to be met with criticism.

His mother pushed him out of her way and made her way to her bedroom, being to careless about Aki.

I shouldn't even bother to clean this damn apartment.

As the sun began to set, Aki heard the sound of knocking on his door. He jumped up from the couch and rushed to answer it, thinking it might be Amari. But when he opened the door, he was surprised to see his older sister Aria standing there. "Hey!" she said with a smile, "I brought my boyfriend over to meet Mum and Dad."

Aki followed his sister into the living room, where his parents were already waiting. "Aki, this is Max," his sister said, introducing her boyfriend to the family. "And Mum and Dad," she continued, gesturing to their parents.

His parents stood up from their seats, beaming with pride as they hugged their daughter. "Aria! It's been so long!" his mother said, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace. "And we can't wait to meet Max, too!"

The introduction proceeded without incident, but Aki couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. His older sister had always been the favorite child, with her academic achievements and her high grades.

And now that she had gone to study medicine in Germany and brought home a handsome boyfriend, Aki felt even more worthless. He tried to stifle his feelings, but as the evening progressed, he found himself feeling more and more like a failure.

His parents were so proud of his sister and her accomplishments, and Aki couldn't help but notice how they seemed to take him for granted.

He felt like he was never enough, no matter how hard he tried. Even though he had spent all day cleaning the apartment and studying for his exams, it seemed like his efforts were insignificant in the face of his sister's achievements.

As Aria and her boyfriend were chatting with parents in the living room, she turned her head to Aki.

"What about you, brother? Have you got a lover?"

"Nah, still single." Aki answered.

"No wonder. Look at yourself." His own mother said to him, as everyone burst out laughing.

With that in his mind, he rather stayed quiet all evening. People should realize that even simple words like these can kill people.

The evening passed in a blur, with Aki trying his best to hide his feelings and behave normally. But as the night wore on, he found it harder and harder to fake a smile.

The next day was even worse. It was Christmas Eve, and even though he doesn't have the best relationship with his family his still managed to buy every each of them a gift.

Hartez family gave gifts to each other gifts. Everyone was happy except Aki.

It felt as if Aki was just a shadow.

"Look, stop sulking. We just didn't expect you to be here since you just left us all." His mother blamed.

Aki had enough. He got up to leave.

While he was packing his things, his father stepped into the room.

"Aki, you're my only son, take care, i love you," He said.

But Aki knew that if he really did love him, he wouldn't act like how he does in front of his wife.

He pushed his father out of his way and bought a ticket back to Avanian.

In Avanian, he stayed in a cheap motel and spent the holidays all alone.

New year, all alone.