LB 6

At night, Mellow and Rem decided to sleep in the living room while having a movie marathon. A few minutes before midnight, Rem had slept peacefully while Mellow was still wide awake. He remembered a conversation between two of his coworkers at work. They talked about making their children go to a boarding school and whatnot.

"Now that I think about it, there are about two weeks left until Granny Ve returned", he thought to himself. He turned his head facing towards Rem and stroked his his hair gently. "It won't be so bad. The two of us can always meet each other at her house"

The next morning, Mellow and Rem were having a hearty breakfast until suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Mellow? Rem? Are you two home?", said a familiar voice. Mellow told Rem to continue eating while he answered the door.

"Yes, what is it..huh?", he was shocked as he saw who it was. "Granny Ve? When did you arrived?"

"Grandma!", Rem rushed towards Granny Ve and gave her a hug. "Good to see you, both of you. Seems like the two of you got along very well", she chuckled. Mellow invited her to join for breakfast. However, she declined the offer. "Sorry dear, I need to get back as soon as possible. I'm just here to get him", she said. Her last sentence made Mellow nervous. "Him?", he asked. Granny Ve nodded and said, "Yes. Rem, you're coming with me to Canada"

Rem frozed. What did she meant by coming to Canada? Mellow interrupted and asked, "Why all of a sudden?"

Granny Ve responded, "I'll explain later. Go pack your things, Rem"

Rem stayed still until Mellow patted his head. "Go ahead, I'll help you later", he said. While facing down, Rem suddenly yelled.

"No! No! I don't want to go back! You can't make me!"

He ran to his room and shut the door. Granny Ve sighed and shook her head. "I thought that this would happen", she smiled weakly.

"For now, let's talk inside", said Mellow while leading Granny Ve to the couch.

"What time is your flight?", Mellow asked.

Granny Ve replied, "tomorrow noon. As soon as I finished my business here, I'm bringing Rem back to Canada"

"That sentence again", Mellow thought to himself. "Although, why all of a sudden?"

Granny Ve explained the whole situation to Mellow. Throughout the explanation, Mellow went through a roller coaster of emotions.

"That's why I need to bring him back with me or I'll lose custody over Rem. That woman, although she is my daughter but I can't give Rem to her. Not ever, over my dead body"

Mellow began to understand the situation and accepted the fact that Rem needed to go to Canada. Granny Ve received a phone call and had to excuse herself. She told Mellow that she'll come back by tomorrow before noon. Mellow realised that Rem haven't come out from his room. He knocked twice on the door and asked if he could come in.

"Come in", said a small voice from behind the door. Mellow saw Rem curled up in his blanket while holding a picture of Mellow and him.

"Rem?", he said softly. He wrapped his arms around Rem and leaned his face against Rem's back. "A true man would never run away from his problems and hides in shame"

Rem slowly said, "I don't want to go back. I hate it over there. I hate how they forced everything on me and blamed me for their actions. They called themselves my parents but they don't even know my name. They don't know anything about me."

Mellow reached for Rem's head and stroked him. "I know Rem, I know. But you want to stay with granny, don't you? You just have to stay in Canada for a few days until everything is okay"

Rem pulled the blanket away and turned to Mellow. "But, I want to be with you. Can't you come with us?", he asked while tugging Mellow's right sleeve.

"I'm afraid, I can't go with you. But soon enough, we will eventually meet again. So be a good boy and bear with granny for a while, okay?", said Mellow as he pulled Rem in for a long hug.