Who could this be? Perhaps the neighbor forgot their keys again?
But no, a thought suddenly strikes —it could be my son, Michael, who vanished without a trace two years ago.
Yet, the figure before doesn't quite match; although his face is obscured, his build is much more robust than Michael's ever was.
Who could it be? Right now, he's sitting at the stairwell, blocking the path, leaving Betty and with nowhere to go.
"Hey buddy, wake up..."
I felt compelled to approach and give him a gentle shove, but he didn't stir, not showing any sign of waking, only his snoring seed to grow louder.
"Friend, wake up, you'll catch a cold sleeping here..."
This ti, I pushed a bit harder, perhaps too hard.
He was balancing himself by hugging his knees, and my push nearly toppled him over onto the floor.
"Ouch... FuckYou... Who pushed ?"
At that mont, the man quickly ca to, standing up and glaring down at with fiery eyes.
I had thought this man was tall, but standing up, I realized I had underestimated him.
He towered over by a head, and his position on the upper step made him appear even taller.
When I finally saw his face clearly, both Betty and I were frozen in shock, and so was he.
It was Michael.
Although his physique had changed, his face was largely the sa, only more mature and now adorned with a beard—a trait he must have inherited from , as I have to shave daily.
After two years, Michael had grown taller and more mature.
The youthful naivety was gone, replaced by a distinctly masculine presence.
"Dad... it's... you guys... sorry... I didn't know... I've been waiting... for a long ti..."
Michael was the first to recover, quickly descending the stairs with a smile that might have been shaped by his long stay abroad, his English slightly halting, which was to be expected until he readjusted.
"Michael, when did you get back? Why are you sleeping here?"
My emotions were a whirlwind of joy at seeing my flesh and blood, whose image had haunted many of my dreams, yet there was also a tinge of fear, considering the shadows that might never fully fade.
"I... got back an hour ago... my key... it wouldn't... open the door,"
Michael seed anxious, fidgeting with his keys.
That's when it hit ; we had changed the locks six months ago after losing a set of keys, for security reasons.
It seed Michael had been waiting outside for over an hour after a long flight from Singapore, too exhausted, he had fallen asleep right at the door.
"Co inside quickly..."
I hurried past Michael to unlock the door, then turned to let him in with his luggage.
anwhile, Betty still stood there, transfixed on Michael, tears welling up in her eyes, barely held back.
Seeing notice her, she quickly ascended the stairs, dabbing at the corner of her eyes, but I bore no grudge; it had been many years, and my own eyes were not dry.
Two years had diluted many things, including those scars...
"Have you eaten?"
I asked Michael once inside, as Betty and I had already dined.
"On the plane... I ate..."
Michael responded, having had his al on the flight.
"Betty, could you prepare so food?"
I asked Betty, who nodded and cast one last glance at Michael.
In the kitchen, Betty occasionally wiped her eyes, her back to , but I could feel her emotion.
After chatting with Michael for a while, I finally got a clearer picture.
Two years ago, after leaving ho, Michael had undergone two months of treatnt with a dical team before Luna sent him to Singapore for education.
He had taken a long vacation this ti to visit us.
Previously, during his breaks, he would work in Singapore to earn money.
Following Luna's and his own wishes, he gradually learned to be independent, working to support his tuition fees.
From his deanor, I could tell he had truly grown up and normalized.
He spoke confidently, still the sa Michael but with a changed deanor and maturity.
"Michael, why the swearing?"
As our conversation ward and we grew closer, I couldn't help but ask.
I've never been one for foul language, and I certainly didn't appreciate it from my son.
"Sorry, I didn't know it was you. I... had to pick up so bad words out of necessity, you know?
As a foreigner abroad, I was bullied a lot.
The local students always picked on , so I learned to curse and even fight.
I had to protect myself..."
Michael's voice carried a hint of regret, but as he spoke, a fierce light flashed in his eyes, chilling to the bone.
I knew then that his years abroad hadn't been easy.
I understood that being a foreigner could make you a target, and Luna, wanting to toughen him up, probably didn't arrange for much help.
It was all on him, which made sense; being too naive would have definitely made him a target.
"Betty, could you tidy up Michael's room..."
I said as Michael ate, with Betty sitting beside , listening to our chat.
"No need, I've finished eating. I'll do it myself..."
Michael set down his utensils and hurried toward his bedroom, eager to take on the task himself.
When Michael opened his room, he found it spotless.
I followed him in, and though I had barely entered this room over the past two years—treating it almost as sacred ground—I now saw it was impeccably tidy.
I couldn't help but run my hand over the dust-free surface of his study desk.
It wasn't my doing, so it had to be Betty.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad. My room looks just the sa, and it's so clean.
It seems you've been keeping it ready for , waiting for my return..."
Michael smiled as he spoke, and I caught a flicker of unease in Betty's eyes when I touched the desk.
It seed she had been the one keeping his room in order, sneaking in when I wasn't around.
I hadn't noticed since I rarely checked the ho videos over these years.
Realizing this, I felt a pang of jealousy.
Life at ho suddenly beca lively with Michael's return.
He brought many gifts for Betty and , and over the next few days, the distance between us seed to shrink.
Betty and Michael's communication normalized, though they still spoke little.
The next day, I took Michael to see the cold frost, not just for sightseeing but as a gesture of gratitude.
We owed Luna so much for covering his expenses abroad—a debt I felt we could never fully repay.
Since it was the holiday season, Betty, being a teacher, was off work, and with Michael also free, they were both at leisure while I had to return to work after three days to support the family.
Initially, old fears haunted , but after checking the ho videos during my lunch breaks, I was reassured.
Michael had matured, no longer the impulsive youth he once was.
As he neared adulthood, his deanor had changed, and Betty, having reconciled with , was no longer the sa as before.
When left alone at ho, they treated each other with respect, maintaining a proper distance despite frequent conversations.
A week later, I received an unexpected call from Luna, asking to et her at her villa...
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