The more Alex thought about the situation, the angrier he became. He could not help it, not when he had nothing else to distract his mind inside the big apartment.
First of all, he never asked for anything, much less to be made an heir among all the inheritors of the old man. Secondly, he had just returned home and lay down to sleep, only to wake up under a cold shower and suffer a humiliating injustice in his own place. And to top everything off, the box he never really cared about even though he could not open it for whatever god-damned reason, and which was the cause for the god-damned situation, was revealed to be nothing but a prank, one which saved his life, maybe, but a prank nonetheless.
The fire in his chest only continued to grow as time passed, and he left the bedroom to take a bottle of water in kitchen. He tried the fridge first, but between caring about his anger and caring about his health, he chose the latter. So he forwent the cold water, and tried to douse the heat in his heart with water cooled by the chill that had come after the earlier heat of the night.
Alex exhaled. Gulping down the whole bottle of water helped, but only so much. Still, he calmed down enough to think. He went to take his phone, and he scrolled through his contacts. He slowed down, and his finger hovered over a contact named 'Candyce'. But after a moment of hesitation he shook his head, and muttered to himself:
"Getting laid won't help."
So he continued to scroll down. He soon stopped on another name, and this time, pressed down to launch the call. He put on the speaker, and threw the phone onto the bed, before he went to the wardrobe. Right then, the call started ringing.
_ _ _
_ _ _
The sun was climbing up, but it was just announcing its arrival. It was still some ways from appearing and raining down both light and heat on the concrete jungle.
Like most people, the couple sleeping in the cozy apartment had yet to wake up. The apartment did not scream luxury, but it certainly was warm, especially under the nascent light of the day.
The calm silence felt serene, as the dark-haired man cradled the brown-haired big bellied woman, his hands careful even in his sleep. It was a beautiful painting of love and affection, until the serenity was shattered by a human invention.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
The sound was not too loud, but in the silence, it was a little piercing. The man was jolted awake. When he opened his eyes, he immediately picked up the phone on the bedside table, and cut off the sound coming from it, before he checked on the woman in his arms.
He exhaled in relief when he saw that she remained undisturbed, before he finally checked the call that had disturbed the calm morning.
'Alex'
He raised an eyebrow, surprised, but not really so much. He picked up the call, and whispered as softly as he could without being inaudible:
"Give me a moment."
Carefully, he extricated himself from the warmth of the bed, silently left the room, and closed the door noiselessly. It was only then that he properly responded to the call:
"Hello?"
Alex's voice came through:
"Mark, is Ga-yeong still asleep?"
Mark turned back to the bedroom door, and smiled affectionately as if he could see Ga-yeong on the bed inside.
"Yes, she has yet to wake up."
"Good for you."
That was all Alex said in comment, before going straight to the point:
"You know, that trip I have been thinking about?"
Mark paused his movement of getting water for himself to drink, before he replied:
"And which I strongly disagreed with. Are you still thinking about that? You know your mother will not like it."
"Then she doesn't have to know. Prepare the plane. We are going now."
Mark was startled. His hand holding the bottle of water shook, spilling water beyond the glass cup on the kitchen counter.
"Now!?!"
Alex's calm voice didn't flinch:
"Yes, now."
Holding back a sigh, Mark looked back at the bedroom, and requested:
"At least let me get some breakfast ready for Ga-yeong."
"No problem. Just make it fast."
*Beep*
Mark lowered the phone, the desire to sigh in his expression growing stronger. He put the bottle of water down, and gulped down the water in the cup. As he wiped the water spilled on the counter, the door at the side opened, and out came Ga-yeong. She leaned against the doorway, holding the back of her waist with her hand as her stomach protruded, looking heavy.
Mark immediately let go of the piece of cloth in his hand, and hurried to help her to the couch. She offered no resistance, and enjoyed the care with a smile.
"Was it Alex who called?"
Mark replied as he returned to the kitchen:
"Yes. I have to make a trip with him."
Ga-yeong's gentle smile didn't change.
"Will you be away for long?"
"No."
Mark returned with a glass of water he placed before her, then made another trip to bring the pregnancy medicines and health supplements.
Ga-yeong conscientiously picked up her morning prescription, and ate it, before she spoke again:
"Remember to take care of him."
Mark, in the kitchen, paused and looked up with a hint of helplessness on his face:
"Say, Ga-yeong, shouldn't I, your husband, and the father of your yet-to-be-born child, be your priority?"
Ga-yeong smiled deepened, showing affection on top of the gentleness that seemed inherent to her:
"Then be careful out there, and come back safe and sound."
Mark nodded, a happy smile spreading on his face. But before he could savor the recognition of his rightful place, his smile froze, as he heard his wife continue:
"But you are older and more mature than Alex, so remember to not let him be reckless when you are away with him."
Ga-yeong's voice was gentle, though not weak. Still, it had wrapped around his heart ever since their first meeting, but today, again, like many times before, it made him feel defeated.
He could only give up, and depressingly continue making the breakfast while Ga-yeong laughed softly at the cloud of depression he had wrapped himself in.