Third Person’s POV

“Demitri!” 

“What is it, Mom? How many times did you call me? You could call Daylon, not just me,” Demitri responded.

“Stop complaining. Join us to watch the news here.”

“What for?” Demitri sat on the sofa, annoyed. He frowned as he looked at their TV. “What am I going to do with that news, Mom? Instead of studying,” he added.

“What now? You can do your studies here.”

“Your mother just wants to see you, Demitri. So do what she wants. If you are studying, study here. Don’t worry; you’ll be able to study well because we won’t be noisy.” Demitri just sighed because of what his father said.

He was annoyed. Before he went to the living room, he first entered his brother’s room. He was about to speak when his older brother suddenly interrupted him.

“Don’t you know how to knock?” 

Demitri swallowed and was about to leave when his brother spoke again. “What do you need?”

Demitri immediately approached his older brother, who was studying at the table.

“I just need to know what I have to do here. Can you teach me?” The man stopped and looked at Demitri with no emotion.

“How old are you?” he asked seriously.

“Ten.”

“You’re ten, so you already know that. You should be able to do that because you are studying.”

“Even now, you can’t teach me. It’s just a subject.”

“It’s just one thing; why didn’t you do it?” Demitri just sighed and left his brother’s room.

When he went to the living room, he saw his mother crying.

“What happened, Dad?” His father just looked at him and signaled for him to return to his room.

***

“What are we going to do now?” cried Mialyn after they found out their friend was gone.

“We will find a way to find their daughter, hon. So don’t cry; we will find Allianna.”

“What if we can’t find her?”

“It can’t be, hon. Maybe those people know where our friends’ children are. So we can find her immediately.” Mialyn hugged her husband tightly and cried.

They found out that their friends, whom they had been looking for a long time, were gone. They also just found out that they had a daughter. They didn’t know where to find that girl, but the father was sure that the people in the court knew where they had taken Allianna. So they wouldn’t be in trouble.

***

Mialyn grumbled to her husband as she prepared their breakfast, “Where are those two now? Why is it taking so long for them to wake up?”

“Hon, you were already stressed out. Can you please ignore them? You know your children. You don’t have to call them because they woke up on their own. Don’t be stressed.”

“It’s not like that, hon. My point is that we might be late for the visit to the attorney. Isn’t that now?”

“Is that now? Why did the time go by so fast?”

“They searched for Allianna for a month, and now they know. So we have to go to him.”

“Why won’t he just tell us where Allianna is? Why do we need to go to him?”

“He has something to tell us. Can’t you understand?” 

The man just shook his head and drank his coffee. He didn’t want to argue with his wife because he knew he wouldn’t win.

“Good morning, Mom.” 

Mialyn was surprised when someone suddenly approached her and kissed her cheek.

“Why did you come down now? Do you know what time it is? Where is your brother?” The man touched his forehead and sat in his chair next to Demitri’s chair.

“Demitri is a grown-up, Mom. He doesn’t need to be woken up.”

“You two are naughty.” The woman just sat down and started eating breakfast.

“We will leave after you two have breakfast.”

“You will be the first to take your brother to school later.”

“What? Why me? You can drop him off later, right?”

“We will leave first so that you will take Demitri. You will do as I say because your brother is still asleep.” The man just sighed and ate his breakfast.

“I’m done; I’m going to shower first, hon.” 

Mialyn went out of the room.

“What’s wrong with her, Dad? She’s not acting like usual.”

“Your Mom found out something last night. That’s why she’s like that.”

“She found out that you are having an affair?”

“What? I am not having an affair! I can’t do that to your Mommy. I will wait to say what the reason is. Just do what your mother told you.”

“Okay.”

“Good morning. Where is Mom?” When Demitri sat down, he immediately grabbed the food. He waited for an answer, but no one spoke. “Why are you all so quiet?”

“Just eat. I will take you to school.” Demitri frowned.

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Demitri tormented his brother and just ate.

“Thank you for the food.” The father and son looked at the man because he stood up.

“You’ve only eaten a little, Daylon. Eat more.”

“I don’t want to, Dad. I need to shower because I don’t want to get sick.” When his father walked over, he looked at Demitri. “Eat quickly. If I’m late, I’ll blame you.”

When Daylon left the dining area, Demitri scratched his head.

“What are the problems of the people here?”

“Do you have a problem too, Dad?”

“Me? What is my problem?” 

Demitri just smiled and shook his head. His father didn’t understand, so he continued eating his food.

***

When they left the house, Demitri asked Daylon what he thought Mom’s problem was. Daylon did not answer his brother’s question when they got on their bikes.

“Why don’t you ever answer my questions?” Demitri asked.

“What you’re asking is pointless,” Daylon replied.

“Why is that?”

“That’s their problem. So we shouldn’t complain.”

“I know that; I’m just worried about Mom,” said Demitri.

“Don’t worry. Let them fix their problems,” Daylon advised. Demitri stayed silent because his brother was right. If they complained, their parents’ problems might get worse.

When they arrived at Demitri’s school, he said goodbye to his brother and went inside. 

Daylon saw the time on his watch, weaved around people, and almost crashed into them. 

“Shit,” he muttered when he saw that the school gate had already closed.

He saw some students outside and a school guard talking, so he went to listen.

“Why are you late?” the guard asked. The students did not answer.

“I took my brother to his school. That’s why I’m late,” Daylon replied. Everyone looked at him, including the guard, who smiled.

“I can’t believe a Quinter is late,” the guard said, laughing and bringing Daylon closer.

The students whispered among themselves. They could not believe that Daylon was late.

“Since you have a good reason, I will let you in. But next time, Mr. Quinter, I will include you among the late ones and punish you.”

“That’s not fair, sir,” Daylon said. “I’m late, so you must list me among those who are late and punish me now. It won’t be fair to those who are late now if you only let me in.”

The students and the guard were surprised. Some girls were thrilled. 

“Are you sure?” the guard asked.

“As the SSG President, I want the students in this school to be treated equally. As long as I am the president, the policies should be followed,” Daylon said firmly.

The guard fell silent. “Because of what Mr. Quinter said, I will take him to detention too. Line up here on the side.”

“My pants almost fell off earlier because of the excitement,” one student joked.

“I’m falling in love,” another said.

“I can’t believe he would say that. I feel like he has become my boyfriend,” a girl whispered.

“Girls!” the guard shouted, silencing them. “Didn’t I tell you to come here? You look like fools standing there!”

When all the students had lined up, the guard told them to put their things on the floor and squat. “You will do this for thirty minutes. Whoever lowers their hands will have ten minutes added.”

Some students complained, but Daylon remained calm.