(Maria appears to have woken up only a few minutes ago. She tiptoes her way towards the kitchen until a bright light startles her. It’s coming from Eduan’s room along with a soft tune. Maria, carefully, and stupidly, approach only to see her dad passionately karaoke-ing to Womanizer by Britney Spears. There is no sound but the choreography is a big giveaway. He is using a small mirror as a microphone.

Eduan turns around to twirl and sees her. He drops the mirror. It breaks. Without breaking eye contact, Maria closes the door softly. She should move out.)

.

Ran was pissed, to say the least. All he wanted was to drink some water and a random highschool-er had hit him with a basketball. Even if it was an accident, Ran thought you must be an awful player to have the ball land on the opposite side of the court. And now, to make things worse, he was forced to visit the nurse’s office, get an ice package that hadn’t been changed in over ten years and sit for at least an hour on a ranch bed.

However, as soon as he entered the nurse’s office, he was met with a surprise.

“What the [beep] happened to your face?”

Kiseia lifted her gaze at the sound of her brother’s voice. Her nose was stuffed with cotton and her eye was bruised. “You should see the other guy.”

“You’re the only one in the room.”

“Ah,” she said with a Cheshire cat smile, “that’s cause he’s in hospital.”

Ran blinked. “Cool.” He made his way towards her and sat on the ranch. “Hey, if Dad gives you detention, can I have your laptop?” –Kiseia grabbed the excuse of a pillow behind her back and smacked Ran hard– “This is abuse!”

It was at this moment that the door opened and time froze. The pillow fell from Kiseia’s hand and all colour drained from her face whereas Ran immediately tensed. The camera never showed who it was.

.

EDUAN: I hope everyone knows Maria is super superstitious and that they should judge her for it.

MARIA: (scoffs, unamused) When the karma for the mirror you broke knocks on your door, do not come crying to me.

EDUAN: I have seven children. It really doesn’t get any worse than that.

.

HACHULING: And yet, he has no [beep]

.

“This is all Dad’s fault.”

“I agree.”

“I fail to see how this and that,” –Evan pointed at the incredibly short pants Maschenny was wearing–, “are connected.”

“They’re always connected,” Maschenny mumbled as she tried to fix her clothes. It was to no avail. They could probably work with the white button-up and the coat-turned-blazer but the pants couldn’t possibly be salvaged.

“He is a bearer of bad luck,” Maria explained while scanning through the pile of backup clothes. “They’ve never mixed up the sizes before.”

“Yes but still mistak–good god, Maschenny, why are you so tall!” The girl only groaned in response, burying her face in her hands out of frustration. “That’s it, I’m having Endorsi replace you.”

.

MASCHENNY: OUT OF THE QUESTION

.

MARIA: Normally, being replaced wouldn’t be that much of a big deal. After all, it’s not like the agency doesn’t book us enough photoshoots. (she made a small pause and leaned towards the camera) However, today’s photoshoot is meant to promote [beep]. Oh. I can’t say the name. But people will see the pictures. They’ll know what I’m talking about. (another pause) Anywho, Maschenny, even though I know for a fact she doesn’t even know the source material, is set on doing the job. (she gives a small smile) I think she’s even set to have some pictures taken with Yuri.

.

MASCHENNY: This has nothing to do with Yuri. I’m just a big fan of the movies. (QUANT: It’s a manga series) Yes, that’s what I said.

.

The principal was saying something. Or maybe it was the other kid’s parents. Kiseia couldn’t really tell by the voices alone and yet she refused to look at them. Her eyes were focused on only one thing and the entirety of her body was slowly shutting down. Everything just burned.

“Ah. Maschenny’s kid.” The blonde woman Kiseia was staring at greeted Ran. Despite the sickly sweet tone she had used, her eyes barely acknowledged him. “I do hope you aren’t also here to shame your mother.”

Ran glanced at Kiseia, a hint of worry in his eyes. He then turned to the woman. “I got hit by accident.”

“Ah, well, you can’t control accidents, can you?” –she spared him a quick glance– “The principal will not suspend you thanks to all the grovelling I did. However, you’re to go home today.”

“Thank you, mother.”

Agnis smiles. Even that seems fake. “What is a mother’s job if not to clean up the messes her children have made.”

.

Marco knew that global warming was very real and dangerous. He knew that the extreme weather conditions were usually due to the greed humans had which led to the pollution of the environment. Still, 105.8 °F inside the office seemed too extreme.

“Sir, I think–” In front of him was an enormous plastic pool filled with what seemed to be their ‘hard-working’ employees and, naturally, their boss. “What.”

“The thermostat broke,” Eduan explained. As if that explained anything.

“We have computers. And paperwork.”

“And?”

“How will we work?”

“Ah, you’re right,” Eduan said before taking a sip from his pink smoothie, “Everyone gets the day off!”

.

MARCO: Patricide isn’t worth the jail time. Patricide isn’t worth the jail time. Patricide isn’t worth the jail time. Patricide isn’t worth the jail time. Patricide isn’t worth the jail time.

.

“Hey don’t stand so close when holding your–” a big splash echoed– “phone.”

.

MARCO: (holding a bowl of rice) Patricide is worth the jail time.

.

(The screen goes black for mere seconds. Then a quick collage of every Khun kid, except Kiseia and Aguero, looking troubled is shown.)

.

RAN: (opens his mouth to speak but quickly closes it)

MASCHENNY: Can we even comment on that? I’m a product of cheating, Ran is the last kid, it’s all a little biased. (she gave the camera her signature smile) What we think doesn’t matter.

.

MARCO: Agnis is (he crosses his arms) a smart, self-made woman. Give credit where credit is due. (he seems to ponder his next words) I was mostly busy with the university where she married Dad so it’s not like I know her.

.

MARIA: Is that what they said? (it’s the first time she is seen angry)

HACHULING: (puts a hand on her shoulder) They’re not wrong. Marco and Maschenny weren’t at the house all that much. We weren’t either. Our mum didn’t really like leaving us to Dad while he was married to Agnis.

MARIA: That’s because she’s a [beep]

HACHULING: Can. Can you edit this part?

.

Aguero stared at the paper. The paper stared right back. This continued for many minutes earning concerned looks from a number of patrons.

“What’s giving you so much trouble?” Bam’s voice brought him back to reality, making him almost spill his coffee. The boy seemed to enjoy the trouble he had caused, since he was a menace in disguise, and continued, “Is that a college application?”

“Curiosity killed the cat,” Aguero replied, closing his laptop. “This spark of confidence you’ve acquired does not suit you.”

“Too late to return me now, isn’t it?” he gave him a cheeky smile, “If you’re actually worried about getting into college, I will hit you.”

“You’re supposed to be a pacifist.”

“And you’re supposed to be smart.” Bam reasoned, “Your scores are amazing. You’re amazing. That place will be lucky to have you.”

Aguero flushed a bright red. Of course, Bam would say something like that. And of course, it was caught on HD. “I’m not sure I want to study in Tokyo.”

This time, it was Bam who looked startled. “But this is what you wanted since we met.”

Yes, this was all he used to talk about. This was the dream. No, dreams, his mother would say, are for driverless people. Aguero didn’t have dreams, he had plans he would see through. And this school was all but another one of his plans, the most well-crafted one, the one his mother had sacrificed the most for, the one he had sacrificed everything for.

“You’re right. I don’t know what got to me.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing, it was just a whim.”

“You don’t do whims.” Bam reasoned with another million-dollar smile, “You always overthink things so I find it hard to believe you don’t have something on your mind.”

“I–”

“Viole, a little help in the back!” Hwa Ryun called.

“Coming!” –he leaned a bit closer to Aguero and reached out to squeeze his arm– “Khun Aguero Agnis, you may keep your secrets. For now.”

.

Kiseia can’t keep her secrets. She can change the truth, omit some crucial parts here and there, and avoid discussing things that do not concern her. But if it’s something important, something directly connecting to her, she can’t keep it hidden. She isn’t allowed to. At the moment, there was no secret to be kept; yet the dead silence made her feel like she ought to reveal something she didn’t know. Neither the driver nor her mother was speaking, the only sound between them coming from the street.

Agnis was gazing outside the window, hiding her face completely, while softly fixing the position of her watch. Kiseia had gotten taller during the two years she hadn’t seen her mother–she had almost reached her height–and yet at that moment, she felt like a child.

“I wonder,” Agnis mumbles, her eyes never leaving the window, “how can shaming your own mother bring you joy.”

“Of course, it doesn’t, ma'am,” Kiseia exclaimed a little too loudly. This would only make her mother angrier. She shifted her gaze to stare at her shoes. “I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“You didn’t seem sorry.” –she turned to look at her daughter– “Look at you raising your voice at me as if I’m your enemy.” she scoffed, “If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t have the nerve to argue.”

“They told you what happened. I was defending myself.”

“And that’s why you’ve failed.” Agnis shot back, “Defend yourself? You should have made people respect you. Made them fear to cross you. Defence, as you say, is for the weak that struggle to be strong.” –Kiseia dug her nails in her palms– “How will you amount to anything when you’re already doing so horribly in the easiest part of your life?”

Kiseia didn’t answer, her gaze blank. Agnis sighed at the sight and reached to cup her cheek. “My sweet girl, how did I let you wither for so long,” she smiled sadly, “you don’t need to worry anymore, my little princess. I will undo all the damage your father caused.”

.

“Are we finishing soon? I’m tired.”

“Oh! You’re tired?” Yuri replied sarcastically, letting her head fall to Maschenny’s pillow. The camera zooms out and shows the two girls doing a photoshoot. Maschenny is lying inside what appears to be a glass coffin, like the one you would see in a Snow White remake, wearing the clothes from earlier. The actual photoshoot is made that way so no one will be able to see how short the pants actually are. Yuri is leaning towards her–like a prince ready to wake her with a kiss, or in this case a slap–wearing a black three-piece suit. “I can’t feel my right hand.”

“Weren’t you the one who insisted on doing this?” Maria questioned.

“Girls! Focus!”

.

“Okay now I will strike first giving you an opening and the–Blueberry, I beg you either deal with your phone or I’m throwing it off the window.” Garam, the unfortunate player 3 in their little game, threatened. Urek gave a short nod of agreement.

“If it’s a message, it’s not important!” Suddenly Hollaback Girl began playing at full volume startling everyone. As he mumbled some not-kid-friendly words, he grabbed his phone and placed it between his ear and shoulder. “Someone better be dying.”

“Yes. Me.” Urek complained before taking a hold of Hachuling’s own controller and moving his character. Hachuling grabbed the controller again with a frown before dropping both his device and phone.

“Dude!”

Hachuling scurried to pick up his phone. “This is not a good joke.” –there was some silence as all stages of grief seemed to pass him– “I’ll message Maria as well but Marco still has me blocked because of the bird facts scam.” more silence, “I can be home in ten minutes. Five if you have a lawyer on speed dial.”

.

“You know,” Maria’s voice can be heard as the camera follows Maschenny’s and Yuri’s photoshoot. “I was kind of nervous for today because of the broken mirror but everything went smoothly in the end.”

.

EDUAN: As I said, it’s just glass. The worst luck you can get is stepping on it.”

.

“Hey, where did I put my phone?”

“Evan!” a blonde woman yelled rushing into the set, “We lost Stan!”

Maschenny cleared her throat, a faint blush on her cheeks. “Um, you don’t have to hold my hand for this part.”

“Your hand?” Both girls looked to Maschenny’s left where a furry little thing had just managed to pull off her ring. Chaos and screaming ensued.

.

MASCHENNY: Why.

MARIA: Hate to say I was right but–

.

Much to Marco’s disappointment, Hachuling seemed to have just returned home as well. All hope for finally relaxing vanished into thin air. All because of the second man-child in the family who, if one were to judge by the clean cashmere sweater he wore and the levi–wait.

“Marco,” Eduan whispered, “am I tripping or is your brother dressed like you?”

“Decent. You’re looking for the word decent.” he turned to Hachuling, “Are you feeling sick? Are you going to jail?”

Hachuling who hadn’t noticed them up until they spoke, turned abruptly around and almost dropped the coffee mug he was holding. Even stranger, considering the fact that he never drank coffee. “Where are your phones?”

“Out of battery.” –he pointed at Marco– “And taking a swim.”

“Well, I’d join it, if I were you. We have a code Avogadro.”

Marco let out a small gasp, anxiety clearly shown on his face. Eduan had a similar, slightly more dramatic, reaction. Then, he cleared his throat and asked, “We have a what now.”

.

MARCO: During Dad’s wedding to Agnis, we weren’t visiting him all that much. Mostly because Maschenny and I were old enough to stay alone when our mothers’ were away. Hachuling and Maria though usually spent two weeks every month. (he scratched the back of his neck) It wasn’t very good. I mean, Agnis can be intense with her own kids. Imagine how she was with the ones from a previous wife.

MASCHENNY: Things were much better when all of us got together because it was a real zoo. You wouldn’t want to deal with six mini versions of your husband, right? Well. Some would but none of them is married to Eduan. (she laughed at her own joke) So, what would happen was that if both Marco and I were also visiting, Dad had this ‘unspoken rule’ that we shouldn’t interact with Agnis. Out of sight, out of mind, keeps a happy wife.

MARCO: So what happens is that I was helping Maschenny with Chemistry at some point and Hachuling (he emphasizes the name as to show that of course it would be Hachuling) overhears the Avocadro constant, mishears it as Avocado and then runs with it. Which results in him throwing literal tantrums about ‘learning the cool math’. Both his mum and dad do not question this, for different reasons, and then boom we have to teach Hachuling the theory as well. But surprise surprise when you teach a kid something ‘hard’ and ‘different’ –

MASCHENNY: The other kids want to join as well.

MARCO: Ever since then we’d say we need to study the Avogadro theory just to hang out and ‘protect’ each other from nagging wives, creepy boyfriends and the occasionally overly sexual in-betweens. (he stops) By that I mean the bdsm partners that wore plague masks and never showed their faces to us.

.

“I thought I heard some commotion.” Agnis came in view before another word was breathed. Kiseia trailed off behind her without a word and moved to the coffee maker. Hachuling, who was carefully standing behind the older woman, nudged his sister’s shoulder showing her an already-prepared cup.

“Agnis.” Eduan told her nonchalantly, “You’re in my house.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” she smiled sweetly as Kiseia handed her the cup from before. Maintaining the same expression, she sat at a chair across from her ex-husband with her hands crossed. A viper ready to strike. “Do not look so tense, my love, I will only be staying here for three days or so.”

“And the reason you didn’t choose a hotel?”

She looked at the camera. “Damage control.” –she took a sip from her drink– “Besides, there was a good chance I would need to be more persuasive.”

“Persuasive about what?” This time it was Hachuling who spoke.

Another sip. “To get Kiseia to come back with us.”

.

(Conversation in the app Messenger.)

To SpiralAbyss69: ria. ri. mary. maria. mARIA. pick up your phone pick up your phone

To SpiralAbyss69: I HOPE UR DEAD

To SpiralAbyss69: its important!

To B(r)other: [a blurry picture of Yuri is shown]

To B(r)other: [another picture of something brown is shown]

To B(r)other: [a racoon taking a selfie]