Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Teresa stood silently, watching from a distance. She saw Kenzo and Kevin approach someone who seemed to be their mother. Strangely, that person appeared to avoid both of them. Kenzo pulled Kevin closer and carried him back to the restaurant.
"Haaa, Mommy! Kevin wants to go with Mommy!" Kevin cried out.
"Mommy's working, Kevin. You can't disturb her."
The 'work' Teresa saw their mother doing was flirting with a man. Was that man their father? But why did Kenzo seem so reluctant to let his little brother approach their parents? Teresa didn't want to pry into their private matters, but judging by Kenzo's expression, it seemed like he was dealing with some family issues.
"Aaaa, brother, Kevin wants to go with Mommy! Waaah!" Kevin continued to whine and squirm.
Teresa just stood there, observing them. She didn't understand the situation but tried to be empathetic. Her eyes glanced at Kenzo and Kevin, filled with curiosity. She then stood up and approached Kevin, offering her hand.
Kevin reached out to be held by Teresa. She calmed the little boy, carrying him over to the large aquarium in the restaurant and showing him the fish inside. Kevin immediately stopped crying and smiled as he saw the fish.
"Kevin wants the blue fish," he said, pointing to a blue fish in the aquarium.
"Hmm, how about this Sunday, I take you to buy a fish?" Teresa suggested.
"Yes! Promise, okay?" Kevin held up his pinky finger to make a promise with Teresa.
"Promise. But for now, Kevin needs to eat first, okay?" Kevin nodded, and Teresa brought him back to their table, seating the little boy next to her.
The food had already arrived. Kenzo handed over the spaghetti he had ordered to Teresa and Kevin.
"You should eat too," he told Teresa.
Teresa smiled as she fed Kevin while eating her own meal, almost like a mother feeding her child. Kevin looked completely comfortable.
Kenzo smiled at the sight. A faint smile crossed his handsome face, but it quickly turned into sadness when he realized how much Kevin needed a mother figure.
"Mommy's mean. Kevin didn't get to go with her," the little boy grumbled.
"Mommy is working, sweetie, so you can't disturb her," Kenzo explained.
"Does Mommy work here?" Kevin asked, turning to Teresa.
Teresa smiled as she wiped some food off Kevin's mouth, giving him a comforting but untruthful explanation.
After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant. Kevin held Teresa's hand as they walked around the mall, stopping at a toy store when Kevin spotted something.
"Brother, I want that one," Kevin said, pointing to a set of toy car keychains. He asked his brother to get three of them and pay at the register.
Kevin's mood brightened again, his sad face completely gone. The little boy opened the toy he had just bought and handed one to Teresa and one to Kenzo.
"This is for Sister Teresa, and this is for Brother Kenzo," he said, handing the keychains to both of them.
"Huh? Why for me?" Teresa asked, surprised.
"So we can all match—Sister Teresa, Brother Kenzo, and Kevin," Kevin said proudly.
Kenzo and Teresa exchanged glances. "Aww, thank you, Kevin. I'll put it on right now," Teresa said, attaching the keychain to her bag's zipper.
"Looks great! Brother Kenzo, you should do the same!" Kevin urged.
Kenzo attached the keychain to his bag's zipper as well.
"KENZOOO!" Teresa heard a loud voice calling out Kenzo's name. She looked around to find the source of the voice and turned her head back.
"Bianca," Teresa whispered softly as she saw the girl approaching the three of them.
"Oh, hello Kevin," Bianca greeted Kevin warmly when she reached them.
'So they really do know each other,' Teresa thought.
"Oh, wait! What's your name again? I forgot," Bianca said, pointing at Teresa while trying to remember. "Teresa, right? Yes, that's it, Teresa."
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Teresa arrived home and opened the gate. The sky had already darkened, but luckily it hadn't rained that day. Her face looked tired and unenthusiastic as she walked with her head down, grumbling to herself.
"Teresa," Gabriel called out, approaching her.
Teresa turned and stopped, watching as he walked closer.
"Where have you been? Why are you just getting back? And who did you come back with? I thought I heard a car in front."
"Ahh, umm... I just came from the city library," Teresa answered nervously, puzzled by Gabriel's questions. "I took a ride back."
"Oh, I see," Gabriel nodded. "Are you busy later? I need a favor."
"Huh, uh-no, I guess I'm free. What do you need help with?" Teresa asked.
"I'll wait for you inside," Gabriel said, not explaining what he needed, and headed back to the large house.
"O-okay."
Teresa continued walking to her house, then took a shower and changed into something more comfortable. She walked to the big house and entered through the back door, where she saw her mother cleaning and washing a pile of dirty dishes.
"Mom, let me do the dishes. I'm sorry I got back late."
Her mother didn't reply, simply handing over the task to Teresa and moving on to other chores in the house.
Teresa washed the dishes one by one by hand. Her fingers skillfully cleaned off the leftover food from the white plates.
"Psst, Teresa," she heard a whisper behind her. She turned to see Gabriel.
"Come on," he said.
Teresa washed her hands and then followed him. She noticed a brown bag in Gabriel's hand.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Come with me," Gabriel said, taking her hand and leading her up the back stairs of the house to the rooftop.
They both sat in chairs facing the nighttime view of the housing complex.
"Sit."
Teresa sat down next to Gabriel.
"What are we doing up here?" she asked.
Gabriel smiled, then opened the bag he had brought and placed it on the table. Inside were Lego pieces.
"Lego?" Teresa looked at Gabriel, confused.
Gabriel nodded. "Help me build this," he said.
"For what?" Teresa asked.
Gabriel only responded with a sweet smile and didn't answer. He started pulling out the Lego pieces and assembling them one by one.
"What are we building?" Teresa asked.
"Here," Gabriel handed her the instruction booklet. Teresa took it and began following the step-by-step guide.
Her face grew serious as she carefully placed the pieces together. At first, it didn't resemble anything, but slowly the shape began to form.
"Wow, it's starting to come together!" Teresa noticed the Lego was forming a Christmas tree.
"A tree," Teresa said, glancing at Gabriel, who was working on another part of the Lego.
That night, the two of them were engrossed in assembling the Lego into a Christmas tree with small flowers at its base. Teresa enjoyed putting the pieces together, even though it was a bit tricky; it was fun and calming.
After about an hour of building, the tree was finally finished.
"Done!" Teresa stretched her hands out, excited. She looked over at Gabriel. "This was fun!"
Gabriel smiled and gazed out at the night view. He let out a breath. "I've loved Lego since I was a kid, but... my dad never let me play with it."
Teresa turned to him. "Why not?" she asked.
Gabriel's eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears as he looked at Teresa. They locked eyes, and she could see the unspoken sadness in his gaze. "It's nothing. That's for you," he said quietly.
"Huh, for me?"
"Yeah, you keep it," he said, pulling his gaze away and standing up. He gestured for Teresa to follow him down.
"Are you sure this is for me?" Teresa asked.
Gabriel nodded with a smile and waved goodbye as he entered his house. "See you tomorrow."
Teresa carried the Lego into her house and placed it on her table. She stared at it, thinking about Gabriel's sad expression.
The sound of the door opening caught her attention. Teresa turned and saw her mother had returned.
"Where have you been?" her mother asked, noticing the Lego on the table. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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