The room was immersed in silence until Gabriel opened his mouth. In a voice rendered hoarse by the long sleep, he slowly said:

"You're not asking why?"

"Do I need to?" replied Masha as a hint of sadness glinted in her bright blue eyes. "But I'm still curious about one little thing. When exactly did you come up with this twisted plan of yours?"

"When your brother asked me if I was Sleeping Beauty. Those words hinted that I had slept for a certain amount of time, and your next words confirmed my thought. Following this came the idea of pretending to have lost my memory, and it ended up as you know."

"I'm surprised you were so clear-minded after emerging from a two weeks coma. Shouldn't you be muddle-headed? Or at the very least, a little confused?"

"Well, it's not the first coma I have experienced, after all," snorted the teenager, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "But, of course, it still took me a few seconds to organize my thoughts and recognize that strange feeling of sluggishness. It's the same feeling as the last time. My body is numb and heavy, a bit as if my limbs were made of iron. Coupled with your brother's words, and yours, it was easy to guess what happened. I fell into a coma, although I admit my memory of why I had an accident is still a little blurry. Really, I don't remember much of that day."

Upon hearing his words, Masha made a pained face. With her head hung low, she whispered, "Sorry, it was my brother's fault. He threw a tantrum and was careless. He said you saved him." She bit her lower lips, adding with a small voice, "I didn't think before opening my mouth. I didn't want you to remember such awful memories. That first coma of yours…"

"Don't make that face. It's already been four years," interrupted Gabriel, trying to stretch out his hand to ruffle the teenage girl's hair, but he quickly realized that he didn't have the strength. He could only let his arm fall on the bed. "Although the anger is still there, I am not devoured by it anymore."

"You say so, but aren't you planning to take revenge no matter what? Pretending to have amnesia…" She took a pause, then mumbled, "It's for that purpose, isn't it?"

"It is. If the law can't bring my mother justice, I need to do it myself, no matter the price to pay. Even if she wasn't the best mother in the world, she still loved me from the bottom of her heart," sighed the teenager, his cold gaze turning somehow gentle, albeit only for a moment.

There was a second of silence before he added, "Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid, nor will I commit a crime."

"I know you won't. You're too cool-headed for that. But that's not what I'm afraid of. I'm scared of what that woman will try to do to you. We both know who caused you to fall into your first coma and how vicious she is. She won't miss this chance of getting rid of you, not now that you're weak and defenseless."

"I don't think so. For the time being, she won't do anything too extreme. I have lost my memory, so I'm not a threat to her or her sons' position in my father's heart. Moreover, she is well aware of my father's personality. He will never let a sick person becomes his heir, which means the spot is now open for one of her children."

"For God's sake, that damned company should be yours, not theirs!" shouted Masha, clenching her hands to restrain her anger.

"A company built on shady deals?" sneered Gabriel before weakly shaking his head, contempt distorting his beautiful face. "I'm not interested in it."

"I know, but still. Your mother sacrificed so much for it, and it was a flourishing business in the beginning. It was your father who forgot what human rights mean, only thinking of profits."

As Masha talked more and more, her face turned redder and redder. Her c.h.e.s.t felt stuffy, and she had the urge to scream her lungs out, yet Gabriel was the same as ever as if what they were talking about didn't concern him. It made her feel even more depressed and helpless. Whenever Gabriel acted like a block of ice, it only reminded her that the sunny boy she had once know would never come back.

"Still, I don't want to bear my father's sins on my shoulders. They're not broad enough." The teenager rubbed his neck, resuming, "Although his company has a clean name in Canada, we both know that this is not the case in South America. Too many lives were lost for his ambition. Not once in my life do I want to be associated with what he has done. Having his blood running through my body is already too much."

The teenage girl opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she say? Gabriel's hatred ran deep, and half of his blood made him sick. Never could he forgive his father and his stepmother for what they had done. Both were human trash. His half-brothers weren't that much better, the eldest having inherited his mother's viciousness. The youngest was a bit better off. He was a spoiled brat but didn't have a wicked heart. However, he was influenced by the atmosphere of the house, and also ostracized Gabriel.

In the end, there was nothing Masha could say.

***

In a daze, Misha sat on a chair, waiting for his mother to come back with their lunch. His mind was blank, and he felt like someone was trying to crush his heart with their b.a.r.e hands. But he didn't know why he felt so lost. This terrible emptiness, what did it mean? He couldn't tell. His emotions were a mess.

Bending over, the child clutched at his c.h.e.s.t, letting a m.o.a.n escape his lips. It hurt so much, yet he couldn't do anything to ease to pain.

"Are you alright?" asked a familiar voice in a deadpan tone.

Slowly, the boy lifted his eyes, and a beautiful nurse came into view. She had Asian features, making her face look delicate and a bit round. Her coal-black eyes reflected the light, and her waist-length black hair was tie into a ponytail. She had a small body frame with round shoulders and a thin waist, long legs, and a slender neck.

If Misha remembered correctly, her name was Yuki. He had talked to her quite a few times in the past two weeks, asking if she had seen Gabriel's relatives, to which she had always said no. Although she seemed cold, she was actually very kind.

"I'm alright. Just a bit tired," smiled the child, straightening his back.

"Then, you should rest," replied the nurse.

A silence fell, but even so, Yuki didn't leave. She stood in front of the table without moving an inch. The atmosphere was somehow awkward, and Misha couldn't help but cough, asking, "Do you want to sit?"

"Yes, thank you."

The nurse pulled a chair and sat, putting the cup of tea she was holding on the table. Afterward, she pushed it just under his nose, saying, "Tea can help you relax. You look exhausted, and I think you need something to help you clear your mind."

"I think you're right," weakly answered the boy before wrapping his small hands around the cup. He tentatively took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by the sweet taste. The warmth spread inside his c.h.e.s.t, appeasing his body that was like a tensed bow. "It's good!"

"Isn't it? Not all teas taste bitter."

Her words made Misha raised an eyebrow, but he soon chuckled, thinking that his face had given him away again. After all, he did think that it would taste bitter, which made him grimace a little.

"I hear that Gabriel woke up," started Yuki, "and that he has lost his memory."

Misha choked up, staring into her eyes with a bit of hostility and wariness. He looked like a small animal, ready to jump on her and bit her at any moment.

"Don't look at me like this. I just want to tell you that you do not have to worry. Gabriel will recover before you realize it."

"How can you know that!?" growled the child, almost baring his teeth. He didn't like empty words, and those words sure sounded empty.

The nurse seemed to be taken aback by his reaction. She hesitated a second but ultimately said, "Because it's not the first time he was admitted to the hospital. Back then, I saw him work hard to recover from his injury. He's the kind of boy who doesn't give in, no matter how harsh the rehabilitation program is."

Blinking, Misha reflexively asked, "What happened?"

"It's personal information."

"What happened?" repeated the child, his gaze so severe that it send a shiver running down her spine. It was not the kind of gaze a kid should have.

"Four years ago, he was in a coma for three weeks."

The boy's eyes grew wide, and he was suddenly at a loss for words. It wasn't the first time? But what had happened? Gabriel certainly didn't fall off a slope twice! How unlucky was he?

Before Misha could snap out of his stupor, Yuki stood up, pushing the chair aside. She said:

"I have already told you too much. You seem to care about Gabriel's well being, so let me give you a piece of advice. Stay by his side and smile. What he needs the most is the warmth of a family, and I think you and your sister can give him this."

Afterward, she quickly left the canteen, leaving only a cup of tea behind.

_______________

Author's note:

MC: Gaby, your life looks quite shitty.

ML: You can talk.