*It’s still Mason’s POV*
“What are you doing here?” I ask in disbelief. Why… did he personally come to me?
“I should be the one asking,” Father says as his eyes scan my friends.
“...Could you leave my son and I alone for a short while? I’d like to have a talk with him,” he says after a short while.
Austin gives me a worried look and I muster the most reassuring smile I can though I’ll probably be scolded soon. With that, my friends leave father and I on the balcony, his cold gaze moving to me shortly after.
“Why did you leave the hall without my permission?”
My eyes narrow at his words, and I look elsewhere, tapping on my pants. “I was getting a tour.”
He lets out a heavy sigh, seeming to not buy my words. “I shouldn’t have sponsored that witty delinquent. He’s messing with your head.”
“And what does Austin have to do with this?” I ask in anger. “And please don’t talk like you know my friends.”
“When will you ever watch your mouth? Not only do you attend this gala wearing a hideous outfit, you speak back to me with such a tone. You have no authority to act so rudely.”
“...Yes, father,” I reply as I observe the tile pattern on the floor.
He arranges his sleeve before crossing his arms, his gaze moving into the distance. “You should talk with the host’s daughter. She seems approachable and gullible so-”
“Are you setting me up with a random stranger?” I blurt out and he gives an annoyed look, the light in his eyes dimming.
“It’s so you can do something for once in your life,” he answers. “You are unfortunately my son- my only child. Instead of wasting your time, why don’t you make a meaningful relationship?”
“So you’re just asking me to get together with some- random person,” I laugh, my blood boiling. “Do you not even care about how I feel? How I’ve felt about anything?”
“Mason. We’re in public-”
“I don’t care!” I scream, running my fingers through my hair as I draw a wavering breath. “I’ve just wanted you to care about me. Why can’t you? Why do you force me to be someone I’m not? I didn’t choose to be your son, you know? I- fucking just wanted a dad but instead, I got a soulless CEO.”
I huff out a breath, looking up at him seconds later. Of course, I look up at an angered man, his eyes showing nothing but hostility. I should’ve expected this. Why… did I say that when I know he doesn’t give a shit? When he only gives me his attention because I’m his only child? Why?...
Tears run down my face and I wipe them off, sobs slowly escaping my mouth. Why… do I want his love so much? He clearly doesn’t love me… He never will.
“Are you done?” he asks, looking through the glass door. “Go do what I told you to before she’s busy.”
I frown, letting out a sigh. I guess he will never be… my dad. I look through the glass to spot Brian looking at me, his hand stuffed in one pocket. I flash him a smile but for some reason, he gives me a concerned look before heading towards me. Why is he-
“Do not mess it up, got it?” father says.
I reply with a nod hesitantly, staring at the ground as I wipe my tears.
Abruptly, the glass door opens to reveal Brian, his gaze moving to me then my father.
“Brian… please leave-”
“What did you say to him?” Brian asks my father, his face stern.
“Have your parents taught you any manners?” my father questions, Brian replying with a shrug.
“They didn’t,” he answers. “Anyway, something is wrong here. Mason, who acts like a golden retriever, is crying while you, his father, is not even trying to comfort him.”
“Everything’s fine, Brian,” I try to reassure. “Something was in my eye-”
“Gosh. You’re a terrible liar, you know?” he says. “Your shitty fuckface of a father is watching you cry and you think I wouldn’t step in?”
“Another kid with no manners. Mason, did I raise to make friends like this?” father asks.
Brian shields me with a hand, his eyes not moving from my father. “And who the fuck are you to say that? He’s your son, not some employee for you to exploit.”
My father’s jaw clenches, an expression on his face I rarely see. “Mr Allen. I strongly advise you to watch your words carefully before matters get worse for yourself.”
His tone is so fucking condescending, so disdainful that I step in front Brian, my eyes meeting father’s.
“Father, please. Let’s talk about this later,” I plead as I turn to Brian. “and Brian-”
My words falter as I watch him stare at the floor, his eyes darting around. Though he stands still, his hands tremble slightly.
“Brain!” I call out, grabbing him by his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
With widened eyes, he looks back at me, smirking a second later.
“I’m fine. You should be worried about yourself.”
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He gives a swift glare to my father, folding his arms while he sighs.
“I would like to remind you that we’re in public. For one, I could scream so loudly that you can hear me from another building how terrible you are of a person and a father. I don’t even need proof.”
“Why would anyone believe a kid?” father states, taking a step forward. “A disappointment to the Allen family? Not even your father acknowledges you at events.”
Brian takes a step back, clenching his fists. “Well, thank you for pointing that out. But the things is, I don’t care if he does or not and-”
“And what? You stand with so much pride, and speak to me with such arrogance that I thought you were the child of a pauper. Maybe if you fix that, you’ll finally be accepted in your family and not remain some bastard child.”
Unfortunately, for a split second, I see it again- his eyes darting. This… is so fucking wrong.
“Father, you can’t say that to anyone. I mean you’re heartless, but that doesn’t give you the right to say that to my friend. It’s so wrong.”
Before father can reply, the door opens again, revealing Austin and Liam.
“Mr Arnold,” Liam says as he stood right in front of father. “I will respect that you do not approach your son for the meantime.”
“He’s my son and there’s no reason not to-”
“You’re despicable. You command your son like he’s your property and stand here with no remorse.”
“Liam-” Austin signals for me to stop, his gaze moving to Liam as he continues to speak.
“My father will be hearing of this. Maybe it’s time to do good by ruining your career because people like you in this industry do not deserve what you have.”
With that he opens the door, gesturing for all of us to leave. We do so quietly, and I don’t even dare look at father at that moment. He definitely hates me more now.
Liam stops once we’re in the hallway again, Austin turning to Brian and I.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
Brian and I reply with a ‘yes’, Austin shaking his head a second later.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Mason.”
“...You insolent-”
“But you cried, didn’t you? And Brian looks like a wreck,” Austin interrupts.
I turn to Brian whose hands are shoved in his pocket, his gaze on the floor. He’s been quiet since Liam interfered. Maybe he was affected by what father said?
From my pocket, I pull out a cookies and cream lollipop, gesturing for him to take it.
“It’ll make you feel better.”
He looks at me and then to the lollipop, reluctantly taking it.
“Why do you have lollipop’s in your pocket?” Austin questions.
I shrug. “Well, why do you carry Scarlet around almost everywhere?”
“Because I love Scarlet and it’s not like I even brought him here,” he states.
Actually, it was probably heartbreaking for him to leave Scarlet in the hotel room all alone. But the thing is, I have no reason to care.
“Besides,” he says after a while. “I’m your guide for the day and for now, I think we should sneak out of here!”
Everyone turns to Austin, looking at the bright smile on his face.
“My father will kill me,” I explain. “And he’s already mad right now so-”
“Mason,” Austin interrupts. “You obeying that bitch of a father right now isn’t going to fix things. He’s hurt you, and you need a break.”
His voice is gentle and quieter than usual, a tone he used when he gave me earnest advice. I look at Brian, his absent-minded figure prompting me to nod in agreement.
Austin leads us outside, and a long while passes. We find ourselves walking on a hill, the night sky the only source of light we have. Soon, Austin stops, sitting down on the grass.
“The view’s nice, isn’t it?” he asks, my gaze moving to our surroundings. The hill is quite big, the building we came from noticeable from afar. The stars are alike to the ones I admired with Lily, but on this hill with no trees around, the sky looks vast, stars twinkling on a blue and maybe purple sky no matter where I turn to.
My eyes move to the others as they admire the sky above, seeming to forget the earlier dispute.
Abruptly, Austin stands up, dusting his pants and letting out a sigh.
“Fuck you!” he screams at the top of his lungs.
I flinch, but laugh at his randomness. He turns to me, crossing his arms and pouting for some reason.
“I was just letting my frustration out. You should too,” he suggests.
“And who exactly are you shouting at?” I ask.
He looks at me nonchalantly, his eyes glancing to the banquet house. “Your father. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that it’s quite fun. And you can try it too Brian.”
Turning to Brian, I nod numerous times, his eyes moving from Austin to me.
“I can go first if you want,” I say.
He gestures for me to go first and I clear my throat, shouting the first thing that comes to mind.
“You’re an asshole!”
I huff out a breath, tension leaving my chest. Feeling someone wrap their arms around, my eyes lock with Austin’s, a wide smile on his face, a simple gesture that makes me smile.
“Why can’t millions enter my bank account?!” Austin yells, wiping the smile from my face.
“Wow. Even now, you’re money-hungry.”
“It’s called having a purpose. You should get one.”
“Ugh. You’re such a bully,” I mutter, pursing my lips together. “Even Brian will agree with me, right Brian?”
He turns to us, nodding a second later. I wonder what’s going on in his head.
“You know what?” I say. “Let us scream at the top of our lungs, and scream our frustrations away!”
“I’m in!” Austin exclaims.
I stare so hard at Brian until he reluctantly agrees, causing a smile to spread on my face. Does that mean he trusts us even more?
“I’m not participating,” I hear a voice say, turning to Liam whose hand is being dragged by Austin.
“Why not?” I question, Austin’s eyes lighting up.
“Exactly. Or are you shy?~”
He starts to slowly poke Liam’s face though Liam looks down at him, clearly unbothered. “Fine. But I won’t be loud.”
“Then let’s shout out at the count of three!” I announce.
When everyone agrees, we scream on the count of three, our voices loud enough to alert anyone at the banquet hall’s balcony. Once we’re done, we lay on the grass, staring at the skies above. Austin starts to call out shapes he sees the stars make, and everyone joins in. Well, it’s nice seeing Brian relaxed and soon, he begins to point some out that he sees. Closing my eyes, I listen to their conversation, the atmosphere lively and with something that I could never have guessed I would feel around them when we first met.
“It… feels like home.”
——————————
Lily's Playlist
• Windy Day by Helios Relaxing Space
• Melancholy by Helios Relaxing Space
• Dandelions by Ruth B
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• Live Your Story by Auli'i Cravalho
• N/A
Mason's Playlist
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• Live Your Story by Auli'i Cravalho
• Gift of a friend by Demi Lovato
• N/A