“Maybe Next Time”
961 Words
CHAPTER 17
(Chris’s POV)
Christopher Reyes hated quiet houses.
Which was ironic.
Because the Reyes mansion was always quiet.
Too quiet.
The gigantic chandeliers sparkled beautifully overhead, expensive floors reflected every light perfectly, and every room looked like something from a luxury magazine.
But somehow—
None of it ever felt warm.
Chris stepped inside the mansion while holding his report card tightly inside his bag.
For once—
He actually felt excited.
Not dramatically excited.
Not fake excited.
Real excited.
Because this time…
He got first place again.
Perfect grades.
Perfect remarks.
Even the principal personally congratulated him earlier.
Normally Chris joked about academics constantly.
Pretended not to care.
But secretly—
He always cared.
A lot.
Maybe too much.
Because every single time he got good results—
A tiny part of him hoped:
> Maybe this time they’ll notice me.
Chris immediately spotted several workers moving around the mansion hallways busily.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
Chris smiled automatically.
“Thanks.”
Same routine.
Same greetings.
Same giant empty house.
Then finally—
He heard voices from the main living room.
Chris’s eyes brightened slightly.
They’re home.
Quickly, he walked toward the room while fixing his messy hair slightly.
His father sat near the large glass table speaking through Bluetooth headphones while typing on a laptop.
Meanwhile his stepmother flipped through several fashion event documents nearby while talking to an assistant.
Neither noticed Chris enter.
He stood there quietly for a second.
Still smiling.
Waiting.
Eventually—
“…Dad?”
His father looked up briefly.
“Oh. Chris.”
Then immediately returned to his laptop.
“How was school?”
The question sounded automatic.
Polite.
Distracted.
Chris tightened his grip on his bag slightly.
“It was good.”
“That’s good.”
Typing.
More typing.
His stepmother glanced toward him next.
“Did you eat already?”
“Not yet.”
“You should eat properly. You look thinner.”
Then she returned to discussing schedules with her assistant.
Silence again.
Chris stood there awkwardly.
Still waiting.
Still hoping.
Then finally—
“…I got my report card today.”
That caught his father’s attention slightly.
“Oh?”
Chris quickly pulled the report card from his bag.
And despite himself—
He smiled.
Actually smiled.
“I ranked first again.”
For a second—
His father looked genuinely impressed.
“You did?”
Chris nodded quickly.
Every tiny piece of hope inside him immediately lit up.
“Yeah. And my literature score improved too and—”
“That’s excellent.”
His father smiled slightly.
Then his phone suddenly rang.
The moment shattered instantly.
“Excuse me.”
And just like that—
Attention gone.
His father answered the business call immediately while standing from the couch.
Meanwhile his stepmother accepted another incoming call from her event manager.
“Chris, darling, we’ll talk later, alright?”
Later.
Always later.
Chris stood there silently while both adults became busy again within seconds.
Like the conversation never happened.
Like he never walked into the room excited in the first place.
His report card slowly lowered in his hands.
“…Right.”
Neither noticed how quiet his voice became.
His father waved distractedly while talking on the phone.
“Good job, son.”
Son.
Not even Chris.
Just son.
Automatic.
Distracted.
Empty.
Chris smiled automatically again.
The same smile he always used.
Bright.
Easy.
Harmless.
“No worries,” he said cheerfully. “You guys are busy anyway.”
His stepmother nodded absently.
“Thank you for understanding.”
And somehow—
That sentence hurt more than usual.
Chris quietly placed the report card back inside his bag.
Then turned around calmly.
Still smiling.
Still cheerful.
Still normal.
By the time he reached the hallway—
The smile disappeared completely.
Silence filled the mansion again.
Heavy silence.
Chris slowly walked upstairs toward his room while staring at the expensive carpet beneath his feet quietly.
Why did he even try anymore?
Every time—
Every single time—
He told himself not to expect anything.
Not to hope too much.
Not to act like a little kid wanting praise.
But somehow—
He always hoped anyway.
Stupid.
So stupid.
Chris entered his bedroom quietly before locking the door behind him softly.
The room was huge.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
And painfully lonely.
He dropped his bag near the desk carelessly before sitting at the edge of his bed.
Silence.
Then finally—
His shoulders slumped.
The exhaustion hit all at once.
Chris pulled the report card from his bag again and stared at it quietly.
Perfect grades.
Top student.
Outstanding remarks.
Everyone at school praised him constantly.
Teachers loved him.
Students admired him.
His friends thought he was amazing.
So why—
Why did he still feel like he wasn’t enough?
Chris laughed softly to himself.
But the sound came out wrong.
Tired.
“…Maybe next time,” he whispered quietly.
Maybe next time they’ll stay longer.
Maybe next time they’ll look proud.
Maybe next time they’ll actually listen.
Maybe next time he’ll finally matter enough.
The thoughts felt pathetic.
Childish.
He knew his parents worked hard.
He knew they loved him in their own way.
So why did it still hurt this much?
Chris slowly lay back against the bed while covering his eyes with one arm.
The room felt too quiet again.
And for once—
There was nobody around to make him laugh.
No Carl nagging him.
No Kai feeding him snacks.
No Ren correcting his nonsense.
No Leanne rolling her eyes at his dramatic behavior.
Just silence.
Chris swallowed hard before forcing a grin onto his face again despite being completely alone.
Habit.
Always habit.
“…I’m fine,” he whispered automatically.
Even though nobody asked.
- Writer
