Dinner atCross Family
1106 Words
Adrian ran alone on the school field, his shoes striking the track in steady rhythm. Music played through his earphones, loud enough to drown the noise of the world but not the thoughts inside his head.
His breathing grew heavier, yet he kept pushing forward.
Then his mind drifted.
He remembered his mother.
He pictured her tired eyes and gentle smile — the way she tried to stay strong even when life was clearly exhausting her.
Her voice echoed in his memory.
“Aiddy… I know it’s hard for us to be apart,” she had said softly. “But always remember, no matter what happens, I love you.”
She held his hands tightly.
“Please work hard. You know I can’t afford your tuition, so do your best in your athletic career, okay? Be good and listen to your uncle.”
The memory tightened something inside Adrian’s chest.
He lowered his gaze as he continued running, his legs starting to ache.
“I’m sorry, Mom…” he whispered between breaths.
“From now on, I won’t let anything distract me.”
He increased his pace.
The wind brushed against his face as the music swelled in his ears, and Adrian ran harder — as if every step could carry him closer to the future his mother dreamed for him.
——
That evening, the warm lights inside Julian’s house glowed softly.
Julian sat at the dining table with his parents, eating dinner while casually talking about school and random things that happened during the day. His mother laughed at one of his jokes while his father shook his head, smiling at their son’s usual humor.
The atmosphere was light and comfortable.
Then the doorbell rang from outside the gate.
“I’ll check,” the maid said, standing up from the kitchen.
A few moments later, she returned.
“Sir, Marcus is here.”
Julian looked up in surprise.
His parents immediately stood.
“Marcus? Of course, let him in!” Julian’s mother said warmly.
When Marcus entered the house, he looked slightly awkward standing near the doorway, his hands tucked in his jacket pockets.
Julian’s mother approached him with a welcoming smile.
“Marcus, dear, you should join us for dinner.”
Marcus hesitated for a moment but nodded slightly.
“…Thank you, ma’am.”
Soon he was sitting at the table with them. Though quiet at first, Marcus slowly relaxed as Julian’s parents spoke to him kindly, asking simple questions about school and teasing Julian in the process.
Marcus even gave a small smile.
Out of everyone he knew, Julian’s family was one of the few he truly respected. Their warmth felt genuine — something he rarely experienced in his own home.
After dinner, Julian nudged Marcus.
“Come on, let’s get some air.”
The two boys stepped outside to the small garden behind Julian’s house. The night air was cool, and faint streetlights illuminated the quiet yard.
They sat on a wooden bench near a small tree.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Julian glanced at him.
“Dude… I know why you’re here,” he said calmly. “Your dad’s home again, right?”
Marcus let out a short breath.
“You know I can’t stand eating with him.”
Julian nodded quietly.
Marcus stared at the ground.
“I still can’t accept it,” he said slowly. “Even now… knowing what he does to my mom.”
His voice tightened.
“He beats her.”
The words hung heavily in the air.
“You know… out of everyone, even our friends… you’re the only one who knows about this. The only one who understands why I’m always so pissed at life.”
Julian leaned back slightly.
“It’s okay, man,” he said gently. “Let it out.”
Marcus rubbed his hands together, his frustration visible.
“You know what amazes me?” he continued. “Even after everything I’ve told you about my dad… you never once said anything bad about him.”
Julian looked at him quietly.
Marcus followed his gaze toward the house window.
Inside, Julian’s parents were standing close together, laughing softly as his father wrapped an arm around his mother.
Marcus watched them for a moment.
“…Maybe that’s because you have a perfect family,” Marcus muttered.
Then he added quietly,
“You guys just live simply. You don’t chase money like my dad does.”
Julian shrugged lightly.
“You know, it’s okay to let all that out,” he said. “But you still have to deal with him for now. You’re not old enough to walk away from everything yet.”
Marcus sighed.
“And you know your father… he has ways of making things worse if you push too hard.”
Julian nudged his shoulder slightly.
“You’re lucky our dads are old high school friends. Otherwise your butler would’ve dragged you home the moment you left.”
Marcus chuckled faintly.
“Speaking of which… he’ll probably show up any minute.”
Julian grinned.
“So relax, bro.”
The two sat there quietly for a while.
Marcus and Julian had known each other since they were kids. Their friendship was strong long before the rest of the group came along.
They first met Caleb in grade school, back when their biggest problem was losing computer games.
But it wasn’t until Grade 7 at Westbridge High School that everything changed.
That was when they met Adrian and Theo.
Five different personalities.
Five different lives.
Yet somehow…
They became inseparable.
Marcus leaned back on the bench.
For the first time that day, his shoulders looked a little lighter.
—
A few minutes later, headlights appeared outside the gate.
Marcus glanced toward the road and sighed quietly.
Right on time.
His butler stepped out of the car and walked toward them.
Julian nudged Marcus lightly.
“Oh, there’s your butler, bro.”
Marcus stood up and stretched a little.
“Yeah… looks like my time’s up.”
He looked at Julian and gave him a small but sincere smile.
“Thanks, bro. I owe you this.”
Julian shrugged casually.
“You always say that.”
Marcus walked toward the gate where his butler was waiting. Before getting into the car, he turned back briefly and gave Julian a small nod.
Then the car slowly drove away into the night.
Julian and his parents stood at the gate, waving goodbye until the car disappeared from sight.
“Such a good kid,” Julian’s mother said softly.
Julian simply smiled.
Soon after, they went back inside the house.
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