14

                                    

                                          
The school holidays had just begun, and Fourth had finally finished their exams. He and Gemini had settled into a routine of playing online games, enjoying the newfound freedom. But as Fourth focused on the screen, immersed in the game, a hurried pat on his shoulder pulled him back to reality.
He turned to see Pahn, her face pale and anxious. Immediately, his own sense of worry flared up. Whatever had shaken his sister was serious.
"Hold on," he said to Gemini, removing his headphones as he saw the urgency in Pahn's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Ma knows," Pahn blurted out, her voice shaky.
"Knows what?" Fourth asked, still trying to piece together her anxiety.
"About me and Chokun," Pahn admitted, her words hitting Fourth like a ton of bricks. He knew their mother's temper, especially when it came to relationships.
"How the hell did that happen?"
"I ran into Aunty Sara by accident, and she must've told Ma," Pahn explained, her hands trembling. Fourth rubbed his forehead in frustration. Aunty Sara was notorious for gossiping, and now their mother had heard about Pahn's relationship through the family grapevine. This made things even worse than he'd imagined.
"Pahn, you know Ma isn't going to let this slide easily," Fourth said, his own worry deepening as he tried to think of how to protect his sister.
"I know, Fourth, please come with me. I can't face her alone," Pahn's voice was almost pleading, and her hand clutched his as if she was trying to draw strength from him.
"Hang on." Fourth put his headphones back on for a moment to inform Gemini. "Sorry, I've got to deal with something. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Don't worry about it. Go handle whatever it is," Gemini replied, understanding the urgency in Fourth's voice. Fourth ended the game, his mind now fully on what lay ahead.
The siblings made their way downstairs, where their parents were waiting. The room was thick with tension, the air heavy as Fourth and Pahn sat side by side. Their mother's gaze was sharp, filled with disapproval, and the silence was suffocating.
"So, it's true then," their mother finally spoke, her voice cold. "You're in a relationship, Pahn? Haven't I told you both, time and time again, that relationships are distractions? You'll neglect your studies, throw away everything you've worked for."
"We've been studying since we were kids, Ma. We've done everything you asked. We've gotten good results. Isn't that enough?"
Their mother's face darkened, anger flashing in her eyes. "Enough? Enough?" she repeated, her voice rising.
"You think just because you've done well in your exams, you can start slacking off now? This relationship will ruin everything! You don't understand the consequences, Pahn! If you think I'll just sit by and watch you throw away your future, you're sorely mistaken!"
As the argument between Pahn and their mother escalated, Fourth's worry for his sister grew unbearable. He knew he had to try and intervene, to calm things down before they spiraled further out of control.
"Ma, Pahn didn't mean—" Fourth began, stepping forward to try and defuse the situation.
But his words were drowned out as his mother's anger flared even hotter. "And you, Fourth! You're her brother, you should stop her! How could you let this happen? Do you think this is a joke? Relationships are not some game you can play when you're bored!"
Pahn, already upset, didn't back down. "Why can't you trust us, Ma? We're not throwing anything away! We've worked hard for our grades, and just because we want to live a little doesn't mean we're neglecting our future!"
"Live a little?" Their mother's voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife. "You don't know what living is, Pahn! You have no idea what's at stake here! I'm trying to protect you, but you're too young and naive to see it!"
"Protect us? Or control us?" Pahn shot back, her voice rising with frustration. The tension in the room was suffocating, and Fourth could feel the heat of the argument pressing down on him. 
Just as it seemed like the argument might boil over, their father, who had been silently watching the entire time, finally spoke. His voice was calm but firm, cutting through the chaos.
"Enough. Both of you, go upstairs."
The command was simple, but it carried a weight that silenced the room instantly. Their father rarely raised his voice, and when he did, it was clear that he meant business. 
"But, Pa—" Pahn started to protest, but her father held up a hand, and she fell silent.
"No more arguing. Go upstairs. Now," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. The tension between Pahn and their mother still hung in the air, but with their father's words, the fight was effectively over, at least for the moment.
Reluctantly, Fourth took Pahn's hand and began to lead her up the stairs. He could feel the tremble in her grip, a mix of anger and fear, as they retreated from the scene. 
 Pahn sat on the edge of her bed, her shoulders shaking as she cried into Fourth's arms. He held her tightly, feeling the depth of her pain and frustration. 
"I hate Mom," Pahn mumbled through her sobs, her words muffled against Fourth's shirt.
"Pahn, don't say that," Fourth whispered, his voice gentle as he stroked her back slowly, trying to comfort her. "You know she just says whatever comes to her mind when she's angry. She didn't mean it like that."
Pahn's grip tightened on his arm as she hiccupped, her tears soaking through his sleeve. "But why does she always have to be like this? Why does she care so much about what the relatives think? I'm so tired of just studying all the time, Fourth. I want to enjoy my life too."
Fourth felt a pang of sympathy for his sister. He knew exactly how she felt—the endless pressure to meet their mother's expectations, the constant reminder that their education came first. It was suffocating.
"You can enjoy your life, Pahn. Who said you couldn't?" he reassured her, his voice calm. "Just let it go for now. Wait until Ma calms down, and then you can talk to her again. She'll listen when she's not so upset."
Pahn pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes as she looked up at him, her face still tear-streaked. "But Fourth, what about you?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant. He raised an eyebrow, confused by the sudden shift in the conversation.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know what's going on with you and Gemini," she began, her tone serious despite her earlier tears. "But if you're in a relationship with him, you need to tell me so I can protect you too."
Fourth's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a sudden rush of panic. He had been so focused on helping Pahn that he had momentarily forgotten about his own situation. His relationship with Gemini was something he had kept carefully under wraps, and hearing his sister bring it up so directly threw him off balance.
Quickly regaining his composure, Fourth shook his head. "We're not in any relationship, Pahn," he said firmly, though his heart was still racing. "You don't need to worry about me. Focus on yourself first. I'm fine."
Pahn searched his eyes for a moment, as if trying to read between the lines of what he had said. But finally, she nodded.