As Sahil grabbed his bag and headed outside, he suddenly paused, his eyes drifting to a certain figure lurking near the window. A knowing smile spread across his face. "And the silent bodyguard and resident eavesdropper of this house, I leave Helios in your care as well," Sahil called out, masking cluelessness.
The figure flinched.
Layla, Sara, Helios, and the maids turned to the window.
Moments later, Sehan sheepishly revealed himself, rubbing the back of his head. "Y-Yes… sir," he muttered.
Helios chuckled while Sara covered her face in disbelief.
"Good grief, Sehan! Don't just hide like that. You startled me. Come here," Layla called. Sehan blinked, pointing at himself.
"Me? From the window?" Sehan looked around, as if hoping she meant someone else.
Layla turned to Sahil, who struggled to suppress his laughter, while Helios was already laughing openly. "Any way that gets you here faster," Layla said, shaking her head in amusement.
Sehan sighed before pushing open the window and stepping inside effortlessly. Not exactly the most graceful entrance, and Sara glared at him, but Sahil and Layla didn't seem to mind.
Standing before Layla, Sehan lowered his gaze. "Take care of him, okay? And take care of yourself too. Don't get hurt while playing," she said kindly.
Sehan blinked, glancing at Helios, before the two nodded in unison.
"And if Heli gets bored, take him out for ice cream," Layla added with a wink.
Helios chuckled, as Sehan's face lit up at the chance to escape his responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Sara stood in speechless frustration.
"Well then, we'll be back by dusk. Take care, everyone!" Sahil waved while Layla smiled.
The household staff nodded as the couple departed.
Helios, watching them go, turned back to finish his breakfast with a contented smile. He then looked up at Sehan and asked, "Want some?"
Sehan beamed, ready to join him. "Oh! What an angel~" he thought but, a sharp glare cut through his excitement.
"No, thank you, young master. I think your friend here has some work to attend to," Sara interjected, seizing Sehan by the ear and dragging him away.
"Ow, ow—! It really hurts! Please, I promise I won't slack off again! Ow, just leave my ear!" Sehan yelped as Sara hauled him off.
Helios chuckled amused.
Before the household staff could disperse, a sudden, choked sob caught their attention. It was Layla's. She and Sahil hadn't left yet.
"Hey, calm down, dear. Just breathe, don't cry…" Sahil soothed, trying to comfort her as she clutched her phone with trembling hands.
Helios, startled, immediately pushed back his chair and hurried toward them, concern flashing in his eyes. Sehan and Sara followed suit as they found Sahil bringing Layla inside again. Sara stepped closer steadying Layla while Sehan pulled out a chair for her to sit.
"Mama…?" Helios called hesitantly, standing before her.
Layla wiped her tears, the phone still shaking in her grip as she held it close to her ear.
Sahil crouched before her, rubbing her other hand in reassurance, "Alright, Layla, tell me what happened. Slowly, don't rush."
Through hitched breaths, she finally managed to whisper, "L-Little P-Poseidon…"
Helios frowned slightly, wondering, "Poseidon…?"
Layla took another shaky breath before continuing, her voice breaking, "Little Poseidon… Karin says he's in a serious condition. The doctors say he won't make it…"
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the room.
Sahil's expression darkened with disbelief, "Poseidon… won't make it…?"
"I-I…" Layla sniffled, wiping her tears. Her eyes, clouded with sorrow, met Sahil's, "Sahil, we have to do something. That child is Karin's whole world. We have to save him. He's still too young…"
"Alright, alright," Sahil nodded, thinking fast. "Should we call them here from Greece?" he suggested.
"Y-yes, we should, right now." Layla gripped his hands, "We need to call them immediately, please."
"Okay, okay, I'll handle it. Let me contact the hospital first," Sahil said, getting up as the butler promptly followed.
Turning back to the others, Sahil instructed, "Sara, Helios, Sehan, take care of Layla."
"Y-yeah, we will," Sehan replied, though his voice was slightly shaken.
Sara handed Layla a glass of water, which she took with unsteady hands, sipping it slowly in an effort to calm herself.
Helios stepped closer, his voice cautious, "Mama…?" Forcing a small smile, Layla pulled him onto her lap, wrapping her arms around him. The tears threatened to return, but she held them back.
"Mama, who's Poseidon?" Helios asked softly, wiping her damp cheeks with his small hands.
Layla smiled weakly, running her fingers through his hair, "Poseidon is my best friend Karin's baby boy. Karin and I grew up together in Greece. We were like sisters. We studied together, shared everything, and even got married on the same day. Have I really never told you about her?"
Helios shook his head.
"I see…" Layla murmured, "After I married your father, I moved here to Pakistan while she stayed in Greece. Later, we both had baby boys. You came to me first, and then Poseidon came to her." Helios listened intently as Layla's expression dimmed.
"But… Poseidon was different. He was born with a condition. Whenever he exerted himself, his body would seize up, paralyzing him. Because of that, he could never leave his bed. He was fragile…" Layla's voice trailed off, "Karin always told me he was getting better. That his treatments were working. But now, suddenly… it's like everything has fallen apart."
Helios's fingers curled slightly, "How old is he…?"
Layla exhaled shakily, "Eight. Just like you, Heli."
Helios's breath hitched.
Sehan, standing off to the side, was frozen.
Helios could hear his mother's heart pounding. He could feel the faint tremors in her arms as she held him close. "Eight years old… just like me?" Helios's thoughts swirled, but then, his gaze sharpened. He looked up, "Don't cry, Mama."
Layla blinked at him.
"You have to be strong. You have to save him!" Helios declared, his voice burning with conviction, "If there could be no one. It can be you. Save Poseidon!"
Tears welled in Layla's eyes, but this time, a different emotion flickered through them.
Helios clasped her hands in his small ones, "I'll help you, Mama. So don't look sad. Look up. If every single being gives up doctors never give up! You told me so, right?"
Layla swallowed hard, her tearful smile delicate yet full of warmth. A tender glow accompanied her words as she murmured, "You know, Heli… it was Karin who chose your name, Helios." Helios blinked in surprise at the revelation.
"She believed that since you were born at the brightest time of the day, you would shine with energy, resilience, and become a guiding presence, just like the sun itself," Layla explained. "And I," she continued, "named Karin's son Poseidon. Born at twilight, as serene as the sea, he was destined to grow strong, unpredictable, and free, like the vast ocean he was named after." "But to think destiny would be so cruel to him? Grow free and strong...? It won't even give him the chance to grow." Bitterness seeped into her voice as she struggled to suppress it, only to fail.
Helios, offering a quiet smile, gently caressed her hand in silent comfort.
---
And before Helios even realized it, the day had slipped by. By evening, he stood a few steps away from the garden, absentmindedly striking his bat against a ball. It bounced off the wall and returned to him, the motion repeating over and over. Though his hands moved instinctively, his thoughts were far elsewhere.
From nearby, Sehan watched him, occasionally glancing over while watering the plants. Noticing Helios' distracted state, he set the watering can aside, wiped his hands, and walked over. "Heli," he called.
Helios gave a slight nod but didn't stop.
"Your friends called you to play. You didn't go?" Sehan asked.
"No… I didn't feel like it." Helios muttered, still hitting the ball.
Sehan nodded, then reached out and caught the ball mid-air before Helios could strike it again.
Helios blinked at him, confused, as Sehan gestured toward the veranda, "Let's take a break, shall we?"
Helios hesitated, then sighed and followed him. The two settled on the stairs, watching the sun dip below the horizon. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, Sehan turned to him with a knowing look. "Honestly, are you so jealous that your mother likes little Poseidon more than you that you can't think of anything else?" he teased.
Helios shot him an unimpressed glare.
"Alright, alright, my bad," Sehan laughed, raising his hands in surrender, "So, will the young lord tell me what's really on his mind?"