The night had fallen completely, casting the neighborhood in a blanket of still silence. A thin layer of fog crept low along the pavement as Kai zipped up his worn-out backpack with trembling fingers. His younger brother, Jeric, stood at the threshold of their home, clutching a battered stuffed toy in one hand and a small duffel bag in the other, his eyes wide with confusion and sleep.
The house behind them still echoed with the last remnants of a heated argument—shouts, slamming doors, broken trust. Kai's chest heaved as the adrenaline from it all still surged through his veins. With no clear destination and nowhere safe to go, he walked into the night without a single glance back.
The cold air bit at their faces as they stepped into the quiet, their footsteps muffled by the softness of the fog. They wandered for hours, their journey lit only by the occasional flickering streetlamp. Neither spoke. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by Jeric's small, tired voice.
"Kuya, where are we going? I'm really, really hungry."
"I'll find us a place to stay tonight, okay?" Kai answered, though the weight of uncertainty dragged at his words.
They stopped at every apartment complex they passed. Most were full. Others had prices that mocked the crumpled bills in Kai's pocket. Frustration churned in his gut. Just as hopelessness began to set in, he saw her.
A familiar figure stepped into the warm glow of a streetlight ahead. Hestia. Even from a distance, even in the dimness, he recognized her. Her silhouette was graceful, unmistakable. She disappeared through the front door of a modest house.
With nowhere else to turn, Kai made a decision. His pride resisted, but desperation won. He approached the door and raised his hand to knock—only for the door to swing open before he touched it.
"Kai?" Hestia blinked in surprise, confusion drawing her brows together. "What are you doing here? It's already late."
"Hesa…" His voice caught. He hesitated, then explained everything—the fight, the aimless wandering, Jeric's exhaustion. "If it's okay… can my brother and I stay here for the night?"
Silence fell. The wind whispered through the trees. The porch light buzzed faintly above them.
Then Hestia nodded, uncertain but kind. "Ah… Y-yeah, sure. Come in, quickly."
Jeric rushed inside without a second thought, visibly relieved.
"Sorry about my brother," Kai said as he followed. "We've been walking around for hours."
"Oh, it's no problem at all," Hestia replied. Her gaze shifted to the table, where a modest meal still sat. She noticed Jeric's lingering eyes on the food.
"Hey, have you two eaten yet?" she asked.
Jeric shook his head shyly.
"Come on, just eat with me then."
Jeric scrambled to the table, practically glowing.
"Jeric, sit over here next to me," Kai called firmly.
"It's okay, really. It's not a problem," Hestia said, smiling. "Come on, sit down too. Eat with us. You're clearly starving. And stop pretending otherwise—I remember how much you used to eat back in high school."
"You got that right. Fine then." Kai chuckled and joined them. "No point in being shy now that I'm already here."
"That's the Kai I remember." She grinned, handing him a plate. "Eat as much as you want. There's still plenty of rice."
"Mhm, did you cook this?" he asked, eyeing the food curiously.
"What? The adobo?"
"All of it—the dishes and the rice," he clarified, gesturing.
"Do you see anyone else here?" she replied with mock sarcasm.
"Okay, okay. I was just asking. You could've ordered, you know. Anyway… It's good."
"Of course it is. I cooked it. Remember the curry I brought to that party in grade 10? I made that too."
"Ah, that explains it…" Kai mused, tapping his fork thoughtfully against his chin.
"Explains what?" she asked, eyes narrowing.
"Nothing." He stuffed another bite into his mouth.
"Tsk. Whatever."
A quiet comfort settled over the room as they ate, the warmth from the meal slowly replacing the night's chill.
"I'll wash the dishes," Hestia offered, collecting the plates.
"Nope, not happening. Let me do it," Kai insisted, gently guiding her back to her seat. "We're already intruding. You shouldn't have to clean up too."
"Wow, acting like you know your way around my kitchen already. Have you been here before?" she teased.
"Not a chance. I didn't even know where your house was. I just saw you earlier—your silhouette looked familiar. You're very unique. I recognized you right away, even from behind."
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of red.
"Jeric! What do you wanna watch?" she asked quickly, turning to him.
"Cars? Cocomelon?"
"What do you want to watch, ate?" Jeric asked with wide eyes.
"Huh? I asked you. You choose."
"But kuya always says, 'Ladies first.' And you're our ate, and you've been so kind to me and kuya—so you get to pick what we watch!"
"B… Barbie…" Hestia murmured.
"Jeric, she likes Barbie—and BL series," Kai added cheekily.
"BL? Boys love boys?" Jeric asked innocently.
"Yup," Kai replied.
"Kai! He's just a kid!" Hestia scolded, glaring at him.
"It's okay, ate! It's better to learn early so I don't grow up clueless!" Jeric beamed.
"Wha—idiot… KAI! WHY IS HE MORE MATURE THAN YOU WERE IN GRADES 8 AND 10?!"
"Because he learned from the best, Hessa," Kai said smugly.
"So what are we watching, ate?" Jeric asked sweetly.
"Mhm… Is Barbie okay?"
"Of course! As long as you choose!" he said excitedly.
"You're so cute!"
"He takes after me," Kai chimed in.
"Ugh, shut up!"
"Which Barbie movie, ate?"
"My favorite is… the one—"
"Musketeer, Rock 'n Royals, Magic of Pegasus, or Starlight Adventure?" Kai interrupted. "You've got so many favorites. It's called a 'favorite' because there should only be one. If you had a favorite person, would you have more than one?"
"Wow, look at you. Sounds like you have a favorite yourself. So, who—or what—is it?"
"Your cooking. And the person who made it."
"Made what?"
"Never mind. You didn't hear me anyway." Kai rolled his eyes and continued washing. "Let's go with Musketeer, Jeric. That's her real favorite."
"I'm good with that, ate!"
"You still remember, huh? That's sweet."
"You're sweeter."
"Who?"
"Musketeer—Barbie," Kai teased. "Go ahead and watch. I'm not done here. These dishes need to sparkle. No germs allowed."
"Okay, ready to watch, ate?"
"Let's do it."
When Kai finished cleaning up, he flipped off the kitchen lights and joined them in the living room, settling beside Jeric on the couch. With Hestia on the other side, Jeric sat cozily between them—like a child tucked between two pillars of comfort.
For a moment, as the screen lit their faces and soft music played, they looked like something neither of them expected…
A family.