"Gabriel, why you not eat the food? You are going to be late," Sarah said when she saw her son was just playing with his spoon but didn't seem to want to eat his food.
Gabriel's face was sullen when he heard that, but he still didn't want to touch his food.
"Is the food not good?" Sarah asked worriedly. Unlike usual, her son who likes to eat doesn't want to eat his food.
Sarah had a lot on her mind because of yesterday's incident, so it could have affected her while she was making the breakfast.
"No, Mommy! This is delicious!" replied Raphael then fed his food with his spoon and ate it, to show it to his Mommy.
Sarah smiled at the behavior of her eldest son who seemed to be trying to cheer her up.
"No, it's not like that, Mommy," Gabriel replied in a half-sulked tone.
"So what?" Sarah asked patiently with a friendly expression, trying to say that Gabriel could tell her anything.
Meanwhile, Michael was silent. There are times when a person doesn't have an appetite, and that's probably what is happening to Gabriel right now.
If the kid doesn't want to eat, it's up to him. He will look for food when he is hungry later. That's what Michael thought.
"Hmm." Gabriel bit his lower lip, unsure whether he should say that while noticing the expressions of his parents sitting in front of him.
"Mommy, I don't want to go to school."
Sarah's eyes widened when she heard what her son said. So the reason he doesn't want breakfast is because he doesn't want to go to school?
Likewise with Michael who had not taken it too seriously when his son didn't want to eat, the expression on his face was clear that he was surprised by it.
"Why doesn't Gabriel want to go to school?" Michael asked, looking at his son who was sitting right in front of him.
He did not intend to be a parent who pressured his kids to do everything so they should study hard. If they have an interest in a field, then he will support them as a parent.
However, his son had even just entered elementary school, yet he doesn't want to go to school anymore?!
Gabriel turned his gaze to his Daddy.
"School is scary, Daddy. I'm scared," he answered in a low, frightened tone.
Yesterday Gabriel had forgotten what happened because he was busy playing and didn't have time to remember about school.
However, when he finally realized that after breakfast he had to go to school, Gabriel suddenly became afraid and wanted to take a long time to eat his food, or refuse to eat his food so he couldn't go to school.
Once again, Michael couldn't hide his surprise at his son's answer. School shouldn't be a scary place. It's not a fun place either, but that doesn't mean it's scary.
Michael had only heard of what happened yesterday from Sarah, but he couldn't believe that it made his youngest son not want to go to school.
Meanwhile, Sarah felt like someone was slicing her heart when she heard what her son had to say. She thought they were fine. She didn't expect what she was worried about would happen.
Without noticing, Sarah's eyes started to tear up, but she did her best to keep the tears from falling.
However, it could be clearly seen by Raphael who was sitting in front of Sarah. He caught his Mommy's eyes that looked like they were about to cry.
His little brain tried to think why his Mommy wanted to cry. Raphael then followed his Mommy's gaze and saw that his Mommy was staring at Gabriel.
"Riel! What are you talking about? School isn't scary!" said Raphael trying to persuade his brother.
It seems that the reason Mommy wanted to cry was because his brother didn't want to go to school.
Gabriel turned to his brother when he heard that.
"Liar! You told me that you were scared too!" said Gabriel raising his voice in annoyance. "Rapa is a liar! Bad kid! Hmph!" he continued, then turned his face away with his hands in front of his chest.
He thought his brother would at least help him because yesterday they had talked about what happened at school and his older brother said he was scared too.
However, his brother suddenly betrayed him because they were in front of Daddy and Mommy!
Raphael looked surprised when Gabriel snapped at him then turned his face away like that. To be honest, he was also afraid of what was happening, and if possible, didn't want to go to school because he was still scared.
However, he knew that he might get scolded if he didn't go to school. He had been scolded enough for hitting his friend back then, so right now he was trying to be nice.
Meanwhile, even though Gabriel was showing adorable behavior, Michael and Sarah didn't smile at all at that. Their gazes turned in unison towards Raphael who was looking surprised.
"Raphael," Sarah called who then stopped when she saw her son's face. Her defense of holding back her tears felt like about to fall and she was afraid that if she spoke, she wouldn't be able to hold it in any longer.
Sarah then lowered her hand under the table and touched Michael, telling the man to speak.
As if knowing the intent of the woman's touch, Michael opened his mouth.
"Is what Gabriel said true? Raphael is afraid to go to school?" asked Michael gently.
Raphael turned his gaze to his Daddy. The little boy's mouth was still closed, as if he was contemplating whether he should answer the question, then nodded his head.
"Yes, Daddy. It's a little scary."
Michael closed his eyes when he heard his eldest son, who he thought was braver than his younger son, admit that he was afraid too. He clenched his fists that were under the table tightly.
Actually, what did these people do to make their kids so scared?
Meanwhile Sarah immediately averted her face and hastily wiped her tears that managed to escape her defense before the kids saw her. Her heart really hurts.
"Okay," Michael said, opening his eyes and putting on a smiling face.
"Today Raphael and Gabriel are allowed not to go to school," Michael continued trying to look as cheerful as possible.
The two kids's faces lit up when they heard their Daddy's words. The two of them then looked at Sarah in unison.
"Is it true, Mommy? Can we not go to school?" Gabriel asked excitedly.
Even though Daddy had said so, he knew it could be done if his Mommy would allow it.
Michael opened his mouth in disbelief when his kids seemed to not believe him and asked Sarah about it. Did they not believe his words?!
"Yeah, you can skip school for today," Sarah replied with a smile.
The two kids immediately smiled upon hearing that, feeling happy that they didn't have to go to school. That means they can play to their heart's content today!
Sarah also smiled when she saw the happy expressions on her kids's faces. Yes, her kids should have had such facial expressions, not the frightened or crying faces like yesterday.
Sarah's gaze then turned to Michael.
"Now what should we do?" Sarah asked, making Michael turn to her. "We both have to go to work. Then what about them?" asked Sarah.
She agreed with Michael's words to let the kids not go to school today. However, there is one problem. She and Michael both work so they can't look after the kids.
"Hmm…" Michael looked thoughtful. He had almost forgotten about it.
"Are you going to be busy at the office?" asked Sarah, who could only think of the option. "You know I can't take them with me," she continued.
"That seems a little difficult," Michael replied, shaking his head.
Today he will be very busy in the office and he cannot take care of the kids.
"Then what should we do?" asked Sarah who at this time her brain could not work properly.
"Looks like we have to ask mom for help to look after them here or at her place," said Michael, who could only think of that option right now.
"Mommy, I want to play with Sienna," said Gabriel who had been watching the conversation between Daddy and Mommy.
"Oh! Right! We can play with Sienna if Daddy and Mommy have to work! You are a genius, Riel!" praised Raphael who didn't expect his younger brother to think about it at all.
Compared to playing with his grandmother, playing with Sienna was much more fun!
Gabriel wore a proud expression for being praised like that.
Meanwhile Sarah looked surprised when she heard what Gabriel had just said.
"Siena? Who's she?" asked Michael confusedly, not understanding what the kids were talking about.
At least it was a woman's name, so Michael was sure it was not another love rival.
"She is Steve's daughter." Sarah explained.
"Steve?" Michael asked, still looking confused. Somehow the name sounded familiar, but he forgot who the man was.
Sarah sighed.
"Anna. Sienna is Steve and Anna's daughter, Anna Moss!" Sarah explained. It seems like lately Michael has started to become forgetful because he is getting older.
Michael rounded his mouth when he heard that. No wonder the man's name sounded familiar, it turned out to be the blonde doctor.
Well… Michael didn't want to memorize the names of those insignificant men on purpose. They are the blonde doctor, and Auburn's lawyer!
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