'Gentle' Parenting.

699 27 17
By Faavvyy

The interview in this chapter DOES NOT affect the story. I only included it to answer some of your questions. Enjoy!💃🏽

~~~

"Yes, I was thinking of enrolling for my master's program in languages this summer. Dave says it's not important but I'm still considering it. I should have a lot of time after I retire," Luca said as he had some cereal.

"I thought you two wanted a child," Eniola asked as she leaned over to check the potatoes in the oven. "Are you sure you'd be able to manage school and a baby?"

Lucado shrugged. "Nothing's written in stone yet. We're just trying to have somewhat of a stable relationship, you know?"

"And you think a baby would stabilize your relationship?" Tobias chipped in as he walked into the kitchen with a basket. "Darling, I need the mittens. They're disgusting."

Eniola rolled her eyes but threw the dirty gloves along with some kitchen napkins in the basket and wore clean ones.

"Thank you, baby."

He casually kissed her lips. "Ever welcome."

"It's not that, Uncle," Luca explained, already used to them. "He thinks I'm all over the place and not ready to settle down."

Tobias sent him a flat look as Alejandro stumbled into the kitchen, balancing on rollerblades with his eyes glued to his phone.

"You are all over the place. Your work keeps you busy— Yin, take this to the washer? Your brother is handling the machine and I don't trust him with it."

The ten-year-old stared at him for a full second before looking at the basket.

He removed an airpod. "Why do I have to do it?"

Eniola's eyes immediately narrowed at him and whether or not he tried to hide it, he flinched. "Come again?"

He chose his words carefully this time.

"I did laundry last time. It's Casi's—" he held her gaze before rolling his eyes. "Fine. Give me a second to take my shoes off."

He took his time, tossing the skates into the basket with the dirty laundry before carrying it with ease and leaving.

He was already a lot taller than his brother and acted like a spawn of Satan sometimes and they didn't know what to do with him. It also didn't help that he was smart as hell and had a penchant for constant manipulation.

Eniola kissed her teeth. "I'm going to whoop him one of these days."

Luca chuckled at that but Tobias did not find it funny. He never did.

"At least you know how you were when you were younger," Tobias said as he sat across from Luca and picked up the cereal box.

"And I apologize to my dad every time I go to visit," she groaned.

It got a smile out of Tobias as he read the contents written on the box. "So which are you doing first? Your master's or the child?"

Luca sighed.

"The session opens in September. I'm thinking it's too close. Family planning especially for people like me and Dave is a bit more complicated too."

Eniola understood that.

"How exactly do you plan on doing it? Surrogacy or adoption?"

"Surrogacy has been a recurring topic," he said, tapping his chin. "But the question is whose you know what it's going to be. Dave wants it to be his and I'm not sure how to feel about that... But it's not like I'm against it!"

Tobias and Eniola looked at each other for a moment.

"You seem very conflicted," Tobias offered and he nodded. "It's fine if you're not ready for that level of commitment."

Lucado shook his head. "I know but it's what Dave wants and for us to make this work, I have to follow through."

Eniola hissed.

"No, you don't," she said as she picked up his now empty bowl. "Relationships are all about compromise."

Tobias hummed in agreement. "Exactly. It's 'let's do this because it works for us' or 'since we're not in a hurry, do what you have to do. I'll wait for you'."

"You can't do just what Dave wants when you have your own interests that he's obviously trying his hardest to dispel," Eniola supported, turning around so Tobias could help her lose the apron around her waist.

"He's not trying to dispel them. He just wants to be sure I'm serious with the whole relationship thing." Luca argued and Eniola shook her head.

"No, he's being a selfish fuck," she said. "You said he's an accountant in what state? Idaho?"

"Iowa," he corrected.

"Same difference. Now, imagine if you were the accountant and he was a... contractor planning to retire and get his life back on track. Would you let him get an education and live a relatively normal life or baby trap him?"

Luca seemed confused. "Uh... the former?"

"Alright. Why?"

"Because I love him?" he answered. "And also want the best for him. That's what anybody would do."

"Yes, anyone except Dave."

"Ah, Uncle. It's a lot more complicated than you think."

Tobias sighed. "Do you want to know what I think, Lu?"

"Yes. That's why I'm here," he replied, his eyes wandering to Eniola who carefully removed the stuffed potatoes from the sizzling pan.

"I think you're not as ready for a relationship as you believe you are. You're incredibly reasonable and there are a lot of downsides to that. For one; you repeatedly justify your boyfriend's actions."

"And don't think we didn't see the bruise around your wrist the last time you were here."

Luca's eyes fell to the table. "It was once. We had a disagreement. It was a mistake."

"The next time he comes to my ranch, I'll cut his wrist off and call it a mistake." Eniola wasn't joking and they all knew that. "And Tobi is right, you're too pure for him and I hate that you can't see it."

"So what do you suggest I do?" he asked.

"Break up with him."

"No, no... That's too forward," Tobias intervened. "I think you should talk to him. Tell him that this is something you want to do first. You both have all the time in the world for a child but for an education? Not so much. You'll be thirty very soon, you know?"

"I know... I just don't think our talk would go well. He's not particularly level-headed."

Eniola returned to the countertop with a plate for him and he tried to smile in appreciation. She always made sure he was well-fed whenever he visited.

"He's not level-headed?"

"I swear to God, Luca if that bastard hurts you—"

"He doesn't hurt me. He just gets very angry and breaks things. I mean it's scary, yeah but it is what it is," he said casually, choosing to focus on his food. "This is delicious. Thank you."

Eniola pitied him.

He made powerful men drop like flies without breaking a sweat but allowed his scrawny boyfriend fuck with him. Domestic abuse was a peculiar thing.

"But, I'll talk with him. This is something I actually want to do. I think he's going to understand—"

A loud boom from upstairs tore through the air and a knock on the door followed.

Eniola and Tobias had the same thought. "The washing machine..."

She immediately got up.

"I'll go check what happened. You can answer the door." She was out and up the stairs. "Yin, I swear to God if you had anything to do with this!"

She got to the laundry room, thankful there was no smoke and that the children were safe... ish.

Her mouth fell open when she set her eyes on them.

The machine was still running with its door open as soapy foam streamed out, covering the entire floor while Tomiwa happily played in it. Her dress was drenched and Yin desperately tried to close the door while Mu gathered the clothes. The older twin froze as he saw their mother.

Eniola's nose flared.

"What the hell happened?!"

Mu and Tomiwa quietly pointed at their older brother who gulped and gave up on the door.

She matched up to the outlet and turned off the switch before pulling the plug so the mess would stop at least.

"Bathroom. All of you. Now."

~~~

Tobias opened the door, his neutral face almost falling through when he saw the journalist and cameraman in front of him.

He frowned.

It's today?

Eniola had mentioned something about a news crew coming to ask questions and he didn't have a problem with it... provided they asked legal questions.

"Ah, good morning. Come in..." he gestured, letting them in before closing the door. "My wife is preoccupied at the moment but she'll be down soon."

He led them to the living room, looking around for a second.

"Would you like anything? Wine, fruit juice, or water?"

Eniola was the one who had mastered the art of hospitality. He didn't like guests.

The journalist nodded. "Do you have an energy drink or coffee? I need something with caffeine."

Tobias breathed out.

"I'll be right back."

He returned to the kitchen, meeting Luca's confused state. "Who are they?"

"Some journalists. Fuego has a project she's working on," Tobias said as he fished out his phone to send her a text.

He didn't feel like climbing up the stairs and then coming back down. Especially after figuring out the children had committed some sort of atrocity.

He searched the fridge for energy drinks and was glad he could find them. There was no way he would brew his expensive coffee beans for strangers.

"Those are mine, uncle."

"I'll replace them," he replied, walking back into the living room to see that they had set up their equipment. "Ah, straight to the point then?"

"Of course, Mr. Fernandez."

He stopped himself from correcting her. "Ready when you are then."

"Alright," the journalist said. "Can we get your full name?"

"Tobias Izan Ferna. What name do you go by?"

"My name is not important but if it does make this easier, please address me as Favvyy," she said and he nodded. "Okay... So, Tobias, how's life treating you?

He leaned into the leather couch. "Very well, I must confess. I have everything I could ever ask for."

The journalist nodded in agreement.

"The wife, the house, the status, the children. You might actually be God's favorite, do you know that?

He shrugged.

"He should understand the feeling is not mutual in this situation."

"Ah, yes. I heard you were an atheist?"

Tobias shook his head. "I'm not an atheist. Not anymore at least. I guess I was when I was a lot younger but a lot of things have changed since then. I acknowledge the intuition of there being a higher being but I do not care about it."

"Why so?"

"I find it hard to believe an Almighty persona would be so ineffectual but I try my best to keep my beliefs to myself. My wife and best friend are religious and I prefer to not insult them. Can we move on?

Favvyy did not seem like she wanted to but nodded. "You speak very well for someone who isn't native to the English Language. Can you tell me what it was like for you to learn a second language?"

He seemed to accept that question.

"I was mainly homeschooled until I was nine... I think," he explained. "All I knew; math, English, and sciences were introduced to me in Spanish so you can imagine the confusion I was faced with when my family dumped me in an international secondary school.

"I learned the language from school, yes but mostly from Alvaro who had come from America. He is from Havana so he has always been bilingual. He spoke a bit too fast sometimes but his English was the easiest to understand since he didn't use bombastic words like the teachers. He did curse a lot though but I caught on very quickly since all he did was talk and I was eager to understand what he said."

Favvy smiled. "He has been with you for a long time..."

"He has."

"What about your children? Do they understand Spanish?" she asked.

"Yes, and a lot more. Yin speaks Spanish, English, and German very fluently and he has recently grown fond of Korean music so he wants a language tutor. When Mu talks, his Spanish has a Castilian dialect that we don't understand where he got it from. He's learning Italian now from his speech therapist."

"And what about Tomiwa?"

"Ah, Princess speaks English— well what she considers English. Her aunt visits very often these days and I hear her repeat phrases in Yoruba. She counted one to ten in the language the other day and I think it's very impressive considering that I have zero idea what any of it means," he said proudly.

"About Mu. He seems very reserved. Is he alright?"

Tobias nodded. "Little Prince is alright. He's just quiet and has a bit of a speech impediment that he lets define him. He is very faint-hearted and can be rattled by a lot of things. For one, he feels his eyes give him unnecessary attention and he prefers to wear glasses. And then, he prefers to not talk so he doesn't stutter and signs instead."

"Bless his heart. Do you understand sign language?"

He lifted his hand and formed a fist nudging it up and down.

"Yes," he signed. "Alvaro's nephew is nonverbal so we caught on to the basics to communicate with him and now, Mu."

"That is very thoughtful of you."

Tobias smiled. "They're children. They need all the support they can get. How do you know sign language?"

Favvyy shrugged.

"I'm the author. I know everything."

He frowned. "Sorry?"

She cleared her throat and sat up. "Next question. How exactly are you related to the royal family? It's been mentioned a few times but it is still unclear."

Tobias still kept a cautious glare on her.

"My grandfather, Don Alejo was married to Infanta Rosita, the second child of the King in 1930. She stepped down shortly after. Her brother's — the current king— grandchildren are around my age as well so whenever we have the opportunity to meet, we address each other as primos."

"Wow, so what's your position in line to the throne? You could be king someday?"

Tobias laughed. "I sure hope not. And I have no ties to the monarchy. I would also prefer to keep it that way. They are very outdated."

"True true. I take it that you are on good terms with your cousins?"

"We are civil enough. I'm sure they would prefer us to be closer but it would shed a very horrible light on my line of business," he explained.

"Speaking of business, what exactly do you do?"

Tobias raised a brow.

"You're the third richest businessman in Spain for a reason and you're only forty-five. How did all of this come to be?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I cannot say the whole story without shedding light on my family's origin," he started, almost bored. "As you must know, I did not end up on the best terms with my father so I will be trying my best to not give him too much credit.

"My family had always had horses— over two hundred at one time. My ancestors were aristocrats hence the royal betrothals until my father decided to throw it all away when he sold most of the horses after the Second World War. He was selfish and conceited but very business-minded. Iron mining had become a trend in the mid-60s and he decided to indulge. He was a white man married to a former princess and investors were breaking down the ranch doors and foaming at the mouth to get him to sell stock and he did.

"The Vietnam post-war period was a trying time in America and the government was in dire need of materials to rebuild. My father had mined and produced rods of metal thousands of meters long and was willing to sell for more than half the price. The US was thoroughly convinced and him being a student of engineering was icing on the cake. They killed two birds with a stone and he did too."

Favvy blinked. "Seems like he paved the way for you."

"My father had subpar materials shipped abroad. It was only a matter of time before the increase in collapsed structures raised brows."

"Wow... That's a lot."

"It is."

"You've never been poor, have you?" she asked and he shook his head. "Lucky."

"Ah, you don't know the half of it."

She sat up, crossing her leg over the other. "Now you've told me about the public business. What about the real one? The one that makes about two hundred million a week?"

His gaze dulled.

"I wish I knew what you were talking about."

Favvyy chuckled. "I have written permission from your wife, sir. It is going to be a private documentary after all."

He spared a look at the contract in her hand before sighing.

Eniola better knew what she was doing.

"On a good week..." he muttered and she frowned.

"Sorry?"

"Ah, we make two hundred on a good week. We average about a hundred and twenty after certain deductions. It has been a lot less due to Alvaro's nominations for congress but it is still something."

The journalist looked pleased. "What does this business entail?"

"The usual?"

"What is the usual?"

He pursed his lips together, obviously reluctant. "Extracting it from the leaves, finetuning it, lacing the ones that need lacing and diluting the others, packaging, distribution, auditing finances, changing the staff. The usual."

"If I didn't know you were talking about cocaine, I would think it was an actual business."

"It feeds hundreds of families. It is an actual business," he corrected. "It's just one I have to operate in secret and from a far distance."

"Why so?"

"My wife is leading one of the most successful architecture firms, my best friend plans to be prime minister some day and his wife is an English bestselling author. I have no choice to keep the business as far away from them as possible."

"Do you worry about getting caught?" she asked and he scoffed, a smug smile on his lips for a millisecond.

"I can't get caught. The Valencian police department is under me but I still need to be careful," he said.

"For someone described as humble, you sure do brag a lot."

Tobias only gave a lazy smile. "My wife says I undermine my abilities. She wants me to brag even more."

"Next question."

He seemed irritated by the sudden change but gestured that she continued.

"I'm listening."

"On the topic of your wife," his ears pricked. "There's been concerns about grooming. Does that bother you?"

His annoyed frown faltered. "I'm sorry. I don't think I understand."

Favvyy cleared her throat.

"Some readers— people believe you groomed her. Having known her since she was a child and that you may have pursued a relationship with her due to your history together."

Tobias sat back, his palm resting on the side of his face. "That's disgusting."

"I don't want to anger you. It has just been a recurring question."

"Ah..." he waved his hand, seemingly dispelling the anger. "I'm not upset. Just extremely repulsed."

"Well? Would you like to address it?"

He sighed. "Of course. I went to Minnesota for a purpose. I wanted to stay away from my father for as long as possible and when I get the chance, kill him. I spent eight years of my life there being a brother, staying under the radar and plotting murder.

"Eniola was a child then and even when she became an adult, nothing happened between us. Nothing had to happen. I had no feelings for her then because of how I say her— a child. All I was tasked with was taking care and watching over her. It took another eight years to realize she wanted something a lot different and a bit longer for me to realize I did too."

"Is this a 'she fell first but you fell harder' kind of thing?"

He shrugged. "If that would redeem my character a little bit."

"What's the age difference between you too?"

"I am seven years older."

"Does the age gap become obvious sometimes?" She asked and he nodded.

"It has dulled over the years but in the beginning, the differences in our lifestyles were jarring. For one, she would rather you killed her than woke her up before six. She listened to a lot of rap and loud music and I didn't like that. At all. She was spontaneous and emotional and I couldn't even keep up with her most of the time..."

"What about now?"

"From time to time, I wake up to her and Yin rapping along to 2pac and saying words I'm not supposed to. We also get to go on morning walks. She became a fan of exercise after our daughter."

"Cute..." she said and he just smiled. "I wanted to ask another important question. If you don't mind."

"You would still ask if I didn't want you to."

"True."

"Go ahead..."

"About your father—"

Tobias frowned. "What about him?"

"What did he do to make you hate him so much?" she asked and Tobias' hand went to his neck.

"What didn't he do?" He suddenly looked tired. "My father was a lot of my firsts."

Before Favvyy could ask, he raised a palm.

"Not that way— if it was just that, I wouldn't have hated him enough to facilitate his death. He caused me my first injury, my first broken bone, my first run away from home, my first tears. Fuck, I was even tied up in the stables once."

The journalist's eyes widened.

"My father did a lot of things and when he first broke my arm, he made me go without a sling until I got on my knees and begged him. And do you know why?" he asked and she slowly shook her head. "I had skipped a formal dinner to hang out with Alvaro. I was just ten. What did I know about dinners?

"Even before that, I had become a punching bag because he suspected I was homosexual," he said with a laugh. "I didn't do much to dispute that either and he wasted no time in getting me engaged to his Chinese partner's daughter, Esmeralda. We broke up two days after he passed."

"You faced so much..."

"Oh, I did. Aside from being abusive, my father was manipulative. He kidnapped his own daughter and made my mother unable to leave the country so he could force my obedience. He knew I was nothing without them and that I would come back to him. I had no choice but to obey. I've heard of generational traits and the last thing I want is to end up like he did."

"Well, I think you're doing a great job." He immediately sat up after hearing the new voice and looked at the entrance.

"Darling,'' Tobias smiled, noticing she had changed her outfit into something more casual. "It's deathly quiet. What happened?"

"Well, your oldest son threw his rollerblades into the washing machine and messed it up. He's kneeling in the kitchen so Luca can keep an eye on him."

Tobias kissed his teeth. "I guess he deserves that."

"He does," her eyes met the journalist. "Are you done? I was hoping we could get started on the tour?"

Favvyy nodded. "Yes, of course."

She got up with the cameraman who finally turned on his camera.

Eniola leaned down to peck Tobias' short hair. "You good, baby?"

"Perfect, my love. Have fun."

She left with the pair and after staring at the empty cans of energy drink, Tobias exhaled and picked them up, walking back into the kitchen to dump them in the trash bin.

He cut his gaze to the boy with cornrows kneeling with both his hands in the air and his eyes closed. He had to bring his fist to his mouth to stifle a laugh.

"This is very African," he noted and Luca hummed in agreement as he typed on his phone.

"Enny said he's meant to stay like that for another... twenty five minutes. Are you done with the interview?" his godson asked, glancing at Yin whose arms wavered.

"I believe so. I hope so."

"It was uncomfortable?"

Tobias nodded. "To an extent. I also talked about things only Fuego knew."

~~~

"I'm sure you noticed there are three different buildings on the property," Eniola explained as she led them up the stairs. "One is for us— me, Tobias and my babies— the second is for the staff. We have a lot of staff but they work away from our home. Tobi doesn't like seeing too many people and it gets loud from time to time. The third building is the main ranch. I'll take you there very soon!"

The camera panned around.

"Our home has eleven rooms and while it might seem like too much, it's hardly enough. The kids are growing and they enjoy their privacy. They each have their own rooms. My husband and I share one. In our bedroom, I have a small corner for some projects I can't do at the office. Tobias' work space is at the end of his library. It's the most quiet place in the house so there's that. There's a music room that doubles as a mini library room for the kids and their tutors. There's a smaller living room on the east wing. Luca's room is right over there and at the end, we've got two spare guest rooms."

Favvyy's mouth hung open. "Those are a lot of rooms."

"Before we moved to Spain, it was just one floor. Tobias had it renovated," she explained. "And we always have family members visiting so I prefer them having their own rooms rather than sleeping on my couch."

"I noticed you mentioned Luca had his own room. Is he that close to your family?"

Eniola smiled. "He's a part of our family. It took Tobias a few years to get hold of him after the whole issue with the Sicilian estate. He was hellbent on staying away but Tobias didn't want that. Now he asks the guy to come over every time he's free."

"What about you? Do you like that?" she asked as they went down the stairs again.

"Why not? Lucado is a good kid. He's still very young and has nobody else to watch over him. I like the idea of him having a home he can always come to when things get tough."

"That's very nice of you," Favvyy said. "What about Alvaro? Is he fine with that?"

"I think Luca redeemed himself on that raid with Varo. Alvaro wants nothing for the best for him."

"Do you think he trusts him?"

Eniola's brows furrowed. "I don't think Varo can trust anyone at this point."

"But he trusts you. He trusts Tobias."

"He and my husband are on another level. There's nothing but trust between those two," Eniola said, knowing well enough that Tobias would undoubtedly jump off a cliff if Alvaro promised to catch him.

"Does it not worry you? The trust they have, that is. They seem quite close."

Eniola laughed.

"I have faith in my husband and Varo but I'll kill them both before they have any ideas," she finished up with the warmest smile. "Would you like to see the ranch?"

The journalist gulped. "O- of course..."

Eniola led her through the passage leading to the back and she gasped at the bright blue pool that stretched for the majority of the hall. There were old styled tiles encircling the rectangular shaped pool and then a bright silver stairway at the far left with the curl at the top of the railing detailing a very subtle tiger head.

"This is..."

"Gorgeous, I know. He had this done for my 35th birthday. Two years after we had Tomiwa," she said, her hand tracing the intricate design before letting go. "He has a knack for outdoing himself."

"You're so lucky..." Favvyy could not help but say and Eniola's eyes went to her ring.

"I really am, aren't I? Imagine I had given up on him. I would have been in jail or dead by now," her voice was low and thoughtful by now. "I'm grateful for every morning I wake up to him beside me and every night he kisses me and says goodnight. He's not someone I would ever take for granted."

They walked in silence for a few moments, finally getting to the door and out in the midday sun.

Unlike the cemented interlocking blocks at the front yard, low patches of grass spread across the field, giving way for the occasion stone bench and then a structure half as large as the staff house on the far right.

There were two horses out, a white one held by an elderly man and a black one by a much younger boy.

"That's my horse, Lynn but I rarely go on rides so she's just very lazy. The larger dark one is Dane," she pointed as the boy struggled with the horse. "He doesn't listen to anyone but Tobias and kicks a lot."

"Buenas tardes, Doña Ferna!" the boy yelled, waving and laughing when Dane tried nudging him but missed.

"Afternoon, Enrique. Had lunch?" she asked and he nodded.

"Si, gracias!"

The older stable man saw Eniola and smiled, tipping his flat cap. "Doña Ferna, good afternoon. Do you want to take Lynn out for a jog?"

Eniola shook her head hastily.

"I'm good here, Senor Fuentes. Just doing a small documentary but I'm sure Enrique could take her for a few runs."

The teenage boys' eyes widened in excitement and his father sighed. "Of course—"

Enrique had already mounted the horse.

"Don't take her over the meadow. She won't come— who am I kidding. He won't listen."

The boy laughed loudly, kicking its side as he tugged the reins. He left in a gust of wind and his father shook his head while Eniola chuckled and led the crew elsewhere.

"Senor Fuentes has served the family since he was fifteen— like his son. He has better rapport with all sixteen of our horses. Would you like to ride one?"

Favvyy shook her head. "Oh no, I'm scared of horses."

Eniola leaned in to her. "Same but my husband adores them. He's a big animal lover."

"That's very cute. Does he have a pet?"

"He did... Cricket was our cat. She died a few years back. He misses her too much to replace her."

~~~

Tobias drummed his fingers on the counter and then looked at the time on his watch.

He couldn't do it.

Luca had gone upstairs a long time ago to take a nap and he was all alone. With his conscience chewing him up.

He looked at the time again and sighed.

He wished he could be stronger.

"Time's up, Yin. You can stand up."

The boy's eyes shot open as he sprung to his feet, rubbing his forearms as his face contorted in mild discomfort. Tobias felt his stomach churn.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt too much?" he asked and Alejandro shook his head, clearly bitter about the punishment as his eyes rested on his phone lying on the counter.

"Can I have my phone back or did mom say otherwise?"

Eniola didn't mention anything about the phone but Tobias took it in his hand, watching as his oldest son frowned.

"Would you like to talk to me first?" he asked gently.

Alejandro looked at him, his judging gaze exactly like his mother's. "... Why?"

Tobias shrugged.

"We haven't talked in a while. I miss that."

He seemed a bit taken aback but reluctantly nodded and climbed onto the barstool.

"So... what do you want to talk about?" he asked after a while of having his father just stare at him and study him.

Tobias didn't know exactly what he wanted to discuss but knew they had to talk. The boy was rebelling and he wanted to know where the behavior was stemming from.

"Has school been good to you?" he asked and Alejandro raised a brow at him.

"Yes...?"

"Why have you been fighting then?" Alejandro suddenly looked defensive but Tobias raised a hand. "I understand the foundation of most of it— people can be annoying and overbearing but do you really want to grow up to be feared and treated like a ticking time bomb?"

He said nothing.

"I have most school calls directed to me because we both know how your mother would take it. She would be upset. This isn't the kind of light that should be shed on us, Yin. I believed I could contain your behavior but your antics have been seeping into your life here at home.

"You don't clean up after yourself. You talk back, very loudly in fact. You yell at your siblings..." Tobias listed on. "And I can't wrap my head around that bit because nobody in this house raises their voice at another member. Have you heard me raise my voice at your mother?"

He kept his eyes trained on the counter but shook his head.

"That doesn't mean I don't have a loud voice. It means that I respect her and you, and Mu and Princess too much to shout. Especially when I don't have a reason to," he said. "So when I see you act this way; all nonchalant and careless, it bothers me. It makes me worry for you and I want to know why you act the way you do."

He heard Alejandro breathe out.

"Is there something you want me to know? Anything bothering you?"

"Not really..."

"School bullies?" The boy sent him an incredulous look that basically showed he couldn't be bullied. "Girl trouble?"

"That's lame."

"Puberty?"

Alejandro looked grossed out. "No."

"Can you try a bit more to work with me here?" Tobias pleaded. "I really want to help you."

"I don't need help... dad. I just—" he rolled his eyes and looked away.

Tobias leaned closer. "You just?"

"Aish... It's even lamer than girl trouble," he grumbled and his dad shook his head.

"I won't judge."

"I just want you and mom to listen to me more," he said quickly. "It's always more attention on Mu so you can hear what he says when he does speak and then Mimi is the youngest, of course she's top priority. I'm not exactly jealous of them. I love them too much for that but it's not like I'm any special, am I? I'm the oldest child that beats up other kids for no reason. You don't directly talk to me until you get a call from school or want me to help you do something. It's lame as fuck, dad. It's very lame!"

Tobias' eyes widened when Alejandro choked on his last sentence, his hand immediately going to his face to wipe his cheek.

He hadn't seen it that way.

He had thought his son kept his distance because he wanted to. He didn't like being touched and wouldn't wait for his own kiss on the forehead when they were dropped at school. He never said anything other than 'cool' whenever he was asked how his day went. He barely left his room and preferred to play games and just read a book while his siblings stayed with their parents.

"Ah, Yin..." Tobias called softly, his hand reaching out to cover the smaller one webbed across from him. "Did you break the washer on purpose?"

The pause told Tobias all he needed to know. "I'm sorry that was very stupid of me."

He wanted attention.

It was obvious now.

Tobias sighed. "How about we go horse riding when the sun goes down? Just us."

Alejandro looked at him suspiciously, his long lashes clumped together with wet tears.

"I have school tomorrow."

"We could also skip that. You could go to Valencia with me."

"Really?" he asked timidly and Tobias nodded.

"Yes, really," he said. "Krrish isn't feeling too well so he doesn't have school either. I'm sure Jet would bring him along."

He could see the subtle surprise when Krrish's name was mentioned.

"I still don't know who you like more between Krrish and Hani and they're far older than you."

"They're very cool," Yin said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And they look like twins too."

Tobias reasoned the dark wavy hair and distinct Asian features they both had. He saw the resemblance too.

"True, true," he voiced, toying with Yin's phone before holding it up. "I'll give you your phone if you give me a hug?"

Alejandro's gaze lazied. "Keep it."

He could be mean without even wanting to.

Tobias still laughed. Now that he knew what the problem was, it was his job to solve it.

"You really want to break this old man's heart?" he pressed, his open arms waiting suggestively. "Just one hug and it's practically hush money."

"Hush money for?"

"Your punishment only lasted five minutes. If Luca hadn't left, it would have been the full thirty. Come on, you owe me," he teased, grinning when Alejandro rolled his eyes and rounded the kitchen island.

The boy fell into him with a huff, successfully knocking the air out his lungs before Tobias wrapped his arms around him.

He could hear the relieved sigh as the older twin relaxed into him.

Slowly, Tobias rubbed his back, not wanting to prematurely stop the hug. Alejandro wasn't resisting, he needed it and his father felt stupid for not noticing earlier.

"I'm so sorry, I broke the washer," he mumbled. "I didn't think it would be that bad."

"Shh, it's fine. It can be fixed and replaced. We can't replace you, Yin. You're my first son."

Tobias felt him nod.

He was not going to overlook any of the children ever again.

"I love you, dad," Alejandro said and Tobias felt he hadn't heard those words since he was a toddler.

He hummed. "I love you more. Never forget that."

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