Old Mr. Aaron he leaned over her chair, as he coughed, clutching his stomach.
He took a cup of hot lemon tea on the table. His hands trembled as he pressed the cup of hot lemon tea against his lips, taking a drink from his cup.
He looked at a picture of his son, glancing up at the clock that hung over the wall above him. "He'll be here soon." Mr. Aaron mumbled and smiled wide.
Mr. Aaron heard someone's footsteps getting closer toward living room. "I'm Home," a familiar voice that he had longed for so long.
Mr. Aaron pushed himself off of the chair, his eyes looked in Theodore's, who looked more handsome than the last time Mr. Aaron saw him one year ago.
Mr. Aaron lips stretched into a smile. "Theodore, my son." Mr. Aaron almost wanted to warp him into his arms, but...
"I'm so tired, dad. I'm taking a shower." Theodore disappeared upstairs.
Mr. Aaron smile drop. "He ignoring me." Mr. Aaron said under his breath.
"This is all my fault not his fault."
19 years ago.
Mr. Aaron arrived home from his work. When he first got home, he noticed little Theodore stood there in front door. Theodore smile, opening his arms out wide to give Mr. Aaron hug.
"I'm so tired, Theo." He kept on walking to his room and ignore little Theodore.
Theodore stared down at his fingers, "Daddy." He whispered, his voice breaking, a trail of tears rolled down from his corner of his dark eyes, down his cheeks.
His mother made her way over to Theodore. She wiped tears below his eyes, hug him so tight, as rubbing his back gently.
"It's okay, don't cry. Maybe daddy just really tired after work." His mother said so low.
*
"Mommy, daddy's off work today, right?" Theodore asked to his mother.
His mother smiled and nodded.
"Yeay, I want to play with daddy. It's gonna be so much fun." His cheery voice makes his mother smile.
Mr. Aaron was upstairs in his study when Theodore knocked on the door. "Daddy!"
"Come in," he answered, raising his head.
Theodore entered, "Daddy, c'mon play with me in the backyard." He so excited.
"I'm very busy, go out and play with your mother." Mr. Aaron said, turning at his documents.
Theodore sighed and nodded in acquiescence before leaving the room.
Again and again he got rejected by his father.
Theodore went downstairs to the kitchen, where he found his mother.
"Mommy!"
"Dear, does daddy want to play with you?" His mother asked to him.
Theodore dropped his head low, he sobbed, shaking his head, "no, mommy." He cried, hiccuping. "Why doesn't daddy ever hug me and play with me like daddy my friends, mommy?"
"My son is strong, right?" she asked, wiping the tears away that were trailing down his cheeks. She pulled him towards her, she wrapped her arms around him protectively.
Since then Theodore had never again welcomed his father home from work and asked his father to play with him again.
When Theodore was 15 years old, a tragic news came that his mother had passed away. Those news hit him hard.
*
Mr. Aaron knocked door of Theodore's room, "Theo!"
The bedroom door flew open, as Theodore appeared. "Yes, dad?" raising his eyebrow.
"I ordered pizza a few minutes ago, come down we eat together." Mr. Aaron said and smiled.
Theodore skipped down the stairs towards his father who turn on the television.
Theodore sat down to the seat opposite from his father, taking one slice on a paper plate, then turning to the television screen.
And there it was again, that awful silence.
"I'm so glad you're here, and what about your studies?" Mr. Aaron's voice came out with relief.
"Good," he said without any expression being shown in his face.
"I hope you have a good days in college." Mr. Aaron gave him a sincere smile.
"Thank you," Theodore forced his smile. "I'm full, thanks for the food." He climbed up the stairs, turning to the left hallway to his room.
"You treat me like a stranger," he mumbled, and smiled weakly.
