The Ways of Patching Up | ?

Sixteenth

Sober? Alcohol...? Elliot tilted his head, struggling to process what the big words meant. He never heard of them, but that wasn't important right now because he was focused on understanding what Mr. Zheng and Dad were fighting about. Clutching his bag straps, he stepped back as he eavesdropped their heated conversations.

What are they talking about?

"My son knows how to take care of himself..." Lawson muttered under his breath, placing the glass down on the table. Despite his fuming friend, he neither cowered nor reflected his past and current actions. In fact, he simply reacted casually.

"Yeah, because he's neglected by his own father!" Mr. Zheng's sharp voice pierced against Elliot's eardrums, which caused him to flinch in his spot. He gulped as he continued watching the old man screaming down at Dad, "don't you even realize you're scarring him for life when you go all drunk?! You're traumatizing your own child, you brainless idiot!"

Drunk? Trauma... tizing? Elliot's mind was completely working to its limits as it tried to figure out what they meant. Vocabs aside, he already knew that Dad and Mr. Zheng were having a fuss about... Elliot himself. At this, he lowered his gaze, staring at his own feet that grew numb for no reason.

"Shut the fuck up," Dad growled as he glared at Mr. Zheng, "my head is killing me, and with you here blabbering nonsense, you're making it worse."

"You can't even take care of yourself. Just look at the awful state you're in," Mr. Zheng spat, ignoring Lawson's demands, "you probably didn't eat the food I had given you and your poor son."

"...I fucking did. I just don't have the appetite," Dad murmured, "Elliot eats them for me, so none of them really go to waste."

"Heh, even if he's still a child, Elly's a better dad than you ever be," the old man huffed, shaking his head, "you're supposed to be babying him and be a role model for him, but it looks like he's the one babying you instead... You don't even seem to care at all. Thank goodness I came and checked on you, otherwise I wouldn't even know what's going on."

Lawson said nothing as he ogled blankly at some random space in front of him. He then grabbed his glass from beside him and swallowed all of its contents inside. Regardless of how much screaming his friend had done, he merely shrugged him off and continued with whatever he was doing.

I have to do something... I don't want to see them fight because of me... Elliot bit his lips as he clasped his trembling hands. He really wanted to step in and stop their arguments, but he couldn't find the courage to walk straight into them. As a result, he felt like he was on the edge of his seat while his tiny body tightened up.

"You know what," Mr. Zheng revealed, "I've decided... I'm not gonna let Elly stay with someone like you. He's gonna go with me."

What? Elliot nearly let out a gasp as he could feel his eyes going round. Every inch of his skin started growing unusually cold, as he felt dizziness taking all over him. Is he gonna take me away from Dad...? No, it can't be... no, no... I don't want to be away from Dad....

As the child dared himself to glance up, Mr. Zheng was about to storm off, but Dad shot up from his seat, dropping the glass into the floor. It immediately shattered apart as its shards almost flew everywhere, inevitably recoiling Elliot as a squeal almost escaped from his throat. Dad had apparently grabbed his friend's arm, preventing him from going further.

"No, don't you ever take my son," Lawson snarled, "do whatever you want, but that... I'll never allow it!"

At their escalating conflict, Elliot was finally overwhelmed by his own instincts. Everything just went in a blur, but he found himself sprinting towards the two men. All of his frantic footsteps caused their heads to abruptly turn towards the approaching kid, ultimately acknowledging his presence.

Then... it was just silence.

Elliot stole glances between Mr. Zheng and Dad, trying to figure out who was going to make a move. He could feel both of their gazes as he was in the midst of catching his breaths, even though he only ran for a short distance. Come on Elliot... say something-

"Elly!" Mr. Zheng called out. Distracted by his son's sudden arrival, Lawson's grip on his friend's arm loosened, causing him to be able to shove him off. He hunkered down so that he was the same height as Elliot, and proceeded to grab his shoulders, "are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah...? Um... I just get home from school..." Elliot's reply came up like a question, as he tried pretending to be oblivious of their big clash earlier. Dad and Mr. Zheng didn't know I was listening in just now, right...? I hope not...

"No, that's not what I mean," he dejected, "are you fine... being with your daddy? It seems that he's... not feeling well lately, and that he has been weird at some times..."

Elliot instantly knew where this was going. If he told him about everything, he wouldn't be seeing his father again, and the thought of losing him was... too much for him to take. He swallowed all of his fears, before he attempted answering him firmly, "I'm fine, Mr. Zheng. Well it's true that Dad has been feeling unwell, but I think he's gonna be okay!"

Mr. Zheng now knows that Dad has been drinking beers and being strange... A feeling of dread began swirling in his chest. I have to make sure that I'm fine so that Mr. Zheng wouldn't be so worried and that I'm still gonna stay with Dad.

Elliot then looked behind the old man, where Dad just stood there, eyeing him, as if he wanted to pin him in place. He licked his dried lips as he forced a smile at him, to which he responded by sighing quietly as his stiffened shoulders loosened.

"... Are you sure, Elly?" Mr. Zheng questioned, unsure of the child's normal attitude.

"Yeah I am, so don't worry!" Elliot forced himself to grin broadly, pushing the memories of Dad crying for the past nights behind. 

Please... I don't want to be taken away from Dad just because he's not okay...

Please...

Mr. Zheng was completely torn on what to do. Lawson was clearly not a fitting father for his son anymore, as he was suffering from some alcohol addiction. His drunken actions seemed to be dangerous, especially when he knew Elliot must have witnessed this. Heck, he wouldn't even allow his grown kids to be near Lawson... but why was the child acting so normal? Was he even blissfully unaware of his drunken father? Was he only drinking when the child was gone?

There were just too many questions running through the man's head.

Elliot was about to say something, but Mr. Zheng suddenly stood up and hastily walked off the scene. He was scratching his hair, and clenching both of his hands. Before he went inside his car that was parked on the driveway, he looked back, his eyes softened at Elliot but hardened at Dad. He then started his car and drove off into the distance.

What's up with Mr. Zheng? Why did he just leave like that? Elliot narrowed his eyes into slits, glowering at the spot where his car was last seen. Hmph, he's the weird one now... but why is he suddenly visiting Dad though...? Did something... happen?

"Elliot," Dad's voice jolted him awake from his thoughts, but he was able to maintain his composure as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Yeah? What's wrong, Dad?"

Dad didn't respond instantly, as he just stared at his curious son, who innocently blinked at him. He then pursed his lips as his eyes trailed away.

"Never mind."