Alexa play Mansion by NF

"Mommy? Where are you?"

A little boy made his way down the dimly lit hallway, searching for his mother to show her the cute drawing he had made. The picture depicted a mother cradling a small child in her arms, wrapping the child in warmth and love.

He glanced around the house, trying to figure out where his mother had gone, when suddenly, a loud crash echoed from a corner of the room.

Hearing the crash, Hyunjin's heart began to pound. Clutching his drawing tightly, he followed the sound to the living room. As he approached the doorway, his steps became hesitant. Peeking around the corner, he saw his parents in the middle of a heated argument. His father stood rigid, arms crossed defensively, while his mother paced back and forth, her hands shaking with fury.

"Why did you do this?" she screamed, her voice cracking. "After everything I've done for you, for us, how could you betray me like this?"

His father's face was tight with guilt, but his voice was cold and dismissive. "It wasn't like that. You're overreacting."

"Overreacting?" his mother shrieked, her eyes flashing with disbelief. "You cheated on me! You threw our entire family away for some fling! Was I not good enough for you? What was wrong with me?"

His father ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "You don't understand. You've never understood. Everything's been falling apart for a long time, but you just act like everything's perfect. Hyunjin-" he gestured angrily toward the hallway, not knowing Hyunjin was listening in the shadows.

"It's him! He's part of the problem! Ever since he was born, nothing's been the same. You've been so wrapped up in him that you've forgotten how to be a wife!"

Hyunjin's heart sank. Was it his fault? Was he the reason his parents were fighting?

His mother's voice rose even higher, almost hysterical. "Don't you dare blame our son for your failures! He's just a boy! This is your doing, not his. But... you're right, aren't you? You've never loved him either. You never cared about this family!!!"

Her eyes welled with tears as she glared at her husband. "I've spent years trying to be perfect, trying to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife, and for what? To be tossed aside like I'm nothing? For what....a fucking slut???"

The tension in the air was suffocating. Hyunjin's hands trembled as he stood frozen in the doorway, the drawing crumpling in his grip.

"Why do you think I went elsewhere?" his father shot back. "This house, this family... it's suffocating. You've built this fantasy world around that boy, acting like he's the center of everything, and I'm supposed to just go along with it? You've neglected everything else, including us! You've neglected me!"

His mother stopped pacing and stood in front of him, her eyes burning with betrayal and rage. "So that's it? I wasn't enough for you because I was too busy loving our son? You've ruined everything, and now you're blaming a child?"

There was a long silence, filled only by the sound of heavy breathing and Hyunjin's pounding heart. His father looked away, unable to meet his wife's gaze.

And then, his voice shifted. It became lower, darker, almost vicious. "But that boy... Hyunjin. He's just as much to blame. He's worthless. He was supposed to be the glue that held us together, but all he's done is tear us apart."

Hyunjin couldn't hold back a gasp, his body trembling with fear and confusion. In that moment, his foot slipped, causing a small creak. His mother's head snapped in his direction, her eyes narrowing as she realized he had been listening.

Her face softened in an instant, her anger suddenly replaced by a strange calmness. She walked over to him, kneeling down to his level, the fire still lingering in her eyes. "Hyunjin, come here, baby."

He didn't move at first, still clutching his drawing like it was a shield. But she reached out and took his hand, gently pulling him into the room. His father looked away, shame flickering across his face, but said nothing.

His mother led him away, taking him into his room and closing the door behind them. She knelt down in front of him, her hands cupping his face as she wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"Sweetheart," she said softly, her voice soothing now, "don't listen to your father. He doesn't understand. He's just angry. But you... you're special. You're mine."

Hyunjin looked up at her, his vision blurry with tears. "But he said... I'm worthless."

"No, no," she whispered, pulling him into her arms. "That's not true. The world out there is cruel, Hyunjin. No one will love you like I do. No one will care for you the way I care for you. Without me, you'd be lost. You wouldn't survive. I give you everything you are, everything you need."

She pulled back slightly, looking deep into his eyes, her gaze intense. "You know that, right? No one can love you like I can. No one will ever put you first like I do. You're only worth something because you have me."

Hyunjin nodded slowly, his small body trembling as he accepted her words. His mind, still too young to understand the weight of what was happening, clung to her for comfort. In that moment, he believed her. He believed that she was right. That without her, he was nothing.

His drawing, now forgotten, fell from his hands to the floor.

He grew up believing those words, and on a certain day, after yet another fight between his parents, he couldn't take it anymore. He ran out of the house, not stopping until he was out of breath, his chest heaving. He collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

After what felt like forever, he felt a gentle hand on his back. Startled, he turned around and saw a boy standing there. He looked so... angelic? The boy was slightly shorter than Hyunjin, with freckles scattered across his delicate, beautiful face.

"Hi," the boy said softly, offering a small flower to Hyunjin. Hyunjin quickly wiped his tears and accepted the flower, unsure of what to say.

Hyunjin stared at the flower in his hand, feeling the weight of the world slowly lifting from his small shoulders. The boy sat down next to him, swinging his legs playfully as if there wasn't a care in the world.

"Why are you crying?" the boy asked, tilting his head with a gentle curiosity.

Hyunjin sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "My parents... they always fight. It's... it's my fault."

The boy frowned, shaking his head firmly. "That's not true. Parents fight sometimes, but it's never the kid's fault. Adults are just stupid." He reached out and patted Hyunjin's head gently, then leaned in close. "You know, when I'm sad, I do something special."

Hyunjin looked at him with wide eyes. "What's that?"

The boy grinned, stood up, and started hopping around in a circle. "I dance! Like this!" he giggled, twirling and jumping in an exaggerated, goofy way. Hyunjin couldn't help but smile, watching the boy's silly dance lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Then, the boy stopped abruptly, his face turning serious. "Or sometimes," he whispered dramatically, "I make a secret handshake with my best friend." He held out his hand toward Hyunjin, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Hyunjin hesitated before reaching out his hand, and together they created a series of playful slaps, claps, and fist bumps, each giggling louder than the last.

Feeling a little better, Hyunjin looked at the boy with newfound curiosity. "What's your name?"

The boy smirked, his freckled face glowing,

"My name is Felix,"