A/N: I'm sorry for the late update. Na busy ako the whole June dahil sa JE T'AIME SELF PUB. Anyway, by July, balik na ulit ako sa mabilis na update. 

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 5

MIDNIGHT woke up, crunching his eyebrows. Even with closed eyes, he felt the intense brightness on his face, and he couldn't help cursing that shameless old man who told him that if he needed anything, he could look for the butler. Yet, when he searched for the butler and requested a blackout curtain for the French window, his request was denied.

The butler and the old man teamed up to tell him that the French window shouldn't be covered.

For some reason, he was too tired to argue back and just returned to his room, lay on the bed, turning his back on the French window.

It was exasperating. And now, with a blinding light shining on his face, he felt his sanity slipping away.

He took a deep breath to compose himself and stood up, staring expressionlessly at the French window.

He took it back. French windows were terrible.

Anyone could see that Midnight was in a foul mood, so when Happy went to fetch Midnight for breakfast, she hesitated before speaking.

"Um... breakfast is ready."

When Midnight heard Happy's voice, his foul mood couldn't be seen anymore. "Do I have to go?"

"Yeah." Happy gave a slight wry smile. "It's a rule that breakfast must be eaten with family."

Midnight hid his confusion. Was there really such a rule or was it just made up? Their house didn't have such a rule. Going without food for a day was not even a big deal.

What's with the people in this house?

He looked at Happy. "I'm not part of the family."

Unfazed, Happy smiled and waited for Midnight to join them for breakfast. It was at that point that she realized the French window had no curtains. "Would you like curtains for that?"

Midnight blinked at Happy. "Will you give me some?"

"Of course."

Midnight was inwardly relieved. "Thanks."

That 'thanks' surprised Happy. She was not expecting that. "Um... welcome." Then she tentatively gestured her hands. "Let's go?"

However, Midnight's primary concern was the damn French window. "The curtain first."

"Oh. Alright. I'll get a pair for you."

Happy left and Midnight eagerly awaited for the curtain. When Happy went back and handed the curtain to Midnight, Midnight wasted no time in placing it on the French window.

When the room plunged into darkness, Midnight sighed in relief. That's better.

Only then did Midnight follow Happy to the dining room, where Dominick was waiting for them with a wide, welcoming smile.

"Come, come. Let's eat." He looked at Midnight. "I don't know what you like, so Klaus cooked a lot."

When Midnight heard that, he looked at the food on the table. It was really a lot.

Midnight, who was used to one meal a day and with only one viand, was not used to seeing so much food on the table. Will I be punished if I didn't finish all this?

Taking his seat at the table, he fixated on the food again, as though it were a foe to be conquered. Dominick couldn't help laughing.

"Relax, Night. Just eat whatever you like."

Midnight turned to Dominick with a solemn expression. "What will be my punishment if I didn't finish all these foods?"

Dominick lost his smile, confused. "What punishment?"

"If I didn't finish the food." Midnight repeated.

Happy was just as confused as Dominick that it was Klaus who answered.

"There is no punishment, Lord Night. Boss Dominick just want you to eat the food you want. That's all."

Lord Night. It was the first time Midnight heard it. The same as how the people in that house addressed his big brother—Lord Knight.

It was an odd feeling.

"Let's eat." Happy filled Midnight's glass with fresh juice and even made him coffee. She wanted to have a good relationship with the man who saved her. "If you don't like something, you can tell Uncle Klaus. He will make sure not to cook it for you again."

Midnight was left puzzled. In his life, if he expressed his dislike for a particular food to someone in the house, he would be stuck eating it for the next few months. However, it appears that things were not the same here.

"Eat up." Dominick said to Midnight. "After breakfast, you walk around the farm. Silvanus said you need Vitamin D and fresh air. Speaking of Silvanus, he'll visit tomorrow to check up on you. You rest up and do whatever you want until then."

Midnight could only nod. He was confused and was questioning what he knows about life. He didn't know what was happening anymore, that he just silently eat breakfast.

Shortly after finishing his breakfast, he took a stroll because Dominick wouldn't stop talking about how he needed Vitamin D.

Midnight looked at the CCTV, then at the massive farm surrounding him. There was truly no way to escape this place, given his limited strength. Unless his father came to rescue him.

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it instantly. There was no doubt that his father would never engage in anything pointless.

Midnight stopped in his tracks as he saw Dominick's daughter jogging with Klaus close behind, clearly protecting her. In an effort to steer clear of them, he tried to change direction, but unexpectedly ran into Dominick.

I shouldn't have moved, Midnight thought. If there was one person he couldn't figure out, it's this old man. And he disliked interacting with him. He'd rather ran into Happy and Klaus.

"Oh, hey!" Dominick greeted Midnight as if they were close. "Not walking anymore? You need more Vitamin D and a lot of fresh air."

Midnight did not even try to argue and just turn around to continue his walk when he heard Dominick speak.

"My daughter was in a coma for so many years. Jogging is part of her exercise to get her previous health back. When I joined Orgánosi and saw the evil in the world, I thought I know what fear is." He chuckled deprecatingly. "I was wrong. There was nothing scarier than seeing my princess in a coma because of my uselessness. That's why I can never return to Orgánosi. How could I protect others when I can't even protect my baby?"

Midnight lips thinned. Protect. This word had become unfamiliar to him over the years. Aside from trying to protect his brother, he had nothing else to do with that word.

Midnight's thoughts paused when he felt a hand messing through his hair and patting his head.

"Kid, parents protect their children, not use and abuse them."

Midnight stilled. Since he was not being protected, was he being used and abused? He honestly did not know. To Midnight, whose mind had been twisted since childhood, being under his father's control was normal and shouldn't be questioned.

"Daddy!" Happy happily ran to her father, and the two talked so closely.

Midnight had never seen a father like Dominick before. He thought all fathers were strict, ruling with an iron fist, because that's how he was brought up. But seeing Dominick dote on his daughter, his view about fathers was changing.

"I'm baking a cake later," Happy beamed at her father. "You're my taste-tester."

Dominick faked a sighed. "You're not trying to kill your old man, yeah?"

Happy grinned. "You'll never know until you try my cooking."

Dominick playfully hugged his daughter while tickling her. "My princess has become mischievous. My heart hurts."

Happy laughed, and Dominick continued teasing her.

On the side, Midnight was watching the father and daughter. And for the first time, he felt what it's like to be envious. It wasn't because he didn't have the same relationship with his father, but because he didn't have the same relationship with his big brother.

Despite his strong desire for closeness, being near his older brother posed a safety risk. He didn't want to put his only brother at risk of being hurt. He didn't want him to be hurt. Furthermore, he wished to keep his brother unaware of the things that had been done to him over the years. It was his burden to carry alone.

His brother would probably be hurt if he found out. Not only that, maybe his brother wouldn't look at him—a monster— the same. He didn't want to see pity or disdain in his brother's eyes.

Midnight looked away from the father and daughter. That's when Klaus walked over to him.

"Lord Night, may I ask what you want for dinner?"

Midnight stilled. No one had asked this of him, so he didn't know how to respond to Klaus. Well, his brother used to ask him that when they were still children, but after he was sent to the laboratory, his brother had stopped asking him about it and would just take him out to eat because they lacked time.

And since they were always in a hurry to eat to avoid being seen and punished, they didn't have time to indulge themselves.

"My lord?"

Midnight blinked and answered. "Anything is fine."

Klaus smiled. "I apologized. We cannot cook 'anything'."

Midnight looked at Klaus, and Klaus smiled innocently.

"Please think of something you like, my lord."

Midnight's forehead crinkled a little, showing his uncomfortableness which was rare to be seen on his always blank face. "Can you not call me that?"

Klaus' innocent smile widened. "I apologize again, my lord. This is part of a butler's etiquette."

A butler's etiquette, my ass. Remembering how he was treated by his own father's butler, he doubted Klaus' words. Maybe Klaus was the same as his boss: shameless.

Midnight inwardly sighed. "I don't know what I want to eat, so you can just cook whatever you want."

Anyone would respond 'okay' to those words, but not Klaus. He was asked by Silvanus to bring out what Midnight wants and needs from Midnight's own mouth. "I can't just cook anything, my lord. It is a must to know what you want before I cook for dinner."

Midnight honestly didn't know what he wants to eat. He usually just eats whatever was given to him. He never had the freedom to choose what to eat unless he was with his big brother.

"Is there really nothing you want to eat?"

That question made Midnight ponder. There was one thing he wanted. It was the food his mother used to make on his birthday. It had been so long since he had it.

"... Albondigas." He whispered.

It was only a whisper, but it didn't escape Klaus, who was attentively listening. He didn't know what Albondigas was, but he still nodded as if he did. "Then I will make Albondigas for dinner."

With a satisfied smile, Klaus finally left Midnight alone, to Midnight's relief.

Midnight immediately went back to his room and stayed there, in the darkness, until there was a knock on the door.

It was Happy. Again.

Midnight's uninterested expression was the one that welcomed Happy when the door opened. But it didn't deter her.

She smiled. "I made a cake. Come down to the dining room to taste? Dad said it's good."

The 'no, thanks' response was already in Midnight's mouth, but when he recalled how much his brother likes cakes, he said, "Okay."

Happy's smile widened, and she walked before Midnight to the dining room.

A slice of cake was already ready for him when Midnight came down.

He was not fond of cakes, but Midnight could tell that this one tasted bad at first bite. But seeing Dominick and Klaus singing praises to please Happy, he said nothing and just silently finished the slice of cake.

"So? How is it?" Happy asked Midnight in anticipation.

Midnight had to hold a sigh back when he saw Dominick and Klaus gesturing him to say nice things about the cake.

He took a subtle deep breath and answered Happy. "It's okay."

Happy's smile slowly disappeared. "It's okay means it doesn't taste good."

Dominick gave Midnight a 'make her happy' look, but 'it's okay' was really the best compliment he could give to this not so palatable cake.

"Dad! Stop giving Midnight a warning look!" Happy's expression became sullen. "And I told you not to lie to me! Is the cake I made good or bad? Answer me, dad."

Dominick, who had always been talkative, was now silent as a rock. Klaus was in the same state, so Happy turn to Midnight.

"Be honest. Does it taste good or bad?"

Midnight honestly answered. "Not that bad, but definitely did not taste good."

Happy glared at his father and their butler for lying to her! She still remember their over-the-top praise that made her thought that the cake she made was outstanding!

"You two are unbelievable!"

Dominick and Klaus simultaneously looked away as Midnight escaped. Yes, he escaped. He had a feeling it's not gonna be pretty, and he didn't want to be in the middle of those three.

Especially Dominick. He knew that the shameless old man would use him as a shield against his daughter. He could feel it.

Returning to his dark room once again, to pass the time, he wanted to do one arm push up. But because of his weakened muscle, it would be a miracle to even do ten push-up, so he reluctantly laid on the bed and sleep.

In his sleep, he had his usual dream.

His big brother, being lashed and covered in blood.

He woke up gasping for air, but he immediately stabilized himself and told himself that it's just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream. Big brother will not experience it. It won't. It won't.

After convincing himself that his brother was safe, he tried to get back to sleep. Unfortunately, the sun was up and he was still awake.

Not getting enough sleep was nothing new, so his day proceeded as usual. But today was different.

Silvanus came to visit to check on him.

Klaus guided them to a private library on the third floor and left immediately to give them privacy.

"So, how was your stay here?" Silvanus asked casually, while observing his patient. "Enjoying your stay?"

Instead of answering, Midnight went straight to the point. "Let's start the hypnosis." He wanted to hear the recording of his own hypnosis. That was why he was being cooperative.

Silvanus dramatically sighed. "Can we chill for a bit? Think of us like old friends catching up."

Midnight became silent.

A few minutes of silence later, Silvanus sighed again.

"Look, talking is one way to socialize, and socializing is very important in our society. We make friends and build connection through socializing. I get that every people have social battery, but I'm pretty sure that your social battery is not empty since I'm the only one you're talking to today—if this can be even called a conversation."

Midnight only socialized when he was ordered to, so he never talked to anyone before in his own volition, and he was never interested.

When Midnight remained silent, Silvanus didn't push it and just did what he came here to do.

The hypnosis.

"Alright. Why don't you sit there?" Silvanus gestured his hand to the recliner chair by the bay window. "You'll be more comfortable there."

Midnight silently followed and waited for Silvanus to start.

An eager patient was always welcome, so Silvanus started the hypnosis after getting his tablet from his leather briefcase.

Sitting on the chair beside Midnight, Silvanus started the hypnosis. The moment Midnight fell into a deep relax state, Silvanus started the recording.

"It's nice to talk to you again, Midnight—"

"I'm Knight."

Silvanus, who expected such a reply, was not surprised anymore. He continued. "Today is going to be different from our last session, but we're still going to keep it light." He still had no plans to put 'suggestion' on Midnight's mind. He only wanted to know how Midnight became like this, to know how to deal with this patient of his. "This time, I want to talk about how you were raised. I want to hear your story, okay?"

"Okay."

Silvanus smiled. "Then tell me about your first memory as a child?"

Midnight did not immediately answer. It took him a couple of seconds before he said, "I remember mom giving me ice cream for my birthday."

Silvanus was relived. A normal childhood—

"And my father throws it away because sweets are not allowed in the house."

Silvanus pressed his lips together. I spoke way too soon.

"And from my room, I could hear my mom begging my father to let me have a normal birthday, but father finds celebrating birthdays useless... and he also finds me useless, so mom's begging was never granted."

I really spoke too soon. Silvanus inwardly sighed.

Today, he wanted it to be light, so he asked for happy memories. "Any happy memories of your childhood?"

He believed that to understand Midnight; he had to know what his childhood was like. And it seemed that the childhood Midnight was telling him was his own and not Knight's.

"Happy... memories?" Midnight sounded unsure.

"Yeah. Happy memories. Something that made you laugh out loud and jump up and down in happiness and excitement."

There was a long pause and Silvanus thought he shouldn't have asked when he heard Midnight's answer.

"I... don't remember anything like that."

Silvanus had to control the tone of his voice as he replied, "How about your memories with your mom?"

A long pause again.

"I'm happy that she's already in a good place. She was always sad and suffering before because of me."

"Weren't you happy that she celebrates your birthday?" Silvanus was curious.

If Midnight was conscious, his answer would have been yes. But he was under hypnosis and his brain was honest. "No. Because she's always begging for me."

"Then did it make you angry?"

Midnight's response surprised Silvanus. "If I became angry, will it change our situation? However angry I was, against father, what could I do?"

Silvanus' expression became grim. "Have you thought of fighting your father?"

Midnight shook his head without hesitation. "What good would it do? As long as I am obedient, I can protect the person I treasure the most. I don't care what happens to me. Alive or dead makes no difference to me. If my life could protect the person dearest to me, I will have no regrets."

Silvanus looked down at the tablet he was holding and unconsciously gripped it.

Those thoughts were very uncomfortable to hear. He wanted to tell Midnight to change those thoughts right away, but Midnight's mind had already been tampered enough. It will not be safe to tamper with it again.

Thinking that their conversation today was enough, Silvanus asked one last question.

"Do you know Midnight Velasquez?"

Midnight gave the same answer. "No. I don't."

Silvanus woke up Midnight after that while thinking, one day, you will answer me with a yes. It's only right to know and acknowledge yourself. Because that is who you are, Midnight Velasquez.

CECELIB | C.C.