Inspirational quote: You know what... Silent or not silent I love all my readers equally even if I may not always know who you actually are.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Kieran and Esperanza were watching Dr Kozak intently as he was standing right opposite a table, using tissues to cry his heart out.

Neither of them had really wanted to see him like this, of course, but what on Earth could they have done? Kieran wasn't really good at comforting people and neither was Esperanza.

"Kieran..." Esperanza had whispered when Dr Kozak wasn't particularly looking. "Kieran. We can't just leave Dr Kozak like this, we have to do something."

"Well have you got anything that we can do to cheer him up because my mind is completely blank at the moment," Kieran answered back truthfully, but hey, at least he wasn't lying.

"Yes. Yes I do actually," Esperanza replied.

Kieran just had stared at her face blankly, not doing anything else, before pretty much scanning Esperanza's eyes up and down, Esperanza doing the same thing but with Kieran because obviously she couldn't see herself.

Kieran: What is it?

Esperanza: You go and talk to him. Go on. Run along now, Kieran.

Kieran: *mouth wide open, confused* I'm really sorry but, why me?

Esperanza: Because it's my birthday.

Kieran: Don't let that be an excuse for everything, Esperanza.

Esperanza: Plus you're better at talking to him than I am.

Kieran: I know but you're older.

Esperanza: That doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Kieran: Plus what makes you want to say that?

Esperanza: *sort of perplexed* What makes me what to say what?

Kieran: That I'm better at talking to Dr Kozak than you are.

Esperanza: Because you and Dr Kozak are always having private conversations. See? You guys must have a lot to talk about.

Kieran: Yeah. We do. Just privately. Plus, you almost sound really jealous.

Esperanza: I'm not jealous. Just go and talk to him.

Kieran: But what will you be doing in the meantime?

Esperanza: I have over five hundred birthday messages to reply to. I'll be reading all of them. And replying to them as well. So take your time.

And saying that, Esperanza got out her phone to read all of her 500+ birthday messages, leaving Kieran to stare at her and then roll his eyes irreverently and he stood up to go and talk to Dr Kozak.

Dr Kozak seemed to have been doing something else when Kieran saw him next, although Kieran couldn't really picture out what it was.

Sighing in frustration, Kieran had then therefore walked closer to Dr Kozak, sitting down in the red coloured chair that was located right next to him.

Kieran: Hey, sir.

Dr Kozak didn't actually reply at first, just kind of stared at Kieran, Kieran doing the same thing back. But then the next minute, he smiled helplessly.

Dr Kozak: Hey, Kieran.

Kieran: What are you doing?

Dr Kozak: Handwriting tests of justice.

Kieran: Why are you handwriting tests of justice?

Dr Kozak: I hand wrote yours didn't I?

Kieran: No you didn't. You typed it.

Dr Kozak: Yeah well my computer broke somehow and I'm not some genius at computing so therefore I can't fix it.

Kieran: That handwriting looks really familiar.

Dr K didn't say anything.

Kieran: *trying to read what the tests of justice say, is struggling* I can't read it, Dr Kozak. And if I can't then no one else can either....

Dr Kozak: *smirks* Good because this handwriting is yours, Kieran.

Kieran: *says this with slight indignation* Why are you using a sample of my handwriting without my permission to make new tests of justice?

Dr Kozak: Because your handwriting is insanely neat. You heard what Ezekiel said. It looks like an angel wrote it. And he's not lying either.

Dr Kozak fell silent after that, then frowned and nearly cried all over again.

Kieran: You alright?

Dr Kozak: I don't know. I've got a lot of things on my mind right now kid.

Kieran: Oh. Am I disturbing you? Do you want me to go?

Dr Kozak: *smiles faintly again* No. Your company's nice. Therefore I want you to stay.

Kieran didn't really say anything.

Kieran: I'm sorry we made you cry sir. You know we didn't mean to...

Dr Kozak: Wasn't your fault. So don't apologise. I promised you that I'd explain to you and Esperanza why Arista wasn't human and I didn't want to break the promise.

Kieran: I still feel bad though. You've cried for like over an hour today. This isn't like you at all.

Dr Kozak: See? I told you I have feelings.

Again Kieran didn't say anything. Just stared at Dr Kozak non stop in the eyes.

For about ten seconds anyway, until he said something else to break the silence.

Dr Kozak was a bit confused at first because Kieran just wouldn't stop staring at him. As a result of that, to get his attention again, Dr Kozak clicked his fingers in front of Kieran's face.

Dr Kozak: Kieran... *still helplessly clicking his fingers in front of Kieran's face*.

Kieran was brought back to reality on the twenty first click.

Kieran: I'm sorry. What?

Dr Kozak: *looking at Kieran rather intently* You okay?

Kieran: Yeah. I'm fine. Why?

Dr Kozak: Because you kept on staring at me and the way you were staring at me kinda got me thinking that you weren't okay.

Kieran: Oh. Sorry about that.

Dr Kozak: *kind of helplessly worried now* Something on your mind, Kieran?

Kieran: Kind of.

Dr Kozak: Something bothering you?

Kieran: Again. Like I said. Kind of.

Dr Kozak: Well do you want to at least tell me about it?

Kieran: I think it would be best if I kept my mouth shut.

Dr Kozak: Just tell me, for goodness sake.

Kieran: The thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is..

Dr Kozak: Is...

Kieran: You.

Dr Kozak: *points to himself* Me?

Kieran: Yes. You.

Dr Kozak: Have I been on your mind lately for a good reason?

Kieran: Eh well, you could say that.

Dr Kozak: *eyes him weirdly* What do you mean? You could say that? What's that supposed to mean?

Kieran: There's something that's been bothering me lately and it's to do with you and I'd like to talk to you privately about it.

Dr Kozak: Erm..... Okay.

Kieran: Okay so where can we go to talk privately?

Dr Kozak didn't say anything. Was just deep in thought about something.

Kieran: Oh. I know. Can we go to the back of your laboratory?

Dr Kozak froze once he heard that. Mainly because he killed his sister there and put her in that danger of death room...

....which was at the back of his laboratory.

Not that anyone would have ever entered a danger of death room, of course. But still, for security reasons, Kieran and Dr Kozak could not go at the back of Dr Kozak's laboratory.

Dr Kozak: Erm.... You can't go in there.

Kieran: Why not?

Dr Kozak: Because I said so. Doctor's orders.

Kieran: You're not my doctor. You're just a random doctor from Argentina that likes killing people for a living.

Dr Kozak just shot Kieran...

....a warning look.

Kieran: No offence.

Dr Kozak: *smiles* None taken. It's true. And I only kill people if they deserve to die, like Lauriel or Astera or Valentina.

Kieran just stared at Dr Kozak horrifically once he realised what Dr Kozak had said. Dr Kozak just covered his mouth with his hand once he realised what he had stupidly confessed too.

Kieran: Did you just say that you killed Valentina?

Dr Kozak: Whoopsies. Yes. I guess I did.

Kieran: But wasn't Valentina your sister?

Dr Kozak: *through gritted teeth* Yes... Valentina was my sister.

Kieran: Who in their right mind would kill their sister?

Dr Kozak: I killed my sister because she and Lauriel had worked together to kill my son Tyrese.

Kieran: Oh yeah. I remember that.

Dr Kozak: Exactly.

Kieran: Can we still talk privately though?

Dr Kozak: Sure.

Kieran: But where?

Dr Kozak: Janitor's closet five rooms away from here.

Kieran didn't reply.

Dr Kozak: Although you might want to tell Esperanza that we're going though. I really don't want her wondering where the hell we've both gotten to. Especially on her birthday...

Kieran: Don't really think she'll care to be honest. She's busy typing away on her phone. Let's go.

Dr Kozak: Kid. That's wrong. We should tell her, at least. I don't want Esperanza worrying about us especially on her birthday.

Kieran just stared at him, Dr Kozak doing the same thing back, then he watched Kieran as Kieran rolled his eyes in disbelief and stood up, Dr Kozak in the meantime just staying where he was as he didn't want to go anywhere.

"Esperanza," he whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder, and surprisingly enough Esperanza didn't really seem to mind that at all.

"Dr Kozak and I will be right back."

Esperanza was confused, still typing her heart away on her phone.

Esperanza: Why? Where are you guys going?

Kieran: Er... I'd like to talk to him alone about something if you don't mind.

Esperanza just rolled her eyes in return as she watched Dr Kozak try heading for the door.

Esperanza: You've got to be kidding me.

Dr Kozak: Why? What makes you want to say that?

Esperanza: You and Kieran always talk privately. I wonder what you two always talk about that nobody else needs to know about.

Kieran: Hey, stop being jealous will you?

Dr Kozak: *places a hand on Kieran's shoulder, escorting him to leave* Kieran. Don't be rude to her. It's her birthday. *turning back to Esperanza* Esperanza, we'll be right back. I promise.

Esperanza: *is quite annoyed but doesn't show it* How long will you guys take?

Kieran: Like ten minutes.

Esperanza: Ten minutes?!

Dr Kozak: Kieran's lying. He really meant five minutes. *turning to face him, saying this through gritted teeth almost* You were lying right?

Kieran: Maybe. Now let's go.

And saying that Kieran held Dr Kozak's hand and squeezed it, both of them walking out of the room to talk about something privately.

Dr Kozak: Bye, Esperanza.

Esperanza: Yeah yeah yeah. Bye.

Then saying that, she locked the door behind them, rolling her eyes.

Kieran and Dr Kozak in the meantime were heading over to the janitor's closet, Dr Kozak locking the door behind him.

Dr Kozak: So... What did you want to talk to me about in private? .... Again.

Kieran didn't reply for a while, just thought something. Dr Kozak read his mind but didn't say anything. Kieran also wasn't aware of this.

Kieran: *tilts his head to the side a bit, blinking continuously and smiling at Dr Kozak who is just kind of frowning at him* When are we going to prepare Esperanza's birthday party like you said we were going to do but we haven't done yet.

He had totally forgotten about that.

Kinda.

But even though this was the case, Dr Kozak had still acted like he hadn't forgotten about her party at all.

Dr Kozak: *Really agitated* So is that what this is about? Really?

Kieran: Yes. Her birthday is today. You've got to do
something, dude.

Dr Kozak: I'll sort it out later. Jesus.

Kieran didn't say anything for a while, then...

Dr Kozak: Okay. How are we gonna plan her birthday then?

Kieran: I'm thinking big balloons. Esperanza is Hispanic, isn't she? So I'm thinking Hispanic music or something. If that makes sense.

Dr Kozak: *staring at him for a long long time, doesn't stop and can't stop* You know, that might not actually be a bad idea. Thanks, Kieran. I never knew you were so good at coming up with ideas.

Kieran: Naturally. *he smiles* What about the cake though? And the time of the party?

Dr Kozak: *sighs in frustration* Look, this is all so sudden. I'll think of all this later.

Kieran nodded vigorously back but he didn't say anything. Neither did Dr Kozak either.

There was an awkward silence between them which Dr Kozak had broken eventually because he had absolutely hated silence.

Silence made him uncomfortable, unless it was for a good cause.

IE remembering someone.

The possibilities were kinda endless.

Dr Kozak: Oh, and Kieran?

Kieran: *looks up at him* Yeah?

Dr Kozak: Can I please have my phone back?

Kieran: *reaches for his pocket* Sure. *throws it to him* Catch.

Dr Kozak caught it, not saying anything else.

Dr Kozak: Oh my god I have seven hundred thousand nine hundred and sixty four text messages.

Kieran: Stop lying.

Dr Kozak: I'm not lying. *shows phone to him* See?

Kieran nearly fainted because Dr Kozak really did have over 700,000 text messages, but was luckily able to control himself.

Dr Kozak: I'll read the most recent text message first. *reads it off of his phone, Kieran just staring at him* Oh my god.

Kieran: What?

Dr Kozak: My long lost sister is alive. My long lost sister is alive!

Kieran: Who's your long lost sister?

Dr Kozak: Her name was Tiffany. My father killed her twenty years ago. It turned out she was still alive after all of this time.

Kieran: How is that even humanly possible?

Dr Kozak: Turned out. She cloned herself. My father killed her clone. The real her ran away with my brother Jackson who I was actually kinda really close with and my non identical twin brother Laurence.

Kieran: You keep a lot of secrets away from people sir. How many secrets do you have?

Dr Kozak: More than you might think. Let's just say that. Haha.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Moral of chapter: Living in a big family isn't always a good thing.....