x.

after lunch, being polite, you help corinna cleaning up the kitchen.

     the house is quiet. justine and gina are out shopping. since you didn't know your mother and grew up without her, corinna is the mother that you knew. your mother-figure. the woman who shaped you to be the person you are now. you loved talking to her, but things have gone different lately.

     "how's annie?" corinna asks you while putting away dried plates and bowls into the cabinet.

     you frown at first. it's strange for her to ask about annie when they're often on the telephone, talking. "she... looks fine to me. i mean, a bit worn out some days with my father... but she's fine."

     corinna gives you a polite smile and nods her head. "and you? what about you?"

     you feel your heart skips a beat. you take pause at the sink. "what about me?"

     "it must be tough for you since your father fell ill," corinna says. her eyes are kind as she looks at me. her voice is calm and soothing. one part of you loves that voice but there's another part of you hates it. "i know you know this, but you can me tell anything, ask me anything. we're there for you."

     your eyes water at her offer. it's been what, a year since your father fell ill. a year since you lost your dream job. a year since you push people away, but corinna hasn't given up since. even though you have started to slowly open up to her, but you know she could feel that you're still restraining. like you are yet to be fully honest with her.

     "thank you."

     corinna smiles. it suddenly turns mischievous. "especially mick."

     the glass in your hand slips from your hand. "wha–mick? oh, yeah." a blush creeps up your cheeks.

     does corinna know anything about mick that you don't know?

     sebastian's appearance at the kitchen saves you from the awkward situation. by the creased on his forehead, you know something is bothering his mind and that something is big.

     "sebastian? something is wrong?" you start to walk towards sebastian to take a peak at your father, but the former f1 driver stops you.

     he chuckles nervously, softly. "he's–he's fine."

     your father is fine, but why that doesn't relieve you?

     "i was wondering if... i can take karl for a drive...?" he hesitantly asks for permission.

     "oh, um." it's your turn to hesitate as you take a glance at corinna. you wanted her help, but she walks out of the kitchen instead. "i don't know, seb. i never left him with someone else before. well, except with annie."

     "i promise it won't be long. one hour, max. i just wanted to show him the garage where he used to work."

     you took him there. a few times. maybe more. but he never remembered any of them.

     "please," sebastian says when he didn't hear any answer from you. "he'll be back the second time you blink, i promise." sebastian didn't forget to give you his pleading look. and with that adorable smile and the twinkle in his eyes, how can you deny him?

     you finally sigh. defeated. "okay. you can take him."

     sebastian's face lights up as if you just gave him a permission to go to the park with his friends by himself. "yes!"

     "but promise me it won't be long," you quickly interrupts, putting up one finger like a mother scolding her son,  before he turns to abandon you. "one hour maximum. and take him back in one piece."

     "thank you." sebastian cups your face and kisses your cheek. "i promise it won't be long. thank you. i love you."

     okay, you thought. maybe it's time for you to trust people other than annie with your father. maybe this is a start. because what if annie isn't around some day? what if there is nobody else around and all you can ask for help is from sebastian?

     "be careful, okay? call me and let me know if anything happens," you say but sebastian barely hears you. he's already in the living room, talking to your father and promising him a good drive.