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"You\'re here."

Conrad glanced to his side when Maxen suddenly came into the garden where Conrad was idling after dinner. Maxen dragged the metal garden chair, sitting next to Conrad.

"I left some documents to Assistant Warren," said Maxen as soon as he sat down, using work as the icebreaker between them. "I told him I\'d be busy for a while."

"I also told him you\'d be busy and not to bother you." Conrad peeled his eyes away from Maxen, resting his leg over the other. "How was school?"

"Not bad. Though I must admit, I had a hard time focusing today."

"Because of the meeting last night?"

"Mhm." Maxen rocked his head, gazing at the sprinkles ahead. "I really hope he will stick to his words and leave me alone."

"It\'s a small world, but Rocco is the type of person who sticks to his words."

Maxen glanced at Conrad\'s side profile. "It\'s really a small world."

"It\'s silly when you think about it, but I guess that\'s just what it is." Conrad shrugged, looking back at Maxen, only to see the latter staring at the flowers ahead. Conrad didn\'t mean to look at him longer than he was supposed to, but staring at Maxen, many thoughts crossed his mind.

Silence descended on them, and Conrad soon looked away from Maxen. The two of them stared at the flowers and the sprinklers quietly. This had become a habit for them. There were times the two would just sit down quietly, keeping each other company without any trace of awkwardness despite the silence.

They were used to it; their presence, and their silence. The two of them weren\'t that much of a talker. Not that was a problem, nor did it ever was.

"I will join them." Maxen broke the prolonged silence, slapping his thigh. Spending a few minutes with Conrad was a part of his daily routine, and thus, he sat down to join him.

"Mhm." A hum was the response he got, which Maxen was already used to.

That said, Maxen got up and was about to leave when he stopped.

"Maxen." Maxen looked back at Conrad, only to see the latter rise to his feet. "Do you prefer to hear a crippling truth or stay oblivious to it?"

Deep lines appeared between Maxen\'s brows at Conrad\'s random question. Maxen stared at Conrad, noticing the sincerity in his eyes. Conrad was serious, and Maxen was certain Conrad\'s question wasn\'t just a random one.

"Depends on what it is about," answered Maxen softly.

"It\'s about your… parents."

"Then no." Maxen smiled subtly, but his eyes shone with instant resolve. "If it\'s about them, I\'d rather not hear anything. Be it truth or lies — I don\'t care."

"It might be important for you."

Maxen shook his head, lowering his eyes slightly. "It doesn\'t matter." He slowly raised his eyes back to Conrad, letting out a shallow breath while keeping his subtle smile.

"As stubborn and selfish as it may sound, I don\'t think there\'s far more important than the future I seek. I used to hate them for bringing up a child in this world but couldn\'t take care of him, but then I realized I might have not wished to be born, but I don\'t have a choice," explained Maxen in a quiet but clear tone of maturity. "I didn\'t get to choose who my parents were, and which family I was born into, but after the opportunities you opened up for me, I realized many things."

Maxen walked to the same spot, facing Conrad. "My past doesn\'t define me nor what my parents had done in the past. They were a learning lesson and a reminder of who I shouldn\'t become."

Conrad had his lips drawn into a thin line, listening to what Maxen had got to say. And to be truthful, hearing Maxen\'s firm answer relieved his heart. At least, now, Conrad knew that the information he was holding didn\'t hold as much value as he thought it had.

"Moreover, I have a man whom I looked up to as my father. It used to make me bitter how other people who aren\'t blood-related to me treated me and welcome me as a family member more than my real family. But I learned to accept it as it is." This time, Maxen\'s lips stretched a bit broader. "That\'s life, right?"

Conrad\'s expression softened, nodding in agreement. "Mhm. That\'s life. Full of twists and turns."

"So, don\'t think about it anymore. I am fine," Maxen reassured. "Whatever makes you feel down, know that I am already fine. And the reason I am at peace is thanks to you and Cosette. I don\'t need to hear a word about them or anything that could just potentially destroy the work we put in just to be talking in here, Dad."

Conrad and Maxen stared at each other before Conrad nodded once again. Maxen kept his smile, pleased that the slight worry Conrad was hiding in his eyes faded. Maxen had been with the Blacs for quite some time now and thus, he knew that Conrad was acting strange.

Conrad might\'ve acted as usual, but Maxen could feel that Conrad had a lot of things on his mind. It was the main reason Maxen stepped out to join him. And Maxen was right. There was something that was weighing Conrad down, and knowing it was because of Maxen and his past, Maxen stayed firm in his claims.

"I\'ll go now. Good night, Dad."

With that being said, Maxen turned around and marched back to join Cosette, Luke, and Remo in the living area. The three of them planned to review as many lessons for tonight for their upcoming exams.

Meanwhile, as Maxen walked away, Conrad stayed in his spot while staring at his son\'s back.

"He\'s grown," he whispered, recalling how Maxen used to be when they first met. Maxen might\'ve acted tamed back then, but he was wary and doubtful. But now, every word that would come out of that young man\'s mouth screamed maturity and resolve.

"He makes me proud." A smile turned up on Conrad\'s face, turning around to look at the garden. "He\'s right. Whoever his parents were doesn\'t define him as a person." — giving him the truth Conrad knew wouldn\'t help Maxen.

Maxen\'s parent — whoever they were — wasn\'t important. Being his parent was already something Conrad embraced and as Maxen\'s father, all he could do for his son was to protect him from the things that could potentially destroy the peace Maxen painstakingly built.