Rossy gently placed the item in Evan's hand.
He flinched in surprise. It wasn't every day someone handed you something so personal—especially when you were a stranger.
"Mrs. Rossy, I... I can't accept this," he said quickly, trying to return it.
But she shook her head with a soft, almost playful stubbornness, stepping back and hiding her hands behind her. "Listen, Evan, I know we're not family by blood. But your Uncle Jason and I—we see you as our son. Don't worry, it's not ours. This belonged to our boy… his things are still with us."
She motioned for him to sit, her voice calm as she took the chair beside him.
Evan's hands trembled slightly. "But Mrs. Rossy… this isn't something you just give to someone like me."
He placed the item on the table and took a step back. One turned into two, and before he knew it, he was halfway out the door.
Then Jason, who had remained quiet, finally spoke.
"Wait, Evan."
The calm weight in his voice froze Evan mid-step.
"Hear me out," Jason said. "Then decide what to do next."
Evan nodded reluctantly. "Alright, sir. I'm listening."
Jason stood, his expression composed but serious. "This is the last time I'm going to say this, so listen closely."
Evan stood tall, like a soldier before a commanding officer. The silence in the room pressed in.
"You probably think we're treating you like this because you resemble our late son. But that's not the only reason. If it were just about wanting a child, adoption wouldn't be hard for us—we have the means," Jason said. "But the real reason we chose to take care of you over the others..."
He paused. Evan remained silent, still as stone.
"First, yes, you do remind us of our boy. But more importantly—my friend Wilson told me about your night terrors. You wake up screaming, don't you?"
Evan's lips parted in shock.
"Our son used to do the same. He grew out of it eventually... but you—you're still going through it. That's when I knew. You needed a home—not just a roof."
Rossy joined in, her voice softer than a whisper. "That's why... we want to adopt you. To raise you as our own. Not out of pity. But because we see you, Evan."
The room fell into a heavy stillness. Then—
Thud!
Evan dropped to his knees and bowed so low his forehead touched the ground.
"I'm so sorry, sir… I thought you were only helping me to repay a debt. That once I turned eighteen, you'd—"
"Evan, get up! The floor's dirty," Rossy said, rushing over.
But Evan didn't budge. "Not until you accept my apology."
Jason and Rossy exchanged a glance—one of mutual understanding. Then they laughed lightly.
"Fine," Rossy said, returning to her seat. "But on one condition."
"Yes! Anything, Aunt—uh, Mrs. Rossy! I can do chores, run errands, even clean the entire lawn!"
"No, nothing like that," she said, smiling. "You just have to call us something."
Evan blinked. "Huh?"
"Call us Mother and Father. Or if that's too hard… Aunt and Uncle. If you can't do that much, you're free to leave."
Evan looked at her in stunned silence, his heart pounding.
"…Alright," he finally said, voice soft. "Then… Aunt Rossy. Uncle Jason."
Rossy's face lit up like a lantern. "Good. Now get up and take what's on the table."
Evan rose hesitantly. "But… are you sure it's okay? It's your son's phone…"
Rossy gave a wistful smile. "He'd want someone like you to use it. To carry a piece of him forward."
Jason nodded silently in agreement.
"…Then I'll cherish it," Evan said, picking up the phone. To his surprise, it was sleek and modern—a touchscreen, not some dusty relic from the past.
"This looks... new," he muttered.
Jason chuckled. "He got a new one every birthday. We told him it was wasteful, but he never listened. After he passed, we kept replacing it every year. A tradition."
"And take the charger too," Rossy added, handing it over. "Otherwise, you'll just come running back."
Evan took the charger with a small smile. "Thank you… Aunt Rossy. I'll be back after exploring the area. Goodbye, Uncle Jason."
Rossy giggled. "He's a bit clumsy, isn't he?"
Jason unfolded his newspaper. "He's just a kid. But he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Let him make mistakes. That's how he'll grow."
Evan exited the apartment and stepped into the open air.
He pressed the power button on the phone, but nothing happened. Dead battery.
He raced back up, plugged it in, and waited. To his surprise, it charged fast—already at 80% within an hour.
Satisfied, he locked his door and went back outside.
As he walked past the neighboring apartment, the gate creaked open.
The same boy who had confronted him on the stairs earlier stepped out, arms wrapped around a young woman.
"Okay, babe, I'll be back tomorrow. Let's go to the amusement park," he said.
"Saturday's better. I can rest Sunday," she replied, pouting.
Evan silently approached the stairs, hoping to pass unnoticed.
But the girl spotted him.
"Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The boy turned. His eyes narrowed.
"You again?" he growled. "Old man bailed you out last time. Not today."
He started walking toward Evan, who stood frozen.
Then, like a switch flipping in his mind, Evan bolted.
"Think you can run from me? You'll regret it!" the guy shouted, but stopped in his tracks.
"What's going on?" the girl asked, confused.
"He's your new neighbor. Living alone, I bet. That old landlord chased me off for trying to kick him out," the guy grumbled.
"Oh? Don't worry. I'll get him evicted in no time. Remember what I did to those four guys before him? They still walk around like dogs with their tails between their legs," she said smugly.
"Just don't get caught," the guy warned, giving her a final hug. "If your uncle finds out, I won't be able to protect you."
"Relax. Now go—he might show up any second."
He slipped away, unseen.
But from an upper floor, hidden behind the curtain, the so-called "uncle" watched everything unfold.
His gaze darkened.
—To be continued—