The persistent drizzle outside blurred the city lights as Ethan finished dressing. It was past seven, and Ferdy, his ride, was already late. He ran a hand through his neatly combed brown hair, adjusted the collar of his crisp white shirt over his blue jeans, and glanced at his reflection. His eyes, usually sharp and determined, held a flicker of impatience tonight.
He stepped out, finding his mother, Elizabeth, in the living room, sipping her hot sweet tea. "My, you look handsome, Ethan! Where are you off to in this rain?" she asked, a fond smile playing on her lips.
Ethan didn't answer immediately. He walked past her, poking his tongue out at Hellen, who was huddled on the sofa next to their mother, her hand clamped over her mouth. "Why are you covering your mouth, Hell?" he teased. Then, turning back to his mother, he added, "Oh, it's just a friend's parent's birthday party, Mom. Nothing much, just joining in the fun."
"Whose birthday party?" Mrs. Elizabeth's brow furrowed slightly. "This is the first I've heard of you wanting to go to a birthday party. Is it someone important?"
"No one important, Mom! Just Ferdy's dad," Ethan called over his shoulder as he headed towards the front door. He glanced out. The street was already slick with rainwater, reflecting the distant city glow. "Speaking of which, is that why Ferdy's late? Did he forget to pick me up?"
"What time were you supposed to meet him?" Mrs. Elizabeth's voice carried from the living room.
"Exactly seven, he said." Ethan pulled his old cell phone from his jeans pocket, dialing Ferdy's number. The line rang, and rang, unanswered. He tried again. Still nothing.
"Maybe he'll be here soon. Come sit here next to me," Mrs. Elizabeth gestured, her expression suddenly serious. "There's something I need to talk to both of you about."
Ethan turned, a knot tightening in his stomach at the sight of his mother's grave face. He closed the door quietly, then walked back to the living room and settled beside her. "What is it, Mom? You look very serious. Is it that important?" he asked, meeting her gaze.
"You could say that, Ethan," she replied, her voice low. "This is for the survival of our family."
"Survival? What do you mean, Mom? Hellen and I haven't had any problems with life so far," Ethan countered, still not grasping the weight of her words.
Mrs. Elizabeth sighed deeply, her gaze distant for a moment. "Listen, both of you. I'm going to open a grocery store business. I intend to borrow the capital from Mr. Drago and arrange to pay it back in installments."
Ethan froze, the blood draining from his face. Hellen gasped, clutching her mother's arm. The name 'Mr. Drago' hung heavy in the air, a chilling presence.
Mrs. Elizabeth looked at her stunned children. "What's wrong with you both? Why do you look so surprised?"
"Mom, of course, I'm surprised!" Ethan finally managed, his voice a harsh whisper as he grasped her hands. "I know very well who Mr. Drago is. What guarantee do we have if you can't pay him back? He's a ruthless loan shark, Mom, he profits from other people's misery! Let me work, let me find the money!"
"What are you saying, Ethan?" Mrs. Elizabeth's tone sharpened. "I once borrowed money from Mr. Drago, and he didn't ask for any collateral from me. And Hellen," she turned to her daughter, "where do you think your tuition fees have been coming from if not from borrowing?"
Hellen's eyes widened, a sudden, dawning horror in their depths. Her tuition money? From Mr. Drago? "What? So all this time, my tuition money came from borrowing?" she whispered, the realization hitting her like a physical blow.
Mrs. Elizabeth faced Hellen fully. "If not for that, how would you be able to go to college, Hellen? Ethan is just a security guard whose salary is barely enough for our daily needs. Did you think your father left you both an inheritance?"
"If I had known from the beginning that you borrowed money for my tuition, I would have looked for a job!" Hellen cried, covering her face with both palms. "I don't want to be a burden to you, Mom. It's better if I just work."
"She's right, Mom!" Ethan pressed, his voice tight with frustration. "Even if my salary is only enough for our daily meals, maybe that's better than borrowing from Mr. Drago. How will you pay off the debt to him?"
"Then what about your sister's tuition fees, Ethan?" Mrs. Elizabeth asked, her voice calm but laced with a weary resolve. "If we keep relying on your salary, it certainly won't be enough for Hellen's college expenses. I hope you both understand this situation. I will try my best to run this business well. I'm asking for your help. Once the shop is up and running and busy, please help manage it."
Ethan and Hellen exchanged glances, their expressions resolute. Ethan felt the crushing weight his mother carried. It was impossible for her to rely solely on his meager salary. Hellen's tuition fees were indeed substantial, not to mention other expenses.
"Isn't there any other option, Mom?" Hellen pleaded, tears welling. "I'll quit college and look for a job in the city."
At Hellen's words, Mrs. Elizabeth's composure cracked. Her gaze hardened, and she glared at her daughter. "What other choice do I have, Hellen? Don't waste what I've sacrificed for you. Do you think it's easy to find a job in a big city without any experience?"
"In that case, I will go to college while working. I still don't want you to borrow money from Mr. Drago. I'm worried he has malicious intentions towards us," Hellen insisted.
"Don't be so prejudiced against Mr. Drago, Hellen!" Mrs. Elizabeth retorted, her voice rising. "He has been kind enough to lend me a sum of money, and he has never chased after it for repayment, and without any collateral!"
"Perhaps what Hellen means is that Mr. Drago has a hidden agenda by being kind to you," Ethan interjected, stepping in to defend his sister. "Doesn't Mom know that Mr. Drago is a loan shark? Everyone knows his reputation!"
Shaking her head, Mrs. Elizabeth tried to dismiss their fears. "You two are both the same, always thinking the worst of people."
"It's not like that, Mom! This is reality. It's impossible that you don't know Mr. Drago's true character and personality after living here for so long. I won't forbid you from borrowing money for business capital, as long as it's not from Mr. Drago," Ethan explained, refusing to back down.
"Then, who else should I borrow from, Ethan?" Mrs. Elizabeth asked, her voice tinged with exasperation, looking from Ethan to Hellen for an answer.
Both Ethan and Hellen fell silent, their minds racing for an alternative. Seeing no immediate reply, Mrs. Elizabeth continued, her voice softening, laced with a familiar sadness. "Just so you know, I deliberately moved here to reduce the increasingly high cost of living. My savings are gone. I've been trying to earn an income from trading. If your father were still alive, maybe our lives wouldn't be this poor."
Ethan's throat tightened. "Since Father has passed away, where is his grave, Mom?" His eyes began to well up.
"I don't know, Ethan," Mrs. Elizabeth replied, her voice barely a whisper. "When you were both little, someone came to tell me your father had been shot. That person didn't tell me his whereabouts; he left immediately after telling me about your father being shot."
"Why are you only telling us now?" Hellen asked, her clear eyes widening in shock.
"I was waiting for the right time to tell you," Mrs. Elizabeth said, tears finally brimming at the corners of her eyes. "I still have hope that your father is still alive. Because all this time, I haven't seen your father's body if he had passed away."
"What did Father do to get shot, Mom?" Ethan asked, a morbid curiosity taking hold.
Before Mrs. Elizabeth could answer, a loud knock echoed from the front door. Ethan, Hellen, and Mrs. Elizabeth exchanged bewildered glances.
"Ethan, could it be Ferdy?" Mrs. Elizabeth asked, a flicker of relief mixed with apprehension.
"Maybe, Mom! Hellen, please go see who it is!" Ethan requested.
Hellen pushed herself up from the sofa and walked towards the front door. When she pulled it open, three figures stood on the porch, their backs initially to her.
"Excuse me, sirs, who are you and who would you like to see?" Hellen asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
The three men turned. Instantly, Hellen's eyes flew wide, a gasp catching in her throat. She recognized them.