Set: Evan's Parents' House
The sound of footsteps echoed on the marble floor as Evan's father returned home from work. He had just taken off his suit jacket and sat on the sofa when Evan's mother approached him with a serious expression.
"Ayla came to the house earlier," she said softly, as if still trying to process what had happened.
Evan's father turned with a slight frown. "Ayla? What for?"
She sat beside him, her fingers nervously twisting together. "She asked something that's been on my mind."
"What did she ask?"
She looked at her husband intently. "She asked... if Evan is sick."
Evan's father frowned. "Sick?"
"Yes," she nodded. "I was shocked too at first. But Ayla said Evan gave Raka a mutual fund, complete with a message..."
Evan's father leaned in, now fully focused. "What message?"
She swallowed before repeating it. "Don't reject this. If anything happens to me, Raka will still have something for his future."
Silence fell.
Evan's father leaned back, his face growing more serious. "Evan said that?"
She nodded again. "I don't know what to think. Evan can be impulsive, but this felt different. Like he's... preparing for something."
He rubbed his chin, clearly deep in thought. "And you didn't see the mutual fund papers?"
"No. Ayla brought them."
He took a deep breath. "Evan lives alone in his apartment. We don't know his daily habits—whether he's eating right, getting enough sleep, or maybe—"
"Or maybe he really is sick, and just hasn't told us," she interrupted, her voice trembling.
They sat in silence for a while.
Finally, Evan's father stood up. "I'm going to find out. If Evan is hiding something, we need to know before it's too late."
She stood too, nodding. "I'll try talking to Ayla again. Maybe she has more clues."
They looked at each other, both sensing that something was wrong. And this time, they weren't going to stay silent.
Set: Evan's Parents' House – Later That Night
That night, the house felt quieter than usual. Evan's mother sat at the dining table, staring blankly at her now-cold cup of tea. Meanwhile, Evan's father stood near the window, speaking on the phone.
"Yes, Doctor, I understand. But if Evan has been there in the past few months, I'd really appreciate any information."
She straightened up, waiting for him to hang up before asking, "Who was that?"
"Our family doctor. Evan hasn't been there since we forced him to get a check-up last year."
She bit her lip. "What if he went to another doctor? Another hospital?"
"That's what we need to find out," he murmured. "But if he really is sick, why wouldn't he tell us?"
"I don't know. But Ayla seemed genuinely worried. I think it's not just about the mutual fund. It's the way Evan spoke."
He took a deep breath. "Tomorrow I'll try to find time to talk to Evan directly."
She still looked uncertain. "And if he shuts you out?"
He paused before answering, "Then we'll find out ourselves."
Set: Evan's Apartment
That night in his apartment, Evan stared at his open laptop. Financial documents filled the screen, but his mind was elsewhere.
He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the exhaustion he'd been feeling lately—not physical, but mental. Something had been weighing on him ever since he met Raka and realized the boy truly was his son.
And now, Ayla suspected he was sick.
He wasn't sick. At least, not in the way they thought.
But… what if he was? What if all of this was the result of something he couldn't explain?
He let out a long breath and glanced at his phone. Still no reply from Ayla.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated. The name on the screen surprised him.
Mom.
He hesitated a moment, then answered. "Hi, Ma?"
Her voice was gentle, but there was something behind it. "Evan, are you busy?"
"No, why?"
There was a pause before she said, "Can we meet tomorrow? There's something I want to ask."
He closed his eyes for a second, then nodded, even though she couldn't see it. "Okay, Ma. I'll come over tomorrow."
On the other end of the line, she gripped the phone tightly, hoping she might finally get some answers to all her worries.
Set: Evan's Parents' House – The Next Morning
That morning, Evan arrived at his parents' house exactly at ten. He walked in calmly, as usual, but from the way his mother looked at him, he knew something was different.
"Ma?" he greeted, placing his jacket on the back of a chair.
She didn't respond right away. She stared at his face, full of unspoken questions, trying not to sound too interrogative.
"What's going on?" Evan finally asked, sitting across the dining table.
She sighed and set down her cup of tea. "Ayla came over yesterday," she said softly.
Evan raised an eyebrow. "Ayla?"
She nodded. "She asked something about you."
Evan straightened up. "About what?"
She looked him in the eye. "She asked... if you're sick."
He went silent. He could feel his breath hitch slightly, but he quickly covered it with a small laugh. "Why would she think that?"
She kept her eyes on him. "Because you gave Raka a mutual fund. And the way you said it made her think it was like a will."
Evan blinked. "A will?"
"Yes. 'If anything happens to me, Raka still has something for his future.' That's what you said, isn't it?"
Evan let out a long breath. "Ma, it's just my way of being responsible. I'm not sick."
She still looked unconvinced. "Then why did it sound like a farewell?"
Evan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before returning her gaze. "I just don't want to make the same mistake. I didn't know about Raka before, didn't take responsibility. Now I want to make sure he has something."
She still wasn't entirely reassured. "But you're okay? You're not hiding anything from me?"
He gave a small smile. "I'm okay, Ma."
Evan's father, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "If you're really fine, when was your last medical check-up?"
Evan was caught off guard. "What?"
"You rarely get sick. Hardly ever see a doctor. If you're truly healthy, there's no harm in proving it with a test," his father said, calm but firm.
Evan knew that refusing would only fuel their suspicions.
"Alright," he finally said. "I'll get a check-up."
His mother let out a relieved breath, though the worry still lingered behind her eyes.
Set: Evan's Apartment – That Night
That night, Evan sat on his apartment sofa, staring at his phone lying on the table. On the screen was an unread message from Ayla.
Ayla: Sorry if I'm asking too much, but you're really not sick, right?
Evan rubbed his face. Ever since that morning's talk with his parents, he knew they were watching him more closely than usual. His mother had already called him twice that day. His father texted—something he rarely ever did.
The only way to ease their minds was to go through with the check-up.
His phone vibrated again. This time, it was from his mother.
Mom: Van, have you made the appointment for the check-up?
Evan sighed, then replied.
Evan: I'm going to the hospital tomorrow.
Not even a minute passed before she typed back.
Mom: Good. Do you want me to come with you?
Evan: No need, Ma. I can go alone.
He was sure she wanted to insist, but she didn't reply again.
Evan put the phone down and walked to the kitchen. He took a bottle of cold water from the fridge and drank it.
Just then, his doorbell rang.
Evan frowned. No one usually came without telling him first. He walked to the door, peeked through the peephole—and was surprised by who he saw.
Ayla.
He opened the door. "What are you doing here?" he asked, a little puzzled.