Chapter 108: Past Memories(II)
An unknown period of time passed before Silas' was finally done speed reading the document.
The file that occupied a massive storage space of more than 3TB, even in its compressed state, was completely absorbed by Silas.
The reason why Silas was able to speed read and absorb all the information in the file was because of his eidetic memory. Something he got after he raised his intelligence stat to its limit.
Silas' reason for improving his knowledge base, even though the knowledge and information are already in LUNAR's database is because he felt the need to.
He knew that he can't always depend on LUNAR. Besides the actual reason why he created LUNAR is because he needed an assistance with all the future project that he will undertake.
Another reason for him deciding to increase his knowledge base is because he has no knowledge or information about other things. Apart from knowledge gained from the system from the system store or other skills' related knowledge, Silas knew nothing else.
It would be dumb if he needs to do something important but he doesn't have the knowledge on how to go about it, and LUNAR is unavailable.
How would he go about it if he finds himself in such situation? How will he get himself out of the mess?
Silas thought of this as he let out a deep breath and looked out the window. He saw that the sky was darkening due to the already setting sun, indicating that it was already evening.
"It's late already and Kim will soon be home," Silas said to himself, as he stood up and went up to Alex's room.
He wants to check on Alex as he hasn't checked up on him since they came back and he hasn't seen him come downstairs.
When he got to his room, he saw Alex still in bed but he noticed that he was already awake.
"Alex," Silas called out and walked towards his bed.
Alex heard Silas' voice and turned to look at Silas.
"Brother," He said in a low voice.
"How are you, champ? Feeling better now?" Silas asked, as he sat beside him, on the bed.
"Yes, I feel better now," Alex answered and gave a nod.
Silas saw this and smiled. He understood that Alex might still be processing everything in his head. It's something that he has also gone through before and he was very familiar with it.
"You know you can tell me anything, right? Anything at all, I'm here to listen to you. Don't forget that," Silas said, as he ruffled Alex's hair and Alex smiled.
The two of them stayed like that, quietly, their thoughts unknown to each other and a settling silence descended in the room.
"Brother, how was mom?" Alex suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the room.
Silas looked at Alex and gave a smile.
Alex's question was something he expected. He knew that it was only natural for him to ask about his mother, to want to know more about her, even though she's already dead.
His memories were once again riled up, this time by Alex's question.
"What about mom? Mom was a very nice person. A good mother. She was beautiful no doubt and you took after her, with those rain-cloud eyes of yours.
Mom was very sweet and she was a very good cook too. That's one of the best things I loved about her. Her food was always delicious. Also, she loved you very much. Before she died, she did all she could for the both of us," Silas said, as a bright smile bloomed on his face.
If he's to be honest, Alex's mom was the reason why he was against Kim when she came into their lives.
He felt scared that those memories that he had kept hidden in his heart. Memories that he always relive whenever he was feeling sad to make himself feel happy again.
Memories that helped him to get through those dark and depressing days that his father puts him through, he felt scared that they would be forgetten and be replaced by something else, and this was the reason why he hated Kim. Very dumb of him one would say.
Silas closed his eyes briefly as he let out an inaudible sigh and looked at Alex, who looks to be deep in thoughts and he decided to let him be and not disturb him. Silas knew that Alex doesn't behave like regular 10-year-olds.
Due to the situation in the house –his father's abusive nature and their mother's death– Alex matured very early. Though he doesn't have the temperament or intelligence of an average adult, he was smarter than most kids his age.
Silas was deep in his thoughts when he heard Alex asking him a question.
"The new mom... What about her? Is she good," Alex asked.
Silas was surprised by Alex's question as it was something he had never expected him to ask.
Of course he knew who the new mom Alex was talking about is and it was no other than Kim.
Alex's question riled up his thoughts again and this time, it was about Kim.
Silas remembered the first day Kim came into their lives and how he reacted harshly to her presence. He remembered how he took Alex and walked out on her and this father, when she was still being introduced.
It was the only day he had ever had the courage to defile his father's authority and he was lucky that he didn't receive a beating that night.
After her introduction, Kim would visit every week but Silas would always give her a cold abd6this continued even after she moved in with them.
Now that he thought about it, did she actually do anything wrong? The answer is a solid no!
There exists a type of dislike and hatred that someone would have towards another for no valid reason. That is the type of feeling Silas had towards Kim.
Back to Alex's question, is Kim good? Silas understood what Alex meant by that question.
Is Kim a good mother? Setting aside the fact that she has no children of her own, there is no doubt that Kim would have been the best mom one could ever ask for, had she been given the chance.
So is Kim a good mother? Well no, since she didn't get the chance to.
"Yes, she's a good mom," Silas answered Alex's question.
"She can be my new mom?" Alex asked.
"Yes, she can," Silas said as he nodded, while ruffling Alex's hair.
Silas stopped ruffling Alex's hair and looked out the window, a smile on his face and his thoughts, unknown.
The two of them were still deep in thoughts when they heard their names being called from the living room.
"Come on, Alex. Let's go to the living room. Mom I back," Silas said, and he carried Alex out of the bed and started walking downstairs, to living room.
On their way down, they met Kim on the stairs.
"You guys were upstairs. I was wondering why I didn't see anyone in the living room when I came in–," Kim paused abruptly when she noticed Alex's face.
"Alex, why does your face look like this?" Kim asked, as she examined his face to see if there's anything wrong with him.
"Nothing, mom. I'm fine," Alex replied.
Kim was momentarily shocked when she heard Alex call her mom.
Yes, he called her mom in the morning but it doesn't mean that she would had already gotten used to it. It was still shocking and always gives her a sweet feeling.
"Are you sure, Alex?" Kim asked, as she tried to make sure that he was actually fine.
"Yes, mom. I'm fine," Alex said with a reassuring smile.
"He's fine. It hasn't been long since he woke up. It seems that's the reason his face looks like that," Silas said.
Kim heard what the both of them said and let out a sigh of relief. She felt that Alex's face looks like he was crying before, but since Alex said that he's fine, and Silas confirmed it, then she decided to let it be.
"That's good. The two of you wait for me downstairs, let me go up and change before i come and prepare dinner," Kim said, and Silas and Alex nodded.
Kim saw the two of them go downstairs to the living room and she also went to her room to change.
Few minutes later, Kim came downstairs, already changed and she walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
It took her a few minutes and she was finally done preparing dinner, and she started dishing out the food.
After she dishes out the food, Silas and Alex came to the dining table and took their, and Kim also did the same.
After they were seated, they started eating their food. The atmosphere at the dining was quiet and awkward.
Silas and Kim had different thoughts running through their head as they ate their food quietly.
After they were done eating, the table was cleared, the dishes were done and they went to bed.