Amid the scattered debris, the courtyard lights caught the swirling dust still hanging in the air.
Al, slowly rose to his feet, brushing the remaining dirt off his clothes.
He tilted his head back, exhaling a long breath into the cold night sky.
Then he looked toward his father and mother, who had taken a few steps back, and the group that seemed to be resuming their own activities.
"Huff… something's missing. I don't know who he is, but shouldn't there be an apology if he knows he's in the wrong?" Al said, his voice calm but carrying a challenging tone.
It was loud enough for everyone to hear.
The commotion had already died down, and people were ready to move on—yet his words left them irritated, wondering when this matter would truly end.
Still, they knew he had a point. Who would willingly accept being wronged and simply abandoned?
But no one spoke; instead, all eyes remained fixed on Al, waiting to see what the boy would do next.
