You're Mine (GXG) -Completed/Re-Editing-

FIVE

BECKY:

Tears haven't fallen, but my heart was empty. It hasn't sat with me yet. It hasn't sunk yet. My dad was no longer with me, leaving an even bigger wound, worsening the numbness and the bleeding. I was not ready. Not ready to have no one to take in my punches, to blame for my own insecurities. He was not with me anymore, and all that was left of him was his legacy, a mourning widow, and a half-brother.

His name was Andrew. His face was the last thing my dad saw before he went on his deep slumber. Who would have imagined? My dad had another child, the one who was by his side when he left this world. It didn't feel like a goodbye. It was a whole new beginning. A blank, virgin page. An uncanny surprise box that my dad left to distract us from his loss. The house, indeed, -a big mansion- felt much emptier. 

My mother; however, was sitting on the edge of my bed. Her head wrapped between her hands, stealing glances at me standing by the balcony, looking somewhere between tired and furious.

She sighs. " Did Josh know (about the half-bother)?" 

I pick up a cigarette and I swiftly light the end of it before I bring the stick to my lips. I seldom smoke, but I figured if there was a good time to do it, now was ideal. 

-" Does he?" 

-"Maybe". 

I shrug, a bit too nonchalant to her taste. I dab my cigarette on the ashtray, and I let my eyes wander at the horizon where I catch the familiar mountainous view.  The gigantic Sierra Nevada standing tall, invincible to the earthquake that has shaken this building, as if they didn't care, as if today was just another day on their easy, peaceful, long lives. The world outside of my window was exactly the same as 3 weeks ago, but everything has changed: Today was the day my dad's will is executed. 

A knock at the door wakes me up from my silent contemplation. 

-" Mr. Paterson, the family lawyer is downstairs, Madam."

My mom makes a vigorous headshake and dismisses the maid who closes the door shyly, her head lowered, as though she has been scolded for saying or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. My mom let out a long, strained sigh. My cigarette was a puddle of grey, lifeless ashes, and I had no reason anymore to stay inside the ticking comfort of my spacious bedroom. I knew why he came here, and I knew that nothing I say or do in that conversation will change how it was meant to go or be. 

-"I'll go." 

The trip down the stairwell was slower than the other days. Mr. Paterson, a short old man with white hair, bald at the front was sitting in the guests' room, sipping from his warm cup of coffee, his eyes lit up at my appearance. His mouth cracked in a friendly smile. He didn't come here too often, but when he did, it had to be something big

According to Mr. Paterson, the will must be carried the same 24 hours it was read in . Meaning, every demand, that my dad had left, big or small, must be followed texto before 24 hours were over.

Namely: I will sign the co-ownership papers of the company today, the other family my dad had somewhere in the world will be moving in today with us, and according to the will, and " if we fail to co-exist together as a family, we will have to share the ownership of the mansion ".

The Sassiest dad of the year award goes to Mr. Jones.

Mr. Paterson speaks, at last, clearing his throat. " The late chairman's old lover.  he, he is a man "

***

My dad was gay.

or bi ? since he still had me.

In anyways, if this wasn't the biggest hidden camera prank material ever then I don't know what it was. But seriously, my dad ?.

Of all the gay people in the whole world, my dad?

If before this bomb was dropped I was mega blue, then now I looked as if I was batsh*t crazy. I was laughing, hysterically even, it was rude, but my dad's coming out, and with a son on top of that, was beyond me.

My mom has been laying on my bed, on the opposite side of me for the past 2 hours since the lawyer left. I try to touch her, check on her, but someone comes into my room.

Without knocking.

I turn, and I relax when I see my best friend.

She was halting ." You got a call "

I try to hold back my laugh, and I look at Moly, I bet she didn't know either. Aside from me and my mom, she was the only other person who knew about my strained relationship with my father until the very end and how he died, she has been there for me in every step I have taken since freshman and I knew, I knew that she must think I was losing it for laughing in these circumstances.

But she didn't know yet: My dad was gay.

She flinches, inspecting me as she carefully asks away. " Should we see a doctor ?"

My mom gestures me to leave and I close the door carefully behind as I drag Moly with me to the backyard.

I chuckle. " Who is it ?"

She looks up as if she was in deep thought.

I laugh and I lean on her. " What the hell, you can't even remember who called me ?"

Then, she snaps, and it was the first time I see her use this tone with me.

She was reeling.

-"What is wrong with you ?! Your dad just died Becky! "

It was the first time she looked so angry, like genuinely mad, as if I was not her boss, as if I was her best friend and only that, and you know what?

I loved that.

So I grab her face, and I don't realize the force by which I pulled her, so much that what she has been holding must have fallen on the ground, but I don't care; I pull her into me, and I quickly flip us so I was cornering her on the wall.

She hisses. " What do you think you're doing ?"

Her hand raises in what looks like a slap, but I catch it.

I trail my fingers on her cheeks, and as if intoxicated, summed up by pain and a frenzy of other voices inside my throbbing, spinning head, I breathe against her neck " Will you go help me relieve some stress ?"

*SLAP*