Music To My Ears | 2gether Short Stories

3gether - Chapter 02

T/W : Mentions of difficult childhoods, physical and mental abuse in the beginning of this chapter.

I'm following a weirdly non-linear pattern of writing this time.

Three stars *** indicate switches between timelines.

Single stars * indicate switching between incidents or snippets in the same general timeline.

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Through His Eyes

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"How are things going with you, Thyme?"

"Quite well, Dad, thank you for asking. I aced my Math AP and Economics AP exams nationally. I'm getting straight A's all through."

"That's not special, son. Anything less is unacceptable anyway. What are you doing that sets you apart from the rest?"

"I've been beating the Russians."

"Chess. That's laughable. I did it, your grandfather did it. Younger than you. In fewer moves."

"My paper on Sustainable Development will be published in Fortune."

"It's a paid byline, hardly something to be proud of. I had to pull strings to get it done."

"Oh... I didn't know that. Entrepreneur Magazine wanted to run it in their Young Entrepreneurs section through my own submission. I declined them because I thought... I thought Fortune wanted me... You shouldn't have done that, Dad."

"I had to because everybody else has already been featured in a respectable publication except you."

"I want to earn it. They're already in University, or beyond. I'm still a high school freshman."

"Sounds like an excuse to me, son. You have access to all the resources they do. It's about applying yourself. Being better. Pushing harder. Mediocrity won't serve you well."

"Yes, Dad"

*

"I had a very unpleasant call from Mrs Song. You told her daughter you were not interested in her."

"I don't like her that way, Mom. She had different expectations. I don't want to sleep around with your friends' daughters."

"Is your preference their sons then? I don't mind, Wat. Just tell me."

"Mom!"

"Don't sound so outraged. You're useless except as someone desirable who can help us get leverage with the right people. You can't use your brains, at least use your looks."

"Is that all you think of me, Mom?"

"What else are you good for? You're hopeless at academics, you don't have your brother's talent for business, you insist on running amok with those two street urchins."

"They're my friends. And I'm sorry I'm not good in school. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't want any part of the business. I'm happy to leave it all to Thyme. Cut me off completely, go ahead. You'd be doing me a favour."

"Always with the tantrums and petulance. Grow up, Wat. Make yourself productive to the family. You may not have any respect for your father or me, but you love your brother. Think hard about how you can help him."

"I would do anything Thyme asked me to. And I've always done everything you and Dad have told me - forced me - to do."

"Your father has secured admission for you in his alma mater to study Engineering. Your brother will study Economics & Finance. You will support him when he takes over the business. Don't embarrass him."