Leviticus: Return back home

Ch.2: Family reunion

《JAY'S POV》

"Who in the world are you? Wow, you really resemble a stepbrother I once had. But he left me, here in this house. Abandoned... All alone."

"Please do shut up." Jay grunted, trying to get his suitcase up the stairs.
Matt laughed at him. "From where this anger? Are you not delighted to be reunited with your dearest brother?"

"Not if it means I can't see my boyfriend ever again."
Matt frowned, seemingly thinking. "It can't be that bad. It must all blow over after a while."

"Do I have to remind you we stayed with Levi's brother who has been exiled from his family for 4 years?"
He finally reached the top of the stairs, and put his suitcase down, letting out a big sigh.

"Right, that was a bit overdramatic of his parents. But they're not gonna want to lose another child like that."
Jay disagreed. "Why not? They'll still have 10 left."

Matt finally started looking concerned. "Wait... how many siblings does Levi have? Jeez, I wonder how his mom's doing."
"Physically, she is fine. Mentally... well, you know."

Jay had to forcefully push Matt aside to get into his room, giving him a dirty look while doing so.
"I don't think she's the worst one though, right? Isn't his dad the bad guy?"

Jay put his suitcase down on the floor next to his bed, realizing he really didn't feel like unpacking. He would do it later, when he was feeling less physically and emotionally drained, he decided, and sat down on his bed.

"Jay?" Matt asked, apparently still waiting for his answer.
"I don't know. His mom knew about it. She accepted it. But once his dad found out, she abandoned her son, just like that. I think although Levi is more terrified of his father, she's the one who truly broke his heart in this case."

Matt thought about his response, which was a rare sight. "I suppose that's true. But what other options did she have? Levi's dad doesn't seem like he'd change his mind easily. She can't possibly leave him, having to take care of like a hundred children."

"If she wanted to, she would've. She just doesn't care for Levi enough. I mean, come on. Shouldn't a parent love their child? Be there for them, no matter what?"

Matt shook his head. "You're being unreasonable. His mom doesn't have an easy way out."
"If she actually cared-"
"I know this is about your father, Jay. You're pushing your feelings of abandonment onto Levi's mom."

"Don't you dare bring him into this. Yes, it's shitty he didn't stand up for me when your mom decided I needed to be kicked out, but it has nothing to do with-"

"This is not about you being kicked out. This is about the way he's treated you all this time. I mean... Jay, he's barely been a parent to you for years now."
"Well at least he's here. Which isn't something that can be said about your father."

It was hard to get to Matt, to hurt him. Even for Jay after all these years of being his sibling, he had trouble fighting him because Matt never really seemed to care.

But he did care about this. Very much so. Jay knew he was being unfair by bringing his dad's absence up. Although Matt had been commenting on Jay's father, it had been within reason.

Jay's father had been negligent, quite obviously so. But that was something they talked about, every now and then. Matt hated mentioning his father, and he hated when someone else brought him up even more.

Although Jay knew that pushing away his feelings wasn't good for Matt, he knew that was the way for him to deal. And he respected that his stepbrother had found that way.