𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 [Christopher & Matthew Sturniolo]

A Mᴏʀᴀʟ Dɪʟᴇᴍᴍᴀ.

ꜰʟᴀsʜʙᴀᴄᴋ

Sᴇɴɪᴏʀ Yᴇᴀʀ
⁰⁴/²¹/²⁰²⁰

Paige Withlock

                  As I headed towards the winery near the living room I could hear Matthew's slightly outburst at Taylor and his footsteps following me. I couldn't understand why the quiet boy was in such a bad mood that he was incapable of hiding. As we entered the small space with the glass cabinets that held the wines I started to look for the key to the doors. Matthew just stood there with a faraway look in his eyes, as if his body was here but his mind was off.

"So what's going on between you and my sister?" I bring him back while search for the key to the cabinet full of wines and goblets.

"What? Nothing" he replies defensively.

"I'm so tired of people thinking I'm stupid" I said sarcastically and heard him huff.

"We've only just started talking again, so it's really a nothing for now, Paige" he said leaning on the wall as he watched me look for the keys.

"All right but can you stop with the confusing signals?" I turned to him for a few seconds in order to show my vexation with his behavior "One minute you want her and the next you act like you don't, pick a side, brother" I gestured excessively and he bowed his head as if lowering his guard.

"It's not on purpose" he tried to look for a way to explain himself but seemed to lack words "It's complicated" he finished simply shaking his head, tossing a thought away.

"Complicated? What could be the big moral dilemma behind it?" I went back to look for the keys among the bookshelves finally finding them inside one of the books my mother liked the most.

"Moral dilemma? What do you mean?" he questioned.

"Like a situation where an individual, in this case you, is under two or more conflicting moral obligations, neither of which outweighs the other" I defined as I unlocked and opened one of the doors with the sweet wines my mother loved so much "Like Sophie's Choice or the train dilemma, you know?" I gave as an example to the boy who seemed to ponder over it.

"Why do you think my case is a dilemma?" he asked, straightening his posture.

"Because you obviously seem to be confused about what you want and what you think you have to do" I looked at his turbulent face as I handed him some glasses.

"Moral dilemmas make people look like bad people no matter what they choose" he commented with a smart smile on his face "I better just accept that I'm going to be the bad guy with whatever choice I make" he shrugged as if he didn't care.

"No, Matt" I laughed lightly "Moral dilemmas are not about making peace with the unacceptable, but to understand that to do what is right, you have to do a little wrongs" I attested and he tilted his head a little to the side in a thoughtful way "And not only that but understand that for everything there is a consequence, but you have to choose which is the least harmful" I finished getting the wines now. I picked up two bottles and locked the cabinet doors again. When I turned my gaze back to Matthew he was frozen staring at the floor, his eyebrows were lowered and he seemed concerned about something.

"Paige, I need to tell you something" he said suddenly with a guilty look on his face and I just nodded for him to continue "Me and my brothers, we are..."

"What's taking you so long?" Nicolas appeared in the doorway interrupting the boy before he could finish his confession. I looked at Matthew who looked back at me as if begging for backup.