HIS SECRET

Chapter VI

An Ugly Exchange

.... and confront him myself rather than drag anyone else into this mess.

As I keep my hand fixed over Ethan's mouth, a feeling of wetness washes over the sides of my hand. I look up and see Ethan's green eyes filled with tears and are running down his cheeks. This sight was both concerning and very unexpected as I had anticipated that he would continue to yell or shout at me. But instead this sudden turn of events had taken me by surprise making me losen my hand from his mouth, waiting for an explanation for his actions.

Ethan forcefully pushes my hand away from his mouth, his face filled with frustration. ''Fuck... I hate you so much.... it's all because... of you''  he mumbles while quickly wiping away his tears.

After a moment of hesitation, I decide to be direct to him. "I'll get straight to the point; why did you do that earlier?" I ask Ethan bluntly with a straight face. I don't feel any sympathy for him despite him crying in front of me. He should have realized by now that he shouldn't have done something as out of line and inappropriate as this if he couldn't handle the consequences of it.

"I have no reason to explain myself to you." Ethan says stubbornly.

Hah this guy really has the guts to say that after trashing dirty water on me.

'You do, unless you want another swing to your head' I reply as I casually point to the bucket next to me.

Ethan hesitates for a moment before finally giving in to my demand. He sighs in a resigned manner before beginning his explanation.

"If it weren't for you, my brother, Liran, wouldn't have been taken away from me," he says

''What do you mean by that'' I ask ''What does this have to do with me?''

Ethan suddenly becomes very defensive and angry when I ask him to explain it.

''What this has to do with you? It has everything to do with you! You should have been the one that should have been taken, not Liran!'' he says angrily

Ethan's response sudden burst of emotions made me begin to understand what he was talking about. I remembered that earlier this week, an old wealthy noble had come by as usual to check on the children and to see which one he would be interested in buying. He had been interested in me at first after mentioning he had a thing for younger folks with black hair in a perverted manner.

From his lecherous, creepy stare, I knew that allowing myself to be taken by that noble would be the worst decision of my life. I made a loud scene while screaming, cursing, and displaying utter disgust, making myself as unappealing as humanly possible in front of him. The creep changed his mind and gave up on me as he felt forced to choose a different child instead.

It appears that person was Liran. Ethan's anger towards me arises from the feeling of betrayal and injustice. He feels like he was cheated out of his happiness and blames me for it.

"Liran is my elder brother and since we were young, we have always been together. We had the dream of either being adopted together or remaining in this orphanage. It didn't matter which one would be the outcome, as long as we were together. But you crushed those dreams. You separating us." Ethan says while his words are accompanied by a steady stream of tears.

I breathe a sharp breath before I reply.

"I see, so that's what happened." I says. My words almost sounding sincere.

Ethan remains gazes at me, His eyes tearing up, as his emotions get the best of him.
His behavior may seem tough and aggressive on the surface, but deep down he's just a broken man looking for some comfort and understanding.

Ethan stares, his gaze sharp and piercing, waiting for me to comfort him, to take the blame for the separation that changed his entire life.

Although he was expecting the guy in front of him to comfort him, to take the blame for his misfortune, Ethan is met with nothing but a blank stare.

"So, are you just going to sit there and cry like a little b*tch now?" I say

I had failed to offer him the words he wanted to hear.

Ethan's expression changes from hopeful and teary to a mix of anger and sorrow.

''W-what did you just call me?!'' Ethan says

''I said; are you just going to sit there and cry like a little b*tch now? Your own brother got sold off to some pervert and the only thing you can do is sit here and cry like a baby.'' I reply

''Don't call me that." He says. "Liran was all I had, okay?" His voice is shaking now. "You don't know anything!"

He slowly starts raising his voice again.

''You should have been the one bought instead of Liran! You probably don't even have anyone who cares about you anyways.'' Ethan says

My eyes narrow and a thin line of annoyance appears between my brows, at the sound of his response

''The arrogance you have is disgusting," I reply back with anger.

"Do not think you can determine who is worthy and who is not," I continue. "You place the value of your brother's life above the lives of others. Wouldn't any other person here be just as much of a victim as he is?"

"Your brother was bought and sold like some pawn in a chess game, yet you think I should have been the one to go. Why? Do think your feelings matter more than those of others?" Would it really have been better for someone else to suffer just because it doesn't effect you directly?"

I end my sentences with pure anger and disgust.

''I'm not as self-centered and arrogant as you're making me out to be," Ethan barks back furiously.

"You were the one the noble was interested in from the beginning! Because of you he changed his mind and took my brother from me instead!" He exclaims with loud tone, trying his best to make me feel bad for 'taking' Liran away from him.

"Is that so?" I say in a measured and serious tone."So you've come here, hoping to make me sympathize with your misery while insulting me in the same breath?"

"Perhaps you should've invested your time and energy in searching for your brother's whereby than directing your frustration on me," I respond in a deep, impactful tone, bringing out the last words.

Ethan slowly looks away, avoiding my gaze.

I lean back on my chair, not caring to take a look at him.

"Besides, everyone's life is difficult here, it's not just you who has gotten hurt. So stop whining." I add, in the same tone.

In the meantime, the smelly stench has spread throughout the room, its stink filling the air. I get up to leave the room in an attemp to wash my smelly clothes. I choose to remain not looking at Ethan's face, which most likely would have been a negative expression, such as anger or disgust. But I have no concern for his thoughts or feelings at all.

ᕦ≧≦ᕤ

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