The man falls on the floor,
"What are you doing?!" He screams at me.
"What are you doing!!?" I shout back.
"Who are you!?" He yells.
"Who the fuck are you?! I yell even louder.
"Jesus Gene!" My sister Shouts.
It takes a split second for me to understand the whole situation. I put my hands on my eyes and relax myself.
"What the fuck.." I sigh and hold my head.
"Can I talk to you, in the kitchen Gene?"
I follow her to the kitchen.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Me? What is wrong with you?!" I suppress my loud voice, "how could you bring some stranger into our home and snog him?!"
"He's not a stranger."
"Then who is he?!"
"That's none of your business!"
"It is my business Phoebe. You're my sister. For all I know, that guy could've been a murderer or a bugler. I thought I almost lost you!"
She opens her mouth to say something but I don't let her and continue,
"You may not give a shit about me, you may not think of me as your sister but I do and you know what? I am Sick, phoebe, I Am Sick, of pretending that you don't exist. We live the same house for gods sake."
I slam my hand on the kitchen counter and leave for my room.
I don't care if it hurts. Me and Phoebe have had this awkward relationship where we stand apart at weddings, look at each other as strangers even in our own house. We're like strangers who just live across the corridor.
I sit in my room, looking out the window.
I see all these children playing with their brothers and sisters and wonder why Didn't Phoebe and I have this kind of relationship? Why did she lock me out?
I wipe my tears away.
Knock-knock
I don't look at the door. I know who's there and I'm not up for a fight.
"Did something happen today?"
I snort since my nose is blocked, "why do you care?" I still don't make eye contact.
"I don't, I just..I just thought I should ask." She says, almost a whisper.
"Why do you hate me?" I look at her.
"I don't hate you."
"Yes, you do. What else could it be? We don't even fight with each other let alone talk like normal siblings."
"I don't hate you, alright?" She sighs and sits next to me on the bed,
"When Mum and Dad first brought you home from the hospital, I was the happiest person on this planet. I was three and Me and Nanna decorated the living room and everything for you. When I first saw you, You know what I asked mum?"
"What?"
"I asked her if you had wings cos you looked like an angel."
My eyes well up as I hear her say those words.
"A week later, I won the first prize in my Dance recital and I was so excited for Mum and Dad to see it but they were so busy taking care of you. They were always doing this and that for you. That kid, Jimmy, who used to live across the street, he pushed me and I bruised my knee but Mum didn't even care. I was angry, not at you but them. As I grew up I convinced myself that they don't care about me so I shut myself in a room. I made Popular friends cos they gave me attention that Mum and Dad never did and I liked it. I never had to get into trouble or anything. I was happy in my own world but at home when I saw you, it all used to come back. In the 5th grade, when that kid hurt you, I got furious. I've never hated you, Gene, Ever."
