UNHOLY

Even If This Is Sin, I Am Not Turning Back

"Brother!"

He glanced up from his phone-screen, annoyed. A tiny head was poked inside the door, large eyes staring at him. Rami had to steal his father's phone to play game while father is in the shower, and now this little pest is annoying him. 

"What."

"What are you doing?" the boy asked, edging inside the room. 

"Playing game."

"Can I come watch you play?" he asked in such plaintive voice. Rami snapped, "No way! Leave me alone-"

Silence. He peered over the phone and saw his little cousin still standing there, looking tearful and sad. God, this annoying little-

"Fine!" he snapped at him, "Come here, but if you dare disturb me while I'm playing-"

"I won't!" the little kid came scampering and climbed on the bed beside Rami. He seemed too excited just to be able to watch another person play. Rami felt a pang inside his chest. What was it? He wondered, continuing to play. 

"Rami! Oi! Rami!" his mother's loud voice made him annoyed once again. He quickly hid the phone, "Tsk, this woman-"

"What did you say, you little punk," his mother appeared at the door, glaring at him with fire in her eyes. Rami gulped, "Wh-what is it? Why're you calling me?"

"Come eat. It's lunch-time already," she told him. But as soon as her eyes turned to the little boy, both her tone and eyes softened, "Sami, come eat, honey."

"Okay, auntie," he said in his sweet voice and climbed down from the bed. She left but the little mouse stayed. Rami snapped at him, "What're you still doing here?"

"Won't you go, brother? I'll wait for you," he said, his face the picture of innocence. Rami felt guilty, for some reason. He put a hand on his shoulder and told him, 

"You wait here. I'll go put dad's phone in his room and then we'll go eat together."

"Okay," his eyes got big as eggs and he smiled. Silly kid, Rami thought, amused. Sami had come to stay with them for a few days. They'd all leave for their moms' hometown in a couple of days. All the sisters would be gathering there for their winter vacation. Rami liked his maternal grandfather's house. The place was quiet and he could go to the market alone there. His uncle and aunts had their friends and cousins all over the market and they always treated the children to delicious snacks whenever they visited the market. 

"Ugh, I don't wanna eat liver," Rami said, grimacing, "Sami, here, eat this."

He put the chicken liver on Sami's plate. He was about to say something more but his mother's eyes made him pause and he continued to eat peacefully. Sami didn't talk once during their meal. Rami was anxious to go out as soon as lunch was done. He was at the door, putting on his shoes, when his mom appeared there, holding Sami's little hand. 

"Rami, take him with you to play."

"What? No way. He'll get in the way," he said. 

"He's all alone here! What'll he do alone if you're not here, too? You two play together," she insisted, "Buy him chocolates or whatever else he wants. Oh, he would never say he wants anything. You just buy him whatever you'll buy for yourself."

"Ugh, fine!" Rami snatched the boy's hand and his mom grabbed his collar from behind and leaned in. She whispered, "My boy, if you dare bully him, and if I see a hint of crying on his face, you know what'll happen to you, right?"

"Y-yeah," Rami swallowed. As soon as the two of them were out of the apartment, he started grumbling, "That woman, always bullying me. As if I'm her slave, sending me on errands all the time and threatening like some gangster. I swear she was a bully herself when she was younger."