The Choice

33) Joe

It's our first breakfast as a family since 20 years. We all sit around the table I'm sitting next to Aurora with Omer next to her and Mom next to him. Ali is next to me then Elianna between him and mom.

I eye Aurora as she nurses on her coffee slowly. I lower my eye to the bruise on her neck, she has others on the other side too. But what I notice is the tension visible on Omer as he clings to her since the morning. He even hadn't removed his hand from hers. Haven't even touched her body like he does freely.

I nudge Aurora with my knee and she looks at me. I lean in, "are you okay, belle?"

She lowers her cup nodding, "mhmm, why wouldn't I be?" I arch a brow then whisper, cI heard voices yesterday. Ali too and Eli. Mom was the one who didn't, I guess."

Her gaze snaps to me then she presses her lips into a thin line, a blush creeping on her face as she smiles shyly. I smirk and touch my pinky to her neck then lean in to whisper, " someone got laid? " She nudges my knee silencing me then continues eating. I smile to myself and catch Eli's eye. She was worried today, me and Leo told her they were having their time, but she kept saying Aurora's voices wasn't that convincing. I smile at her and she eyes Aurora again then continues eating.

"These kids always speak that silent language I don't understand, now Aurora indulges in it as if she was there the whole time?!" mom quips. Mom has changed 180 degrees since yesterday. She smiles, talks, even cracks jokes like the past days. That is the Omer effect I guess. I wrap an arm around Aurora's shoulder," what can we say, we're amazing teachers. "

She snorts and Eli giggles with Ali smiling by her side. She shakes off my hand adding food in Omer's untouched plate, but he murmurs something inaudible to her that makes her face soften.

After breakfast I open the door to my room to find Aurora already inside, with a cigarette between her fingers. I close it behind me and stride towards her then plop on the chair across from her.

"so you won't tell me what's wrong with you?" I ask.

"Nothing is wrong, kiddo."

I snort, "bullshit."

The door opens and Eli enters closing it behind her plopping next to Aurora.

"spill." She tells her and Aurora's eyes shift between both of us.

"what's wrong with you guys?" Aurora asks and Eli widens her eyes exclaiming softly, "babe, we heard your voices yesterday. It- seemed like you were crying. It wasn't that obvious, but I heard it."

Aurora sighs through her nose, "guys, it was nothing. Believe me. Not crying at all"

I lean back, "well, my brother seemed off. That's why we're asking if everything's okay."

Aurora dips her head in a nod, "it is, Omer just- has problems in sleep. He doesn't sleep fit fully and he needed to rest that's why the big guy is a bit cranky." She says smiling to herself inhaling another puff of smoke.

Eli narrows her eyes then smirks and I hold Aurora's gaze. Her whole body language supports what she just said. I try to detect a lie, but none. I relax smiling too. We keep talking then stop when Omer calls for Aurora and she leaves and I start annoying Eli again.

After sometime, my brother and his girlfriend leave saying they have stuff to do after breaking the news that they'll be leaving for London soon. Mom, of course cried and begged Omer not to leave and pleaded Aurora to convince him otherwise, but all in vain. The guy has a mind made of steel.

I'm sitting in my room when my phone lights up with the number of a girl. That I do not remember. I cringe, at myself. Months ago, I decided to stop whatever I'm doing, I actually did. But mom called me with Omer's name one day and it came back all over again. I didn't get pissed at that, but I remembered how useless I am to leave them like that. And what did I do about it? Nothing. At fucking. All.

I look up jobs for the rest of the day, I even look up jobs in the field of medicine. A surgeon, that's what I really am. But when I finished these goddamn years of college, I swore I will never work in this field ever. The only advantage I got out of this fucking field is my steady hands. They do wonders pleasing women's bodies.

Ali and Omer are two sides of a coin. Ali, the soft guy with a considerate soul and the comfiest aura and bright shades. While, Omer, the grumpy one that keeps his soul at bay with the sharpest mind and dark aura just like his shades.

But me? If people saw me with them, they won't think that a corrupted kid like me is their brother.

I lean back and grip my phone after whoever stopped calling. And look up NV Valley.