Obsessed

nine | home sweet home

June

"Do you have games on your phone?" Theo asked. He kneeled on the ground, begging for my phone as if it was some sort of prized possession.

The kid had an iPad, a Nintendo switch, and an entire play-set in the backyard. I don't know what more he needs.

To avoid his nagging, I hand my brother my phone. The only games I had on there were  Candy Crush and Solitaire, it won't take him long to return it back to me.

On Saturdays I usually head back home. Unfortunately mom wasn't here to cook me a home cooked meal, something about extended work in Paris.

She's been gone for two months now so I had only had one parent looking after me, Randun.

I couldn't however, leave Theo all by himself. With the 73 poorly written messages he sent me yesterday from his iPad, I had no choice but to visit my baby bro. We got done playing ninja warrior extreme parkour at the park so we decided to chill in the living room afterwards.

Other than him, my mom's cooking, and my old waterbed, nothing in this house held  enough emotional attachment to me for to me miss it. I only visited once a week, only because it was 30 minutes from the university. And only cause Merelda made me.

I'm pretty grateful to have my own space close to campus. Seeing Don everyday would make me crazier than I am now.

Speaking of Don, I haven't seen him since Thursday. He hadn't bothered reaching out to me and I appreciate this lack of effort. I wouldn't be surprised if his face still resembled the color of a tomato.

I practically embarrassed him in front of his colleagues, but once again, I don't care. And never will care.

"Here! Your phone is boring!"

"I've already told you this before Theo, there's nothing in here for you" I take back my device and watch him cross his arms and huff.

This kid never got tired, all he does is play all day. If I was his age I'd take the advantage of not having to pay bills or commit to responsibilities to nap all day. But no, these kids don't understand how good they have it.

I was too busy being jealous of Theodore and his carefree privileges that I hadn't noticed he was gone. Turning back I watch him squeal as he hugs ou- his father.

He never hugged me like that

I turn around from the disgusting scene behind me. One day Theodore will find out who his father really is, for the sake of him being so young, I'll let it slide.

"Theo go upstairs okay, I have a present for you." He lies.

It doesn't take long for the kid to go running up the stairs like a maniac. The gift in question? Nonexistent. Maybe I shouldn't have come today.

The only thing I hear is his shoes slapping against the marble tiles. I don't make an effort to face him, simply because his face is too nauseating to look at.

A thick silence takes over the room for a couple of minutes, I unlock my phone and check the unread messages from Mohammed.

"You embarrass me in front of your future father in law." He whisper yells.

What's the point of whispering if you're just gonna be loud old man? I continue to ignore him and scroll through my phone.

His footsteps come closer but I don't take the time to look up to see his movements. "You make a fool out of me in front of my business partners."

Blah blah blah blah blah. Not listening.

"You shame my image and run off like a delinquent!"

Seconds after his yelling subsides I feel shards of glass break to the right of me, small pieces pierce through my arm but majority, of what I assume is a Coke bottle, falls to the floor. I can't tell if he intentionally missed, but what a pathetic way to deal with your anger.

"I think you're rich enough to afford anger management classes no?" I say snarky.

It doesn't take him long to charge towards me and grab me by my shirt. I don't let him have his way and we find ourselves tackling each other on the carpet. He's pulling me and I'm slamming him repeatedly. Too busy trying to break his skull, he kicks me in my back and I fall to the side of him. It's then my face is met with his punches. Well, not for long cause I dodge his last one, blowing my fist straight towards the mouth. He tries to choke me but I resist.

We stop at the sound of a cry.

"Theodore go back upstairs."