Beyond expectations

Chapter 2: Secrets Unveiled

Victor's heart was pounding in his chest as he burst into Aishat's room, the door slamming against the wall with a force that echoed through the quiet house. His excitement was like a live wire, buzzing with energy that he couldn't contain. Aishat, deeply engrossed in her book, looked up sharply, irritation written all over her face.

"Aishat, we're traveling out of the country!" Victor blurted out, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and anticipation. He felt as if he might explode from holding in the news.

Aishat raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in her eyes. "And where did you get this information, Victor? It had better be from a reliable source," she retorted, her tone laced with doubt and irritation.

Victor, undeterred by her lack of enthusiasm, flopped onto her bed, causing the mattress to dip under his weight. He stared up at the ceiling, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I overheard Mom and Dad talking in their room," he confessed, the thrill of his eavesdropping still fresh.

Aishat sat upright, her book now forgotten, a look of incredulity crossing her features. "Were you eavesdropping on their conversation?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing in disapproval.

Victor shrugged, trying to maintain his nonchalant attitude. "Why are you always taking life so seriously?" he replied, his tone dismissive. "We're their kids, Aishat. If they won't take care of us, why bother having us in the first place? We're their responsibility."

Aishat's anger flared, her patience wearing thin. "Maybe because one of us has to uplift this family, and you don't exactly seem like the best candidate," she shot back, her words sharp and cutting like a blade.

Victor clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up inside him. "This life isn't as hard as you make it out to be," he snapped, his voice rising with his anger. "We'll find our own way. Besides, maybe it's time they realized we're their problem."

Aishat lay back on her bed, her expression turning indifferent as she tried to hide her emotions. "Think of it as preparing to make your kids your problem someday," she murmured, her voice carrying a note of resignation. "Now leave me alone."

The room fell silent, the tension hanging thick in the air, mingling with the golden light of the setting sun that filtered through the window. The weight of their unspoken dreams and frustrations seemed to press down on both of them. Victor stood up, his resolve firm despite the knot of uncertainty in his stomach. He just wanted to have fun, not to change his ways. Their journey abroad would be the first step toward a future they both secretly craved—one where they could break free from their parents' shadows and forge their own destinies.

The room, now bathed in the soft glow of twilight, seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the heavy emotions hanging in the air. The silence that followed their exchange was thick, almost tangible. Each corner of the room whispered unspoken fears and hidden hopes, the weight of their conversation settling into the very fabric of the space.

He made his way out of her room, his heart pounding with a mix of resolve and uncertainty. As he left the room, the echo of his footsteps mingled with the distant sounds of evening setting in, the world outside continuing its steady rhythm even as their lives teetered on the brink of a new chapter.