𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

XLV

— RORI —

I have slept for maybe an hour, if i am lucky. Uvaldo was a gentleman. I have never doubted my brother's maturity for his age, but he was especially kind to me this morning and i can't thank him enough.

After he advised me what to do this morning, he said it was a given that i stay in his room. I did not even have to swallow my pride and tell him that i was too emotional to be left alone. And, typically of him, he was sound asleep moments after, as if i hadn't just confessed to such a severe degree of crime and as if we hadn't just devised a plan on how i should break the news to Lorenzo, Damiano, and Zephaniah.

He was the perfect person to break such news to first, even if i hadn't planned on doing so.

Because i only succumbed to my exhaustion for such a short time, i was awake for Zephaniah's four am ritual. My brother is not one to break routine, but, in saying that, he was in the library two hours earlier and so i seriously doubt he woke at that time today.

I have been concerned for his sleeping habits, but Teddy did not seem to notice a problem when he was living with him — not that he is the most attentative, or that he was awake bright and early until recently — but i also believe Zephaniah exaggerates about the whole 'no sleeping thing'.

Not so that i will feel pity for him but because i feel he insists on coming across as this kind of invincible being sometimes.

He definitely takes naps. Or at least he used to when he was younger. I should know because that is the only time where i viewed him as having let his guard down.

Anyway, i knew that i must gather all three of them at the earliest possible moment nonetheless. If Zephaniah wasn't awake at four, there is a probability he would wake at six. Lorenzo had returned from his morning ride yesterday at eight-thirty, so the same goes for him. I was going to assume Damiano was also an early riser.

There is something about millennials and waking up unnecessarily early. But then again, they also consume an obscene amount of caffeine as if it will cancel out their alcohol intake and lack of decent rest.

So, at six o' clock in the morning, i send Zephaniah a message.

Me

Today 06:03

Are u awake?

Zeph

06:03

Just

Why?

Me

Can we meet at library in an hour. On the hour. We need to talk.

Zeph

We do?

Me

We do

Zeph

Yes, i can meet you then. Why are you acting like it's a drug deal? I can talk now if it's urgent.

Me

I can wait. I have to get ready.

Zeph

Suit yourself.

• • •

What to wear to the event that is emotionally manipulating your brother before later revealing that you committed murder at the ripe age of thirteen...