Dubieties of Truth

Miru III

"Maj would take care of her," replied Eskarne softly. Nilima broke into scornful laughter as she placed her hand on her hip. Sweat dripped down the nape of her neck as spoke.

"Our maj? You funny. Kagiso has a kid and marries my sister in her twentieth year, then he pulls this stunt-oho. He's a real hit with Mama right now, she wants nothing to do with you or any of us. Where's your maj, eh?"

Eskarne scowled, supporting Lapis' head with his knee. Kagiso held his breath, remembering the last time he saw his own maj. She was the first thing he saw in the world beneath him, the first fathomable thought. Kagiso never saw his maj cry so bitterly, pound against the floor so violently-he thought she would've fainted again from the trauma. He didn't want to see her like that, he was terrified to; he swore to himself that he wouldn't think about her. Not until he was able to handle it.

"She's ain't well." Eskarne bobbed his little niece's head as she stared up at the man feeding her. She was probably wondering why that vaguely familiar man was holding her, and not her mother or father.

Doritéia began to cough as she hugged herself, revealing emaciated arms of vibrant onyx with a pale cobalt undertone. She mumbled something inaudible; Eskarne squinted and leaned in a little to hear her. "What was that?"

"I hate you," hissed Doritéia.

Eskarne reeled back, his mouth agape.

"Doritéia stop," hissed Nilima, shaking her sister's shoulder. "C'mon, he's here. He's gonna take care of the baby. Kagiso wants Tío to take care of his kid while he's away, yeah?"

"Kagiso," gasped Doritéia, her short wavy locks unkemptly framing her face. Her voice cracked, an innuendo of emotion in her lifeless tone. "He died for nothing. Nothing at all."

"Eskarne, you better go," urged Nilima. She gestured for Eskarne to hand over Lapis anxiously. "Please, please, please."

He remained seated with Lapis in his arms, only removing the bottle from her mouth. She moaned uncomfortably from her gas pains; Eskarne was supposed to be patting her back, but he was staring at Doritéia with disbelief, unable to do anything else.

"You're nothing, not even Gifted. But he loved you more than me." Doritéia sat herself up slowly, raking through her loose curls as she smirked at Eskarne. Her tone was now as sharp as a knife.

Kagiso watched Eskarne slowly rise and place Lapis in Nilima's hands. His left brow twitched erratically as Eskarne stood there in emotional turmoil. Kagiso recognized that terrible expression of Eskarne's from whenever their maj was about inflict punishment on them.

The older brother shook his head, aghast. "No Doritéia. No, no..." Kagiso' utterances fell on deaf ears. Of course he loved Doritéia, he loved her a whole lot. He made her a part of his family so he could love her unconditionally, in sickness and in health, in depression and jubilance. Didn't she know that by now?

The hour of freedom from academia was upon The Institution of Lusa. Kagiso saw Eskarne waiting outside, hovering above the sidewalk along with other classmates. The Institution towered over them, the bell tower at its pinnacle blocked the rays of the pale sun. Kagiso held his palm up, the refreshing drizzle splattering against his face. He began to float as he drew farther from the building's entryway and closer to Eskarne.

He smiled at Kagiso gently, and then glowered at his sneakers. Kagiso became tense. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Let's go home," replied Eskarne despondently.

"Did something happen?"

Eskarne huffed, appearing vex. "No, let's just go." Eskarne's gaze trailed past Kagiso. The older brother turned around and followed it to one of his classmates-Doritéia Manos. She and Nilima had books in hand, hover-walking toward the street as they were in carefree dispositions. Kagiso abruptly sped over to her, nearly mowing down the other students.