One. Two. Three. The pebble skipped across the water three times before it finally sunk down into the lake. But to me, it sounded like a countdown until my death. I sighed as I stood up, brushing the hair out of my eyes and looking up at the already darkening sky.
How was I supposed to tell him? That I was leaving to go somewhere far away to live? He would be utterly crushed. And if worst came to worst, he would start to hate me. I couldn't help but start to feel fearful but decided to push this thought of my mind. Stop. I told myself. Fretting won't make anything better. I'll eventually have to tell him anyway. That is, if I was brave enough to.
"Sam! Mum is calling us for dinner now!"
I turned around to see my younger brother smiling and waving at me. Despite only being two years younger than me, he looked like a kid who had only started 7th grade.
"Alright, alright. You go back first, Isaac. I still need to pack away my things." I replied, smiling back at him.
He nodded, flashing me a thumbs-up and dashed away in the direction of our house.
I looked at the small pile of pebbles and rocks lying on the ground near my feet and kicked it, making them scatter all around. I gave another sigh and slung my bag over my shoulder before following my brother back home.
"And guess what? I saw that girl again but she was with another guy so it was kinda sad." Isaac said, babbling about the events that had happened today at school. "But it's alright since I want her to be happy and....Sam?"
His calling my name caught my attention and I turned around to face him. He had a worried expression and a frown was starting to show.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Are you alright? You've been acting strange ever since this morning. Not only that but your friend told me you weren't your usual self at school."
"Oh? Is that so? Haha, don't worry about me. I just didn't have enough sleep last night." I replied smiling, hiding the uncertainty and panic that was growing inside me.
"Eh? That's not good at all! Get more sleep then!"
"Yeah, sorry for worrying you. It's getting late so I'm going to bed."
I got off the couch and made my way to my bedroom before flinging myself onto the bed. I stared at the white ceiling covered with plastic stars and couldn't help but feel sick. Sick of myself. Sick of how cowardly I was.
But that's just the way I am, isn't it? This is just a part of me and there is nothing I can do about it. Absolutely nothing, as far as I know. I glanced at the clock sitting on the table beside me and it immediately brought me back memories.
"Sam!"
The voice of my sibling surprised me and I fell onto the ground, grunting in pain.
"What do you want?! Didn't you see that I was busy cleaning the car? I was on the roof you know! I coulda died!" I snapped, brushing dirt off my shirt.
"Oh! I'm sorry! But look what I've got here!" He gave me an apologetic smile which quickly turned into one of pure bliss and excitement.
He held out his hands and I saw a little penguin lying on his palms. But when I leaned in closer to examine it, it turned out to be a clock.
"Auntie gave this to me, but I want to give this to you! However, I want you to promise me something!"
I tore my gaze away from the clock and straightened up, eager to know what the promise would be.
"What promise?"
"You have to promise me that you will never tell a lie to me!"
I looked at him, a surprised expression spreading across my face. A few seconds later, I couldn't help bursting into laugher.
"I mean it!" Isaac pouted, his cheeks all red and puffy.
"Yeah, yeah. I promise." I said, still laughing.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The ticking sounds of the penguin clock made me feel drowsy and I found my eyes starting to close. 22:02. As soon as the last digit changed to a '3', I entered the world of dreams and nightmares.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Just as the clock had lulled me to sleep last time, it also woke me up, reminding me of how I was to leave today. How today was the day I was going to break the 2 year long promise.
I quickly dashed into the bathroom and some time later, I was all dressed in some fresh clothes and ready to go. I went downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed a slice of bread before opening the door.
"Brother?"
I suddenly froze, half of my body outside the house and the other half still inside. Crap...I'm in trouble. I thought to myself as I turned around to face Isaac.
"Where are you going at this time?" He asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Uh...well....." I tried to think of a good excuse to tell him since I was forbidden to tell him the real reason why I was leaving.
"I'm just going to a friend's house, since there's an assignment we have to work on." I said, making it seem as genuine as possible.
He stared at me with the big, brown eyes of his as he processed my words.
"When will you be back?"
"Er...around lunchtime I think. Be a good boy until then, alright?"
He nodded and I stepped out the door, sighing quietly in relief. I reached out for the knob to close it but I found the door stuck and was unable to shut it all the way. I looked down to see Isaac's foot blocking it and looked up at him for an explanation.
"Hey, big brother...can I ask you one more thing?" He questioned, a slight frown showing on his face.
"W-what is it?"
"You're not lying about going to your friend's house, are you?"
Shivers immediately ran down my spine and I could feel the guilt eating away at my heart. I gulped and struggled to think of a good reply. I took one look at Isaac's eyes and once again, felt the shivers. His normally cheerful eyes had lost their shine and now looked somewhat dull and creepy.
"O-of course I'm not. We promised, remember?" I finally said, feeling tiny beads of sweat roll down my neck and onto the collar of my shirt.
My younger brother's eyes instantly regained its former shine and a bright smile broke out.
"That's good! I'll be seeing you then, Sam!"
I slowly nodded, raising a hand to wave goodbye before walking away.
Half an hour later, I was at the train station waiting for the train to arrive. As soon as it came, I got on and found an empty seat to sit in. New Hissegart. That's where I would be going and it would take a couple of hours from Resembool to get there.
Once everyone was seated and the doors had closed, the train started moving. The guilt I felt from before was gnawing at me again and my head started hurting. What have I done? I kept on hearing that one sentence over and over in mind and it was becoming unbearable. What have I done? What have I done?
When lunchtime arrives, I'm sure he'll hate me. I'm sure he will change. I'm sure he will no longer be the sweet brother I once knew.
Who would've thought I would right?
14:59. Isaac stood in his older brother's room and stared at the penguin clock he had given him a few years ago. And that promise... Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The sound was becoming unbearable.
He grabbed the clock and hurled it at the wall, making it shatter to pieces. As soon as it broke, the ticking stopped and a wide grin appeared on his face.
"You lied brother. You broke the promise and I will never forgive you."
