Karma

Brother

Charlie's eyes fluttered open, and for a second, I couldn't recognize him as the brother I knew.
But why would I call him brother after all the harm he had caused me?

What goes around comes around, really.
What is he doing out here getting chased by gangsters and getting beat up?

"Hey it's good you're awake. Do you want to go to the hospital?" Jun-Seo asked Charlie.
Charlie blinked a couple of times and took in the surroundings.
"Who are you?" He asked, completely ignoring the hospital question.

"The ones who saved you." Jun-Seo said smiling.
Charlie scratched his head as if he was remembering something. "Oh yeah."

This jackass.

Charlie looked over to me and his jaw dropped wide.
"You're even better looking up close. No homo."

What? I am?
I blinked a couple times.

Does he not remember me? Like dude, your long lost brother you used to hit with a leather whip is in front of you.

"I'm Charlie Poo." He introduced.
I shuddered.
I haven't heard that name spoken in a while.

Jun-Seo bursted out laughing.
"Oh man. Poo? Seriously?"
I pretended to also chuckle a little bit.

"That's sad." Jun-Seo commented, wiping tears at the corner of his eyes.
Boy, he'll probably be surprised to find out this "weirdo" was my brother.

Charlie sighed. "Yeah I get that a lot."
Jun-Seo stopped laughing a cleared his throat.
"I'm Jun-Seo."

Charlie glanced over at me like a puppy as if expecting me to give him treats.
"...Raymond Lyder." I said.

We stayed silent for a couple of seconds before Jun-Seo spoke up again.
"Why were you being chased?"

Charlie pursed his lips.
"I gambled and didn't pay back the money."

I wrinkled my forehead and stood up quickly.
"I told you we shouldn't have helped him." I spat.

Charlie flinched a little bit.
Jun-Seo tried pulling me back down to sit but failed.
"C'mon, I said everyone deserves another chance."

Another chance?
I flash backed to the times he has abused me and laughed at my suffering.
All these years and he still hasn't changed his ways.

"It's just gambling...no biggie." Charlie muttered.
I grabbed his by the collar and inched his face close to mine.
I could smell his breath. It wasn't full of smoke from cigarettes or beer like I'd expect it to be, but rather a morning stinky breath.

I dropped him back to the ground because his breath was way too much for me.
"You should brush your teeth next time." I said.
"I'll let this matter go once. Don't ever gamble again if you know you can't pay back."

Charlie nodded hesitantly and stood back up. He cupped his hands together and placed it over his mouth to smell his breath.
Then gave off a confused expression.
"It doesn't stink..." He muttered again.

Yeah right. What does he mean it doesn't stink? That smell could kill a herd of sheep.

"Well thanks for all of the help. If you don't mind, I'd like to introduce you to my parents for a proper thanks." Charlie said after smelling his breath.

Parents? I shuddered.

"That won't be necessa—" I started but was interrupted.
"Of course." Jun-Seo said.