Brute

Part 5

Joong

On 14th birthday

A mockery of a celebration was held in the gigantic house, not as a happy occasion to celebrate one's birth, but more of a platform to gain connection. No kid my age was in attendance, only glittery dresses and tuxedos of adults, mingling with each others. I was just needed to blow the candles, pretending to smile, to model a fake, happy family, and then was dismissed to my room. The pictures would later, be published in those various tattlers and mags. 

Nobody wished me birthday sincerely. For a few years, I had Nine, who'd sing to me a funny birthday song, while holding a store bought muffin, but to me it was the most delicious cake in the world. Nine had transferred to a different school at another state, following his family. Too far out of my reach, now. We lost contact too, since he didn't own a phone as the one that I had. My mother who found out that I befriended a lowly downtown kid, changed my number to a new one. She said people would use me to only take advantage to gain something later.

After everybody had gone, with both my parents already tipsy downing glasses after glasses of liquor; not that they needed any celebration to indulge; it was a common sight anyway; the fight had started again. Their voices were muffled by the wall, but when it got heated, they took the fight till out of their room. My mother must once again, threaten to leave the house, one time too many. And my father would once again, threaten to cut off all her source of money, thus the tug of war with no end. 

"Go, just go to hell! Take all of your things too! Bring along that bastard son of yours, or, let me just kick him out myself", my father said, trying to open my door, that I'd locked from inside. I had learnt to protect myself whenever he got out of control like this. 

"He's your son! How many times have I told you that? Stop trying to kick me or him out of the inheritance", my mother's concern was not me, it was the money. 

"You slept around too much, I wonder which man's son is this one. Open the door, damn it!!!". I could hear the door being kicked so hard. I stayed on the bed, wondering about the accusation that was never said before, until now. Though my hands were shaking, I knew the three locks that I asked the kind gardener to install, could keep me safe, for now.

"And you are an angel? Gosh, I can't count the times that I had to pay someone to keep quiet about your affairs. At least I was discreet".

"If you don't hold my neck with your threat to expose everything, I'd have kicked you out long ago, damn you woman!". 

"You'll eat the shit that you've thrown at me again and again. I dare you, go and prove your accusation. I'll wait for you to come begging, kissing my feet when it'll be proven that he's your heir, your only one which is legal, mind you!". 

On 24th birthday

The rain was falling. People wore black for occasion as somber as this. The passing of the head of the house. I should feel happy; this should be my best birthday present! The person who hated me for most of his life, whose hand so easily hurt a child, was no longer here. But, I felt numb. Not happy, nor sad. The proof that he dare not find out, was done only when he got the news of his terminal cancer. Well, a lot of liquors and cigarettes in his whole life, it was no surprise that his liver and heart collapsed at the same time. He pushed for the genetic test to be done, not out of love, not that he wanted to really embrace me. He was too afraid that the vast wealth would go to no one. 

When the lawyer read the Will, though not as much as she expected, my mother couldn't help herself, smiling from ear to ear hearing the amount that she'd gotten. For common people, that was three lifetime's spending, but for her, I wonder if she could last for a year without a shilling left. But, the reason she was still happy, because she got what she wanted, that I was indeed the sole heir. I couldn't choose my parents, nor my destiny. But, I could change the reason that had caused my person to leave; the dirty money needed to be separated from the good ones. We won't go down from being wealthy, the legal business was still prospering. But no more alliances, nor doing underwater businesses. I am not my father. His scum didn't have to stain me. 

On 25th birthday

The road to clean everything up, was not easy. Cutting off alliances, had caused some sides to lose gains. And the reaction was not pretty, that the safety of everyone surrounding me could be in peril. I never wanted them to find out about the only person whom I care. Thus, even after a year of finding out about his whereabouts; no matter how much I long to reach out to him; I won't. Not because I still feel the hurt when he left years ago; not because I had decided to let go, but, the water that I was trading right now, was too murky. Anything could resurface, and drown not only me, but him as well.

So, not that I wanted to be cruel, but the moment my assistant said, that he was asking to see me, again, for the fifth time; for I had rejected him for four days already; I still refused. Not only that, I had asked the security to prevent him from even entering the lobby, that even a step he took, would be considered as trespassing. 

As soon as my assistant left, I turned and looked at the sky from my windows, counting the numbers of clouds, almost like counting sheeps...or else, my feet would run...and try to catch the person whom I just dismissed.