Episode 84: BLOODY KNUCKLES

I woke up, greeted my mom and dad as if there's not a rift between us, and I'm sure what their faces were like. Shocked.

I was smiling, excited for the discovery I'm about to see. Of how my brother got so strong and confident. Of what must it take for me to be like him. Famous. Loved and Wanted.

I even ate breakfast with them. And it was awkward for the three of them, while I just sat there watching them, a smile still painted on my face.

After the breakfast, our car was ready to set off to our school. We're on the same school, but the campus is so huge that you might get lost if you're still new there.

I never visited my brother's school room, not even once, so I'm going to spend the whole day trying to search for it.

Forget about academics, my parents don't appreciate it anyways. So I just continued my steps, as the continuous thoughts danced in my mind.

I soon arrived at my room, where nanny leaves and kisses my cheek goodbye, telling me to be a good boy, and I, pretended to comply.

When I was sure she left, I immediately got out of our room, my teacher wasn't there yet so it was not much trouble. My classmates don't seem to pay attention as well so no problem for me.

And so I searched. I asked a lot of teachers and some were all but confused when I mentioned my brother.

"Why are you looking for him?"

"Is something the matter?"

"Do you want to go home?"

"Did someone bullied you?"

"He might be very busy,"

"He's not here, he's training,"

"Please just go back to your room, I don't know where your brother is, but he might be doing something very important,"

I was confused they didn't gave me any direct answers, nor any thing clear of what my brother might be doing at that time. They look a bit...suspicious too. Like they were hiding something. Or like they clearly don't want me to know.

Not that the teachers don't want to approach me. They actually like me. Even said I was brighter than my brother. Some even told me that his chaotic behaviour was very different from my calm demeanor. And was surprised as to how we are so different. They even called me pure one time. And still, I could tell that maybe they just want to be kind to me, so they could have a connection with my wealthy parents. Whatever the case, I try my best to not get 'too' attached.

Having true friends while being rich and powerful could be more than but a dream for many, including me, who doesn't really know how to communicate well either.

I sighed and thanked them, continuing my steps and asking some students instead.

I don't remember clearly, but somehow as I wander about the rooms, search like a fool and turn my head a couple times whenever I see a huge tall silhouette of a guy, I...finally heard him.

Yes. I heard him first before I saw him.

I was near a big wall, and I could hear clearly his voice from the other side.

I excitedly peaked from above the wall, (thanks to my climbing skills)...okay I don't climb, there was a bench and I...I used it to peak on them.

And so there, I saw him, yelling and playing with kids his age. Brother's 17 by the way. And well, he doesn't look too friendly. Those guys I thought were his playmates, or even sparring partners, were actually just props to him. He gives them money, in exchange that he beats them up as long as they can stand. Actually, scratch that, as long as they're conscious. My brother doesn't have mercy and I can see that very clearly.

I felt my heart beat faster as even I, who lives with him, feared for my own life as I saw him punch their faces into a red pulp. I swear I even saw a tooth fall out. And I know that the teachers weren't blind about it. He must have bribed them. Or maybe they were just scared of my parents. The kids moreover, seemed to have done it for other personal matters, as I could hear that the one he was currently beating that point was murmuring a word that sounded like mom.

My heart ached and the longer I stood there, the longer I wanted to help him. He seems like a good kid.

I have my wallet with me. And because I can't tolerate seeing this any longer I confronted him and the poor guys that needed money so much.

"Brother! Stop this! And you, if you need money, take this," I handed him the money, and he wiped the tears mixed with his own blood first, before accepting. He bowed politely and left the scene quietly. Sniffing and crying as to what I could see as relief. I looked at the other guys, and one came forward, readying himself for the beating my brother was about to give.

My brother didn't look at me, and was about to punch him too. But I stopped.

I gave them all the money I have while my brother was shouting at me in the background. Soon they all began to leave. But oh boy, I was short of money. One of them didn't received any.

I asked him why he needs the money and he told me that his mother just gave birth and needed the money to support his sister.

My heart ached.

My brother on the other hand, laughed and readied his fist but I stopped him.

I turned to the kid and made him realize that if he was beaten to the cause of unconsciousness, their family might suffer more from financial problems that before. And then he cried, saying that he'd rather die than be a burden to his family. He told me that he can't stand doing nothing, seeing his family suffer. He doesn't have any choice but earn money this way. He even revealed that he's been doing this for 2 years, once every two months to earn money from my brother's big allowance.

I can't handle that information. His face, although still unpunched already has marks of abuse. His nose even looks broken, and he looks unhealthy.

I looked at my brother straight in the eyes, and with the courage I gathered while talking to this poor guy, I told him that I'd do it.

"Punch me instead, but give him the money,"

My brother laughed in amusement.

"I've never heard such balloney in my life...but alright, just don't tell mom and dad about this, but I accept,"

He gestured to the boy and hands him his cash. He cries upon receiving it and I could see him utter the words thank you, then just like that, he left.

I was shaking, shaking terribly when I looked at his fierce icy blue eyes.

I even cried by that point, stopping myself from peeing my pants as he readies for a punch.

I saw what he did with that guy, and I know that even if I'm his brother, he won't feel any different.

He punched me. And I felt myself flying. Soon, my back hit the ground again, and I never felt so painful in my life.

I think I broke something, but what bothered me more that point is the irony taste in my mouth.

My gums are bleeding.

"Whoah, I didn't know that a punch could do something like that, you're honestly the weakest one so far," my brother mocked.

"Winston, why are you doing this?" I asked him.

I actually expected him to train by this time, or maybe do some push ups? But to beat kids on spare time, that I could never understand.

"Once you tried it, there's no turning back. I just find it thrilling," he told me casually.

I could not believe it.

And as I was finding my balance, he, not waiting for another moment packed me a punch.

I coughed, and that was when I was sure my tears flooded. I saw blood oozed from my lips, to my hands. Even one of my teeth feels wobbly. More so, one of my eyes feels like it pulped.

"Just...knock me out. Don't make me suffer long," I begged. Knowing that with his strength, he could easily knock me unconscious if he wanted to.

"But I still want to play with you, I actually enjoy this, seeing you bleed like that,"

"Winston, I'm your brother,"

"You're no Cooper. No Cooper is weak,"

My twelve year old body endured it, and he even told me that it was his weakest punch, a punch that he applied to those little kids, probably 3 years older than my brother, would have definitely killed me, according to him.

Maybe he felt mercy? Maybe he felt scared as time passed by? Because after my vision blurred and my senses lost their sharpness, he stopped.

He laughed one more time, then carried me.

"You need to get stronger if you don't want to be beaten. Heros don't always get the best treatment in life,"

I wanted to hurt him that point, but I was too tired. I thought I'm going to die.

I saw the kid that I saved back then, walking opposite us, he didn't even looked back. Or said anything. Instead he gave that...that grin, that grin that made me feel betrayed and extremely angry inside.

I shouldn't have helped him then.

I had no idea what kind of person he is.

He doesn't even look genuinely thankful. That was when I lost it. Maybe lost half my remorse.

...

I could hear the shock my mother gave as well as the anger and embarrassment in my father's tone when they saw me. My brother, a devil's spawn as he is, told them that he 'saved' me from bullies.

They thanked him of course, thought of him as the hero, and me, just a pathetic loser.

They did visited me in my room though, while talking to my personal doctor with a voice, that I thought, and hoped was pure concern for my safety.

That point I don't care about winning their love at all. I was just there, on my bed, ignoring their fake faces as I think hard of how to simply beat my demonic brother. I don't care if I have to be like him that point, I was tired doing the right thing.

I have no hopes on anyone anymore.

They were all garbage to me that point. Just garbage.

And fake...

And worthless.

So I told myself that point that I'll get stronger. And I'll tell you the last part. The part that till now, I'd never forget.

The part when I...lost all mercy.