CHAPTER 3

RHYME DIZON

I swear I did everything possible to make my dad proud, but I feel like it's still not enough for him. Instead of heading home, I found myself standing in front of my big sister's apartment door. I was about to knock when it suddenly swung open. My sister looked shocked to see me, clearly not expecting my untimely arrival. She gave me a narrow-eyed gaze while folding her arms together.

"Now that's the real deal," she said. I chuckled. "How about let me in first?" She let me in, but she also mentioned that we were going out for dinner because she didn't feel like cooking. She was about to leave when I arrived. We both sat on the couch while she waited for my explanation.

"Hey, let me guess, did Dad cut your allowance because you got into trouble again?" She seemed to be guessing why I ended up being here. Well, it hasn't happened yet, but I know it will. Dad is going to cut off my allowance because I messed up again. I took the car from our driver without dad's permission. I saw the car parked at the nearest gas station to the university, so I approached him and I did whatever it took, even if it meant lying, just to get the car key from him. "Well, kinda," I replied to her as if it didn't bother me much since I'm used to it. Besides, it was nothing too bad, just a minor mistake.

"Leah, I got the highest average again in class, or should Ip say, in our department. You're proud of me, aren't you?" I asked without making eye contact. There's a part of me that feels envious of her. She is truly a productive person. She managed to handle studying, being the Student Council president, and doing online business all at once. It's rare for her to ask our parents for an allowance. I was taken aback by her sudden hard slap. Instinctively, I grabbed my head in pain as it felt like I had a brain freeze.

"Hey! Why did you do that?" I asked, my voice clearly showing my annoyance. "Are you kidding me! Every time you go on stage to receive your awards, I'm the one who shouts the loudest and claps the hardest," she exclaimed, clearly irritated. Then why do I get the sense that Dad couldn't even do that for me since I was a kid? Is it really that difficult? "And I always proudly shared so many things about my little brother with my classmates and to all the members of the student council," she added. Suddenly, a wave of worry washed over me. I hoped that what she told her colleagues about me wouldn't be embarrassing.

"You know that Mommy Vanessa and I were always there to support you," she continued. Despite Mommy Vanessa being our stepmother, I can feel her love like that of a real mother. I should feel thankful because she has been our mother figure since Mom passed away. "Well, you and Mommy Vanessa have always had my back, showing care and concern, unlike some others out there," I intentionally avoided specifying anyone to avoid being too obvious, even though I know she already knows who I'm pointing to. I noticed my sister crossing her arms with a narrowed gaze once again.

"Now I get it, It's all about Dad not paying attention to you. What a father and son drama. " she said, rolling her eyes. Well, I know she'll eventually understand. "Dad is really not an expressive person, but I swear he's so proud of you," she explained or she explained, more precisely defending Dad. "That's impossible," I responded in a low voice while my head was down. "You know what, bro, maybe you're just hungry. Let's go," she suggested. Am I really the hungry one or maybe it's actually her? "No, thanks. I don't have the appetite. I'll just stay here,**" I declined her offer.

"Oh, don't be so emotional, it doesn't suit you. Come on," she pulled my right hand to make me stand up. I had no choice but to go along. I might get another bruise if I don't follow her. As we got out of the building, my older sister stopped when she saw a familiar black car parked outside the apartment. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention to her what I did earlier. "I knew it!" She commented, She expressed her disappointment by shaking her head. I could tell that she had a specific idea in mind about why I had come here from the moment she saw the car.

She extended her palm to receive the key, saying, "Now hand it over and let me drive. I sighed and handed her the car key. "You're such a stupid brat!" She added. We were seated side by side as she began to drive. The atmosphere was eerily silent, prompting me to break the silence and speak. "Sis, why did you decide to leave and start your own small business, choosing to live independently?" I asked hesitantly. As soon as she turned 18, she swiftly moved out and secured her own apartment. I should have inquired about this earlier, but I lacked the courage until now. At last, I mustered the strength to ask her. "Oh! So, my little brother holds a hidden grudge against me for leaving him behind." she said with a laugh. I couldn't help but smile at what I heard.

"Of course not! Just curious," I replied. She sighed before answering. "Well, I just wanted to be free. That's it." I furrowed my brow in response to what she said. "Why? Did we do something awful things back then that made you feel trapped, and you reached a point where you couldn't tolerate it anymore? Am I right?" I asked, shrugging. She shot me a disapproving look, so I started to get nervous. Maybe it's another hit for me now. "You really like being slapped, don't you?" she sarcastically asked. I knew it. I should have just kept my comment to myself.

"It's not like that," she denied. "Do you ever experience the feeling of being in your own house but still lacking a true sense of freedom?" she asked. I paused briefly, taking a moment to process what she had said. Her point was quite valid. But I'm actually used to it since our dad always expects us to act honorably. "And have you noticed that whenever we dine together in my apartment, we can eat messily and talk with our mouths full without judgment? That's because we didn't care "cause we're free." she added, and I nodded in agreement. Unlike at home, where proper dining etiquette is expected.

"You're right! And aside from that, we don't even have cup noodles at home," I chuckled. "Exactly! I love how it's totally fine to let loose and act a little crazy sometimes," I chuckled again in response to her words. "I don't want anyone interfere with who I am right now," she said. I noticed that she's not as introverted as before. And I can observed the difference in her actions and way of speaking since she moved out. She has changed a lot since then. Well, I've also gotten used to using slang words, but I only picked them up from Night and I never use them at home.

"I was lonely back then. Nobody dared to approach me because I'm the child of the university owner. So, ever since the day I left our home, I took matters into my own hands," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. I had no idea she felt that way. "I made an effort to befriend them, getting closer to them. I embraced their interests and always joined them when they ate. Yes, it was challenging in the beginning, but I managed to do that all." I thought to myself, that's good for her.

Finally, we arrived at our destination. I paused, taking in the sight of an open-air eatery right in front of us. It was bustling with noise as it was located inside the public market. My attention was drawn to an elderly lady fanning her barbecue, while the tantalizing aroma of grilled food permeated the air with its smoky scent. Busy women could be seen serving food to the eager customers. It surprised me that despite the late hour, there were still so many people here. "Seriously!" I said to my sister with a grimace. This would be my first time eating in a place like this.

"Yup! So, let's go. I'm starving!" she exclaimed, clearly filled with excitement. She walked towards the eatery, while I stood there feeling self-conscious. I never imagined she would bring me to a place like this. "Don't be so picky. Come on!" she couldn't contain her enthusiasm, and she walked back towards me, pulling my hand towards the eatery. As we sat down at a table and our ordered dishes were served, she handed me that barbecue. It's a grilled chicken intestine that looked even weirder than I thought.

"No thanks, I'm not into that kind of stuff," I declined, raising my hands slightly. It smelled good, but it looked strange. "Why? Have you ever tried it before?" she inquired. I shook my head, remaining silent. "Well, why not give it a try this time?" she suggested. I examined the barbecue she was holding, took a deep breath, and brought it closer to my mouth. I chewed and savored the taste. "Well, it's not too bad," I commented, shrugging.

While enjoying our meal, I came to the realization that my sister Leah was absolutely right. The food at this eatery was incredibly delicious. She particularly enjoyed the noodles, and I couldn't agree more. I found myself thoroughly enjoying every dish we tried. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment when Leah boldly asked for free soup. What shameless audacity.

While we were eating, we found ourselves engaged in conversations with other customers at nearby tables. The close proximity of the tables made it difficult not to interact with those around us. Leah, in her friendly manner, even shared with them that it was my first time trying grilled chicken intestine. We occasionally joined in conversations with others, including the person tending the barbecue. Although there were other eateries in the area, Leah confidently proclaimed that this one was the best.

After we paid the bills and expressed our gratitude, we immediately left. It was already 7:30 AM, and Mommy Vanessa had called me, sounding concerned. As we strolled through the bustling pathway within the public market, with shops lining both sides, I occasionally sneaked glances at my phone's screen. "Moryn, Nigh, how are you guys doing here?" My heart rate suddenly accelerated when Leah unexpectedly mentioned their names. I hastily lifted my gaze from my phone, furrowing my brow in confusion. It was indeed Moryn. I couldn't help but wonder how she ended up here, and why Night was with her?

"Hey, why did you bring her here?" I asked Night in an irritated tone as she approached, her head held high. "Then what! Got a problem with that! " she responded. "Hey, guys! Relax!" Leah said as she pulled me a bit away from Night. "It's alright, Rhyme. I'm the one who invited Night to wander around. I was just getting bored at home, that's all." Moryn explained in her usual gentle tone, accompanied by her ever-present smile. I looked at what they were holding and was surprised to see that it was grilled chicken intestines and chicken feet inside the plastic bag. A wave of annoyance washed over me, but I managed to hide it and averted my gaze slightly.

Night turned to my sister, offering the food they had brought, "Do you want some, Miss President?" My sister responded with a laugh, "Oh, if I weren't already full, I wouldn't say no." My sister then turned to Moryn, asking, "Grilled chicken intestine is delicious, right, Moryn?" I looked back at them, curious about their response. "Yeah. Night and I used to enjoy eating this. It's really tasty." Moryn nodded and replied, "Really!" Leah and I exclaimed simultaneously, but with differing tones. Leah spoke with curiosity, while my voice carried a mix of annoyance and a slight raise. So they had been eating those things all along, without ever telling me. The three of them looked at me at the same time, causing me to clear my throat and calm down.

I mustered a slight chuckle, attempting to compose myself. "You're right, Moryn. It does taste good." I said, still trying to regain my composure. I had an urge to give Night a light smack. Why did she bring Moryn to a place like this? It was too dangerous for both of them. I should've known better than to trust wherever they went. It was annoying! Why didn't they bother informing me? When we left, I wanted to accompany Moryn home, but she declined, explaining that they had a driver with them. On the way back, my sister dropped me off at home. As soon as I entered the house, I forced a fake smile onto my face, hiding my frustration from Mommy, not wanting to involve her.