Are Five Days Enough?

Half Brother

❝Matthia— Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.❞

13|   Half Brother

Aviana Sanchez |

| Day 1: 8 January, 7.30 pm |

Time rolled by fast and today was almost coming to an end. I could feel myself being a mess, my emotions flying everywhere. Today's trust fall session was the tragedy of a lifetime. Tensions escalated so quickly between everyone. 

I came to a decision that I'll try to be civil and act indifferent around Andre. Every time I looked at his face, I could just feel my heart shatter again and again. It's time I accepted it. 

I felt a tear slip out of my eye.

"You alright there?" Matthia asked me.

I smiled, the most genuine one I have given in years, "Matt, I'm fine, thank you for being there all the time."

We were all having dinner right now that we cooked from the minimal supplies we had. Instructor Lin left to have a meeting with the other instructors and we were sitting nearby all the other watches at Camp 1. 

Nisrina and Jaden were hitting it off really well, they were talking and laughing with each other comfortably. 

Isaiah and Andre were eating together in their own comfortable bubble. 

Matthia and I were only seated one arm's length away but we were miles apart from each other, deeply drifting away in our thoughts.

"I'm going to the toilet for a while, don't eat my food alright?" Matthia ruffled my hair before stuffing his hands in his pockets and walked off. 

I realised I was unconsciously staring at Andre's face and his eyes were peering into mine. I looked away embarrassed at how stupid he must have thought I was.

I am a fool.

Matthia Lee |

I picked up my pace a little and quickly turned right into the corridor. I could hear the footsteps that were following me coming to a halt right at the juncture between two ways of going to the toilet or walking into the corridor where I was. 

I'm ending this s**t right now. I grab him by the collar and slam his body into the wall. I was f*****g angry. 

How dare he show up here?

"You f*****g dare to show up in front of my face, after all, you have done? You stole everything I worked for! What more do you want from me? What more do you want Isaiah?!" I yelled in his face, not caring if anyone else heard it. 

I was done. I couldn't bear to look at his face. 

The person I trusted the most used that trust and stabbed me in the back with the sharpest knife.

"You knew I never wanted it from the beginning. I never wanted the money, the company or anything. I just wanted a normal life. A normal family. I want you back big brother." Isaiah whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. His face turning red from my tight hold on his throat.

"Aren't you such a daddy's boy? Using father's connections to end up here." I smirked, the sinister side taking over. 

"Please...let me go, Matthia... I can't... breathe...." He choked out. Coming back to my senses, I let go of my strong hold and look away, not wanting to see his face any longer.

"It's miraculous you ended up here with my school moreover, in the same watch. So, what do you want Isaiah?"

"I need you back home. I don't want this anymore. I don't care what mom says anymore. Come home, big brother." I hear him plead. I feel his hand on my shoulder.

I shrug it away, "The moment you stood there and watched everything happen, you lost me as a brother Isaiah. I might be your half-brother but I cut all ties with you six months ago. Let it stay that way. For good. Goodbye Isaiah." My tone affirmative and harsh leaving no room for an argument.

"One more thing Isaiah. Blood makes us related, but loyalty makes us family. There's no loyalty here. So leave your bullshit excuses behind." 

I turn around after I sense him leaving. I watch his figure slowly disappear as he walked further and further away.

Rage builds like deep water currents. I did everything right - everything -and still. Everything they have is what I made and they squander it. That's when my anger comes, unleashed without thought of consequence. Even those that didn't earn this wrath today earned it at some point. Every one of them took what I made without thanks or even a backwards glance. 

I punched the wall until my knuckles split apart and crimson-red blood splattered on the white wall. Anger, frustration, betrayal, sadness was all I felt because of him. 

Even if he gets down on his knees, I'll never forgive him. 

 I'll never forgive Isaiah Lee.

—

love, L