Second

𝙰𝚌𝚎 𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛

" How was your day?" Ace mother asked.

She didn't ask him which is not a surprise.

She asked Asher, his younger brother.

All of them got the chance to be asked.

All of them got the chance to talk and get it off their shoulders.

Ace didn't have that chance.

His elbows were off the table.

Their elbows were on the table.

He sits up straight.

Their bodies were sprawled into the chairs.

He's chewing with his mouth shut.

They are chewing so loud and he's disgusted with it.

He's not talking.

They are fighting over food and shouting.

His mother didn't shout at them.

They were all orders.

Orders that his parents made him do.

" It was great, I got to befriend the Bonavich's daughter, " Asher said excitedly and smiled brightly.

It must be great to have friends.

" that's great baby, you can invite her over, " His mother smiled at Asher and it was bright and too fake.

The Bonavich's are one of the most important people in the country, they are the family's competitor.

He didn't let the emotions take over his face, his blank and emotionless face was up to them.

" Ace?" someone whispered to him.

His thirteen years old sister, Anaya Alastar.

Ace and Anaya we're the closest.

In fact, she's the only one who talks to him.

He didn't reply, his plate is empty but he can't get up, he has to wait until all of them leave and then clean the dishes even though they have maids.

Half an hour passed and they all left, his mother doesn't forget to shoot a disgusting glance at him.

Ace sighed and started collecting the dishes that were scattered on the table.

His back hurts, the scars on his back are rubbing into the fabric of his shirt, the scars that were sketched by his father belt.

That's what he's known from his father care and love.

The belt.

It's all that he got from his father.

" you are more distant Ace, what's on your mind?" Anaya asked him when she stepped into their massive kitchen, he knows that she cares but he can not tell.

It's not that his parents told him to not tell, they all know, they hear his screams, they hear his whimpers, they hear everything.

He doesn't want Anaya to worry about his problems, he doesn't want to be a bother for her, for them.

" I'm fine, " he whispered.

It's sad knowing that he loves them more than he loves himself.

He hates seeing them in pain but when it comes to him, he's fine.

" Ace, " Anaya breathed and looked at him with sad eyes, filled with worry and sadness.

" We can run away together, you and me, " she whispered and placed her warm hand on his fragile arm.

Ace is skinny, skinnier than his sister.

" go to your room before they come back, " he mumbled and continued to wash the dishes, plating food for his father and brother.

Anaya huffed.

"Ace, " Her voice cracked.

"I love you, " She whispered and left with tears sliding down her cheeks.

Ace nods and continues washing the dishes.

His brother and father came back at two in the morning.

It's a routine.

He has to wait for them to serve them dinner and wash the remaining dishes.

" we nailed the deal, " Andrew smiled towards their father.

He never smiled towards Ace or with him.

He's ignored by his older brother who was very close to him but he doesn't know how it all drifted apart.

" Yeah, good job, son, " His father pats Andrew's shoulder.

He didn't experience the encouraging pat.

He wasn't called son.

They all head to their rooms and he stays, still washing dishes.

His thoughts are toxic, he should somehow stop them.

"Hey, " Ace snaps his head towards the voice.

Oren, his new friend.

" How did you get in?" Ace asks again.

Oren shrugs and walks around the huge kitchen.

" you were lonely, so I came in to fill it, " Oren smiles and his white set of the tooth appears.

" I like you, you are a good friend, " Ace wanted someone who tells him that, he wanted someone to befriend him.

"thank you, " Ace says with a blush, he is not used to it.

" How was your day?" Oren asks and hops on the counter.

"good, " Ace says quickly and gets back to washing the dishes.

Oren scoff and glares towards Ace.

" I want an honest answer, "

Ace frowned, Why is he asking? It's not like anyone would care about how he truly feels.

He sighs and doesn't reply.

" it's okay to say that you are not fine, " Oren says and jerks Ace shoulders, so he looks into his eyes.

Ace's eyes are crammed to the brim with tears, a blink and it will rain.

Oren's hard eyes soften, he pulls Ace in a crushing hug.

It's warm.

The hug is warm, it's Ace's first warm hug, a hug that he craved from his mother.

He blinked and his eyes showered his cheeks.

" Give me water, " Ace head snaps towards the voice, Asher stands beside the fridge that he can't reach.

He looks towards where Oren was standing.

Where did he go?

" Why are you crying?" Asher asks and looks at Ace, who was trying to wipe all of his tears.

" onions, " Ace says and Asher shrugs and points at the fridge.

" I want water, " He says again.

Ace gets the bottle out of the fridge and pour a glass for him.

Asher drinks it all and hands it back to Ace.

" Don't be sad, " Asher says quickly and runs off.

Ace sighs and gets back to washing the dishes.

Asher peeks at Ace who went back to washing the dishes.

Asher's eyes show saddens.

He knows.

His mother told him to not talk to Ace, to not laugh with him and to not play with him.

He saw it when his father laid his hands on Ace, he cried so much that night.

Ace is the best brother to him.