Chapter 2

Nathan's POV

Early the next morning, I headed to school.

Inside the office, Mr. Keeland pushed a thick stack of documents toward me.

"Nathan, this is a full scholarship to Vorton University. Only a handful of these are awarded worldwide each year. I'm incredibly proud of you for getting it."

I picked up the pen, but my hand froze midair for a brief second.

"Mr. Keeland, does the confirmation form absolutely need my guardian's signature?"

He blinked. "Technically, yes. But…"

He pulled up my student records, then chuckled.

"I almost forgot. You turned 18 last week. You can sign it yourself."

18 years old. My grip on the pen tightened. It was my 18th birthday last Wednesday.

That day, Oscar had said he wanted a cake from the famous bakery on the south side of town. Mom, Dad, and Michelle drove halfway across the city to get it for him, while Celia stayed home to play video games with him.

Not one of them remembered it was my birthday too.

"Nathan?"

Mr. Keeland's voice brought me back.

"If your family has any objections, it's best to discuss it with them. Studying abroad is a big deal, after all."

I took a deep breath. Then I flipped to the final page of the confirmation form and signed my name.

"There's no need to discuss it. I can make the decision myself."

Seeing the resolve in my eyes, Mr. Keeland didn't press the issue.

"Alright. I'll submit all the paperwork today. The school will help you with the visa and the plane ticket. You should be leaving in about two weeks."

I thanked him and walked out of the office. The sunlight outside was blinding, making my eyes sting. I found a shady spot beneath a tree, sat down, and pulled out my phone.

A new notification appeared on my social feed. Mom had posted an update.

It was a grid of nine photos, with every single picture oozing with happiness. The last one was of Celia and Oscar. She had her head lowered, patiently cutting steak for him, while he wore a smug, delighted grin.

The caption read, "A perfect family vacation. All that matters is that Oscar is happy."

The post was already full of likes and comments from relatives.

One of my aunts asked, "Why didn't Nate go?"

Mom replied almost immediately, "Nate grew up running wild in the countryside, so he doesn't know how to behave. Bringing him along would just cause trouble."

I stared at those words. My throat tightened, and my fingertips turned cold.

"Nate grew up running wild in the countryside".

That was the sum total of how they saw me.

They didn't know I had to get up before dawn every morning to feed the pigs. They didn't know I had to wash clothes in freezing river water during the dead of winter. And they certainly didn't know that to get into high school, I had to study by moonlight every single night.

I quietly tapped the "Like" button, then closed the app.

Two weeks. In just two weeks, I could leave this place forever.

When I got home, I started cleaning the house just as Michelle had instructed. Carrying a rag, I walked into Oscar's room. It was a spacious, south-facing room that was flooded with sunlight. His closet was packed with the latest designer streetwear, and his desk was lined with expensive gaming gear and collectible blind-box figurines.

After mopping the floor, my eyes fell on his nightstand. There sat an elegant black velvet box, left half-open. Inside was a custom mechanical watch that Celia had gifted him for his 18th birthday.

I'd seen that watch listed in the notes app on Celia's phone a while back. At that time, she'd labeled it "Nate's 18th birthday gift".

But in the end, it ended up on Oscar's wrist.

Back then, her explanation had been simple.

"Nate, Oscar really loved this watch when he saw it. You hardly wear accessories anyway, so let him have this one. I'll buy you an even better one in the future."

I hadn't argued or made a fuss. I'd simply erased that watch—the one that should have been mine—from my heart.

I closed the bedroom door and returned to my storage-room bedroom. I carefully tucked the confirmation form into the deepest pocket of my backpack, then lay down on the hard, wooden bed and stared at the ceiling.

Without any expectations, there would be no disappointment. It had taken me three whole years to finally and truly understand that.