Chapter 3

That evening, I heard the front door unlock.

Mom, Dad, Ann, and Jeff came inside, carrying armfuls of shopping bags.

Jeff was already wearing a brand-new limited-edition jacket from a brand collaboration. Grinning from ear to ear, he grabbed Whitney's wrist and spun around.

"Well? Do I look good, Whitney?

"Dad just bought this as my graduation gift. There are only a few of these in the whole city."

Whitney smiled and nodded, her eyes lighting up.

"It looks amazing. It suits you perfectly, and you look really handsome."

Mom walked over and dug through the pile of bags until she pulled out a cheap black drawstring backpack.

"Henry, I thought you could use this to carry your books."

She handed me the nylon bag with a store logo printed across the front. It was from a free promotional giveaway.

"Thanks, Mom." My voice was calm.

"Henry's always so easy." Dad changed into his house slippers and patted me on the shoulder with a satisfied smile. "Unlike Jeff, who loves dressing up and spends so much money, you've never cared about that stuff. You're frugal and thoughtful, and you never make us worry. You're a good kid."

I stood there in silence.

They had never once asked me, ‘Henry, do you want this?’ They had simply decided that Jeff deserved the very best.

As for me... I was expected to be grateful for whatever leftovers were handed to me, then praised for being ‘mature’.

Jeff noticed I was not saying anything and suddenly tugged on Mom's sleeve. "Mom, did I spend too much? I think Henry's upset."

He turned to me with a guilty look and pushed several designer shopping bags toward me.

"Here, Henry. Why don't you take these clothes and shoes?

"Mom and Dad already gave me $8,000 as a graduation gift. Ann gave me another $2,000. I have more than enough. You can have all of this."

The living room fell completely silent.

Dad froze with the glass still in his hand. Even Ann's expression changed.

$8,000.

I had never heard anyone mention that aloud before.

"Henry, don't get the wrong idea." Ann was the first to break the silence. "I've only just started my internship, so money's tight right now. Once I get paid next month, I'll definitely make it up to you with a big gift."

"Exactly!" Mom nodded so quickly it was almost frantic. "Our savings account doesn't mature until next month. Once it does, I'll get you something nice too. We would never play favorites."

They rushed to explain themselves, talking over one another as if they were trying to cover up a secret they did not want exposed.

Looking at the panic on their faces, I almost wanted to laugh.

"You don't have to."

That was all I said.

"Henry, please don't be mad at Mom and Dad." Jeff's eyes suddenly landed on my desk. More specifically, on the faded wooden lion sitting in the corner.

"Henry, if you're really upset..." He pointed at it hopefully. "How about I trade all these new clothes for that wooden lion? I really like it."

It was the only thing Grandpa had left me before he passed away.

When I was ten, Mom and Dad took Jeff to an amusement park and left me behind at Grandpa's house in the countryside.

Outside, rain poured from the sky. Inside, Grandpa wore his reading glasses, carefully carving that clumsy little wooden lion for me, one careful stroke at a time.

After he finished, he rested a hand on my head and smiled.

"Anything Jeff has, our Henry should have too.

"One day, our Henry will be just like this lion. You'll surprise everyone."

Whenever life became so heavy that I could barely breathe, all I had to do was hold that little wooden lion.

It always made it feel like Grandpa was still beside me.

Mom hurried over.

"Henry, since Jeff likes it so much, just let him have it.

"When you get to Northbridge, I'll buy you an authentic Gundam model."

Whitney immediately joined in.

"Exactly! It's not every day your brother likes something like this.

"If you want, once we're in Northbridge, I'll buy you a rare collector's edition action figure."

One after another, they made the decision for me.

They wanted to trade the most precious thing I owned for a free drawstring bag and a pile of promises that did not even exist yet.

"Okay."

I looked at them and nodded. Then I walked over, picked up the wooden lion, and placed it in Jeff's hands.

He hugged it as if he had just found buried treasure.

"Thanks, Henry!"

"All right, everyone. Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."

Whitney laughed as she nudged Jeff toward the dining room. The whole family followed behind them, chatting and laughing together.

I turned around, locked my bedroom door, and logged into an online marketplace. Then, without a second thought, I began listing everything I owned in this house, one item at a time.