Confession

Sadoche

“Are you sure about this?” I looked at Aki who is still busy buttoning his shirt—my shirt.

“I just want to see Mom’s reaction when she sees us. Today I’ll be Kirian and you’ll act like me. I just want to give myself a break. You’re a lucky bastard, you get to stay with her while I’m stuck with Granny.”

I heave a sigh and adjusted the collar of his hoody he threw at me. Dad died when we were young, and our grandparents decided to split the two of us. Aki spent his life in the countryside with Mom’s parents while I lived the City life with Mom. Gramps passed away two years ago, leaving him with Granny alone.

“Of course, she’ll notice. Whose parents can’t even recognize their sons?”

I rested my back on the wall behind me while he pulled the glasses from my eyes. He cussed when he tried it. Other twins, though identical can still be differentiated from each other. But that’s not our case. Aki and I look the same. Same height, facial features, body built—everything. Except for the mole near my navel and Aki’s birthmark that looks like an elephant on his lower back.

“Damn, your eyesight sucks. Have you heard of contact lenses, bro?” he mocked, “Stop sulking. We’ll get caught before we even start playing pretend, dummy. Smile, will you? Ugh, I hate your eyes.” We’re just nine as if Mom will let me use contact lenses, idiot.

“Why don’t you just open the damn door and tell Mom you’re home instead of pretending?”

He regarded me like he didn’t think of that then punched my side. “Can’t. I promised Granny I won’t talk to you nor Mom. We can’t be seen together, remember?”

I pulled him behind the brick wall when I saw my butlers coming. Mom insisted on me being followed by Uncle Rick’s men everywhere. Aki used to sneak behind Granny’s sight and he always rocks it.

“Meet me in the treehouse after dinner.”

He hugged me before running towards the car. I hissed when I almost tripped on the stone behind me. I can’t even see properly without my glasses.

Our Manor is too vast someone can get lost in the woods. When I was four, Dad made a treehouse for me in the woods. We always spend our time there together with Aki. It’s our secret place, not even Mom knows about it. No one dares to walk into the woods since the manor is heavily guarded. Dad was an own-made billionaire. His love of wine made his bed of money. Soon, he decided to run and was elected as the town Mayor.

We were happy until he died. Mom was so broken-hearted. They were the perfect couple. Dad adored Mom so much she’s treated like a queen. She’s Dad’s angel. That’s why when Dad died in a plane crash, he took a piece of Mom’s life with him. Since then our world has totally changed.

My stomach grumbles as I check my watch. It’s thirteen past eight but Aki hasn’t come back yet. Dad said there are wolves in the woods but none of them scared me. It was Aki who easily get scared even with the sound of the cricket alone. He might be the cool guy but he’s also the weak one. He’s afraid of the dark and insects. There was even a time when he almost faint because a sticky toad jumped on his hand.

Taking the flashlight Dad keeps in the treehouse, I navigated my way back to the Manor. I can walk back to the house with my eyes close and I won’t even bump into something. It's funny how my eyes suck at being eyes when they’re opened yet too sharp when they’re closed and I’m in the dark.

Mom’s frantic voice filled the manor. Since I’m afraid she caught Aki already, I sneaked into the kitchen, tiptoeing to check what’s going on.

“Oh my God, this can’t be happening.”

She’s practically shaking. The last time I saw her like that was when she learned that Dad was in a plane crash.

“Calm down, Georgina.” Uncle Rick tried to calm Mom down. I hate it when he touches her. “The police are already in the Ole Keating Village—Georgina!”

Mom collapsed on the floor, making me rush into the scene.

“Mom!” I pushed Uncle Rick away from her.

“How can I calm down?” she cried, oblivious of the fact that I’m kneeling beside her. She gripped my arm so tight I thought my bone will break. “Mom’s house was burned down and they can’t find my sons!”

“Georgina, Akira is here.” Uncle Rick’s voice turned tight but I didn’t pay too much attention.

As if finally seeing me, Mom pulled me into a hug. I can feel her tears soaking me but she’s a minute away from breaking down.

“Goodness gracious, Akira.” Mom kissed my forehead, “I thought I lost you, too. Where have you been? No, don’t answer. I’m glad you’re not included in the fire.”

Mom’s words are not fathomable. I don’t know what’s going on but Uncle Rick told his men to lock me upstairs. I kicked the air, trying to free myself from the bastards who practically carry me into my room.

“Don’t let him out of Kirian’s room until I said so.”

Just like that, I was locked into my room for the rest of the night.

I was locked into my room since then. Mom’s catatonic. She’s not coming out of her room and being the shit excuse for a human Rick is, the fucker took the role of comforting my Mom for the crime he made. He took charge of our businesses. Since that day, I was forced to be my brother. Rick Halliday wanted us dead and I’m not giving in to him.

It’s been ten days and still no news about Aki. Satan’s counterpart, AKA Rick, continued playing the supportive best friend. I always hated him, turned out my guts’ right.

One rainy night, three police officers knocked on our door. It was Rick who opened it and faced them.

“We already found Mr. Kirian Sadoche.” The fat guy informed Mom.

I watched Rick’s face and I swear I saw fear but the douche schooled his reaction and talked to the officer.

“Where’s Kirian?” he asked as he holds Mom’s hand, his voice covered with concern. I would’ve believed him if I didn’t hear him.

I’m here Mom. It was Akira who’s been missing all along.

“Someone found him sprawled on the road. They took him to the hospital.”

Rick insisted on leaving me in the Manor but I wanted to see my brother so I run to the car before him. Mom told him she’ll let me go with them, leaving him no choice but to tag me along. Every step we took, the harder it is to breathe. When Rick asked the nurse where Aki is, they led us to the room we least expected.

Another officer is waiting outside the morgue. Mom’s walking like a zombie. There’s a body covered in a blanket inside the cold room. It was Rick who removed the white sheet and Mom started wailing. Akira’s face is beyond unrecognizable. His head is smashed. His face is a disgusting color of violet. His face is basically broken, brutally beaten. My shirt which he wore when he disappeared looks like a rag. His body is covered with bruises and ugly wounds. His left arm is dislocated.

I balled my fist and started hitting Rick. The officers stopped me but I’m too furious. I wanted to kill him, too. The trampled face of my brother will forever haunt me. They took me out of the morgue and Rick crouched in front of me.

“If I were you, I’ll stop being a bitch.” He gritted his teeth, I wanted to remove each of them using cotton pliers. “Now, you’ll behave if you don’t want to end up like your brother.”

***

A honking car stopped near me. I’m sitting in the middle of the street. I’m all soaked in the rain but I’m too numb to care. Lucas climbed off the car with an umbrella in his hand.

“Damn, man. What’s gotten into you?” he offered his hand which I just stared at. “For fuck’s sake, get up. It’s fucking raining hard!”

When he realized that I don’t plan on getting on my feet, he withdrew the umbrella on the street and squat in front of me.

“Fine, I’ll sit here with you until you decided to go. But a friendly reminder, bro—it’s your fault if I get sick.”

Lucas doesn’t have any idea what happened to my life. I met him during our freshmen year in their school. I got no friends. I don’t want one. My life’s already fucked up, adding another problem in the shape of a friend is the last thing I want. But Lucas is like a leech. He’ll stick with you and suck your blood. And soon enough, the scumbag managed to take a part in my life.

“It was my brother,” I confirmed.

“What are you talking about, bro?” his face shows he has a clue on whatever I’m babbling.

I look straight into his eyes. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. I balled my fist until I felt my nails digging on my palm.

“The boy Roux’s talking about is my brother.”