Chapter 2

There was so much of the twins' junk that the floor had no place for anything, so John's cat's litterbox ended up on my bed.

I felt a dull ring in my mind, and I couldn't help turning toward the living room where laughter echoed.

Bea just happened to be looking in my direction, and at that moment, I knew for certain that she saw the look of humiliation and helplessness on my face.

And yet, it was only a brief glance, and she turned away soon enough.

This wasn't the first time anyway, and I hadn't slept in the storeroom from the start.

However, Jane started crying a hissy fit complaining that her room was ten square feet smaller than John's, so Tia and Bea had no choice but to convert half of my room into a closet for Jane.

John didn't complain, merely glowering as he slammed the door on his way out.

After he stayed outside for an entire day, the other half of my room ended up as his gaming room, while I was left in the weather-prone storeroom.

And now, as I watched the endless rain that was accumulating over the windowsill, I felt an epiphany.

I was the spare all along—a puddle of excess.

First, it was my room, then it was my place in the family entirely.

I turned stiffly, closing the door so that it shut out the warmth and liveliness which was never meant for me.

I couldn't fall asleep this time—not that there was a place to sleep.

-

Early next morning, Mr. Ackles called me, saying that my application was accepted, but there was a problem.

"You are going abroad, after all," he explained. "That means your parents need to sign off the consent form… Have you told them about it?"

I clenched my fists at my sides, but I smiled. "It's alright. I'll handle it."

Still, as soon as I emerged from Mr. Ackles' office, I bumped into Bea, with a grumpy John right beside her.

He was throwing a childish tantrum, not caring that others were there. "I don't care! Jane and I are twins! If she won a piano recital, it would be so embarrassing if I got nothing! It's not fair!"

Previously, I would've been green-eyed with jealousy upon seeing how affectionate and tolerant Bea was, but now, I quickly turned away and tried to leave.

However, Bea suddenly grabbed my wrist with a vice-like grip while issuing yet another order as if it was her right. "Zac, you won first place at some basketball competition, didn't you? Let John receive the award, alright?

"You know how competitive he gets with Jane. Without it, he'll be sulking for days."

My mind went blank instantly, barely believing what I had just heard.

Still, my throat feeling dry and having trouble talking, I still began, "Mom, for that competition, I had to—"

"I know it's hard, but what good is that trophy to you?"

Bea impatiently cut me short. "Just give it to John. Or are you so intent on seeing a family quarrel?"

My eyes widened, even as I fought against the grief and rage flaring in my chest.

What about me?! Did peace in that house mean I must sacrifice everything?!

However, all the impulses flaring in me faded as I remembered the consent form in my bag, and I heard myself speak with a flat tone I had never used before. "Okay, but you have to sign this consent form first…"

Hearing that, Bea promptly took the form and signed it, and she happily turned to sweet talk John without even looking at the words 'student exchange program' in the title.

John, however, was still glowering, and he struck me with his shoulder as he walked past.

Turning to glare at me, he snorted in disdain. "Could have just done that from the start, but instead you had to make me waste my breath the whole time."

He said it like it was his right, but it was also the truth when half of all the things in the house had his name on them.

I kept quiet, clutching the consent form in my hand tightly as it was the courage that kept me going.