Semua Bab Shattered Moments: Bab 11 - Bab 14

As I came back home that day, I was surprised to see my elder brother, Kelvin, in our parlor. A lighter was in one hand, a cigarette in the other. I wasn’t shocked though.He was never the academic type, so he didn’t even have a middle school certificate. Back then, before Dad fell ill, people always compared us. That comparison hurt his ego a few times, but it didn’t really mess with our bond as siblings.I remember one time, back in grade four, when I won the national quiz competition. There were cash prizes, loads of gifts, and even random admirers celebrating me. I came home so excited to share the news with my parents and my only brother.“Congratulations, OliOli. You’ve made us proud again,” Kelvin said, patting me on the shoulder lightly.We had that kind of sibling relationship where you didn’t have to say too much to feel close.“Thanks, big bro. The win is for the family,” I said with a proud smile.But just as I was still talking, Dad cut in sharply.“You keep smoking and f

When I got home from school that day, the house felt unusually quiet. The kind of silence that wrapped itself around you, heavy and uncomfortable. I met my mum in the sitting room. She didn’t say a word,neither did I. We just shared stillness that hung in the air like thick fog.We had lunch without exchanging a single sentence. She sat across from me, her eyes fixed on her plate, but I could tell she wasn’t really eating. I wasn’t either. My throat felt too tight.I stood to carry my plate to the kitchen, then paused. I wanted to walk up to her to apologize and to say something. Anything at all could do . But before I could even take a step, a knock echoed through the house.When I opened the door,Lola and Andrew stood there, both of them were staring at me like they’d been practicing what to say the whole way they came here.We all walked quietly to my room. No one said anything for a while. The silence returned, but this time, it wasn’t just a cold silence but the situation we're