"Of course.. I did, what makes you say so?" I nonchalantly asked, acting as if I didn't almost burn the house down.
As I turned off the stove and poured myself a cup of coffee with a slight tremor in hand, I heard a rustle of papers behind me then. "this, this.. It came early in the morning, the postal box was filled with them. You didn't even bother taking them." She threw them onto a nearby table, went through them with hands and continued "You didn't bother taking them, some are.. Months old."
I approached them, placing the coffee mug down and reading the papers.
Rent due.
Rent due.
Rent due.
Rent due.
My eyes glistenned seeing a different first letter, it quickly dropped.
Electricity fee.
Water fee.
I continued reading through multiple other bills, varying from electricity to trash and tax, the biggest legal theft our shitty government as well as other ones are doing.
Suddenly she threw a red envelope onto the table, closed off as ifa gift- Christmas was soon after all.
"It came this morning, he brought it himself.. The landlord."
My heart stopped beating for a slight second as I took a sip "He did? All the way from Dradmir?"
She nodded, "Apparently you have been ignoring him too much."
I went through my hair with my left hand then looked at her - "Is that why you're home Marie..? You were supposed to be there a long time ago." I took my phone out and turned it on "Nine Am.. You missed two classes?"
She shook her head a bit, as she did I noticed just below her neck a slightly purple bruise.
"That's not why.."
My teeth clenched slightly, knowing well what was that. Closing my eyes, I took a few breaths.
I looked away choosing to ignore it, since she was trying to hide it as well under her lacy white shirt..
'Did I notice because of.. No, probably not.'
"It's fine.. Get dressed up and go now, I'll inform the school you overslept."
"Why do I have to go…?"
My heart slightly dropped at her shaky, almost scared voice. "To not end up like an elder brother." I answered, trying to sound calm. "Can I skip just today?" She asked me.
I knew the reason well why, just the day before yesterday I had been called to school. 'Sexual activity within the school's periphery including delinquency, alleged bullying and frequent skipping of classes.. Disciplinary actions must be taken, huh…'
"You skipped yesterday as well.. And the day before that and before.. With this track record you'll be kicked out soon." I tried to lighten her mood with a joke, she whispered "I wish," With teary eyes she looked at me "You believe them too, don't you? Those baseless rumours?" She asked me sharply, I shook my head. "I don't."
"If you didn't you wouldn't let me go, if you didn't you willingly wouldn't send me to..-- Hell."
I exhaled "YOU" Realising I slightly raised my voice, I immediately lowered it and continued "You wouldn't want to end up like me? Hopping from job to job, bowing to pathetic people would you? I know you wouldn't, your MY sister after all. Our family's motto is all about that. Whatever you do, never bow, never let in on yourself, never strike first, but if someone strikes you bite with everything you got. A person carrying our family's blood, could never do what I-"
"YET YOU DO!" She screamed slightly, stepping back "You bow left and right, to my teacher, to his parents, you beg and beg and beg why!? Why are you doing that? Seeing you beg, saying it's my fault, yours for not educating me well, blaming yourself just because our parents had an early demise. WHY!? Do you know how they look at me? Those kids, those teachers, everyone! The great and mighty Ryunosuke family, left all alone with two members and living barely on someone's spares, begging for his sister's free education, do you know just.. Just how humiliating that is?"
"MARIE!" I raised my voice, making her flinch back as I got closer.
I just patted her head not knowing what to actually do, I knew she was right.
I quit my job earlier because of pride, not that she would know. In her eyes the heir of the great Ryunosuke family kneels because of her, bows to others for spares. I suppose she'd be right.
It's not like I quit on the first thrown jab, there were numerous humiliations I endured before ultimately deciding to find a new job again.
"Please, just today?" She asked me with pouty, half teary black eyes. I exhaled and thought, why does it have to be like this? Why can't I pay for a prestigious private academy? Why? Why us? Then whispered "Sure… Today, but promise me you'll go tomorrow."
She immediately smiled, almost as if a wall of burdens dropped down her arms immediately hugging me. I could feel she had slightly teary eyes, that's why she most probably hugged me - to not appear sad in front of me. "Thank you. But no promises.." She whispered into my chest as I hugged her back.
Several moments later we talked about various things, mostly about me quitting again and being forced to find something new again. But I was already determined, I glanced at the red envelope knowing what's most probably in it.
Her phone buzzed, she took it and read a message then looked at me, wanting to ask something with slight guilt. I smiled slightly relieved "Friends?"
She nodded with a smile "Yeah from Kyokrocho academy. You know.."
I nodded, the most prestigious academy in the city and beyond it, a place where every rich kid attends, a place for every extremely smart student to show his skills, the place where her childhood friends, from back when we were still well off - were most probably attending to.
I took my wallet and took out fifty dennars and slid it over the table "Go have fun." Her eyes glistened "Are you sure?" She asked curiously, leaning in to take them. I nodded, "I'm sure. Just promise me you'll go to school tomorrow."
She stopped for a bit. "I can-"
Then I stopped her "Don't worry. I'll take care of it, you won't be attending Zakuryu public education anymore."
She raised an eyebrow curiously "B-"
"Don't worry about it." I calmly said, looking at the corner of the living room beyond the table, a black figure was rising from nowhere. "I was anxious but.." I took off the cross calmly, and placed it onto the table. "Im sure now. There is nothing to fear,"
'Nothing, but the continuation of this shitty life that is.'
"If I must, I'll even sell my soul to him."