RDD 65

RDD 65




I was shocked when I opened the door. I saw my brother standing at the door, looking at me with a frown. 


Then, he pulled me out of the house and screamed at me.


"Why didn't you tell me that your apartment will be demolished?"


"Brother? What are you doing?"


Perhaps I was still shocked, I unconsciously asked him after he screamed at me. 


"Heh, this bastard... Didn't you hear what I said?"


"Okay okay, first stop holding my collar."


"..." 


In a bad mood, he pushed me away. 


Hey, that's kinda rude. If you're not my brother, maybe we would have a ruckus here. 


"Honey?" 


Penelope came out after she heard my brother screaming. She was pale and looked at me worriedly. 


"It's alright. I'm fine." I said and adjusted my collar. 


"Keith, do you really hate me that much?"


Sean's expression was really bad. Based on his clenched fist, he was ready to punch me. 


If you're going to ask me. My brothers and I have few fistfights in our lives. I didn't back down even if I was facing Jeremy or Sean. Heck, I was not even afraid of my father. 


The answer was simple. I was raised very spoiled and my parents gave me what I want. So my mentality was like an arrogant King. 


Out of the three of us, I was the most problematic and hot-headed. Second was Sean while Jeremy was the calmest. 


Of course, when I fought my brothers, I always lose. I am much smaller and weaker than then. 


However, I always tattle them on my Mom and she would beat them instead. That's my role as the youngest child, to cry and tell my Mom about the injustice I suffer. 


But now, we were both adults. I never have any intention of causing trouble for my brother. 


Besides, I understand where Sean was coming from. 


"Of course not."


"Then why didn't you tell me that you're apartment will be demolished?"


"Because we don't have to. Sean, I can find a place for us. You don't have to worry."


"As expected, you are still stubborn." 


"Waahhh! Waahh! Dajjy!"


Suddenly, Sophia cried when she saw us fighting. She crawled because her knees and hands were dirty. 


"Sweetheart, I thought you were sleeping." Penelope carried her and wiped the dirt. 


"..."


"..."


The two of us became silent when Sophia stared at us. She looked pitiful. It was heartbreaking to see her like this.


"Wuuu wuuu wuuu."


Especially when she was staring at Sean. Sean gradually lost his anger. He felt bad instead. 


If my guess is right, Sean didn't have any children. I learned from him how to be a playboy. He is much of a Master than me. 


"This child..." He looked at me. 


"She's my daughter."


"So that's why her name is Sophia." He completed the puzzle. 


"That's right."


"It's a good thing that we bought a cake instead."


The neighbors started coming out of their apartments after hearing our ruckus. 


"Sean, how about we go inside?" I invited him. 


"Okay."


Penelope stopped Sophia from crying after cradling her. Sophia returned to sleep but her eyes were a bit swollen... Damn it, Sean, you motherfucker. You made my daughter sad!


When we entered the apartment, I saw Roma sitting in a chair with a baseball bat next to him. 


Really Roman? Can you even swing that bat with your small arms? 


He nodded at me. Almost as if he knew my question. Roman glared at Sean, clearly showing his hostility. 


"Hoh, this kid looks tough. Too bad he is thin." 


Sean made fun of Roman and the boy further glared at him. 


I sighed. My kids were quite talented. 


Sean looked around and frowned. 


"This place is so small. How can you live in a place like this?"


"We are living well."


"Okay. If that's what you want."


Penelope put a coffee on the table. She cut two slices of cake for us.


"Honey, you don't have to. Sean will be going to leave anyway."


"This kid..." He grinned.


"Keith. I will go straight to the point. Return to the house. I can talk to Mom and Dad. I'm sure they will understand you--"


"Never." My answer was clear. 


I would never return. I already have a family. 


"Dude. If you talk to Dad, he will understand you. Dad was just thinking of your future at that time."


"Sean, let's not talk about that. I will never return to our house." 


"Okay fine. Then how about Cavite? Cavite is far better than Manila. At least it's cleaner and more peaceful. Heck, this place is even dangerous for your family."


"Sean, you don't have to speak anymore."


"Do you have a place to stay once this building is demolished?... What is this thing?" His face was ugly after tasting the coffee. 


"So far not. And what you're drinking is rice coffee. It tastes great, right?"


As expected of my wife. She knew how to take revenge. 


Sean decisively put the coffee down. He didn't like it at all. 


"Keith, listen to me. I have a house where you can live. You don't have to find another place. I will give it to you for free."


"What's the catch? It's in Cavite?" I smirked. 


"That's right. But it's Dasmariñas Cavite. It's far from our parent's house."


The province of Cavite had eight districts and more than 20 cities. It was a prosperous province with annual revenue of 3 billion pesos. 


My parents live in Imus Cavite and it was quite far from Dasmariñas. 


"..." 


I was actually contemplating. My brother's offer was enticing.  


"I will never tell Mom and Dad. Mom is too talkative to keep a secret. As for Dad... Well, Dad is Dad."


"..."


I didn't know how to answer. I knew how troublesome it was to find another place to stay. To be honest, I'm having a hard time sleeping because of this problem. 


I'm worried about the kids. I didn't want them to live in a small house where they can only sit and stand. The apartments in Manila are so damn expensive that I don't know how inflation fucked us. 


"Can you keep your promise?"


"Keith, have I ever lied to you?"


"A lot. You lied when you said that Jeremy was the one who destroyed my remote control helicopter. You're the one who stole my piggy bank when we were young--"


"Okay, Okay. But this time, I will keep it a secret."


"... I will think about it."


"Good. Then I have to live here till you have your answer." He smiled. 


... This bastard. What a stubborn bastard.


"You're stubborn, huh."


"I should tell you that myself."


We both stared at each other, smirking.