Love Worth Fighting For

100 Another wound

Clarke Mansion, Geneva. 1.30 PM.

Christian’s arrival immediately received a loud shout from Suri who was getting nail care at home, as if she had forgotten that her nails were being decorated, Suri immediately ran to Christian who had just entered the house.

“I thought you forgot to come,” said Suri quietly, unable to hide her happiness.

Christian smiles. “How could I not come, it’s your first birthday since coming home.”

Suri tightened her arms around Christian’s stout body, Suri slowly released her arms from Christian’s body when her nose smelled the scent of a woman’s perfume from Christian’s body.

“What is it?” Christian asks quietly. “You weren’t asking what gift I brought you, were you?”

Siri nodded slowly. “I smell a woman’s perfume on you, Christ.”

“Women’s perfume?” Christian repeats Suri’s words while sniffing his body, trying to find the source of the scent that Suri smelled.

“Yes.”

.....

Christian chuckles. “Don’t talk nonsense. Your brother’s taste has changed, it’s time to go back to decorating your nails. You have to look perfect tonight.”

The stubborn Suri doesn’t immediately follow Christian’s orders, she still stands where she is, staring at Christian without blinking.

“Suri...”

“Ok..ok...” Suri curtly walked away from Christian, back to the chair where she sat before.

Christian only shook his head slowly when he saw the behavior of his younger sister, Suri, who three years ago had gradually returned. Even though he is far from Geneva, Christian is following the therapy process that Suri is doing.

Christian’s attention from Suri turned to his mother who was walking towards him with a smile as beautiful as a goddess, since Suri returned the smile that had been lost for three years was back on Anne’s face. With longing Anne hugged her first son tightly.

“Mommy thought you were going to be late,” said Anne in a half-whispered voice as she released her arms from Christian’s body, even though the distance from where Suri is sitting is far but Anne doesn’t want to take the risk.

Christian smiles. “Suri will definitely curse me if that happens, Mom.”

Anne chuckled. “Is your sister a witch who can curse, don’t talk nonsense.”

Christian purses his lips. “Where’s Daddy? I don’t see him?”

“Daddy’s picking up Asher,” said Anne softly.

The second Anne finished speaking, in that second Christian released his arms from his mother’s body. The look of disappointment was immediately apparent on Christian’s face.

“Honey...”

“I’m tired,” Christian says hoarsely. “I’m going straight to my room, Mom. Please tell Kainer to come see me as soon as he arrives.”

Anne, who had already guessed that something like this would happen, squeezed Christian’s hand tightly. “Asher is your little brother, Christ. He is the son of Aunty Linda and Uncle Paul, two people who have done so much for us. Don’t you forget what they both did for us when we...”

“Raising and giving an adopted child is a luxury. who like me and Suri have already paid enough for all our debts to the late Aunty Linda and Uncle Paul, Mom,” Christian replies loudly, again hearing his parents defend Asher openly makes Christian unable to contain himself.

Slap...

During the twenty-seven years of his new life, Christian felt the heat of his mother’s hand that landed so hard on his cheek that it left such a clear mark.

Not only Christian, Suri and Anne themselves were even shocked by what had just happened.

“D..darling....”

Christian immediately steps back, away from the touch of his mother who looks so panicked with tears that have flowed. Anne looked so sorry for what she had just done.

“Christ...”

“Stop.” Christian immediately stopped his mother’s words with a trembling voice, from the corner of his lips a red liquid was flowing. The slap that Anne gave was so strong that the corners of Christian’s lips cracked.

Anne immediately brought her right hand to her chest, the hot sensation when her palm touched Christian’s cheek was felt. Such regret immediately came over to Anne as she realized how hard she had hit her son.

Suri who immediately left her seat tried to touch her brother who was frozen without a word.

“Christ...” using her unfinished finger Suri tried to touch Christian’s cheek.

Before the slender fingers could touch Christian’s large hand, he gripped it gently in the air. “Happy birthday, honey.”

Suri immediately shook her head in panic, she knew what her brother’s words meant. “Please...”

Christian purses his lips, trying to hide his immense disappointment. The wound his father made three years ago has not healed and now a new wound has been made by his mother inside him.

“Christ...”

“I will come again tonight,” Christian said softly as he brought his forehead to Suri’s forehead. “See you.”

Before Suri could answer, Christian had already turned around and was trying to leave. However, Anne suddenly hugged his body, making Christian unable to leave. Anne’s sobs can be heard clearly in Christian’s ears.

“Sorry, I’m sorry honey...”

Anne is unable to finish her sentence as Christian manages to free himself from her embrace, Anne’s chest aching so much. Sadness, regret and fear all gathered together, hitting Anne with such force.

“See you, Suri,” Christian says softly before finally walking briskly towards the exit while wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.

The invisible hammer hits Anne again when she sees the red liquid staining Christian’s white hands, the slap she accidentally gave Christian was really strong.

Suri who doesn’t want to be left behind by her brother immediately runs quickly after Christian who has made it through the door, Suri doesn’t think about her nails anymore at this time. All she had in mind was to prevent his older brother from leaving the house.

“Christ, I beg you. I just got home, I just felt the warmth in the midst of you guys again, Christ,” said Suri stammering. “Do not go.”

Christian wipes Suri’s tears gently. “I’m not going, tonight I will come to your party, Suri.”

“I want you to stay home, Mommy didn’t mean it...Mommy for sure...”

“I know, I know Mommy didn’t mean to,” Christian interrupts softly.

“Then brother, don’t go, okay?” Suri asked seriously, Suri would only call Christian ‘brother’ when she was serious.

Christian purses his lips, pain gnawing at the corners of his chapped lips. “Remember Suri, you will always be my sister. The only sister I have, be a good girl, okay. Tonight I will come back, right before the event starts.”

Cup

Christian landed a kiss on Suri’s forehead lovingly, talking to Suri made the pain that was afflicting him slightly lessen. “See you tonight.”

Without another word Christian immediately walked away to his car, leaving Suri who was already crying. When Christian gets into the car, he sees his mother standing behind the door with a pale face and tears that won’t stop streaming down her face. Christian wants to run to his mother and hug her tightly right now, but the other side of him forbids him to do that. His father’s stubbornness that he inherited is controlling him right now.

“I’ll always be the umpteenth number for you guys,” Christian said hoarsely as the car that took him started to leave his laughing childhood home, the house that was his favorite place to go before the tragedy three years ago happened.