DERRICK'S POV
I was 9, my grandma died, my grandpa was barely holding it together, my aunties all married and needs to take care of my grandpa, and I was sent back to my parents, my older brother, Kennedy was in high school my 2nd older brother Carlson in grade 5, my younger brother Russell in 3rd grade like me, while my younger sister, Selene in 1st grade.
They use the family car to get to school. It was a 7-seater car, if you think about it, I could fit, but Russell has a neighbor friend he gets to school with, my mom always goes to school with them, because she's a high school teacher, while my dad is an engineer. I remember it was back to school 2 days after I arrived home. I didn't feel welcome because they went on a trip and came back a day before back-to-school. They slept the entire day, and I was already transferred to the new school by my aunt.
I woke up early that time to cook breakfast. It was 3:50 am, and my class started at 7 am. I had my own groceries; I asked my aunt to buy them for me, though she hesitated because my parents have money. I still didn't want to get their financial support. I didn't seek their attention; I just want to be on my own. After I prepared my breakfast, I went to take shower on a very cold shower, I have it in my own room, or the old guestroom, after taking a bath, I read books that I would probably be having in school, I checked the time it's 5 am already, I wore my uniform, I also wore jacket, because I was taking my bike, I went out, just before they wake up and cycled to the school, because in case I get lost I know my way. I checked my watch, it's 6:40. They had opened the gates at 6 already, so I was sitting inside the waiting area, and of course my family arrived, surprised, I didn't look at them for too long, I just sat there, my parents approached me with the look of surprise and worry, "How did you get here? What time did you come here?" My mom asked, "With my bike at 5:40 am?" I replied nonchalantly, "How about your breakfast? Is your uniform already ironed? Your pocket money?" My dad asked, "I wake up at 3 to make my own breakfast, and don't worry, I have my own groceries, and I asked Aunty to give me money, I also know how to use an iron." I replied, and both of them were speechless. The guards looked at my parents with disdain and disgust. What more can I say… "Don't worry, everyone, my parents are very loving, it's just I wasn't there with them… and they have 4 kids to take care of except me... I'm the middle child, so it is normal… anyways, my loving parents enjoy your day, cause I will surely enjoy mine," and that's when I started to learn sarcasm, manipulation, and gaslighting. The feeling of joy seeing them feel miserable is what I thirst for.
I was 10, my mother became more authoritarian towards me, telling me to help Russell because I'm older than him, yeah, for 7 months, Russell would take my things, rip my papers just because he didn't want me to steal his mother's attention, which I don't even like.
It was 2 days before exam I memorized when does my mother came, but since all my siblings call him mom, while I call them birth parents, they will be willing to do anything for me to call them mom and dad, so my plot begins, I know I'll ace my exams, after all I studied every possible questions though I taught Russell surface level lessons I also made him listen a recording of my random reading that I recorded 5 days before I studied so he will fail and be jealous of me, it was the day of the exam, I ruined the record deleting it in my record pen.
The exam results came the next day. Russell scored 20/50, while I scored 45/50. I made sure I made 5 mistakes to not raise suspicion, that I, who taught Russell, made his grades worse. Russell was furious when we got home. I had the copies of my perfect quizzes and the exam paper all presented in a table. My siblings were in the kitchen, except Russell, who was coming down the stairs. "Mom, Dad… older brothers… and sister…I want to show my scores on my quizzes and exams…" I said with matching kitty eyes. They were all excited and my mother even had a tear in her eyes, they were excited to go out but Russell started the show, he ripped all my papers in front of them one piece of paper flew to my older brother's feet my exam score, then my parents shouted at Russell he stopped and he started blaming me, of course I had to "cry" and go to my room, and scatter the mock quizzes that we had which he got high scores, my parents came and I was of course had to pinch myself to cry, and they all comfort me, leading me downstairs where Russell already kneeling, he apologized I know it was sincere, but the show isn't done yet "I know you don't accept me here, after all I didn't grew up with you, I didn't mean to steal your parents I know my place… they are just my birth parents… and I know I don't have a place in this house… don't worry after tomorrow I'll go to the social service… I don't want to ruin your beautiful family…" I said while crying, then all stopped me, begged me to stay, even Russell, I know he had shared my dreams with the family, how I want to be like my parents who work hard, blah, blah, blah. Of course, they would buy it because this family of mine values work and family, and of course, their faces… as the most amazing family in the neighborhood. Ever since then, they have treated me right, but I had plans. I went for a modeling career; my family was not happy with it at first, but since I got great scores in school, they let me, and I was even allowed to play games.
But when I was 15 I went to audition a young prince for a movie, but Russell got in, so I made their movie flop by accepting a role in the other company who received awards after I act as a supporting actor, which had tons of awards, even I received the supporting role award that my brother and I were fighting for, I made endorsement after endorsement and I didn't come back home, I stayed at the apartment and finish my studies with my own money while Russell stopped acting and focusing on studies. I graduated with flying colors, while he barely passed the admission for engineering. While I pursued multimedia arts. Apparently, after Russell graduated, he went back to become an actor, got major roles, and became one of the best actors. My parents always asked about my whereabouts, but they couldn't find me.
When I met Skyler, I knew he is easily to be manipulated, he is hot I admit but if I cling to him maybe he could help me become a star, or so I thought, I didn't just lost my ads but I fell when the entire SkyMaze event flops, it is because of SeaSalt, I have been meaning to meet him but fate seems to play on our path.
TO BE CONTINUED...