It was the day before going to school. I had packed all the necessary things needed, but still felt my soul resisting. Switzerland was too far away, but I had no choice but to heed my father's words.
I don't even know why he chose Switzerland, but I guess I have no say. He does what he wants and says everything with no questions.
My name is Spade, and I'm being tossed away like I don't matter. Someone will ask "why" and guess what? I know neither.
My father is a business mogul who travels around the world, and I tag along most of the time. But an associate's advice changed everything.
Mr. Johnson is a high-profile and dangerous man in all ways. He's been friends with my family for decades—closer especially to my dad. He has four sons, with two currently living with his ex-wife.
Because I had no mother—not that I had none, she passed away when I was five—I used to spend all my holidays with his family. But because of how dangerous his and my dad's work is, we were mostly with armed men twenty-four-seven for protection.
For the safety of her sons, Glade, Johnson's wife, decided to go her separate way with her sons. But she came to an agreement with Johnson and took only two away.
Taw and Crune are Johnson's sons whom his wife left behind. They're older than I am.
I always see myself as a tough person because I'm able to throw punches, arrange guns, and shoot. Dad and I hunt down his preys when need be. So I feel I can do what both of them are doing. I already know the game.
It's tough.
It takes guts.
It's messy.
That's what Dad always says. "You need to be dead to reality, because it doesn't exist." I won't say I understand what he meant by that, but I was always ready to move and learn, even when blood is spilt.
I know the ins and outs of guns. I have seen people shot and killed.
Tomorrow is the day I will be sent to Grace Mountain University in Switzerland. Yes, it is an all-boys university. The school only gives admission to the children of presidents, millionaires, and great people in society. It takes connections and more than money to be there.
At dawn, I crept into Taw's study and searched through his drawers. I wanted to delay going to Switzerland as soon as possible. I can't miss the fun of adventure with Dad and Johnson.
The top drawer contained files of different colors. It showed he's indeed Johnson's son. They were well-organized, because that's what he taught his sons—being organized makes you always ready for action. And that's exactly what I saw in there.
The second was locked. I tried opening it and heard the door click. I heard footsteps, and the light got turned on.
I heard whispers. Taw was with someone. I would be in big trouble if I'm found out, so I laid flat under the table and waited for him to get out.
Seriously, I don't even know why I'm in his study, but I heard Dad advising him to take it easy on the pills when I came out of my room the other day. But Taw just giggled and ran out of the hall.
I just needed something to weaken my body and help me fall sick real bad.
The light got turned off again. I thought they were out, so I crept out of my hiding place. But then I heard sounds, so I peeked.
Taw was on the sofa, and someone was on him. They had turned off the light for their own privacy. The room was dim, so I couldn't see what was happening—but what I heard was definitely not child's play.
The moans became louder. I heard Taw groaning. "What's happening?"
All of a sudden, I got turned on.
"The fuck."
But before my mind went west, I heard loud banging and the light was back on. Someone entered the room. From the way they were arguing now, I realized they were all men.
"Woah."
So I peeked from under the table. Taw was in his boxers, and the other guy was totally naked. He was standing in between the new guy and Taw.
I think I had seen the guy who just entered before, but I can't remember where. I heard the guy shouting, "Is this the business trip you said?" and with that, a punch landed on Taw's face and he stumbled back. He tried holding him again, and he kicked him.
I think I had lost my chance to fall sick before morning, but as the banter was still on, Johnson entered and tried dragging the guy out, but he was resisting.
I heard Johnson say, "Chris, let's talk outside," and they left. A minute later, Crune entered.
At that moment, Taw gave the naked guy a stare and he bolted out of the room with his clothes.
Crune just stared at him with a mocking face and left. A moment later, my dad entered.
My heart was beating in my chest because—even though my dad is friendly with Taw—he sounded really scary, and everything showed he was not to be messed with.
He went to Taw and helped him sit on the sofa because he was kicked to the ground. With a stern face, he said, "We will be having a talk in the morning," and left.
Taw followed not long after he left.
I immediately went back to the reason I was in the study. I went straight to the third drawer—and there it was. Different kinds of pills with no labels, in colored seals. I guess the owner knows which one to take when in the mood.
I took the white seal, took out four pills, tucked them in my pocket, and went out. Finally, my mission was complete.
I heard loud talking from Johnson's study. I guess he's there with my dad.
I raced to my room when I realized no one saw me. Took my shirt off, sat on the bed, and swallowed all the pills.
With all the happenings of the night, sleep took its toll on me—and everywhere went black.
---
I heard my father shouting my name with urgency. He was in my room, his hands in his pocket, and was staring at me with a frown on his face. He asked if I was okay.
He said, "I have been standing here for five minutes and I have been calling you several times now. What are you implying by not answering?"
I just stared at him with a blank face.
Then I realized—I was feeling normal. Like every other morning.
Actually, I should be sick, right? I thought. I should definitely be feeling weak right now. What is happening?
I should be vomiting or something. Something should be happening. Why am I feeling okay? Why is my head not aching?
With an annoyed face, he shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you? You think we have all the time to waste on you? Check your fucking watch and see the time. Eighteen, Spade. You're 18 fucking years and you're wasting my time."
I looked at him seriously and rolled my eyes.
I saw something shift in him. Scared I was—but I stood my ground and shouted back.
"Dad, what do you want me to do, huh? You entered my room and started lecturing me!"
I entered the washroom and banged the door.
I stared at my face in the mirror and said, I guess even drugs can't save me now.
When I entered my room, my luggage was on my bed, with Johnson and Dad chatting beside it.
The moment I entered the room, my dad moved toward me but Johnson held him.
He got out and left the door ajar.
"So, any girl to say goodbye to?" Johnson asked.
I shook my head. He tilted his head and smiled.
"I've been moving from one place to the other with you and Dad. I had no time for that," I said.
"Well," he said, "it is not late to start looking. You're 18, dude. Or is your dad scaring you from it?"
I looked at him and laughed. "When Taw was 18, he was doing worse."
"As you fly to Switzerland, make friends and have fun, yeah?" he said.
"Your dad is looking out for you. Everything he does is for your own good."
"But I don't want to go to Switzerland," I said. "He just forces things on me."
I looked straight at Johnson and asked, "Did you do that to Taw and Crune?"
"Yes, I did," he responded. "They needed to follow in my footsteps, so I forced things on them too."
I just stared at him with a frustrated look. He held my shoulder and smiled.
"It's going to be alright. And don't forget to kick anybody's ass when you're messed with, huh? Make them see reasons no one messes with the Domingos, yeah?"
I smiled and eyed him.
"Your eyes are just like your father's. They pierce the heart with just a look. And watch out—there are really bad boys just like you there."
I smiled, and we stared at each other with no words from Johnson again.
---
Dad, Johnson, Taw, Crune, and his other two sons, Ramil and Paw, were all accompanying me to the school.
Dad just gave me the stare and turned.
And I don't give a fuck.
I should be giving the stare and sulking—because all this school stuff is messing me up. Why can't I school here instead of Switzerland?
All because I need to be in the midst of some annoying clique.
The fuc...
We took the jet. And just like that—we left.