Thirty-Seven

Anger is rising from my body. My eyes are flaming while I look at the guy in front of me. My eyebrows are furrowing along with my panting.

He took a step forward until the light from the kitchen shone on his face, making us see and identify his identity.

I looked at my mom and she was also stated in shock. Her mouth is parted open while also staring at dad. "Brad?" she muttered, I can see tears forming in her eyes. I looked back at my dad and saw him smiling at my mom.

He then looked back to me. "Happy Birthday, son." he said and smiled at me genuinely.

"What are you doing here?" I asked anger is toned within my voice. Still breathing heavily, I stared at him once again and decided to look away.

I can't stand staring at this guy. I can't stand staring at the man who left us 12 years ago just right after Alexander died. He didn't have any reason, he just darted away from his family, leaving us with no explanation.

I stepped away from him then my shoulder was bumped into a person. Archer was right next to me, "Hey, you alright, man?" he asked with his eyebrows furrowed while looking at me. I didn't respond and just bowed my head but he insisted to talk to me and repeated the same question.

"I'm fi-" I was cut when he suddenly spoke out loud.

"Uncle Brad" he shouted and left me to go to the man he just called. My eyes widened again. I glanced at Archer who's running to greet the man he just called uncle. Why would he call my dad his uncle? I stared at them as they greet each other, my mouth parted open and my mind is going blank.

"Mrs. Elcarpe, Asher, this is my uncle whom I live in." Archer introduced.

"Your what?" I exclaimed. All of them looked at me.

"My uncle."

I shook my head repeatedly. "No." I whispered. The look at my dad's face tells it all. Archer still looked confused and kept looking back to me and to my dad.

"What do you mean 'no'? What's happening?" Archer complained and nervously chuckled. The atmosphere around us is growing in tension. All the stares, the tone of speaking, and the stances are growing in tension.

"That's not your fucking uncle, Archer." I grunted.

Archer then looked at me with disbelief, his mouth is parted open while staring at me. "What? No, dude, I lived with my uncle since I was a kid. Why are you so pressed?"

"He's not your uncle!" I snapped, raising the tone of my voice, and looked at him.

"Why do you keep fucking saying that?" he shouted.

"Stop!" my mom chimed in. She looked stressed and devastated. I heard footsteps behind me, when I looked behind I saw Alexis, also in the state of shock. Archer looked at him, I looked at him, mom looked at him, and dad looked at him.

Alexis' face looked confused as he stares at our dad who is in the front door. Tears started forming in his eyes while sadness draws on his face. He's now seeing his father, his father who left him when he was a baby.

He only sees dad in pictures and now, the guy is standing in our house. I'm sure Alexis wanted to go to him and hug him, but I can also see the hesitation that is forming on him.

This is the moment where things can be clarified. I wanted to clarify my life as well, so as much as I hate it, I needed to talk to him. To my dad.

We all ended up in the living room. Mom and Alexis were sitting on the couch, Archer is sitting on a chair in my left side, and Dad is standing, facing us all.

Since no one is engaging to start a conversation, I took my chance to speak.

"Why did you come back?" I said while leaning on the wall with my arms crossed in front of my chest. I waited for an answer but I got nothing. I glanced at my dad and asked him the same question. "Why...did you...come back?" I repeated and pursed my lips.

"Son, it's your birthday." he answered. "I'm here because I want to be in my son's special day."

"Bullshit." I immediately responded. "It was my birthday last year too, why didn't you show up there? Two years ago I had my birthday too, why didn't you show up? Three years ago was my birthday too, why didn't you show up?"

Silence happened. No one insisted talking. "Are you just going to stand there all night?" I talked again. Dad was about to respond, but Archer did instead.

"Calm down, dude." he said, I looked at him with disbelief.

"Calm down? You wanna talk about calming down, Archer?" the tone of my voice was raising. "This man left us without saying anything. He left us in the cold atmosphere of this house without even giving a reason. And now 12 years later, he shows up."

I looked at my Dad. "And for what?

"Asher, don't talk to your father like that." my mom chimed in.

"Shut it, Mom. I don't care. He's not my father anymore."

All of us went silent again. Then my dad spoke.

"I'm here to fix all of the things that ruined your lives. Specially, you, Asher." he said and looked at me, I didn't say anything and just kept on listening to him. "What I did is for your own good."

"What are you trying to say?" I finally urged myself to ask. He stared at me for a while before answering my question. Hesitation is shown from his face.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "It was fake." he hesitated. "It was all fake."

"What is fake?" I heard Archer spoke.

From looking to me, my dad's eyes laid on Archer then he looked back to me. "The accident." he whispered, his lips trembling.

I was stiffened. It took moments for me to realize that I was not moving.

The accident was fake. The accident that I believed in which is the reason my brother died was fake. What the fuck does that mean?

I looked at my father who is still staring at me in sympathy. Mom was also in shock, tears are flowing in his face as she covers her mouth and started sobbing. Alexis was confused, he's comforting our mother as he keeps looking back from me and to my dad. Indicating a sign of confusion.

Archer was confused too. He doesn't know anything about this family, yet here he is. "I'm confused." I heard him say. "What accident are we talking about?"

I didn't respond to him as my eyes are still locked onto my dad's. "What do you mean fake?"

Again, he hesitantly responded. "No one died in the accident, Asher, because it was all fake. Your brother is still alive."

And there, I went silent. Receiving this information didn't make any sense. He is still alive. Alexander is still alive. But, where is he? And what about the funeral? My relatives were in there. They attended the funeral. Was that fake too?

"If you're bullshitting us right now, I swear I will make you leave this house." I warned, glaring at my father.

"I'm telling the truth, son. Your brother is still alive."

I didn't bother responding as I process all what's happening inside my head. Not having a single care around, I walked away from the scene and went to my room.

I closed the door shut and went to sit on my bed. I can't help myself but think.

I knew it. Somehow, I knew that my brother is still alive but, I just can't prove it. And now, we receive that. My father, coming into the house, ruining my whole day, and telling that the accident was all fake.

Somehow, something inside me is happy, knowing that my brother is still alive. But, at the same time, doubts also form inside my mind.

I stayed in the room for a little bit longer, still thinking about what just happened. Suddenly, I hear the door opening.

I took a glance to its direction and saw Archer, he closed the door behind him and leaned on it, staring at the floor, looking wasted and shocked.

His gaze goes up to mine, our eyes locked together. I was just confused as him. Then he broke the eye contact as he walks away from the door and sat on his bed.

I was still looking at him out of confusion. He refuses to make eye contact again and just stared at the ground. "Asher." he broke the silence, his voice was in a half whisper and was still not making eye contact. I didn't respond. I just looked at him. "Can you complete these words that I'm about to say?"

I was confused at first, but I have no choice but to agree. Then he started talking again.

"Burgers...raptors...tokens, and?" he stopped, waiting for my answer. I've heard those words before. I couldn't remember when but it felt so nostalgic. I muttered my answer as soon as it appeared on my mind.

"Sodas." I answered. He gave me a firm nod then spoke again.

"Water, Leviathan. Fire,"

"Phoenix."

"Villains. Heroes. Robots,"

I hesitated to answer. "Aliens."

A moment of silence occurred. I eventually knew where this is going. But, my mouth won't talk and say a word. I refuse to believe that all of this is happening now.

I wasn't the one who broke the silence, it was him, Archer. "Holy shit." he whispered, looking at me directly.

I didn't know what to answer and the next thing I know, he rushed onto me and formed an embrace. Surprised, I stood up as he still holds on the embrace.

"It's you. It really is you." Archer whispers in my shoulder.

Still confused on what's happening, I had no choice but to speak what's on my mind. "You're Alexander, aren't you?" I hesitantly asked.

I didn't hear a respond but I felt his nod on my shoulder. I was quick to hug him back tightly.

It is him. My brother. I never knew I would meet my brother again. My eyes became watery and tears started to fall as I embrace my brother in joy.

It all comes flooding like a water coming out from a dam. The feeling that I'm having right now cannot explain my emotions. I feel so happy yet so sad. My thoughts were right all along. He really is my brother. The one-piece that is missing in my puzzle of life is finally claimed.

I am whole now. I cannot hold my tears much longer. Now I know what happiness feels like.

"How did you figure it out?" I asked him as I pulled away from the embrace. He was also tearing up and sniffing.

"After you walked away, he confessed it all." he answered while wiping his tear from his right eye. "He told me everything. That my whole life was a lie. My name, my identity. All of it. At first, I didn't believe anything that he said. But then I came to you and I muttered all of those words."

"Those words that the two of us only knew." I responded. He nodded with me in agreement and smiled.

A knock on the door was occurred, we both looked at its direction and saw Alexis entering. "Well, shit, guys." he says as he enters the room. "I've missed out a lot."

A laugh came out from me, so did Alexander.

Alexis made a nervous chuckle and looked at Alexander. "So, you really are Alexander." he said, looking at him in amazement.

Alexander nodded at him while smiling. A smile also painted Alexis' face. "Hi." he said. "I'm Alexis, the youngest. I never got the chance to meet you when I was kid."

"Come here, buddy." Alexander muttered and went to embrace Alexis. Their faces are filled with joy and happiness. Now that all is revealed, I think, I can finally sleep peacefully.

But, I don't know if I can forgive dad on what he has done.

I lived for the past 12 years with the thought of Alexander being dead. And for that past 12 years, my life was in a total mess. I never really did believe that my brother is dead. I always imagine that someday and some time, he's gonna pop up and surprise us. I lived in that imagination for years.

But now, that imagination is not just in my mind anymore. The three of us are finally complete.

Alexis, Alexander, and I.

Day by day, life becomes harder and harder. As you grow up, you'll realize how important life is. Giving up is not the word I know. I replaced that with rest. Because the rest is what we need every day. Not giving up.

I say, that whatever it is that you are going on right now, no matter how hard is it, remember to keep on fighting and make time for yourself.

Anything can be possible. As long as you believe and do something about it.