The Suppressed.

They said a person must taste failure before reaching success but what if it's always a failure? Always a disappointment. Keith feels a complete failure, he is not just a black sheep of the family but a failure of the generation. He wanted to rant, to upbraid but he cannot find his voice. Why? He tried his best at the admission exam but why he did not pass? Why did he not inherit his parents' mental ability? Why is he so different from them.

For Keith, when he saw how his parents look at him when they found out the result it shows shame and their faces hunt him. Several hours have been passed since the result and yet Keith cannot accept the result, he had prayed for it, he studies for a year for it and yet he still does not pass the exam.

"Why are you so stupid?" He asked himself while pointing at his reflection in the mirror.

He clenched his fist and tears fall from his eyes; his mind began to wonder if his parents will still fund his study for senior high to college.

Keith did not leave his room and remain to lie on his bed while thinking for his future. He had skipped his breakfast, lunch, and maybe dinner if he decided not to eat later, but due to his current state, he might not want to go to the dining table considering that he might not also want to face his parents.

His hand that he used to wipe his tears sneak on his desk and grabbed the remote control and pressed the on the button for his television. He continuously switches channels until he finds a piece of news that interests him; it is some news about the school video advertisement that he saw earlier. The news anchor informed that the video advertisement is currently trending due to its claims of transforming students into geniuses.

They added that many have taught of this advertisement as a sick joke and false advertisement but the school administrator has released a statement claiming that the video advertisement shows nothing but the truth.

Then the news anchor concluded that if the school's advertisement, then the alumni from this school might be the biggest hope for the country's next-generation leaders but if it is not true then the school will face legal charges for false advertising.

Keith watches the time as the show reaches its end, there has been a lot going on in the country nowadays, he thought. He chuckled as he remembered the news about the senator's son that has spent his night at the police station.

"Well, it looks like I am not the only disappointment and a failure," Keith mumbled and turned off the television.

He was about to lay down on his bed but was stopped when his door opened revealing his mother who cannot look at him in the eye.

"Your father is waiting for you downstairs." Mrs. Buenaventura told him and dragged the door to close causing it to make a loud sound.

"What a treatment." Keith mentally told himself and stare at his reflection in the mirror, noticing his tired eyes.

Keith did not make any sound as he walk his way towards his father who is currently massaging his temple and has an annoyed expression. Keith opened his mouth to speak up but no sound left his mouth, perhaps he felt that he is not worthy to make a sound around them for he is inferior to them.

"You will continue your study in Pampanga, this house will be on sale. Your mother, and I together with your brother will live in Manila since we have worked there and Benedict is a student in a university." Mr. Buenaventura told his youngest son with such s monotone voice.

"What about me? Why Pampanga? Isn't that too far?" Keith asked his father.

"You will live in a dormitory starting from senior high to college. The tuition fee and rent there is free so you do not need to think of it." Mr. Buenaventura told him, "Plus you do not need to go home during the semester break, so this house will be on sale." He added.

"Are you leaving me to live alone?" Keith mumbled.

"Yes. Maybe if you tried to pass like Dave then you can live with us in Manila! Pack your things now because tomorrow, I will drive you to your new school." Mr. Buenaventura commanded him and left Keith alone in the living room.

Like Dave again, it is always like your brother, like them, and be a true Buenaventura. For all these years Keith nodded and obeyed like a dog obeys his owners. He never voiced out his thoughts nor ideas because most of them think opposite on what Keith thinks, and of course, they are the one who is always right, just because they are proven smarter than him. No one listens to what he says because no one cares about the idea of someone they describe as dumb.

Keith, after living for sixteen years at this mansion, never thought of it as home instead it is just a structure where he sleeps at night. He wanted to shout and throw the things around him to express how sad and angry he is at them for not appreciating him even if he had already done his best.

He had tried to be like them so much to the point that he does not know his true identity.

All Keith wanted is someone to appreciate him and recognize his doings and not ridicule him whenever he made a mistake. He wants to experience being praised and having control over his thoughts, and life.

His mother was always nagging whenever she saw him playing video games but he cannot help it because the people he had met with online games are the only people who learned how to appreciate someone like him, they liked his strategies and skills.

Keith sighed and once again suppressed his emotions; he washes the dishes then went straight to his room to pack his clothes. After packing his clothes, he opens his video game and chatted with the vice president of their guild who has the username of 'fthetriangle'

keyontop (online)

Sup!

fthetriangle (online)

Sup, bro! Nice strategy, we won the war.

keyontop (online)

Thanks for believing in me dude!

fthetriangle (online)

Np. By the way, I need to go now. He is nagging again. -.-

keyontop (online)

lol ok, see u in the next game.

After playing for two hours, Keith turned off his personal computer and went to sleep.

Are they that excited to get rid of him? Keith asks himself while sitting beside his brother in the backseat of his father's car. They have only informed him about the school last night and yet here they are, on their way to throw Keith to this school and never come back. His sweaty hands fidgeted with each other and continuous gulps were heard from him.

Benedict noticed his younger brother's antics. He licked his dry lips and gather his courage to speak up.

"Is it really necessary for Keith to study here? The school is shady and he could study in a private university then transfer to my university." Benedict suggested to his parents.

"Benedict, my dear son. Your father and I have decided for Keith to study here until college. That is the best decision and it is final." Mrs. Buenaventura replied indicating that no one could change their mind.

"But Mom, Keith is still a minor. And it is too early to send him to that school. He just finished his junior high school a few days ago." Benedict spoke.

"Keith's school announced that today is the enrollment. Besides, Keith does not need a summer so that he can smarten up." His mother spoke harshly.

"Still, starting from this day. We will not see him until after six years." Benedict mumbled and he received a glare from their mother.

"Shut up, Benedict. Within six years Keith will finally be smart." Mr. Buenaventura told his oldest.

"We are here." He continued.

Keith who has a blank expression after hearing his mother and brother quarreled regarding sending him to this school, immediately exited the car and took all his bag outside the trunk.

"Look, Keith is also excited about his new school." Mrs. Buenaventura said to Benedict.

But for Benedict, what he sees from his younger brother is an annoyance and not excitement.

"Here is your credit card, Keith. You can use that to buy things." Mr. Buenaventura told Keith handing him a black-colored card.

Keith stared at his father's hand, then at his mother, and lastly his brother.

"Thank you because at least there is someone worried for me," Keith told his brother then took a deep breath before changing his gaze to their parents.

"I would not be needing that card and yes, I am very excited as excited you guys are to abandon me here," Keith told his parents without breaking his gaze at them.

"We are not abandoning you. We are doing this for your mind to sharpen." Their father claimed and their mother nodded in agreement.

"Be honest, you are abandoning me here because you are ashamed of me." Keith who had just found his voice began to express all his emotions to his parents.

"You are correct. Perhaps if you were just like Dave- ". Their mother started to compare him with Dave again but Keith interrupted her.

"Then you should have Dave as your son," Keith spoke.

"Yes, if only I could choose who to give birth to, I would choose Dave." His mother began to increase her voice tone yet it is visible that her eyes start to sweat.

"Look, Keith, you should not talk to us like that. Here is your card and let us go to your school to enroll you." Mr. Buenaventura stopped his wife and youngest son's quarrel.

"Just give me the papers and leave," Keith spoke and grabbed the documents in his father's hand.

"And oh! By the way, if I could also choose, I would not choose the both of you either." He told them while staring at them, he turned his back on them and run towards the school gate ignoring his parents' call.

On the other hand, his mother and father both had tiny tears in their eyes. Was it their conscience? Benedict does not know, as he watches his brother run away from them.

"Let's just visit him next week. He might need a week to rethink what he has just done." Mr. Buenaventura told his family and entered his car, then his son and wife follows leaving the school location.

Keith entered himself at the school with the last memory of his father shocked faced and his mother with tears in her eyes. Keith is not going back, and if in six-year he became a genius as the school promised, he does not have any plan on meeting with his family even with his brother because last night before he fell asleep, Keith promised to himself to be free and take control.

Keith reviewed the documents in his hand and accidentally read a notarized certificate of the oath, in which the parents permit the school admin as the students' guardian until the students graduate.

"Next." The officer named Santos announced indicating it is time for the next student to enroll.

Keith watched the girl with fair skin and wavy black hair entered the office. As he observes his surroundings, he noticed that most of the students are alone.

"Next!" Officer Santos exclaimed and Keith entered the office and found a lady in her thirties with a pixie cut.

"Hand me the documents, then sign here, here, and all the blanks with a check." The lady told him and Keith obeyed after that, the lady gave him a card with a number.

"That is your room number for now." The lady told him and Keith exited the office on its exit door.

He entered the long hallway and search for his room. Keith frowned as he felt the place a little shaky, like a boat. He opened his room and found someone sleeping on the other bed.

"Roommate," Keith mumbled and quietly placed his bag below the bed since there has no cabinet available, and the windows are covered outside using a black curtain.

Keith scratches his nape as he lay down on his bed, the place is shaky and it makes him wonder if there is an earthquake. He decided to sleep since he could not also bring his laptop nor gadgets since it is not allowed in the school. It is boring for him.

Keith who had been sleeping peacefully for a couple of hours had suddenly waked up by his roommate using water.

"Wake up!" His roommate yelled.

"What?" Keith mumbled while stretching his arms, he squinted his eyes as he saw his roommate pointing out the window, but it is still covered with a black curtain.

"Yeah, the window is covered." He told him.

"Before it is, but now it is not." His roommate said that made Keith curious and stand up to peek at the window.

"Where are we going?" Keith asked his roommate as his eyes enlarged when he saw the ocean and night sky outside and he gulped as he felt their place shaky like a boat.

"I don't know, but what is sure is. We are going far away." His roommate answered.