Chapter 17

Author's POV

It's a bright morning in the forest, the sun was on high heat in the sky.

They were all seated in the living room having their breakfast but somehow the air around them felt stuffy.

Only the clanking sound of their spoons could be heard.

Mark kept peeping at Lan and Jacob eyes was scanning everyone's faces.

The tension was so high in the room that everyone was trying to be as quiet as possible.

"So.... what's the plan for today? "Jacob asked as he ran his eyes on all of them.

They all ignored him. He felt uncomfortable, so he continued his meal.

Feeling annoyed at the quiet atmosphere. Pearl dropped her spoon angrily on her plate. It clanked hard on the plate making everyone's eyes turn towards her.

"What the hell is wrong with you all? "She folded her arms and glared at everyone of them.

".... why does it feel like their is some tension going on here? "She asked again waiting for a reply.

" I don't understand myself"

"Got no clue"

" Kept quiet cause I don't wanna get in the middle of whatever is going on"

" Same question"

They all answered at the same time looking confused as hell.

Lan's eyes were fixated on his dish. His grip on his spoon tightened as he stared at his dish.

His mind was running haywire as he battled within himself at the new discovery he made.

"Lan?"Pearl's eyes turned towards him. She felt concerned at how quiet he was.

"Yes?"he raised his head from his plate and stared at her. For the first time ever there was no expression on his face.

"If this is about what happened yesterday we al---"

He dropped his plate hard on the table and stood up cutting her off.

His eyes turned towards his brother "I want to go home"he said.

"What?"Nate asked confused.

" What do you mean by you want to go home?"His eyes observed him.

Lan's stance looked so awkward. His eyes dropped to the floor as he shut his eyes trying to contain his emotions.

He raised his head and gazed at everyone in the room.

"If none of you're ready to go home,I am"he spoke with venom ready to walk away.

"What's wrong with you?"Nate stood up glaring at him.

"No the question is what's wrong with you?"Lan replied. His eyes burning lasers through Nate.

" Lan what's wrong?" Pearl held his shoulder. Her eyes full of worry.

Lan brushed her hand off and stepped away from her.

Pearl's heart fell.

She watched with a heavy heart as he put a distance between them.

Damon was still sitted with crossed legs as he observed Lan.

"You're being very rude and there is not so much I can take"Nate gritted out. His hands clinched as he stepped closer to him.

Lan didn't back off. His eyes glazed with tears. He roughly wipped it off and glared at his brother.

"Their is also not so much,I can take either!"Lan yelled. His eyes were red as his tears flowed down his face.

They were all surprised by his sudden outburst.

None of them have ever seen Lan in this sudden element. He was always known to be calm and shy. The person they were seeing right now was someone different.

"Lan talk to us.what's wrong? Are you alright?"Mark asked softly as he took a step towards him.

He took another step but halted when Lan raised his hand"Stop! dont come any closer. This is between me and my brother"he said with teary eyes.

" Oh yeah?"Nate smirked and crossed his arm.

" You!"Lan gritted out pointing at him.

"What do I look like to you? You always play with my emotions and don't see me as a human being! How dare you think that you can control my life"He pushed his finger on his chest and pushed him back.

Nate watched the finger on his chest and traced it with his eyes back to the angry eyes staring at him.

He was slowly loosing his cool as he watched lan.

"If you're not ready to stop being such a baby and talk to me,then just walk away before I hurt you"His eyes spoke volumes as they darkened.

He pushed the finger away and stepped closer to him

"Woah woah...it hasn't gotten to that"Luke held him back.

Lan sniffed his nose. His cheeks turned red with anger.

"Don't you dare call me a baby ever again!"he yelled.

" Lan what's all this about,talk to us!"Pearl yelled frustrated.

"Nate lied to me okay! He's been lying to me all my life!!" He pulled his hair frustrated as angry tears escaped his eyes.

"W-what do you mean?"Luke asked as he turned his eyes to Nate asking for an explanation.

"Can you stop being dramatic and talk to me"Nate rolled his eyes.

" Okay. Fine!"He wiped his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Dad's cheating on mum right?"Lan arched his brow.

Nate turned to Damon. He squinted his eyes at him.

"I didn't tell him anything"Damon raised his hands in the air.

"How did you know?"Nate etched his brow.

"I-i heard you. The both of you talking in your room. I-i came to find out how you were doing when I heard you both talking" Lan stuttered out..

Nate sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Look I didn't tell you because mom doesn't want me to. "Nate explained.

" Why would she tell you? you of all people instead of me, doesn't she truth me enough!"Lan ranted out.

Nate chuckled. His eyes lacked humour in them as he watched him.

"Me of all people?"He raised a brow and laughed.

"It's because between the two of us,I am the most mature, I'm not a baby like you,who believes his life and family is perfect!. She didn't tell you because she didn't want you to breakdown. That's the reason I organized this stupid trip in the first place. So that mama's boy doesn't see all the bad stuff happening"

His eyes shot daggers at him. He kept clinching and unclinching his fists.

"I didn't ask you to protect me from it all. I can protect myself"Lan spoke annoyed. He kept tapping his feet on the ground not breaking eye contact with Nate.

Nate chuckled like he just heard a good joke.

He held his chest and laughed.

The others stood awkwardly out of place as they watched the banter between the two brothers.

"You can protect yourself?,the same person who couldn't sleep alone in a room all this years? Why do you think we have been sharing a room till date. I will tell you"He yanked him hard by his shirt.

" Lan!"

"Nate stop!"

Pearl and Mark yelled out.

".... because someone couldnt stand the dark and momma dearest made me promise to keep sleeping with you till you grew up. You think I love sharing a room,with you?. Do you know how many times I have asked her for my own room,but guess what she always says 'Lan still needs you. I don't want him to stay alone' "Nate mocked him.

His emotions were spilling out with every word that came out of his mouth.

Lan's eyes watered with every word of Nate.

"Nate that's enough"Damon spoke for the first time.

"No it's not,he needs to hear everything."Nate gritted out.

His fists tightened on Lan's shirt.

"But when you asked for it,she gave it to you within a snap of the finger and made it seem like it was because I was a bad Influence on you.When dad first hit her,who did she make promise not to tell you anything? Me!

She would always shelter you from everything even the reality of how imperfect our family was. You ended up growing up like a frightened little bird safe in a cage and scared of the whole world. Mama's little boy".

Lan chuckled" I listen to your words and all I can hear is jealous dripping from your mouth. What? Mom didn't love you enough?"he replied wiping his tears away with a smile on his face.

Nate's anger sky rocketed. He pushed Lan back and flung his arm with so much anger.

His fist made contact with Lan's face hard as he dropped hard on the floor.

Everyone gasped.

"You ungrateful hypocrite!"Nate sat on him and landed a punch on his face again.

"Nate! Stop!"

Damon and Mark pulled him off Lan,pushing him away as Luke and Pearl helped Lan up.

His nose looked broken. Blood oozing out of his nostrils.

His eyes were red as he held his broken nose. He looked baffled as he stared at a raving Nate.

"This trip is over. Everyone pack your bags now. You want to see our reality,I will show you with pleasure! Let's see if you're as strong as you believe you're" Nate pulled his arm out of Damon and Mark's hold.

He tucked his hands in his pockets and walked off towards his room.

Every eyes turned towards Lan in disappointment.

"What? You all heard him. Pack up!"He wiped his nose and walked off.

"What's wrong with him?"Pearl ranted out.

"Let's just pack up. This trip is ruined!"Luke sighed and left to pack his bags.

" I can't help but feel like Nate's right! Lan's spoiled! And too caged to understand anything"Jacob looked pissed off as he also left, Pearl trailing behind him.

Mark ran his hand through his hair frustrated.

"Why is he like that?"he asked no one in particular.

"He is trying to act tough,like he wasn't hurt by Nate's words"Damon chuckled, moving towards the door.

" Where are you going?" Mark asked him.

"To smoke."he replied and walked out.

" This is a disaster!" Mark shook his head and headed towards his room to pack up.