Realizations

Kane's life wasn't always like this. 

He used to be dirt poor, but after his father sent for him at age eighteen, he foolishly believed his life would change for the better, not knowing that his entire life was gonna get worse. 

He pulled up in front of a floral store and walked in with the intention of getting flowers for his girlfriend. After dropping her off thirty minutes ago, he decided to do this little gesture in order to make it up to her.

On exiting the floral store, across the busy street, large screens lined the busy streets, and on the largest one, was a looped clip of his eldest brother wielding a bat and slamming it into a spiraling ball which speared straight ahead at lightning speed. The clip repeated again and again, and Kane felt a painful pang in his chest as he hurriedly got into his car and drove off.

He hated seeing anything related to his brother playing soccer, because that was always gonna be a reminder of what he once had and what he lost.

If only he knew that one little stupid decision could change one's life drastically.

Nine years ago, his eldest brother had approached him and ordered him to give up soccer, and teach him how to be a great player instead. When he agreed, he had no idea that it was the beginning of his downfall.

Kane used to play soccer his entire life. 

He discovered his love for the sport since he was very little, and was even opportuned to play the sport in his highschool. But, despite his love for the sport, it didn't make him fully happy because he was poor, suffering and believed that only living with his father was what would make him fulfilled.

However, after his guardian died and he got summoned home, he got introduced to his three half siblings, who instantly hated him.

It was in that period that his life went downhill.

His siblings, with encouragement from their mother, made life a living hell for Kane. He grew depressed overnight and detested his life, and soccer was his only escape.

However, his eldest brother stumbled on him playing by himself one night and struck the deal with him.

The deal was that Kane would train him to become a beast on the field, and would also give up the game, because he doesn't want competition in the family. In turn, he and his siblings would stop bullying Kane, and would accept him as their sibling. 

That was a dream for Kane and even though he really loved soccer, he readily accepted the deal. 

And after that, the rest followed swiftly.

He began to do anything his siblings asked him to do without questions. 

Iris, youngest sister, who was only a year older than Kane, also bullied Kane because of her brother's presence. She was a dullard, and in no time, Bruce forced him to start doing her assignments for her, and in exchange, she'd completely leave him alone.

Michael, the second eldest son, asked him to stand in for him one day and take the blame when he broke someone's nose, in order to avoid getting grounded. Kane agreed because he didn't want his siblings to start hating and bullying him again, and since then, he found himself always taking the blame for anything the second son did.

Because of that, his father believed he was a rebel and disliked him. 

That worried Kane and he tried to come clean to his father, but the siblings taught him a good lesson for that. 

When he tried standing his ground and refused to take his brother's blame anymore one time, his brother beat him up and he landed in hospital. The injury inflicted on him ruined his chance to play soccer ever again if he still wanted to. 

That completely shattered Kane, but he still had to keep training Bruce like agreed, and in no time, Bruce became better and rose to stardom.

Michael still continued to commit crimes, and he still continued to implicate Kane. Even if Kane denied the accusations, his track records made everyone, including his father, believe he was lying.

His reputation was completely ruined and he only got into college because of his father's influence. His father gave him a final warning that he'd desert him if he got into another trouble, and he pleaded with his second brother to no longer implicate him.

Michael agreed to do that, only if Kane agreed to write songs for him, and Kane foolishly agreed.

His second brother didn't get into any trouble and Kane began to write numerous songs for him, and in no time, Michael egan to get popular, because he had charisma and a melodic voice. 

However, his second brother foolishly got himself into a crime and he put the entire blame on Kane. At this point, Kane was in his final year and about to graduate. He lived an outcast's life throughout his college years because everyone believed he was a criminal who was only allowed entry into the school because of his father's influence.

But his father's influence didn't help him in that period as he had promised, and Kane got expelled. After that, his father disowned him, having had enough.

However, Michael rose to stardom after graduating.

He tried making it up to Kane by giving him a lot of riches and cars. 

His eldest brother who was now one of the well known soccer players in the country, also offered to make it up to him. Since he was now popular, he had connections with a lot of celebrities, and after promising Kane to get him his celebrity crush, he kept to his word and got Alice to agree date him, even though he was, frankly, a loser.

But Kane's entire life was ruined. He couldn't play soccer anymore, he had no certificates, he had no family and no friends.

Even with the riches he has access to, his life was void of anything tangible or meaningful. His life was completely meaningless and since he could no longer play the one sport that meant the entire world to him, he was depressed most of the time.

The only thing giving him a little bit of happiness was his girlfriend, Alice. 

They go on dates once every two weeks as per agreement when she agreed to date him. They don't hang out because of her busy schedules, which is also why he insists on picking her up every day.

Although, he doesn't think that's gonna be able to keep working after her outburst tonight.

He pulled up in front of her house and stepped out of the car with the lilies, which were her favorite flowers, and then he stood at the door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Her melodic voice rang out after a few minutes and he answered.

"I got you something, baby."

The door flung open in the next moment and her eyes were blown wide as she looked at him. She was clad in a large blanket wrapped around her, and her hair was a mess.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded, breathing hard.

He held the flowers up. "I got you flowers."

She was panting and he regarded her in confusion, wondering if something had happened to her.

"Are you alright? You don't look so good." He pointed out, eyes taking in her flushed cheeks and sweaty forehead.

She snatched the flowers from him and shook her head. "I'm- I'm okay, and thanks for the flowers. Now, leave."

He didn't believe that she was alright. He was worried about her, and he'd like to spend some time with her.

"Can I come in for a bit?" He asked and she shook her head fast before trying to close the door.

"Go home, Kane. I'll- I'll text you."

But that was unusual, because Alice never texts him, she only responds to his texts every now and then. He understands that she was always busy, so he never dwelled on that.

"Wait, Alice–" He said, putting his foot through the door.

He was about to say something else when a familiar voice rang out.

"Is that the pizza guy?"

Kane's brain short circuited just as Alice's eyes widened. She instantly shoved the flowers at him and tried closing the door but he refused to retrieve his leg as he glanced across her shoulders.

"Is someone in there with you?" He asked while she tried getting him to leave again.

However, in the next moment, a man with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist, emerged in the doorway and draped his arm around Alice's shoulders. 

His eyes locked with Kane in the next moment, and as his eyes widened, Kane stumbled backward from shock.

His eldest brother, Bruce, has just emerged from his girlfriend's house, and he didn't need anyone to tell him the obvious truth.

His eldest brother, Bruce and his girlfriend are sleeping together.

Kane felt sick to his stomach, and a wave of betrayal engulfed him.

The expression on Alice's face was flat and unbothered, while Bruce was massaging his forehead.

"You aren't supposed to be here, you weren't supposed to know this." Bruce finally broke the silence and Kane couldn't believe his ears.

"That's all you have to say?" He whispered in disbelief as he stared at the man who stole his dream and ruined his life.

Each time he looks at his eldest brother, he's always reminded of what he could have had and what he lost. His eldest brother was the start of his misfortune and the one who fucked his life up.

"It's the truth. Everything was perfect, you loved Alice and believed she loved you as well. You were happy and content with this delusion for a while, you didn't look so miserable any longer… so I wished you didn't have to see this. But since you're here now, I think it's high time you know that Alice and I have been dating for a while." His brother continued, further shocking Kane.