Family

My father was a great man. At least, that was what I believed in. He never showed any weakness in front of his family and always stood as an imposing figure. He always had an authoritative air about him that people couldn't replicate even if they tried. But that whole facade disappeared in front of his family. He was the most loving person in front of mom; in front of me. At least, those were my thoughts until he disappeared years ago.

But, after such a long time, I saw him again. I thought maybe this was when I could have a closure for it all. This exact moment I would get all my answers. Fate, on the other hand, had different plans. An accident. Right when I was about to be free and get answers for everything I had suffered, a car hit my dad.

I dialed the ambulance with as much strength as I could muster. They arrived quickly. They took my father while I had something else I needed to do.

"Evana, I have to go somewhere for a while. I'll explain everything after I'm back." I told her after leaving her at her house quickly.

"Mhmm." That's all she said. But I had no time to ask the meaning or what she meant. I rushed to the hospital. Stepping inside the hospital made me feel a rush of emotions. Both bad and good. Memories related to my mother as well as memories related to Evana in this same hospital rushed in my head. What memory would the trip this time around bring me? I couldn't tell.

"Nurse, can you tell me which room Akenji is hospitalized in?"

"Sorry, but only immediate family can contact him right now!"

"I am his immediate family. I am his son."

She gave me a weird look. A gaze filled with doubt and uncertainty. What did I even say to make her look at me this way?

"We have no reports about Mr. Akenji having a son."

"....." I didn't know what to say. But the nurse did. She didn't stop speaking. And with a matter of fact tone, she said the most devastating thing that I wouldn't have predicated even in my worst nightmares.

"His wife and daughter though are rushing to the hospital as we speak."

Thud.

My heart dropped. I almost fell to the ground. My knees gave out. I couldn't do this anymore. Nothing made sense. In a matter of hours, I had again fallen to the depths of despair. 'No. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is another Akenji.' A faint glimmer of hope ignited in my chest. 'Yes. This must be it. There is another man named Akenji hospitalized here.'

"Oh, look. Speak of the devil. They're here."

I froze. I did not have the strength to turn back. No. I had the strength but I lacked courage. My mind was racing. Then, I heard a sweet voice from behind. The voice; sounding full of worries and a hint of urgency was still one of the most pleasent sounding voices I had ever heard. It still had a sense of childlike whimsy and cuteness. The owner of the voice was someone young. Someone much younger than me. 

"Nurse, where's father? I heard something happened to him." 

"He had an accident, dear. This gentleman over here reported and brought him to the hospital." The nurse pointed at me.

Not knowing what else to do, I turned back. Then, I saw her. My so called sister. She looked young. Aroung 14-15. Dark black hair and dark black eyes. She and I looked quite similar. It looked as if just like me she looked like her dad. With this, the faint spark of hope sizzled away. She was my sister. There was no doubting that,

"Thank y-"

Her words stuck in her throat after she took a look at me. It looked as if she had seen someone close to her. 

"Are you.....Benji?"

".....Yes."

How did she know my name. Did my father tell her? But for what reason? I was pondering when she broke my out of my reverie.

"My mom is coming soon. Come, let's go meet dad."

I followed her. So, she knew that dad had another child before her. She knew I was her brother. I became more and more confused as time went on. When we reached dad's room, I gathered all my courage and told her.

"Wait. Can I please talk with Dad alone for a while?" I requested in a pleding tone.

"Sure." She said a single word. 

'She is really mature for her age.' With that thought, I entered the room.

My father was laying there on the bed unmoving. He didn't acknowledge me entering the room until, "Dad" I called out to him.

"Come here, Benji." He said in a hoarse voice. A voice that I could never mistake for anyone else's. The voice of my father, Akenji.

"Dad..." I didn't know what to say. What could even be said? \

"You want answers right?"

"...Yes."

"Come here. I'll tell you everything you want to know."

That made me happy. Hope ignited in my chest again. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding. Maybe everything would be fine after Dad explained his side of the story.

But, nothing in this life is promised except death, or maybe disappointment. Because the words I would hear from my father would not bring me hope but would rather fuel my anger and hatred against him for a lifetime. 

His answers were the catalyst for the lifetime of revenge I would later embark upon.