Chapter 69

Lia seemed to be very busy in the morning, packing his bag.

"Where are you going?" Dexter asked, who was observing or more like judging him from the other side. "Or do you need the suitcase for a party tonight?"

Lia rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to a party," He stood straight and told Dexter seriously. "I have got a new job. I'm going there."

Dexter blinked dumbfoundedly, choking on his words. He moved forward and checked Lia's forehead for any fever. "It's not good to joke the first thing in the morning."

Lia slapped his hand away. "I'm not joking! You want to divorce me, right? You said you can't tolerate me anymore. Then I have to make some money now," He declared and continued to pack his things.

Dexter shook his head at his dumbass young master. "What kind of job is it? It's not something illegal, is it? Are you sure you're not being tricked?" He asked with concern.

Lia frowned at him, feeling extremely annoyed. "First, you think that I'm stupid and now you think I'm this stupid? I have to support myself financially after divorcing you! And I need money for that!" 

Dexter wanted to argue but he was too worried for this kid. "At least tell me what kind of job you're doing?" 

Lia narrowed his eyes, averting his gaze. "It's…not a big job. Just some simple tasks."

"Like what? Doing laundry? Ironing clothes? Selling drugs! Selling your body?! Murdering someone?! Dear lord, there's no such thing called simple in your life. From buying groceries to shooting someone's guts is all the same for you. When you will stop being so carefree and start being responsible," Dexter yelled worriedly, the concern eating him alive. "I can't always keep worrying about you!" 

"..." All Lia could do was just stare at his anxious face. "That's why I'm divorcing you, dear wifey. You nag me so much." 

"Lia, fucking answer me!" Dexter grabbed his arm, forcing Lia to look at him.

"I told you it's just...a small part-time job."

Dexter stared at him suspiciously. He knew Lia was lying. But why? What did he have to lie for? He wanted to ask, but seeing how Lia's face twisted into a scowl as he tried to pull away, he knew his stubborn master wouldn't tell him no matter how much he forced him.

"Oh, come on. Don't nag me too much. You're too annoying. I have to go now," Lia said and walked past Dexter.

But a firm hand stopped him, glaring at him furiously. "Not before you tell me where you're going. I need to know if you'll come back again after killing someone or if I have to pick you up by myself. I can't destroy any more bodies for you. I wanted to live a decent life."

Lia's eyes widened, letting out a dramatic long gasp. He slapped Dexter's arm hard, pouting. "Wow, you're so selfish, Mr. I-hate-to-be-burdened. You're saying I'm a burden?" But then he smiled widely, squeezing Dexter's cheeks. "But you still care about me, don't you?" He grinned cheekily.

Dexter sighed painfully. "I really want to quit this job."

Lia smirked and walked past him, giving him a playful wink. "I know you don't want that. I'll find a way to blackmail you to stay. Bye bye~"

Dexter could only shake his head helplessly as his stubborn young master left him alone. "Please don't get in trouble, kid." He muttered, staring at the door. 

Lia whistled as he strolled down the stairs, but soon a snarl took over his face when he saw Lydia forcing Eve to finish his breakfast.

"Come on, just one more bite," Lydia said softly and persistently. 

"No, I can't eat anymore, mom!" Eve refused and threw her hands away.

Lia clenched his fists, wanting to throw both of them out of his house. But he calmed himself down and restrained himself even though the 200 million dollar house belonged solely to him along with all the other properties. 

He forced a smile on his face. He doesn't want to foul his mood since he's going to meet his love. Pushing his hands in his pockets, he continued to whistle and walked out of the living room. But before he could leave, a voice that annoyed him the most stopped him.

"Brother Li?!" Lia stopped in his tracks, slowly closing his eyes, and exhaled in frustration.

When he opened his eyes again, his eyes locked with shimmering sapphire eyes. Eve stared at him, coughing badly but still managing to smile brightly. "Brother Li! Are you going somewhere?"

Lia glared at him for a while for being noisy before grimacing harshly in a sharp voice. "You stopped me from asking this useless question?!"

Eve flinched slightly but remained smiling. An embarrassing colour tinted his cheeks. "I just wanted to ask when you'll be back. It's my birthday tomorrow and I wanted to spend it with you."

Lia stayed silent, he just couldn't figure out why this kid never understood that they were not close or that Lia hated his guts. Why does he always cling to his brother when Lia treats him so poorly?

"I won't come back," Lia answered plainly, feeling aggravated.

Unfortunate falls on him as his face twists in agony. A pitiful sigh escaping his soft and thin pink lips. "It would have been great if you could make some time for me and--"

"I don't have time to waste on unnecessary days or things."

"Oh..." Eve nodded, lowering his head sadly. "Ok, then. Be careful, brother," Eve coughed again.

Lia turned his back and started to walk away but the sight of his weak and sick brother kept playing in his head and it irritated him. He tried to ignore it but that stupid face won't go away.

With an impatient huff, he glared at Eve over his shoulder and said, "It's your birthday?"

He didn't see the bright and beautiful smile that Eve had given him. "Yes, brother Li!" Eve let out excitedly.

Lia turned around and saw Eve walking towards him, but he also noticed the limp in his walk and the constant coughing. "Stop!" He warned sharply, making Eve freeze immediately. "Why are you walking like that?"

Terror instantly took over Eve's face at the question, making him stutter in a panic. "N-No, brother. I fell down the stairs, it's my fault. It's not because of--"

"Shut up! Pull your shirt up," Lia cut him off angrily, his burning looks never left the boy's pale face.

"W-What?" Eve gulped anxiously, feeling too scared of being scolded again by his big brother. 

"Are you deaf?!"

"I-It's nothing. I just fell," Eve tried to convince him, but his shaky hands and sweaty forehead spoke differently.

"Fucking pull it up, you brat! Or I'll do it for you," Lia shouted, startling the poor boy.

"O-Okay. Please don't shout at me," Eve muttered slowly, flinching and stifling, he slowly lifted his shirt revealing his milky skin covered in purple and green bruises.

Lia's heart tightened. He had a slight idea of what caused them. But his anger was getting the better of him, forcing him to act harshly. "You're limping because you fell? You're covered in bruises and you're still trying to fucking lie to me. How many times have you fallen because this is the third time you have used the same excuse?" 

"Brother Li, it's not like that. Please, don't misunderstand. I really fell," Eve lied, tears pooling in his eyes.

Lia was not blind, nor was he an idiot. He knew where Eve went and who caused these bruises. His jaw clenched, his fists tightened, and his heart raced. He was so angry he couldn't look over his tone and words again.

"You went again on those streets to buy drugs? Didn't I tell you to stop?"

"No! No, Brother. It's not the case this time," Eve cried, his trembling fingers clenching his shirt.

He yelped when Lia squeezed his arm and pulled him in to glare into his eyes. "You're dying soon anyways! So, why do you need drugs?!"

Eve is a drug addict, but his body is already ruined by his diseases, drugs are only making his condition worse. The tears slipped down his cheeks. He didn't know why Lia was always so cruel to him. He wanted to explain further but he couldn't find his voice.

Eve's heart skipped a beat, his breath hitching in his throat. He couldn't understand how Lia knew about him going out to meet his bad friends, especially those who gave him the drugs. 

"Y-you...knew it?" Eve just wanted to spend some time with his brother before leaving this world. But it's pitiful to say that even in his last days, he can't make things right between them. And now it seems impossible. 

"Knew what? How you're fucking up your life?" Lia asked harshly, his voice degraded with annoyance.

"You're right, brother. I'm…dying, I'm trying to make the most of my last days. But before that I wanted to do something that could make you hate me less," He gazed over his brother with trembling eyelashes and lips. 

But his heart shattered further upon finding the hatred in Lia's eyes. "There's nothing you can do that would make me stop hating you," 

"I will one day. You will see," Though weak and shivering, trying his best not to break down and sob, he was confident and determined. 

Lia's eyebrows furrowed. His hand dropped on his side, a sigh of defeat escaping his lips. "Why do you want to make me hate you less?"

"If I could, I wanted to make you remember me for the rest of your life after I leave you. Whenever I cross your mind I don't want you to recall me with hate but because you missed me...I wanted you..you to–" Eve choked on his words, the tears finally rolling down his face.

Lost for words, all Lia could do was stare at him. Life can be cruel sometimes. He couldn't believe that someone would wish for a life like this. He couldn't imagine how painful and agonising it must be. But what about him? Everyone he had ever met expects something from him in return. 

His mother only tolerates him in the hopes that someday he will give her this house his father built with his hard work. He knows the day he passed on everything to her, she would kick out this useless son like him. Dexter wanted him to be nice to his brother because he was weak. And the weak brother wanted him to forgive his family and live as if nothing happened, as if the scars the weak boy's mother and father had left on him would stop haunting him if he did so. 

But does anyone ask him how he's doing? How is he managing his pain alone all this time? Bottling it up inside and drinking that venom again and again whenever his nightmare of a man comes in front of him to mock him. 

Letting out a tiring breath he announced. "I'll see if I can make some time for tomorrow. But first, tell me why they did this to you. And don't fucking lie to me this time!" 

In shock, Eve's little face lit up, full of happy innocence, and wiped his tears. "Thank you, brother Li! They just wanted to have some...fun in return for drugs," He mumbled under his shame and looked away.

Lia stared at his flushed face. He couldn't believe this stupid kid was doing that again even after he rescued him last time. He's letting those kids beat him again just for a drug, what the fuck?! He was getting angry again.

But he was also late. He can't do anything right now. "Do you have a death wish or something? I warned you not to go there." 

Eve shrugged and let out a bitter laugh. "It's better than wasting away in pain. I want to make it quick rather than living in pain for a long time." 

Lia forgot to breathe, he couldn't believe that Eve's will was this weak. "What did you say?"

"It's nothing. Don't mind me–"

"You're dying and you're not afraid of it? What are you trying to do? Do you want me to feel pity for you? Then, don't waste your time because I'll never forgive any of you." 

Eve lowered his head. He knew what his father and mother did to Lia could never be forgiven, but he was selfish and desperate. He feels like he shouldn't be punished for their crimes. 

"I don't want you to forgive me. I just want you to stop hating me. Just for a while, until I die," Eve begged, looking hopefully while his voice cracked. 

"Stop begging, it's embarrassing. And don't bring your condition in between, it doesn't make me pity you. And about tomorrow, I'll see if I can come or not," Lia sighed, not knowing why his heart was so heavy. But when he saw Eve's smile, the heaviness disappeared. "T...Take care....or don't! It's up to you, I really don't care."

"Be safe, brother Li!" Eve waved his hand cheerfully.

"Whatever," Lia grumbled and turned away, walking to the gate.

He didn't turn back this time.