Fragile as Breath

Even if I tried to explain, she would not have believed me. She probably would have hated me even more, so in the end, I gave up and decided to just wash them.

I turned on the faucet, my face tight with suppressed grievance.

"Ah!"

Anthony suddenly let out a sharp scream, clutching his eyes.

Seeing his face go pale, I dropped the clothes and rushed forward, wanting to check on him.

However, Yessenia immediately stepped in front of him, glaring at me with full suspicion.

"Stay away from him!"

I blinked, frozen in place, too scared to move.

Our parents rushed over at the noise. When they saw the red rash spreading all over my body, they were visibly stunned.

The air turned heavy in an instant. I was just about to explain when Anthony spoke first, his voice full of open contempt.

"Liam, this kind of thing… Don't you think you should explain it?" He paused on purpose, his eyes slowly scanning my miserable state, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.

"You're not even that old, but you're already so good at causing trouble."

For a moment, I could not even process what he meant. Being slandered like that in front of everyone made my breathing turn uneven.

Yessenia pointed straight at me, her voice sharp and merciless.

"That's enough, Liam. How much more embarrassing can you get?"

Her gaze was icy, completely devoid of warmth. "This family doesn't welcome you. The Snyder family has no place for someone like you." She paused, then spoke with finality, "Pack your things and leave."

Our parents' expressions darkened instantly. When they looked at me, there was no attempt to hide their disgust.

The pressure crushed down on me until I could not take it anymore. My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees. Even breathing became difficult.

"I didn't…" The words got stuck in my throat, broken and incomplete.

I shook my head hard as tears streamed down uncontrollably. "I don't have that disease, okay? I really don't."

Anthony kept making a scene. "Just admit it, Liam. Mom and Dad will pay to get you treated."

I shook my head desperately. "It's really not that. I actually…"

My father cut me off impatiently. "Stop crying. Call the doctor and let him take a look."

Anthony shot me a resentful glare, but honestly, I wished the doctor would come as soon as possible.

After the examination, the doctor said calmly, "It's just severe allergic dermatitis. Contact with detergent triggers the rash. He'll be fine after some rest. Nothing serious."

After the doctor left, my father rubbed his temples and called Anthony into a room.

Before closing the door, he glanced back at me, who was still crying.

"Go to school tomorrow. Your mother and I will make sure your health improves."

Just like that, Anthony and I became students at the same school.

However, my life did not get any better. Almost everyone kept their distance from me.

They whispered behind my back, sometimes letting out suppressed laughter, giving me all kinds of nicknames. Some said I 'collapsed at the slightest touch.' Others joked that 'anyone who touches him is doomed.'

Over time, I became that person in everyone's eyes, the one people stayed away from.

I was lonely, but I did not dare tell my parents. I could only hide in the bathroom, staring at the sky through the window, pretending to look deep and thoughtful.

One day, during swimming class, we had to split into groups. No one wanted to be near me, and even the teacher looked troubled.

That was when Anthony walked over and said loudly, "If you dare to walk one full lap around the pool wearing only your swim trunks, I'll team up with you."

When that one small gesture of kindness came my way, I accepted it without hesitation, wanting to fit in and be accepted.

Watching Anthony being surrounded and admired every day, I was insanely jealous.

Gritting my teeth, I took off my outer clothes, leaving only my swim trunks, and forced myself to take the first step.

I moved slowly, struggling to keep my balance on the slippery ground, afraid of falling, while all eyes stayed fixed on me, and my heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of my throat.

Then, suddenly, I heard a faint ripping sound from below. I looked down and saw that my swim trunks had split open.

Panic hit me instantly, my legs giving out as I fell straight into the pool.

Through the blur, I could still hear my classmates laughing.

"Did he rip his trunks on purpose in front of the girls? What kind of weird fetish is that?"

Their laughter grew more and more distant through the water. I did not even have the strength to struggle anymore. My body sank straight down.

Until someone suddenly shouted, "Oh, no! Liam can't swim!"

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. My mother was sitting by my bed, tightly holding my hand.

The moment she saw me open my eyes, she hurriedly pressed the call button.

That was when I learned I had been unconscious for an entire week after nearly drowning during swimming class.

As soon as news spread that I had woken up, reporters who had been waiting outside rushed in, cameras and microphones shoved right into my face.

A voice pushed through the crowd, filled with obvious provocation.

"There are rumors that the Snyder family's adopted son has been bullying you, the biological son who was just found. Is that true?"

Another microphone immediately turned toward my mother.

"Mrs. Snyder, have you been allowing this behavior? Why would you tolerate your adopted son treating your biological son this way?"

Faced with the sudden swarm of questions, the composed smile on my mother's face froze for a brief moment.