Fragile as Breath

However, she recovered almost instantly, turning to the cameras with calm confidence.

"These are just rumors. My two sons get along very well.

"This weekend, we'll be hosting a welcome party for Liam. Everyone is welcome to attend."

…

After the reporters were dismissed, my mother sat by my bed and gently stroked my hair.

"Anthony just acted on impulse. You'll forgive him, right? We're a family. Our family should stay close. That’s what being Mom's good boy is all about."

That thin, fragile bit of motherly love almost made me cry. I wanted to listen to her forever. I wanted to be her good son.

The complaints I had been about to say were swallowed back down.

Feeling her gentle touch, I nodded obediently.

'Don't worry, Mom. I'll get along with my brother.' I promised myself.

The welcome party came quickly.

Dressed in a custom suit, I actually looked like I belonged.

In front of all the guests and reporters, my mother personally fastened a pair of incredibly valuable diamond cufflinks onto my sleeves. Then, she pulled Anthony over, smiling warmly.

"These two boys are both the treasures of the Snyder family."

Cameras flashed nonstop. The earlier rumors were temporarily pushed aside.

However, one drink mixed with wasabi instantly ruined the fragile good mood I had been holding onto.

Ever since the incident in swimming class, Anthony had stopped confronting me directly, but his petty tricks never ended.

At first, they seemed like harmless 'jokes,' like needles hidden in my pillow, dead rats turning up in my desk, and the seams of my uniform splitting open at the worst possible moments.

Everything felt deliberate and carefully planned, and yet there was never any proof.

Then, today, that glass of 'specially handmade' wasabi juice. Those endless pranks… I really could not take it anymore.

Thinking about the promise I made to my mother, I still chose to knock on the lounge door.

Anthony looked a little surprised when he saw me.

I stepped in front of him, lowering my voice as I said, "What do you want from me?"

I paused, my throat tightening. "Just tell me. I'll do it."

To protect that tiny bit of hard-earned motherly love, I had no choice but to compromise.

Hearing that, Anthony stared at me. After a long silence, he helped me up and gave a faint smile. "You really want to get along with me? Then, come with me."

He led me to a small wooden shed in the corner of the garden. After making sure no one was around, he locked the door behind us.

He tilted his chin toward the phone on the table.

"Record a video," he said casually, like it was nothing.

"Explain everything from the past few days. Say it was all your doing and that you deliberately tried to blame me."

I hesitated for a second. Anthony let out a low laugh, his tone full of open mockery.

"You can't even do something this simple, and you still want to act innocent?"

As he spoke, he turned as if to leave.

I quickly grabbed his arm.

It was just a video. It would not actually cost me anything. A few sentences might be enough to make his attitude soften.

When I thought about it that way, it did not seem so bad.

I nodded quickly and agreed.

Anthony smiled, then pulled out a script he had already prepared and told me to read it to the camera.

After I finished once, he frowned and shook his head.

"No. Your expression is too stiff. It needs to sound more natural."

The broken shed was freezing, with cold air seeping in from every crack. I rubbed my numb face.

Noticing that I was shivering, Anthony patted me. "Wait here. I'll get you a jacket."

I nodded obediently, a small sense of warmth spreading in my chest.

Maybe things were finally getting better. Maybe my brother was starting to care.

If my mother found out, she would definitely praise me for being sensible. That was what I thought.

However, once Anthony left, he did not come back for a long time. He had also taken the phone with him, saying I should practice my expressions in the mirror first.

Then, suddenly, the hanging lightbulb went out. Darkness swallowed the entire room.

I tried to go out and find him, but the door would not budge. I had no choice but to sit on the ground and wait.

I was shaking uncontrollably from the cold. My breathing grew harder. My head felt heavier and heavier, and my vision slowly faded into darkness.

In my dazed state, it felt like a faint light appeared in front of me.