My Mom Sacrificed My Future for My Cousin

When I got home for the holidays, my mom dropped a bombshell that my cousin was going abroad to study using my savings.

My parents didn’t care that I threatened to die rather than accept it. They shoved my bank card into my aunt’s hands like it was nothing.

Three years later, my cousin returned after his overseas education was complete. While abroad, he even met the daughter of the wealthiest man in Albertine City. Now, he had both a successful career and a powerful marriage.

As for me, since my parents sabotaged every chance I had, I failed my graduate school and civil service exams. Moreover, I was forced into a blind date and married the woman that was arranged by my aunt. So, I was doomed to live the same backbreaking, dirt-covered life as my parents.

——

When the Day of The Death Festival came, I returned home to visit the grave and remember the death. That was when I overheard my mother, sobbing in front of my grandfather’s grave.

“Dad, don’t worry. I took good care of my little sister. I fulfilled all your expectations.”

I crept up the hillside quietly. My grandfather’s gravestone was just ahead. From a distance, I could see my parents kneeling before the grave while continuously scattering the flowers in their hands.

“Dad, rest easy. You asked me to be kind, to be patient, to take care of my sister and I did.”

“Now, her son, Mateo, has returned from studying abroad. He got a great job at a good company and even found himself a rich wife. They’re such a perfect match! Mateo’s enjoying the happiness in his life.”

My father assisted my mother in arranging the offerings and food for the death and then paid respect to my grandfather’s tombstone, then said, “Dad, as your son-in-law, I asked you to please pray for our family and Santiago.”

My mother scoffed in annoyance. “Enough. Don’t mention that useless one.” She waved a dismissive hand, sneering. “Look at Mateo, then look at him. What a disgrace. He couldn’t even pass the civil service exam and couldn’t get into grad school. Thank God Mateo had the guts to study abroad and marry rich people. Then look at him, acting all bitter just because we didn’t bring him here. So unlucky …”

A grin spread across my father's face as he stood there. He appeased her, "Yes. Please, don't be mad, Dear. Dad’s watching.”

However, my mother did not care. She complained, “If I hadn’t paid for Mateo's studies back then, how could he be as successful as he is right now? He was born for wealth and prosperity. Looks like I made the right choice.”

My father sighed. “You can’t blame Santiago for all of that happened. You used his money to send Mateo abroad. He never really got over it.”

“We couldn’t let Mateo suffer, could we? My sister only has one son!” my mother refuted him.

I had lost count of how many times I’d heard those words. Each one was a dagger to the heart cutting deeper every time. I thought I’d grown numb to their cruelty, but it still hurt. So much that I could barely stand because the one who was supposed to study abroad … was me.

At that time, it was my mother who ripped my bank card from my hands and handed it to my aunt. The money in the card was everything that I saved since childhood from scholarships and wages from years of part-time jobs. It was meant for my future, for my graduate studies.

However, my mother tricked me, took it all and gave it away without hesitation to my aunt.

My mother had always favored my cousin, Mateo. I had known that since I was a child. My father permitted it though reluctantly, even when she gave the money to my aunt back then.

What was I to this family? Was I just a stepping stone for Mateo?

Well, for my mother, I was nothing but a fool who was dumb and easy to manipulate.

I was her real son, her flesh and blood. Yet, she always chose someone else over me. All they ever left me with were wounds.

Since I did not look where I was going, my foot slipped. The damp hillside was covered in thick, tangled weeds and I was covertly climbing the mountain but accidentally missed my footing and tumbled down the slope.

"Show yourself!"

Since the sound was not small, it startled them. My mother’s face darkened as soon as she saw me.

She immediately cursed me, "You worthless thing! I told you not to come and you still showed up!”

I struggled to my feet. My arm was scraped and bleeding and my face burned where it had been scratched by the rough earth.