Chapter 41 - Brothers Meeting

>>RUDA

“She left two days ago?” I asked Yohan while I sat on the couch in his living room, “Why didn’t you ever tell me you both were living together? I know we’re not close but she’s my best friend!”

“She didn’t want me too…” Yohan lay on the couch against mine. He looked tired but not weak and was just lazily staring at the ceiling.

“You’re telling me the whole story now? You probably wouldn’t have said anything if I didn’t come to visit you, right?”

He sighed, “Probably…” He turned his head to me, “Is she coming to college?”

“No…” I said, “I was wondering why she was skipping so I came to you. I couldn’t think of any other reason and Wallah! I discover so many things in one go.”

Yohan had told me everything from start to beginning and to be very honest, it was shocking.

There were so many things I just didn’t expect and were hard to believe.

“She must have gone back to her guardian.” He said in a rather hurt tone.

“Who knows, if she left you because you're a wolf, would she go home to a vampire?”

“She left because she thinks your mother is involved in her parents tragedy.” He stared at the ceiling absentmindedly, “And maybe our father as well.”

“...” I had no words to argue with. This was about my mother. I would never believe that she or dad would be involved in something like that.

“Ruda.” Yohan sat up and looked at me, “I have a question for you? Think about it seriously.”

I stared at him, “What?” His eyes seemed very determined.

“What would you do?” He asked, “If our parents were involved in her parents murder.”

HIs question got me off guard, I wasn’t expecting that. “What would I do?” I whispered the words as I began to think deeply but thinking about it logically was too hard. I looked down at my feet as I thought hard about it but this was that one point where no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t stop myself from involving my personal feelings, “I don’t know.” I answered softly, “I… I can’t come to a conclusion.” I looked up at Yohan again, “What about you?”

He shook his head, “I don’t know either.” He sighed and slumped against the back of the couch, “It’s all so messed up. I tried telling her she might be wrong but she’s bent on it, saying she knows what she saw.” He sighed again and looked out the window, “This is why I’m more confused. What if she’s right?” He glanced at me, “Then what? She’s my mate but they’re my family…”

For the next few moments strange silence filled the place. I thought about the possibility of my parents really being behind the killings. I thought about it again and again but my mind just wouldn’t accept it.

I glanced at Yohan who was lost in thought as well. Maybe he was thinking about the same thing.

“You’re not hurt are you?” I asked and he looked at me.

“Surprisingly,” He smirked, “She didn’t reject me or my wolf so I’m fine. Just-” He placed his hand over his chest, “It hurts a lot here.”

“I see.” I smiled when suddenly something dawned on me, “Though I am surprised.” I said, “I never thought you’d actually tell me everything like this-” I looked down on my intertwined hands, “So honestly.” We were never close even though we’re brothers and grew up together.

“I-” He gulped and took a soft deep breath, “I feel like you’re the only one I can talk to without getting betrayed.”

“Hmm?” He feels like I’m the only one he can talk to? Without getting betrayed? What’s that supposed to mean? I didn’t really get what his words meant but he was saying he trusted me, right? That gave me an odd sense of satisfaction. “Did something happen?”

“No-” He shook his head lightly, “Maybe-” He glanced down, “I just realized I don’t really have anything that’s my own. I didn’t expect Ruiz to tell dad everything.” He paused, “If I think about it, you’re the only one who has never told anyone else about the stuff we both talked about.”

I snickered, “We barely ever talked.”

He laughed lightly, “Yea but you did find me in strange scenes but never uttered the word to anyone.” He smiled at me, “I wonder why?”

I looked down, sort of embarrassed, “We always had a formal relationship.” I glanced up at him then looked down again, “But I really wanted-” I stopped. This was too embarrassing for me to say.

“You wanted what?”

“I-” I looked at my hands as I opened and closed my fist in tension, “I-” I glanced at him again and he was completely focused on me. Oh fuck it! I’ll just say it! “I wanted us to be close like real brothers.” I clenched my fists and kept staring at them, “I wanted a brother’s affection.”

There was an awkward silence for a few moments then Yohan spoke.

“Really?” I looked up at him and saw him scratching the back of his neck, “I never knew that, I thought you didn’t like me at all.”

“What! No. Why would I not like you?”

“Because your mom doesn’t.”

“That-” I sighed, “I have no say in that and I won’t deny she’s a big part of the reason we never got along.” I smiled, “But well, that’s why I never told anyone anything. I had hoped that someday you’ll think of me as your brother.”

“Wait! What? What was that?”

“You didn’t like me right?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You never came to talk to me. I was always the one who initiated the conversations and they would never last more than a handful of sentences and you would even leave home when it was my birthday.”

“Well…” He licked his lower lip as he thought about it, “ I was asked to leave by your mom.”

“What?”

“She said she didn’t want me home when you’re friends were over since I was a bastard.” My heart sank when he said those words, “I was looked at like something disgusting since I was an illegitimate child.” His gaze dropped to the floor, “Most of the pack didn’t like me. The only reason I wasn’t bullied was because I was the Alpha’s son so I naturally thought you didn’t like me either and It wasn’t like you ever asked me to come join your party. So I would quietly leave.”

“Oh… I guess, I never really said it.”

I’m well aware of the fact that Yohan wasn’t liked by the pack members. He was deemed as the cursed bastard who would die young. I know full well of how people talked about him since I was the third party and I’ve heard them say some nasty stuff.

It wasn’t until Yohan’s first shifting that people started treating him nicely. When the pack saw he was a white wolf and a big one at that, they immediately had a 180 degree change.

He was fourteen then. Till that time, the distance between us had already become huge and we would most just exchange glances and formal greetings.

“ I didn’t want to be a bother. I-” He cleared his throat, “I just thought you were ashamed of me too.”

“No!” This was the very first time we both were talking like this, “You were amazing… You excelled at everything. Sports. Studies. Whatever.”

“I was just trying extra hard to cover that fact that I wasn’t wanted around.”

“I really looked up to you…” I said softly, “And that’s why when you asked for my help with Maya I was very happy. At that time I thought that maybe we could finally get closer but I guess I wasn’t much help… You did everything on your own.”

“... I had no idea you felt that way.”

“Likewise…”

“So, well, it wasn’t like we were on bad terms though.” He said.

“True. Just some weird floating relationship between two buffoonic brothers.” We both looked at each other, then he laughed softly and I followed.

It felt nice. Nice that we finally conveyed our feelings to each other and nice to feel that we can laugh like this together.

Turns out, all these years we were just trying to not be a bother to each other when in reality we wanted each other like a true family.

***

“Yes mom?” I got a call from mom when I was about to reach my college dorm.

“Ruda, you’re really good friends with Yohan’s mate right?” She asked out of nowhere.

“Yes.”

“Do you know where she is? She left Yohan’s place.”

“No…” Why would she suddenly ask me that? “I have no idea. Why ask?” She knows Maya left Yohan’s place?

“Oh no reason. Just wanted to know. You sure you don’t know?”

“She’s been skipping college so I am worried myself but maybe she just went back to her own home?”

“No she didn’t.” She whispered, her voice was very low.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Oh nothing!”

“But why are you curious all of the sudden?”

“Oh! Just because… She’s Yohan’s mate and all.”

As I finished the phone call my heart started to beat violently. The possibility of something wrong swirled in my mind and I kept thinking what if my mom did do something wrong? What if she was actually behind Maya’s parents murder?

She was never interested in Yohan’s life. Never. She never gave him any importance and now she’s suddenly asking about his mate? What possible reason could there be than she was suspicious of Maya remembering something she shouldn’t? She even knows Maya didn’t go back to Quincy. I pretended not to hear but I did.

Yohan said mom and dad don’t know about Maya recovering her memory but there is a chance they might suspect her since they saw her react to them very badly.

I bit my thumb nail in frustration.

This is driving me crazy.

I bit my lower lip and went inside the boys dorm.

My room was on the top floor, at the very end of the corridor. No one really comes here since the boys prefer the gatherings in the rooms on the first floor or in the common room.

I never really thought much about it but I’m really glad it’s like this now.

Why?

I entered my room and placed my bag on the table right next to the door.

The reason is that I have a special guest staying over nowadays.

“Hey. Welcome back.” My guest greeted me as I entered the room.

I looked at her and she waved her hand at me, “Hey Maya..” I waved back at her.