Chapter 56 A Lot To Discuss
Christian’s Point of View
“I want you to know that no matter whom you choose, Xavier or me,” I leaned into her, holding her beautiful face against mine. “I will always support you, and I don’t intend to use your secret against you.”
She reached for my face as well, and I felt goosebumps prickled at the exposed part of my body.
“You got pretty injured,” She noticed, her fingers trailing along my swollen lips. I have forgotten just how much they hurt, and even for a second more, I wanted her to baby me a little bit more.
“Ah…” I hissed, and almost immediately she took her hands off it.
“Does it still hurt?”
I nodded almost immediately, “It hurts so much.” I murmured, leaning into her touch once again.
“Let’s apply first aid first.”
I pulled her back before she could leave. “I don’t need first aid,” I told her, holding her hands up, and my lips brushed against her knuckles lightly. “Just kiss me, and I’ll be fine.”
I blinked twice, wondering if it was too soon to request a kiss, but she grabbed my jaw slightly, pulling my face towards her, and slammed her lips against mine.
She kissed me deeply and hungrily, with an intense passion I didn’t know burned within her.
“I have to go back now.” She muttered as soon as she disengaged from me. “I won’t be coming today; I need to practice.”
I nodded my head because the kiss was more than enough to last me through the day. “Shall I have to see you tomorrow?”
She nodded shyly, and a smile finally reached my lips.
“I’ll text you then.”
I stepped out of the shower, wiping my legs on the foot mat aggressively, so I don’t leave wet footprints in a trail to my room. I was leaving the bathroom in a hurry, partly because I could hear my phone blasting through the air, and I was in a hurry to see if it was Lana who was calling me or not.
My breath hitched the moment my eyes narrowed against the Caller ID… my fingers drummed unhappily against the edge of the table, as I wondered if I should pick it up or not. If I don’t, she will just keep calling me.
So, with a deep sigh filled with instant regret of what I was about to do, I answered the phone.
“Were you contemplating whether or not to answer the phone?”
“I thought we could exchange pleasantries this time around, Mom?”
Even though I could not see her, I could perfectly mirror her expression, and I could tell that in this moment, she was rolling her eyes at me.
“I heard your school will be having a sports competition in less than a month now.” Her calm voice came back; they were venomous. “I heard recently that it was kind of a big deal.”
“Yeah, most scholarship students are encouraged to participate in it, since the benefits will be more inclined towards them,” I confessed. “But I’m competing as well. “I heard Xavier is participating.” Mom’s favorite theme song, I don’t know why she was so obsessed with Xavier.
In fact, I’m forced to believe that she sometimes wished she were Xavier’s mother.
“Do you know what that means?” She asked curiously. “It means my half-brother and I are going to be participating in the school sports competition, but if you think it means something else, then please tell me mom.” Irritation seeped inside me as I explained, and I heard the stiffness in her voice when it came through the phone again.
“It means you have to work hard to outperform Xavier.” She lectured. “I made some inquiries and spoke to the principal of your school. I realized that you are both on opposing teams. “This is the best time to show everyone how much you’re better.”
“What if I just want to have a good game?” I questioned. “I don’t have to be in a competition with Xavier all the damned time—what if I just want to be in the game because I love to play the game?”
“I’m certain that you’re a fool.” Her reviews came back cold and harsh again. “Do you think your father doesn’t notice Xavier’s exceptional abilities? Do you think he is not keeping track of everything—when you have nothing to show you, you’re going to be called incompetent, you don’t even do well academically, and yet you don’t want to show them something you’re good at?”
I fell silent…
I don’t really care about all those things. Xavier truly does excel in a lot of things, things that are different from what I want to be involved in.
But my mother has been in this unhealthy competition with Xavier’s mom, and expects me to be in some sort of rivalry with Xavier. Yes, I’m jealous of him, and I hate him, but that is only because both my parents want me to be like him.
I mean… what’s so special about him?
Why does my life have to revolve around someone like him? Why am I supposed to worry so much for a child that was born out of wedlock?
An illegitimate child, and the most popular term for that is bastard.
“Christian, you have to win the competition and participate in the upcoming international competition.” It sounded like a threat. “You have to show your father just how exceptional you are—give me something to be proud of about you. Don’t make me—”
She trailed off, barely holding back herself from saying those words that I dreaded, those words she told me every day of my life since she found out that I had a brother elsewhere.
“I hope you understand me.”
“Yes, mother,” I answered, and then the phone screen went blank. I wasn’t even filled with anger anymore; I felt nothing towards it.
Just as I was about to go get dressed, another call came in, and my eyes narrowed even more.
This man hasn’t called me in six months, so what the hell does he want?
Why were my parents calling me today?
“Yes, father,” I muttered into the phone.
“I sent my driver to come pick you up.” He replied tiredly. “We have a lot of things to talk about.”