Chapter 37 37

Chapter 37 37


The room was minimalist, with toys splattered on the floor and male superhero posters neatly lined on the walls.

Fourteen-year-old Ivan sat on the floor, his legs crossed, a hoodie on.
In his hands was a game pad, his eyes fixed on the screen before him. His face shifted with every slight chance of victory.

The door opened. Pablo, much younger, walked in.

“Master Ivan,” he called out, “your father calls for you. I’m afraid you have a guest.”

“A guest?” Ivan’s focus moved from the TV to Pablo, then back to the TV. “Who is it?”

“You might have to see this one for yourself. Your father wants you in his study.” Pablo said

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute,” Ivan said.

Pablo kept quiet for a while, not moving from where he stood by the door. He checked his wristwatch, one minute had passed. Immediately, he turned to Ivan and spoke again.

“One minute is up, Master Ivan. Do not let your father get pissed. You know he doesn’t like being kept waiting.”

“Argh.” Ivan hesitated. “You’re right.”

He got up and followed Pablo. Pablo walked ahead, showing him the way.

As Ivan stepped into the study, he spotted his father standing beside a bookshelf,
one hand resting on the shelf, the other resting on the shoulder of a child beside him.

Another child.
Another charity project, Ivan thought.

He stepped in, stooping right beside his father.

“Father, you called for me!” Ivan said, his voice soft.

“Oh yes, I did, my dear son” Don’s voice echoed in the room, his smile large and his hair neatly styled.

Ivan took a few steps backward, more skeptical than before. His father rarely smiled at him.

“Hello, Ivan,” the boy standing beside Don said.

“Dude, I don’t know you” Ivan muttered
Never met him. Why the hell is he calling my name like he knows me? Ivan thought.

“What does that look like? You are shocked he knows your name?” Don asked, urging Ivan to come closer.

“Well… yes. Who is he?” Ivan hurried to ask without moving from where he stood.

“Have your seat,” Don said to Ivan, then pointed to the Slavik.
“And you, go sit beside him.”

Slavik moved from the other side of the table and sat next to Ivan.
Ivan felt uncomfortable for a moment but waved it aside, hoping the meeting would end as quickly as it began.

“Ivan, meet Slavik.”

Ivan nodded slightly. His face tightening, he guessed right. Then he stole a glance at Slavik, then faced his father again.

“He’s your cousin,” Don said. “Your long-lost cousin is finally back.”

“Dad, I was never aware I had a cousin. Why the sudden appearance? “ He faced Slavik, “Why appear now?”

“Because I have nowhere else to go,” Slavik said quietly.

“So wait” Ivan scoffed. “You’re going to be one of my father’s charity cases?”

“Ivan!” Don yelled. “Where are your manners? Is that how you are going to talk to your cousin?”

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with what I said. Isn't he one of your many goodwill cases?” He paused and then gave Slavik another glance, “You’re not the first, definitely not the last” He chuckled.

“He is your cousin, and that’s final!” Don said firmly. “Stop with this attitude of yours! When will you grow up? Now get up and welcome him the right way and take him to your room, make him feel comfortable.”

“My room? Why my room? No way he’s staying in my room! Multiple rooms in this house are empty, he can stay in one of those!” Ivan yelled.

“You will not ask me irrelevant questions. You will simply do as I say. I am your father”

Ivan scoffed, and Don paid no attention to it.

“Now, Slavik, go with him to his room. I’ve already asked Pablo to prepare another bed for you there.
And Ivan, you better be good to him. You better be.” He ordered.

Ivan murmured under his breath and walked out of the study, Slavik following.

When they got to Ivan’s room, he immediately noticed the new bed placed beside his.
He was furious. He tried to drag his own bed farther, but he was too small and not strong enough.

“Can I help?” Slavik asked.

“No, I don’t need your help!” He barked.

“It’s obvious you don’t want my bed close to yours, so let me help.”

“I said I don’t need it. Look, you’re only here for a short period of time. You won’t be here long.
Just like all of Father’s charity cases, you’re not the first nor will you be the last. So don’t get too comfortable”

“I know you hate me and I completely understand that,” Slavik said.
“Trust me, hate isn't even close.”

“What I don’t understand is why you hate him.”

“What's there not to hate. He brings in a lot of kids he considers ‘special’ and puts some of them in my room.
In every batch, he picks just one every year.
So don’t think you’ll be here forever. You won’t.”

“Ivan,” Pablo called from the door.

“What is it?”

“Your father calls for you.”

“Again?”

Pablo remained silent.

“Arghhh.” Ivan groaned but finally followed.
He walked into his father’s study once more.

His father turned, staring at him.

“What was that about?”

“Father, I’ve told you countless times, stop bringing strange people into my room,
Having me live uncomfortably for a whole year until they leave again.
I am sick and tired of it, and I wish you’d stop!”

“You are being very ungrateful!
You have a roof over your head, food whenever you need it, and you stand here trying to stop me from extending the same privileges to others?
Isn’t that too selfish for someone who hasn’t worked a day in his life? You have no idea what life is about.” Don said.

“And you have no idea what being a father is about.” Ivan snapped.

Don charged toward him and slapped him.

Ivan cried out in pain, his eyes going red.
Immediately, Don realized what he had done, and regret washed over his face.

“I am sorry… I didn’t mean to.”
Ivan scoffed, “Well I am sorry that I am not the one who died in that accident, maybe if I were, you’d never have to always find a replacement for what you lost every single year”

“Son…” Don said softly.

Ivan shook his head in disappointment and walked out of the room leaving Don frozen, his hand still half-lifted from the slap he regretted.
He sank slowly into the chair behind his desk, elbows resting on his knees, hands covering his face.