Chapter 3: Let It Go

Chapter 3: Let It Go

Not sure enough credit is given to the serene city of Phoenix. I mean sure, it wasn't the richest city, but it wasn’t the poorest. It wasn't the most beautiful, but it wasn't the ugliest either. It was just... there, I guess. But at the same time, it felt so peaceful. So loud yet so quiet. So, exhilarating yet calming at the same time. It was during afternoon drives like this, one really appreciated the little things this peaceful city joyously gave, but from the look on Marcus's face, the city could burn down to its very last atom for all he cared. 

"Now we've talked about this okay. I don't want any unnecessary fights between you two today. Your brother's finally getting out of therapy and–"

"That's what you said last time ma"

She sent a heart-drilling look in his direction through the rearview mirror. Luckily for him, he was staring aloofly at the majestic trees, as they etched closer and closer to their final destination.

"Like I was saying, he's finally getting out of therapy and the least you could do is be there to support him. Is that clear?" She waited for a response. Didn't feel like it was forthcoming. "I said, is that clear Marcus?"

"Mom as far as he doesn't say or do anything dumb, I'll be on my best behavior."

"You better be. We're here." She parked her 2006 Toyota Corolla just beside the driveway, where an emotionless figure stood with a partially filled bag over his back.

"There he is" she said, getting out of the car without even turning off the ignition. 

"Missed you so much" she tried hugging him and lifting him off the ground, but he looked way too old for that. 

"Yeah nice to see you too ma" he replied in a deep and weary voice, with a wry smile. "You know you shouldn’t have driven here. I could've just–"

"No no no, I don't want to hear any of that Ryan. It's been a whole six months and I wanted to be the–"

"I know I know" he slowly ousted himself from his mom's firm hug and gave her a light forehead kiss. “Missed you too mom" he returned the tight hug. "Alright. Let's go home now" he said, after a few minutes of ‘calm’ between the two. 

This same cycle of getting into rehab and then coming out of it with a smile on his face had repeated itself for a while. Two years to be exact. But something about this one felt a little different. And he was beginning to really dig it. That was until he glanced at the character in the passenger's seat at the back, and saw an all too familiar figure. 

"You brought Marcus here? You know what happened the last time?" He whispered.

"She didn't bring me here. She forced me here. You can bet your lucky stars that this is the last place on earth I'd want to be" he replied from inside the car, not even staring in his brother's direction. 

"Well" he slipped into the car, his mother following suit almost immediately, "... hello to you to" he completed, not bothering to look him in the eyes either.

"Now Marcus what do you say?" She buckled up, about to back out of the driveway. "Excuse me? Am I talking to myself back there?" She eyed his figure through the rearview mirror. "Don't make me–"

"Mom" Ryan placed his rough hand on his mom's. His pitch-black eyes, lowcut and red shirt with blue jeans assuring her that it was best she left things as they were. "It's cool. Let's just go home. Can't wait to taste some decent food. It's been a while since I had some actual, home-made chicken. They just serve us bull up here" he smiled. 

"Sure Honey. But I'm not done with you" she said, not looking at anyone in particular, but he knew himself.

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"And here we are" she smiled as the engine revved to a halt. Parked in the driveway, she looked into the eyes of her son and saw peace. For the first time in a long time, it felt like he was finally home, for good. And there were no words to describe how happy she felt. But the figure seated in the back looked a very different character. He watched his mother once again look at her son like he was finally home. A look he had seen way too often. It was often followed by false hope, a horrible night, and the next morning, another trip to a supposedly tighter Rehabilitation facility. 

For the first time since he got out, he looked at his older brother who was supposedly overwhelmed by the feeling of finally being home. He wasn't buying the whole act though. As far as he was concerned, this was just Ryan putting mom through another heartbreak session. This time, even If it could be slower, it’d reap the same results. But he wasn't going to be a sitting duck this time. Sure his 22-year-old brother was all muscles and everything, but the three years difference between the two of them didn't matter. One mess up on Ryan's part and he would get a five-finger death punch.

"Mom you realize you've got the keys to the house right? Are we gonna sit all day in the car?" Marcus said, audibly annoyed. 

"Oh yeah" Mrs. Boaz snapped out her moment if soliloquy. Likewise, Ryan. 

Getting out of the car first, Marcus walked to the door, and watched in disgust as his mom and elder brother kept discussing and laughing and having a good time. "Yuck. I'm starving mom could you speed it up a notch."

"Yeah yeah sure" she tried gathering herself after a bout of laughter with her other, charming child. "Jeez, what’s the hurry?” she said, slipping the key into the key-hole. “Okay now. Home sweet home." 

Not relenting for a second, immediately she slipped the key into the door and unlocked it, he pushed the door open and walked in, caring little to nothing about whatever anybody had to say. From the looks of things, neither his mom nor older brother seemed to care, they were too lost in each other’s eyes and smiles. So much for throwing a tantrum

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"God, I missed your Coconut rice" Ryan said with a mouth full of it, just at the opposite the end of the dining table. His mom was seated opposite him, and his younger brother in the middle of the pack, once again. 

"It can't be that nice, I mean, I didn't put enough–"

"Mom, mom read my lips. It's…perfect" he said, with a big smile on his face, making his mother blush almost instantly. But the more they got along, the more they conversed, traded jokes and did anything but have a bad time, the more it infuriated the eighteen-year-old seated between them. Looked like they didn't even notice him, or acknowledge his presence. And though he was very quiet about it, it made his blood boil.

"Hey Ryan, be a sweetheart and pass the jug of water, would you?"

"Oh alright." Reaching for the jug just a couple inches in front of him, he accidentally jabbed it with his finger, and guess who was on the receiving end of a couple milliliters of ice-cold water. 

"Oof. That's not good" Mrs. Boaz said with a smile on her face.

"What the fuck man?" Marcus got up from his chair, dripping wet and uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry. It was unintentional" Ryan said with a wry smile on his face, trying to shield the giggle that was bubbling up.

"Fuck you mean by unintentional? You knew it was gonna pour on me. Why couldn't you just lift–"

"I said I'm sorry man, it was an acciden–"

"You're an accident" he barked. Suddenly the atmosphere became tense and quiet.

"Marcus, apologize."

"Apologize? Apologize for what? What'd I say huh mom? What'd I say that wasn't true?" He looked back at his brother. "Nobody wants you here Ryan. Nobody. Don't you think you've done enough to hurt mom? To hurt this family? And now you think you can just waltz your way in here, and everyone’s going to be all smiles about it? Fuck you man. Fuck you. And now that I think about it, I should've fucked your girlfriend when I had the chance."

"Marcus!"

"What'd you say?

"You heard me right. What you Gon do about it?"

In the flicker of an eyelid, Ryan got up from his chair and dashed towards Marcus about to throw a deafening right Hook in his direction, but Marcus saw it coming. He dodged with infinitesimal finesse and seizing the opportunity, threw a powerful right Hook of own, connecting perfectly, sending his older brother to the floor in a second. "Yeah, that's right. Do something abo–" before he could celebrate his four seconds of glory, Ryan picked up his brother like he weighed nothing and slammed him, back first on the dining table. He was about to send punches in all directions till his mom shouted. 

"Boys! That's enough."

For the first time in a while, he looked his brother deep in the eyes and saw nothing but wrath and intense hatred. Sure they were never really on the same page, at least not for a while, but this time… this felt really personal. Raining punches on him would just make matters worse, so he slowly unclenched his balled-up fists.

"Get off me" he shoved Ryan away in anger. "Fuck you, and fuck this" he said, walking away and up the stairs.

"Marcus you get back her–" 

"No mom" Ryan stopped her, just as she was about to follow him up the stairs. "Just leave him. Let him go. Let it be."