Chapter Four

GABRIEL SPRINGS UP FROM BED and walks downstairs coolly as I rush anxiously after him. Ryan's hollers and curse words at the entrance hall are like symphonies to Gabriel's ears. It looks like he has been scheming against Ryan for the last few weeks. What did he do this time? His pain hasn't rested for a bit, has it? Though I am capable of protecting my brother from Ryan's awful temper – because he can really be destructive and lack self-control sometimes, but you can't stop a car that has no brakes. Gabriel is not helping at all as he breaks the brake himself. Nevertheless, he acts like he is in control of what is uncontrollable.

They both rebinds Homer's Trojan war. The scenery conjures Cain and Abel's prehistoric conflict. Or it can be visioned as if Paris of Troy has just clashed with King of Sparta. Nothing, but an intense confrontation. The Titans versus the Olympians. King Odysseus versus Poseidon. The names of many Epic wars keep flashing in my head when I see the two of them because there're no limits and no humanness when these two bulls are freed in the arena. In fact, the shared kinship is completely forgotten. The desire of seeking a constant triumph is invariable between them. It is a cancerous idea that has been eating their minds up. As they carry on in a persistent loop. Their dynamic opposition rejuvenates. It boils as an active volcano that is ready to extrude all the molten hate stuck at their concealed bottoms, neglecting all the vague and crucial consequences in the aftermath. This unconventional malevolence threatens something greater when the hate between two parties is not civil anymore. It may encompass irrelevant portions and miss its actual notion and its original sources and reasons. 

The smokes that billows beneath their rib cages are creeping to our realm of reality without their own consent. It doesn't matter who has started this war anymore when it has turned into a non-stop payback loop. Last month, Ryan smashed Gabriel's rented car with his metal baseball bat for getting on his nerves after delivering in the mail of his fiancée, Chyerl Harper, a bustier and his phone number with "call me" printed on a business card. Childish, indeed. But, here we are, expecting Ryan's comeback for Gabriel's comeback.

Looking at Ryan's frown face makes me suppose that Gabriel has cooked for Ryan something VERY terrible behind the scenes. 

As I am skipping steps hurriedly to catch up on Gabriel, I try to make my way to his arm that is oscillating back and forth and have a grip on his relaxed hand. His hands are unlike when they are always in identical situations, cold and sweaty. Rather they are remarkably too warm.

"You won't stop taking delight in ruining my reputation and my temper, will you?" Ryan shakes the house with his loudest ear piercing voice. He wonders in a bitter tone as soon as he catches a glimpse of me and Gabriel approaching him.

He unbuttons his jet-black leather jacket, and he shows up with a combed and glossy pixie cut. His odor is strong cologne, but you can also catch the smell of tobaccos mixed with curcumin and spices, meaning he has just heard about the news while having his favourite Indian cuisine. Despite the notable efforts to cover up spices with dense cologne, their smells dominates remarkably. The source of his love for Indian tastes is kind of fishy because Ryan detests everything that is not local and 100% American. Yes, the orthodoxy of his views and how close-minded he is are best known things about him. This is ironically conflicted. Especially, it may be the case for individuals who have just met him. However, his preferences for Asian culture and cuisine is reasonable to me and the rest of the Conners, in particular. Yet, it's still his secret.

Gabriel steps into the entrance hall with an air of confidence. Ryan fixates his sharp look on him. In a toneless voice, "How are you doing, brother?" Gabriel smirks.

"Brother!" Ryan repeats contemptuously at the back of his throat. He gives a doubtful look to the mention of the blood relation between him and Gabriel.

"I know right? It's a hard pill to swallow, isn't it" Gabriel replies in an artificial tone, watching Ryan's facial expression carefully. Through my tries of making Gabriel retreat, it seems as if Ryan's anger is not directed at him. I don't know about Theresa — who is just existing in the background — but the stillness of Gabriel's heart can be interpreted as the calm before the storm.

Ryan leans nearer to his brother, shoving a copy of a freshly printed newspaper released by the local office that Gabriel works at with his friend Tommy.

"Did you make Tommy publish this nonsense?" Ryan's voice tightens and clenches his fist. My eyes are fixated on his posture and body language, which is foreboding an unpleasant occurrence.

"Tell me right now!" Ryan cries aloud, growing angrier.

Gabriel concedes with a nod. Ryan explodes with an immediate sucker punch that bruises Gabriel's face already. This abrupt punch has elevated the adrenaline in my system. I start to feel my heart in my throat, watching how Ryan has flown off the handle very quickly.

I made myself in between them as an obstacle before they collided. "Back off, Ryan!" I cry sharply, leaning my palms against their chests, and try my best to thrust them away from each other. Gabriel is less tranquil now as I can feel his intense heart palpitations.

"I endured all your bullshits because we share a kinship, but you've gone too far with this one." Ryan's voice rings in my ears. They are squishing me through clashing.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?" I interrogate and Ryan moves off.

Ryan stares at me with a less angry look. The difference between his looks at Gabriel and me is pretty much definable and peculiar. They resemble an old look I remember from a certain time ago. I still can see brotherly emotions locked in there. They still exist. I do hope that, but uncertain about if I really would ever admit it in front of anyone.

"Your brother and his friend Tommy have published a scandalous article accusing me of evading taxes. They've also hinted at the body of the article that I may be involved in money laundering." Ryan explains then he turns to Gabriel, "This has gone too far, you have to pay for it this time."

I get a hold of the newspaper. It contains on the main paper a scandalous picture of Ryan spotted by the paparazzi dancing half-naked at a strippers club. The headline says, 'Harpers' favorite son evades taxes to striptease.' As much as I want strongly to giggle, I recognize Abel's frustration with such a thing. This will make him extremely upset with my siblings since his younger sister Cheryl Harper is the one and only spoiled girl in the family. Indeed, Gabriel has acted foolishly while bringing Tommy into it.

Gabriel is neither naturally born with a scheming trait nor likes to be impudent. He is, in contrast, driven by the pain that seizures every room inside him. The love and appreciation give Gabriel nothing, but a Judas Kiss. The same love that exhibits abundant goodness can also impel him to show unexpected repugnance. Experiencing betrayal caused by Ryan is what fueled these current intrigues and given Gabriel those dead eyes he displays to his elder brother mercilessly.

"Can you calm down, please? We can talk." I speak softly, quivering. Giving up the newspaper from my hands to meet the ground. 

"What your scummy brother did is insane, Sabrina. This is a serious and very sensitive matter. These unwholesome attacks have to stop."  Ryan complains in a strong voice.

"I am so sick of you," Gabriel grunts.

"Oh, really? Then why don't you mind your own fucking business and stop searching in every nook and cranny for things against me." Ryan points a finger at him.

"This fight has to stop. This whole animosity has to be put to an end. You two have to grow up and acknowledge that each one of you chose their side and took their own path already, and this shouldn't make any one of you an enemy to the other. If you hate each other, fine. But hate without reacting to it. If you and Vanessa Harper chose Jeremy Harper's wealth over their biological family then fine, you stay where you are and don't approach with more wounds."

It was only my voice and silence in the entrance hall. My eyes neglects everything around, but only make me question Ryan's smirk.

"You too chose our side. You aren't different from us, Sabrina. So don't pretend as if we fractured you into miniatures." Ryan states and Gabriel's face gloom. My body freezes to the prospect of him knowing more details about me and Abel than what Gabriel knows.

He Adds on, "Listen, I understand that you hate me and mom immeasurably." Well, I don't. "And you would always stand by your one and only brother, but you must be just in such a situation because your brother is not just messing with me; he is sending me to jail with this article. These bastards even attached to it some illegal records against me."

"You should've thought about the consequences of messing with me from the beginning." Gabriel cuts him off.

In a mocking tone, Ryan hastens immediately to reply. "It's not my fault that you are incapable of satisfying your women, so they start to run to my incredible lap-" Gabriel cuts him off with a violent punch that jolts him backward. This line is just the climax of Gabriel's irritation that provoked all his senses against Ryan.

Ryan hastens to grab Gab and pulls him close. "Is this untrue? No worries, I can pay for your sex therapies." As Gabriel raises his hand again to smack him, Ryan succeeds in interrupting before him with another brutal punch. Meanwhile, Theresa tries to call the cops. 

The situation has become out of my control. Shaking them apart with the help of Theresa and staring and being fascinated is all I can afford.

"Your end is in jail." Gabriel blatantly feeds Ryan's anger in a tranquil tone as they wrestle.

"And you will never find someone to sleep with because you will find me eventually with every chick you put your eye on. Do you hear me?" That was hard for your ears to hear. My tears glide on my both cheeks. It's a lot.

The last punch makes Gabriel collapse limply on the ground. Then Ryan quits the house with a gloom that takes over his anger. I looked brokenly at my poor brother who is uneasily trying to get on his legs again.

Although everything happened in less than twenty minutes, it felt like a long while. My thoughts are not anywhere else, but all about the blood smears on Gabriel's white T-shirt and the indescribable need for Abel's immediate presence just to calm down my shivering body. But I can't call him. I can't need my husband in a situation like this. My thoughts are all mixed up shifting from needing Abel to the prospect of this may be the right time for searching for somebody else. Anger is making breathing harder. I can't resist not following Ryan.