My Rival's Secret
Disdain, Part-1
It's 7'o clock in the morning.
The alarm buzzes ⏰ , cutting through the silence of the room.
Keith groans and buries his face deeper into the pillow to drown the relentless beeping of the alarm. He hates mondays and mornings. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯𝘵?
It's not just the alarm he wants to escape, though. It's everything waiting on the other side of his bed covers- the college, the lectures, the assignments, his dad and the endless questions about what he wanted to do with his life.
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Kai!!
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Get up!
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
You're going to be late!
His mom's voice rings out from down the hall, sharper than the alarm. Keith sighs and squeezes his eyes tighter and mumbles.
Keith
Just five minutes more, mum...
A few minutes later, he hears footsteps coming down the hall. His sister pushes open his room's door, rolling her eyes as she marches over to his bed.
Kaya
You know mom's about to come up here herself, right?
Keith hides inside the blanket, whining.
Keith
Five more minutes... please...
Kaya
What are you? A five-year-old kid?
Keith
Go away...let me sleep...
Kaya sighs and says softly, inching closer towards his bed.
His eyes snap open. Any remnants of sleep vanish instantly. He throws the blanket off and stumbles out of bed, heart pounding. His father’s voice downstairs sounds faint, but it’s enough to make him move quickly, as if his very presence could set him off.
As Kaya waits for her twin brother by the door patiently. Keith finishes dressing and heads out of the room. She looks at him with concern in her eyes.
Keith
What're you sorry for, silly? It's not your fault if I'm-
Kaya interrupts him before he can finish demeaning himself. Her tone firm, but gentle
Kaya
It's not your fault, you know that right?
Keith slows down his pace, his face darkening as he looks down, his eyes clouded with frustration and exhaustion.
Keith
I don't know...it just feels like it sometimes...
Keith
Like everything's always a mess...and dad-
Kaya
You're not the one with the problem— he is.
Keith
Do I not disgust you?
Kaya looks at him in disbelief, her expression softening.
Kaya
For being who you are?
Kaya
Kai... you're not broken, you're okay.
Kaya
And that's all that matters. Don't let What dad says get to your head.
Keith's shoulders relax a little, though a faint sadness lingers in his eyes as he looks away, his voice soft and hesitant.
Keith
I might not have survived all of this if not for you being there for me every time...
Kaya
You're welcome but...
Kaya
I can't save you and me if we're any later than we already are for breakfast.
Keith looks at his watch and hurries to the hall following his sister quietly.
Disdain, Part-2
They both reach the dining hall. Kaya looks at Keith and gives him a reassuring smile before pushing the door open. He hesitantly moves in, dread evident on his face, trying to avoid his father's gaze.
His father, sitting at the table, speaks coldly, without looking up from his paper.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Finally decided to grace us with your presence.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Thought you would be hiding upstairs, under your bed avoiding reality like usual-
Amelia sets the plate on the table and speaks softly with a hint of hesitancy.
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Please Travis...can we just have a calm breakfast today?
Travis snaps at her making her flinch.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Stay out of this, Ami.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Maybe if you hadn't spoiled him, he wouldn't be 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺!
Keith lowers his head, gripping his fork tightly. His mother glanced at him apologetically for being weak and not able to protect her son from his father's usual verbal abuse.
Travis fixes his gaze at Keith and says coldly.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Look at me when I'm talking to you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
God, you're pathetic...
Mr. Travis Anderson
Just...𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨
Mr. Travis Anderson
Why can't you be normal like everyone else?
Kaya sits straighter, her voice quiet but tense, she looks at her father and speaks gently.
Travis scoffs and ignores her. His gaze and words piercing through Keith's heart.
Mr. Travis Anderson
You think anyone's going to tolerate this...𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 of yours?
Mr. Travis Anderson
You make me sick. How do you even live with yourself? I can barely stand to look at you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Weak, pathetic, mentally ill and twisted
Keith's hands start to shake, and he sets his fork, unable to keep eating. His mother's face crumples with worry, she collects all her courage and tries to reach out to him, but Travis's glare stops her. As she tries to speak, her voice is barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Please, Travis...
Mrs. Amelia Anderson
Just...don't.
Travis turns to her, his anger shifting on Amelia.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Don't you dare.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Maybe if you had done your job properly, we wouldn't be sitting here, looking at this...
Mr. Travis Anderson
this...𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦
Kaya's face hardens, she slams her fork on the table, making Travis clench his jaw, she gently grabs her twin brother's arm, urging him to stand.
Kaya
Let's go, we're getting late.
Travis speaks mocking Keith.
Mr. Travis Anderson
Yes, run off.
Mr. Travis Anderson
That's what a 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 should do
Mr. Travis Anderson
Keep running from what's wrong with you.
Mr. Travis Anderson
You can't be fixed, Keith!
Mr. Travis Anderson
You are a disappointment, a stain on my family!
Keith's chest tightens as he follows Kaya out of the dining room, every step feeling heavier as his father's words echo in his mind. Amelia watches her son leave, eyes filled with helpless sorrow and tears. She wipes them off before Travis sees her and heads inside the kitchen.
Kaya stops in the hallway, her face filled with quiet anger and sadness.
Kaya
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Kai...
Kaya
You shouldn't have to go through with this...
Keith speaks, his voice trembling, struggling to keep his composure.
Keith
Thanks... for being there...
Keith
I just...i don't know how much longer I can keep doing this...
Keith
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴...it just...it feels like something inside me is breaking.
He clutches his chest, taking a shaky breath.
Keith
My chest...it hurts so much...
Keith
It hurts with every breath I take...
Kaya pulls him into a hug, and he doesn't resist, his shoulders shaking as he finally lets go, the tears streaming down his face.
He whispers as his voice cracks.
Keith
It just...it hurts so much, Kaya
Keith
I don't know how to make it stop.
His words hang in the air, raw and vulnerable, as Kaya holds him tighter, her own eyes filling with tears as she gently rubs his back, doing everything she can to keep him from falling apart completely.
Kaya
Shh...it's ok. I'm here.
Kaya
I've got you. You're not alone, no matter what dad says...
She wipes his tears. Her soft voice breaks slightly.
Kaya
I know it hurts—I know...
Kaya
You know, you're stronger...
Kaya
You're brave and kind...you're exactly who you're meant to be...
Keith's breathing slows just a little as her words reach him. He just nods at his sister as tears keep trickling down his face now at her kind words.
Kaya cups his face in her hands gently.
Kaya
I see all of you and there's nothing wrong with you—nothing.
Kaya
You're perfect just as you are.
Kaya
And I'll keep reminding you, as many times as you need to hear.
Keith looks at his sister, her presence bringing him a small glimmer of comfort in the midst of his pain.
Unhinged, Part-1
As Keith and Kaya walk toward the college building, they're welcomed with a morning hustle of students hurrying in.
Kaya nudges Keith to grab his attention and asks softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Kaya
You sure you're okay?
Keith says, not wanting to add more to his sister's worries, in a serious yet soft tone.
Keith
I'll be fine, don't worry about me.
Kaya studies his face and sighs, deciding not to press him further.
Kaya
Alright then. Catch you later!
Kaya starts to turn away, but then stops, glancing back at Keith with a smile, trying to lighten up his mood.
Kaya
Lets dad not ruin our whole day, Kai.
Kaya
Even if our day started bad, we can still make it better!
Keith responds half heartedly.
Kaya
You can keep up with the act of 'I'm okay' until I get back, can't you?
Keith
You're so annoying sometimes...
Kaya
See you after the class ends!
Kaya
We'll go to the beach. And bring those two morons with you as well.
Keith nods, watching her go before he turns and heads towards his classroom.
Keith enters the classroom, he spots his friends, 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 and 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲, already settled in. Oliver waves him over with a grin.
Oliver
Look who finally decided to show up!
Oliver
Thought you had bailed on us.
Keith rolls his eyes, settling into the seat next to them.
Keith
Trust me, I thought about it.
Henry raises an eyebrow, noticing Keith's red puffy eyes.
Oliver
Looks like you showed up after a good cry.
Keith
Just didn't get a good sleep. Nothing major.
Henry
Your eyes aren't agreeing to your excuse.
Oliver
Or maybe you are just aiming for a 𝘝𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤 look?
Oliver
Your red eyes totally give it away.
Keith
Oh, shut up. Will you?
Oliver shrugs.
Keith decides to give in.
Keith
Just had a 'not so good' morning, happy?
Henry
Is it your dad again?
Keith just hums in response, his shoulders slumping as he leans over the desk, a gloomy expression settling on his face.
Oliver and Henry exchange a look, patting his back reassuringly.
Henry
It'll be okay, man. Just hang in there, you know?
Oliver
We should get your dad a hobby, like...... relaxing. Somewhere—far, far away.
Henry sighs, acknowledging his annoying friend's joke for the first time.
Henry
I guess I'll agree on this.
Keith
Seriously Henry...you too now?
Oliver grins, leaning in with a smirk on his face.
Oliver
We can tell him that he's promoted to 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 and his only duty is to leave you alone.
Oliver
Or maybe we can sign him up for a 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱. Imagine him meditating in the mountains.
Henry
As if that will work.
Oliver
Who knows—he might come back all zen, like, "𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚, 𝙨𝙤𝙣"
Keith lets out a small laugh, feeling a bit of the weight lift as his friends support him in their own way and Henry's lips twitch in a faint smile at Oliver's deadpan jokes.
Keith
That would be a sight.
Henry
I'm all up for your mom's reaction if this camp thing ever gets real.
Keith
She'll probably think he's possessed by some ghost.
Oliver grins, his voice takes an exaggerated, high-pitched tone as he mimics Mrs. Anderson.
Oliver
She'll be like—"Who are you? and what have you done to my loud, scary husband ??"
Oliver
And bam— Next thing you know, he'll be hosting a yoga class in the living room chanting namaste to your dog.
Keith can't help but laugh, shaking head at his friend's antics.
Henry
I can totally picture your dad trying to meditate. He'll end up yelling at the sand for not being in the right spot.
Oliver smiles proudly at his own performance as Keith chuckles at the ridiculous mental image of his dad trying to meditate.
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