We are no longer family

My folks, loaded beyond belief, were convinced my brother, Danny, and I were gonna turn into spoiled brats. So, they stuck us with the grunt work, flying the crappiest, longest routes imaginable.

Then came the Cambodia gig.

The whole place erupted in chaos, a straight-up riot. Our return flight? Canceled.

I panicked and called my parents, begging them to send a private plane. Their response? Ice cold.

"Pilots don't bail when things get tough, Alan. You need to handle this."

"Just get on that plane when it finally leaves, and that's that."

Seriously? We were screwed. Scrambling, pulling every string we could find, we managed to snag two tickets home.

But get this: on the day of the flight, my phone buzzed. Refund confirmed. Our tickets? Gone.

I was about to call the airline, ready to scream, when Mom and Dad rang.

"If everyone else can tough it out, why should you be treated special?"

"We canceled those tickets. You're not getting back on anything but that damn company plane!"

Then, bam, they hung up, blocking us from buying any other way out.

Eventually, everyone else stuck over there got rescued, but not us.

Danny got caught in the crossfire, killed in the riots.

I barely made it, saved by the skin of my teeth, thanks to the embassy.

Numb, I was arranging Danny's funeral when I saw a post from our adopted brother, Kevin.

"Thank you to the best parents ever, who were worried about me being in danger abroad, and sent ten planes to bring me home!"

This time, I didn't blow a gasket like I used to. I just calmly hit "like," then commented:

"Your parents are the best. Hope you all live happily ever after."

...

The funeral home was freezing, the cold seeping into my bones.

I took the tissues the staff handed me, trying to handle Danny's arrangements.

The jarring ringtone of my phone cut through the silence.

The screen flashed "Dad."

The yelling started the second I answered.

"Alan! What the hell is wrong with you? Kevin's freaking out because of your comment, won't even touch his dinner!"

I let out a bitter laugh, worse than crying.

"Just stating the obvious. Kevin is way more like your real son than Danny and I ever were."

A beat of silence on the other end, then Mom's voice, softer.

"Alan, Kevin's studying in a country with some unrest nearby. We were worried, that's why we sent the planes."

She paused, then tried to soothe me.

"As his brother, you should be understanding. Don't always go after Kevin."

"Go after him?" I scoffed. "Like I have a right to."

Dad's voice, rough again.

"Why are you even explaining this to him? I don't need his permission to bring my son home!"

"Apologize to Kevin, or you and Danny can stay in Cambodia for good. With the riots going on, you might as well just die there!"

That last, cruel wish broke me. Tears welled up.

So, they knew people were dying in the riots. They deliberately put me and Danny in the line of fire.

Since we were kids, it had been this way. The second Kevin felt even a little slighted, we'd be getting yelled at.

Then they'd use every weapon at their disposal to force us to apologize.

In their eyes, Kevin was brilliant and kind, while Danny and I were just toxic and selfish.

That's why they worried about us "abusing our power" in the company. They hid our family ties from the world, stuck us on the toughest routes, and made us start from the bottom.

Just before this trip to Cambodia, news broke that the place was about to explode. Potentially a one-way ticket.

Mom and Dad knew it was dangerous, but they still forced us to go.

Danny and I tried to refuse, but they started with the "you're too privileged" and "act like spoiled millionaires" routine.

They guilt-tripped us with the whole "we brought you into this world" speech, and we finally caved.

When the riots started, they not only refused to help us, but they canceled our flight, blocking us from getting home.

Meanwhile, Kevin was studying in Europe, completely safe.

But because they were afraid something might happen to him, they sent a fleet of private planes and bodyguards to escort him back.

We were their biological sons, and they treated us like garbage.

Kevin was just adopted, yet he got all the love and support in the world.

Poor Danny, even in his last moments, was trying to make excuses for them.

"Mom and Dad probably didn't know what was really happening, that's why they wouldn't let us come home. Don't hate them, just live your life..."

Thinking about Danny's blown-apart body, a wave of rage crashed over me.

"Apologize? Over my dead body! Never!"

"You got Danny killed! Are you happy now?"

"You're the worst parents ever. Karma's gonna get you!"

I slammed the phone down, cutting off the screaming on the other end.

The embassy got me back to the States.

Stepping off the plane, I was hit by a giant screen with Kevin's face plastered all over it.

"Congratulations to the Son of the Lin Corporation on His Safe Return!" blazed across it, over and over.

The waiting area was filled with flight attendants whispering.

They weren't loud, but every word felt like a punch.

"Is that the millionaire's son? I heard the Lin's were freaking out about his university being in a dangerous area, flew ten private jets with security to bring him back!"

"Seriously. They've got welcome banners everywhere, and the Lin's even got him a limited edition luxury jet, with a state of the art flight control system and a full medical team!"

My blood felt like it was turning to ice.

My hands shaking, I pulled out my phone. My feed was filled with news stories about the "Millionaire Couple Spends a Fortune to Celebrate Son's Safe Return."

The comments were all the same: pure envy.

"I want to be Kevin Lin! What a life!"

"The Lin's only have one son, so he has the best of everything!

"The way they celebrate, he must be so proud of them!"

I swiped through the endless posts, my chest feeling like it was being crushed.

For years, my parents had only acknowledged Kevin as their son.

Danny and I were like shadows, hidden in the dark.

When my parents were starting out, Kevin's dad gave them their first big order, the one that made them see the light.

So, they always felt like they owed them something.

When Kevin's parents died, they took him in.

At first, we felt bad for him, always sharing whatever we had.

Then, in elementary school, some kids made fun of Kevin's clothes.

He ran home crying, telling my parents that Danny and I had told them to pick on him.

Mom and Dad went ballistic, yelling at us without listening to a word we said.

They were convinced we were being bullies, so they decided to keep our real relationship a secret.

From then on, Kevin kept stoking the fire, making Mom and Dad hate us more and more.

I tried to talk to Danny about leaving, but he wouldn't.

He was convinced that Mom and Dad still loved us deep down, and were just being misled by Kevin.

If we just worked hard and became successful, they'd see us, they'd accept us again.

This trip to Cambodia finally showed me how ridiculous Danny's hopes were.

I hate myself for not being tougher, for not dragging him away. At least he'd be alive.

Now, it was too late.

Knowing their biological son was in a riot, with his life on the line, they callously canceled his flight.

But when their adopted son was in a safe zone, they used every connection they had to get him back, showering him with money and praise.

If that's family, I want nothing to do with it.

Back home, the face recognition system didn't even register me.

I pounded on the door, my wounds throbbing, but no one answered.

Finally, Mom, Dad, and Kevin pulled up in a fancy car, dressed to the nines, laughing and chatting.

They were a stark contrast to my dirty, exhausted state.

No one said a word.

As I trailed behind them, the door slammed shut, and a teacup came flying at my head.

I ducked, but it still caught me.

Warm liquid ran down my forehead.

The door blocked the world from seeing their reaction, Dad finally dropping the act.

"Unbelievable! I ordered you and Danny to stay put, but you didn't listen!"

"Who'd you have to use for the trip?"

"When are you two ever going to be as responsible as Kevin and stop worrying me?"

I touched my head, a laugh escaping my lips.

If I had any power, I'd have thrown them all in Cambodia with the rioters!

So they'd know what desperation felt like!

And they are treating Kevin like he is in danger.

If I had any power, Danny would still be alive.

They knew Kevin was safe, yet they pulled every string to get him home through the green lane, throwing money around to "protect" him.

Danny and I, facing a thousand times more danger in Cambodia, just wanted a simple plane ticket. Something they denied us.

Danny was gone now. I had no expectations.

"Alan, are you okay?"

Kevin put on a concerned face, pretending to care,

While "accidentally" pressing on my wound, pressing down.

The sharp pain made me jerk away.

Kevin stumbled back, tears welling up.

"Alan, I was just worried about you. I know I'm not as special as you and Danny."

"I know you hate me, look down on me. But I just want us to get along, to be a family."

"I-I can't breathe."

He clutched his chest, gasping for air, like he was about to pass out.

But I saw it: the small smile playing on his lips.

Mom, who'd been holding a tissue to give me, dropped it to rush to Kevin.

She rubbed his back, shooting me a look.

"He was worried about you, and this is how you treat him!"

"Ungrateful! I don't know why we bother"

"Go to your room and think about what you did!"

Still recovering, and exhausted from the trip,

I didn't want to deal with them. I just wanted to get some sleep.

But the second I opened the door, a wave of cold air hit me.

Danny's stuff was all over the floor.

In the shattered frame, our family picture was broken,

Especially Danny's favorite: a clay sculpture of our family sitting around the table.

Before he died, he used to rub it, and now, it was torn and thrown in the corner.

Kevin's voice came from behind me.

"Oh, I didn't know where else to put my drums, so they are in Danny's room. Now you guys have to share one, you're not mad, right?"

He leaned in close, his smugness clear.

Then he whispered, "Mom and Dad love me the most. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this house."

"Or next time, you won't have any of this crap left."

Seeing Danny's things treated like this, I snapped.

Fueled by rage, I punched him in the gut.

Kevin went down, clutching his stomach, turning white.

"Alan, Mom and Dad wanted me to learn how to play drums, so they set my kit up in Danny's room."

"I know I'm not as close to you and Mom and Dad."

I wanted to punch him again, but Dad grabbed me.

"Smack!"

A stinging slap across my face.

Stars exploded in my vision. My ears rang.

"You dare hit your brother!"

Mom rushed to help Kevin, scolding me.

"He was so kind and all you do is hurt him!"

"You and Danny don't live at home, what's so bad about sharing a room? I didn't make you sleep on the floor."

She turned back to Kevin.

"Kevin, don't be scared. Anything you want, just ask me for it, and I'll buy you a better one."

I wasn't expecting anything, but seeing them defend Kevin, made me feel broken.

I grabbed the pieces of the sculpture, my voice rough.

"All these years, you only cared about Kevin! You never asked questions, you just blamed Danny and I!"

"This was all Danny had left! It was his last hope!"

Mom waved it off, cutting me off.

"It's just a clay figure, Danny can make another. Why are you getting so worked up?"

She finally remembered Danny, asking me:

"Where is your brother? Why isn't he back yet?"

She dialed his number, frowning when he didn't pick up.

"So what if we didn't let you buy tickets to come back? We were correcting your habits."

"You are acting for such a small thing, call your brother back."

I shouted: "Danny's dead! He died out there! You'll never see him again!"

"Smack!"

Another slap.

Dad was furious.

"What are you talking about! Just like your brother to twist the truth!"

"Don't ever come back. This holiday is ruined because of you!"

Ignoring Mom's shouts for me and Dad to calm down,

I ran back to my room, slamming the door shut, blocking out the sound.

I spent all night packing up Danny's things.

By the time I was done, it was nearly noon.

Mom made a spread, saying she made it for me. Forgive Kevin for what you did to him.

I saw all of Kevin's favorite food, and the shrimp that Danny and I were allergic to.

"I and Danny spent three days and nights in the hospital after eating shrimp, didn't you?"

Mom looked confused, then she lashed out,

"Don't be so dramatic, don't eat it."

"Don't worry, I'm not. And I'm not apologizing."

I walked out of the house, not looking back.

They say your parents are your home, but I wish I didn't have one.

I got a hotel nearby and booked a train ticket for S City in two days.

The next afternoon, I was heading to the airline to quit.

Danny and I had paid our dues.

I wanted nothing to do with the Lins anymore.

I was near the office, when I ran into Kevin's buddy, Sean. He and his pals stopped me.

Then, punched me in the face.

"Alan, you know how powerful the Lins are?"

"You think you can mess with Kevin? Who do you think you are?"

I was bent over, tasting blood.

Straightening up, I punched him back.

"First, I haven't done anything. You're just making stuff up."

"Second, look at my name? What am I?"

"Kevin's name is Kevin Stone. My parents adopted him. Why is he so mad?"

"Finally, you better not mess with me! I can do anything."

Sean laughed.

"Funny! I've never seen someone so desperate!"

"Are you pretending you're a part of the company?"

"Have you looked in a mirror? You're not!"

"Everyone knows, Kevin is the only Lin!"

His friends laughed, pointing at me.

"Yeah! Who is that kid?"

"You need to know your place."

They didn't believe me, so I pulled out my phone and showed them a picture of my parents.

They thought I was just some player.

Then they grabbed the phone and stomped on it.

"Not only are you arrogant, but you're crazy! What a loser!"

"You and your brother always wanted more, so you have no power."

"We'll teach you a lesson! So you can't act anymore!"

"Beat him until he learns!"

Sean called, and people attacked me.

The more I fought, the harder I was hit, and I was soon hurt everywhere.

Seeing I couldn't move, Sean grabbed my hair and lifted my head.

He pulled out a knife.

"If I got rid of those hands, what could you do?

I was terrified. "You don't! I told you, I was trying."

Sean laughed.

"You think you're so rich?"

"Let me see if you will be in any pain."

The sharp knife crossed my hand.

I knew I was passing out.

Then, I heard someone yell:

"Mr. Lin! Mrs. Lin are here!"

I looked and saw my parents running to me.