Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty Nine

CAINE

It was hard to claw my way back from the past, but it’s harder to talk about the present especially when it is very much connected to the past. I took a deep breath before I continued, my eyes still focused on her.

“Do you remember that day at the park when I was crying because dad left?” Alex nodded her head, eagerly listening. “It all started then… when I was crying at the park and you saw me struggling, trying to catch up with my father who is blowing off steam by escaping his problems, specifically me.” I feel my Adam’s apple bobbed as I gulped. “I was the main reason of their fight. I am the reason why we can’t be a happy family. I am their burden.”

And so I’m drifting back to the past as I retold her about everything.

“The visit to the hospital came after a week long without my dad. Mom was crying so hard, begging him not to do it. As a seven year old, I just watch them with curious eyes. Dad took me to the hospital without caring at all about my mom. He talked to people I do not really know. Then, the result was revealed. I was shocked when Dad told me I was not his son.”

My eyes was glazed over as I reminisce about it. “He became distant after that. He rarely comes home which made my mom cry all the time. Then suddenly, all of that changed.” I couldn’t help myself as I look in front of me, remembering what had happened.

*

It was Wednesday, just after the last school day, the start of winter break. I was surprised when I arrive home from school. The house is silent as I go through the opened front door .

“Momma? Daddy?” I called out but nobody answered me.

And so, I went back through the patio, removed my polo shirt and plopped myself on the porch steps. After a while, I got sleepy and then I felt myself being carried, I opened my eyes and I panicked, it is not my dad! I do not know the man who is carrying me that’s why I tried to squirm on his arms but he is stronger than me. My seven year old self can’t out power a grown man.

After a while, I got drained and soon I hear an engine veered into life. The vehicle move as I slipped into unconsciousness. Soon I felt lightheaded. I woke up only to find myself inside a plane, we are flying. The mysterious man just smiled at me before once again, I fell asleep.

It felt so natural to be with that man, unlike my father. I can’t believe that I was so comfortable to be with that unfamiliar man. I was even surprise of myself as I settled to sleep, not even looking for my dad.It had gone like that, like some sort of pattern, right until I was sucked from my dreamland and to reality. It was like a snap that brought me back to my conscious self.

Where are we?

I opened my eyes to a warm yellow light, taking in my surroundings, I noticed a man who is peering down at me from the driver seat. “I see, you are awake now, son.” He smiled at me before he proceed to open his door and then before I could even register what he just told me, I watch as he open the door for me.

For a moment, I stay seated on the back seat, the weird man holding the door as to remind me that I should go out of the car. And so I did, I took cautious steps out of the car, my shoes squeaking making me realize that this weird man had changed not only my shoes but also my pants and I am now wearing a jacket. I put my hand inside my pocket, a nervous act I have adapted ever since I started attending school. I look around the wide garden and realized the fact that it was raining.

Where are we? I wondered once again.

That question stayed frozen on my head for a while before the man ushered me down the driveway and toward the porch steps. “Welcome home, my son” The man smiled down at me as he guided me in. I stared, eyes wide as we entered a bright lit room.

Suddenly, I was enveloped into a hug. “My Caine, you are home. My lovely baby,Caine.” I just stared at her, not understanding why she have called me Caine because my name is Dwayne.

She pulled me towards the kitchen and fed me some of the snicker doodles that she made. I was happily munching on them, looking at the stairs when suddenly a kid about my age started going down the stairs. He was wearing the same outfit as me; same ribbon, same jacket, same pants and even the same shoes. But what really shocks me the most is not the resemblance of our outfit but the fact that we have the same face.

I do not know how to process these kinds of things. He was even wearing the same expression plastered on mine.

I was confused. I didn’t know that twins exist, and we are an example. We scream and chase at each other in pure confusion.

“You ghost! Return my face, return my body, return my everything!”

In the end, the kind woman, Mrs. Elaine Cole Ford, which happens to be our mom, explain it to us. She turn to me and said, “ You are Caine and this is your brother, Caiden,” she motion to the boy who look just like me. “You are brothers. You’ve been separated from birth because I have to give one of you up. My ex-husband has threatened to kidnap both of you if I didn’t give him one of you so I have to comply. Cedric though that he is your biological father. But then, as time pass by, he realizes that I have lied to him. So we negotiated once again, that he will return you to us with an exchange.” She look at me and brush my cheek with her soft hand. “It doesn’t matter now. What matters is you both are home. You are brothers. You have the same face but you are also different to each other. Though no matter what happens, remember that we love you so much. So you both have to love each other too. ”

I smiled at my twin and he smiled at me.

*

“The both of us are so happy. We have found the best buddy in each other. We are partners in everything that I do. We are best of friends. We are inseparable ever since I arrived at that house, the place where I really belong. Though when winter break ends, I went back to New York with you. There, Daddy or should I say Cedric, started talking to those weird people. Often, he will bring me to underground casino’s and when we do not have money to pay, the gangsters will beat me up. Cedric molded me into some monster as he train me to the bone and taught me things to trick my true parents. My only consolation is staying with you.” I touched her cheek but she flinch away.

“Then, what happen next? What made Caiden involve in this?”

“It was my fault. I told him about you; how good you are to me and that you protected me whenever I needed you. He heard about my friends and how it feels to attend a real school and not be home schooled. I also told him of Cedric’s plan because I couldn’t bear it anymore. He just hurts me too much. Caiden being the kind and braver one has been cooking up a plan.” She stared at me, intently. She was really curious of what happen that it excites me.

“One crazy summer, he exchanged with my place. I was delighted to be free of Cedric’s wrath and Caiden was delighted to meet all of you. He became obsessed of being outside and not only that, he was also obsessed of you.” I bowed down and continued, “It goes on for a few more years. He started going to you even though I am not aware, attending my classes and snatching you slowly away from me. We started fighting over you. I do not want you to get hurt because I know that you do not want to be tricked. We came to a decision to finally stop all these and distance ourselves from you.

“On my very last visit to you which should have happened on your tenth birthday, I planned to say goodbye to you. Though, I was not aware that Caiden have followed me and boarded our plane. Cedric met a few guys on board and when I realize that Caiden was there, I urge him to hide but he did not. We fought and Cedric saw us, shocked, he started beating us up until he also beat up the pilot. The plane was shaking because of the turbulence and we are out of control.’

“ The plane crashed. I swam to the next island with my clothes drenching in blood. You might not have notice it but, I am already lacking a leg,” I tap my prosthetic leg and showed the metal limb I now have. “It wasn’t easy asking people to help. When I woke up, I found out that I was saved by one of Cedric’s friends, Paul Vorkam. He was a gangster and he took care of me. He told me that Cedric have died in the plane which delighted him. Secretly, that rejoices me too. Ryle took me under his wing and raises me as his son. He told me about my twin surviving the accident and that everyone I know thought of me as dead. Caiden return to his old life with no memory of me or you and everything that happened from his childhood. Ryle married Cedric’s wife which is Diane. It hurts me to distance myself away from you and tell you that I am still alive but what can I do? A dead man can’t show his face when everyone thought of me as dead right?” Alex just looked at me, her eyes welling up with tears.

“The show must go on We have to devise a plan so no one would think that there has been a foul play. Diane raised me to be one of the best. I got the same training as Caiden did with Paul’s supervision. They made me specialize in technology in Japan and transferred to Russia to study weapons. I contacted Caiden after realizing that his family was planning for you to marry him. I thought that when I show up, everything will go back to normal. That you will choose me over him but he is still the winner. Ever since then, he was the one who made you fall. He is still the winner just because I am a coward. Just because I choose to appeatr later than expected to claim what should have been really mine.” I touch her cheek once again and this time she did not flich, she held my hand and look to my eyes. “Do you think, I have the chance if ever I got to you first and told you how I felt before?”

She shook her head no and let a tear fall before saying, “We don’t really know. I guess, there are things that are already destined just like how he found me once again.” I let out a chuckle and raise both of my hands and said, “I give up. He has surely won. I guess I have to start finding my own destiny too.

I cup her face with both of my hands and whispered to her ear, “ I never really wanted to ruin the day of your wedding. I just wanted to confirm that he really love you and won’t leave you.” I was now looking not at her but to Caiden whose face appeared really hurt.

“Though you hurt him by stealing his BRIDE,” She said as a matter of fact. I bit my lip and look down at her. “ I know that he is hurt for I have seen him a while”

“A while? What do you mean—“

I nodded and heard her curse out load as she turned and saw Caiden riding a taxi, probably heading to the airport. “Shit, he must have misunderstood us. Why didn’t you tell me?” She pulled at my hand and tried to run after him but the taxi was fast and soon we lost track of Caiden. “Shit, you better help me make it up to him. We have to explain.” She stopped running and pull my head down, “ You will help me get back to New York as soon as possible, do you understand?

I just smiled at her before pulling her back to the direction of the beach house, “Come, let’s get your luggage. I’ve already booked you a ticket.” I sigh before tucking a lose strand of her hair, staring at her I said, “It would be so dramatic if I accompany your back. Plus, I do not want my nose getting dislocated for I have to attend an interview on Friday.” I wink at her before I put her up on my shoulder and ran.

© A.G_2018