The Day Before
The Dowell home was surprisingly peaceful that night.
The family had recently come from a private charity celebration organized by one of their friends. While the other family members were getting comfortable in their house, Akiel had gone upstairs.
He hadn't actually stayed until the last moment of the gathering.
Once again, he left without saying goodbye to anybody and let his family answer all questions that arose after his absence.
Lucas didn't like it.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"Upstairs," Ashlyn answered.
Lucas nodded shortly and walked towards the stairs.
After some time, he found himself near Akiel's bedroom and opened the door.
"Have you heard of knocking?" Akiel asked not looking up from his phone.
"Have you heard of responsibility?"
Akiel sighed.
"Good evening, Lucas."
Lucas shut the door.
"What were you thinking?"
"Be more particular."
"Don't start with me, Akiel."
"So, get to the point."
Lucas looked at him.
"You walked away during the gathering. Do you have any idea how many people were talking about you?"
"You should have told them I was gone."
"Are you kidding?"
"What do you want me to say?"
Lucas laughed without humor.
"You do this all the time. You disappear just when things get hard, and everybody else is supposed to sort everything out for you."
"Nobody told me to sort out anything."
"No, you never do. That is the problem."
Akiel put his phone down.
"Anyway, don't do it."
Lucas took a moment to look at him and then scoffed in disbelief.
"How can you not hear yourself?"
"And you're repeating yourself."
"Do you even realize what havoc you have caused today?"
Akiel sat back in his chair.
"I was just supposed to sit and amuse everyone?"
"You are missing my point."
"Then what exactly is it that you mean, Lucas?"
"My meaning is that you should not behave like this, ok?"
With a rising voice, Lucas kept on talking.
"You believe you can just show up at the event and smile for the camera and whenever you want you leave? There are people who have to pay for your mistakes."
Akiel's expression became more serious.
"Maybe those people should stop complaining about my life."
With yet another sigh, Lucas replied.
"You are so selfish."
Akiel squinted his eyes.
"Or else?"
Neither of them budged.
Lucas walked closer to Akiel.
"You have been behaving like this for years. You do not pay attention and take no responsibility, but people still treat you like you are the one who needs protection."
Akiel straightened his posture.
"Are you done?"
"Not really."
"Then say whatever you want, I am done."
Lucas continued, "This is exactly what I am talking about, Akiel! You only care about yourself!"
"SHUT UP!"
The loud voice took Lucas off guard for a moment.
Then before Akiel could say another word, Lucas hit him.
Akiel staggered and placed his hand on his cheek.
He turned back at his brother slowly.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Don't you dare use that tone with me!"
Akiel pushed him away.
"Then don't touch me!"
Lucas tried to get to him again, but Akiel stopped him.
The argument escalated quickly.
Both of them refused to step down.
Lucas clutched Akiel's shirt, and they began to fight with each other. Something fell down, and it brought the attention of everyone downstairs.
Grayson raised his head from the documents he was looking through.
Kieran turned her head towards the stairs, raising her brows.
"What was that?"
Ashlyn stood up from the couch.
"What is going on upstairs?"
Another crash was heard.
She shifted her sight towards Damien, who also stood up.
"Whatever they're doing up there, they better stop it right now!"
Damien glanced towards the ceiling.
"Are they fighting?"
"WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE?" Ashlyn shouted.
She turned towards the staircase and raised her voice.
"LUCAS! AKIEL! WHATEVER IS HAPPENING UP THERE, STOP IT!"
But the noise continued.
Grayson put down his documents and stood up.
"That's enough. Someone needs to get them apart."
Damien was already moving.
He hurried towards the staircase, with Ashlyn following him.
Upstairs, the situation had become considerably worse.
"GET OFF ME!" Akiel shouted.
Lucas shoved him backwards, and Akiel immediately fought back.
Neither brother seemed to notice the mess they were making around them. Their voices overlapped, each trying to get the last word in.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT?"
"AND YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTROL MY LIFE?"
Another crash sent something tumbling to the floor.
"AKIEL!"
Damien yelled out loud from the door.
None of the two siblings heard.
He dashed ahead and took Akiel out of Lucas' way.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" came a furious reply from Akiel.
"THEN, WHY DON'T YOU STOP SCUFFLING?"
Lucas moved ahead again, but Damien stepped in.
"Lucas, it's enough!"
"Stay out of this!"
"NO! JUST LOOK AT YOURSELVES!"
Eventually, Ashlyn got to the door, followed by Grayson and Kieran.
"What is happening?" Kieran wanted to know.
But no one answered.
Damien was still holding Akiel back when he saw blood on his face.
"Akiel..."
Akiel turned to look at him.
"What?"
"Your face."
He touched his face and saw blood on his fingers.
His face changed.
He glanced at Lucas, feeling anger rise up again.
"Look at the impact of your actions."
Lucas laughed.
"You think you're the only one hurt here?"
Lucas had also sustained an injury to his jaw.
Akiel was trying to break free of Damien's grip.
"LET ME GO!"
"Akiel, calm down!"
"He was the one who started it!"
"And do you think that changes things?" Damien yelled.
Lucas straightened up from his bent position, still breathing heavily.
"Maybe he needs to learn to keep his mouth to himself."
Akiel let out a laugh that indicated disbelief.
"You really are something."
"Alright!" Grayson finally raised his voice.
The hallway was silent at this juncture.
He faced both of his children, his face stern.
"Are you two becoming really reckless?"
Kieran stepped forward, addressing them.
"Lucas, look at the face. Akiel, you are hurt. What is it that you want to show?"
None of them gave any reply.
Ashlyn folded her arms and stood there.
"Seriously? You both are grown enough to know better."
Akiel turned his back to Damien and cleaned his cheek with a napkin.
"Can everyone simply leave me alone?"
"Akiel—," Kieran made an attempt to talk.
"I'm fine."
He took his phone from the floor and walked towards the bathroom without looking back.
Lucas was still standing in the same place.
Damien looked at him.
"Are you happy now?"
Lucas did not give him an answer.
"You both have to stop doing this," Damien said with irritation.
He looked towards the bathroom intending to get back to Lucas.
"Whatever is the matter with you, just find a way to sort things out without hurting each other."
Silence filled the air again.
And that was how yet another evening at the Dowell residence finished with closed doors and unsaid words.
The Following Morning
Akiel stood in front of the bathroom mirror, examining the bandage covering his cheek.
He had barely slept.
He adjusted the edge of the bandage before picking up his phone.
There was a message from Julia.
Julia: Don't tell me you're planning to cancel today.
Akiel: I haven't even said anything.
Julia: Exactly. That's suspicious.
Akiel let out a quiet sigh.
He glanced at his reflection one last time.
"Annoying."
Then he left the bathroom.
Whatever had happened the previous evening, he wasn't planning on discussing it with anyone.
Especially not today.