4 [1]: Escape (2)

Chapter 1: Escape (2)

The door has been closed and now it's time for me to open a new one.

Marco went downstairs with a huge backpack on his shoulder. It was quite heavy considering all the stuff he had put in there.

The quarrel that his father and stepmom had was still ongoing. It's more likely to be called a war now, with several broken kitchenware and the mess they had created. The kitchen has been turned upside-down.

He was still wearing the headphones on and yet the thunderous voice which belongs to his stepmother rang on his ears, loud and clear.

"What that bastard all do is to just sit around and do nothing! He's basically being fed without even having to exert any effort! That good-for-nothing is really shameless!"

Marco couldn't help but scoff when he heard those words escape Ellie's mouth.

He was able to hear their arguments since he's now much nearer to their location. The kitchen and staircase aren't that far from each other since it's just separated by the dining room.

'Ellie should really try to handle her anger management. She always throws things whenever she's angry, and then ended up buying the same kind of things she threw once again.'

'It's not like they can find money anywhere.'

As he was about to reach for the doorknob, someone managed to block it before he could. It was his younger half-sister, Megan.

She scanned him from head to toe and back, slightly taken aback from his whole getup.

"And like, where are you going?" Megan asked while eyeing the huge backpack on Marco's shoulder suspiciously.

'What does this brother of mine wants to do now?' The lass crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow at him.

Seeing his sister talking, he took off his headphones and gave her a questioning look. "Sorry, I haven't heard you. What's that again?"

Megan's raised eyebrow twitched and she then rolled her eyes, quite annoyed but she complied anyway.

"I asked where you're going. And like, what's up with the backpack? It's huge…" She started off with a grumpy tone which later became tentative.

He glanced back to the black bag instinctively or more accurately, to avoid the criticizing eyes his sister is giving him. He was feeling uncomfortable and started an internal panic to search for a believable excuse.

"Going on a road trip?"

He, himself knows how unconvincing that sounded but that was neither an entire lie nor the whole truth though. It was the best excuse his panicked brain managed to muster for the short span of time. His panic was not seen on his face nonetheless, as it remained composed and almost stoic.

"Oh, really?! And that's like for how long exactly?" she continued to ponder, her eyebrow quirked up more and with one hand on her waist while the other's flailing a phone at hand. She was unsatisfied with her brother's answer.

'Ah, that kinda annoying Californian Valley girl's accent…'

He couldn't help but took notice of his sister's accent that has been bothering his ears ever since he got into this house. After a while, he focused on the question thrown at him.

'I actually don't know either.'

"Hmm, about a week or two, I guess…" he said sounding nonchalant while rubbing his nape but actually avoiding having eye contact with the observing green orbs of his sister.

'Megan really inherited most of her looks from her mother.'

He gropes the keys in his pocket as he wonders how long this sister of his would delay him.

"Two weeks," Megan mumbled while twirling her waist-length blond hair and then nodded her head. She positioned her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and Marco just watched her do so. "Mom! Marco's gonna be like, out on a road trip for like, a week or two so would you please shut up?!"

Her yell instantly caused the then still-fighting married couple to pause on their kitchen war. The young man's "road trip" was without doubt news to them.

Ellie, who was about to throw an orange at her husband paused when she heard her daughter's declaration. She paused and glared towards the door.

Her eyebrows narrowed with annoyance and seethed under her breath, "That bastard even has the guts to go on a road trip instead of finding a job!?"

She gritted her teeth and clenched her hand in annoyance, forgetting that she was holding a fruit. The orange sprawled out and her hand was now drenched in the sticky juice coming from it which made her even more irritated.

Peter was equally stunned after hearing his daughter. He froze on his spot and didn't dodge the apple which hit him on the face, leaving a red mark. All he managed to do was to call out his oldest son's name. "Marcus…"

As a father, even if he was not close to Marco, he knew what his son was up to. The road trip was too sudden and he was at least sure that Marco does not like this kind of impulsive act. All he could think about what caused his son to do this is the argument he was having with his wife.

Megan turned to her older brother again, now beaming. "I don't know what you're up to but well, it's nice to have a rest from this loud household. Anyways, have fun on your so-called 'road trip'."

She walked away with her eyes on her phone and when she turned towards the kitchen, she paused while frowning. "Mom, I am not, really not, cleaning that mess."

Marco couldn't stop his lips from stretching into a smile as he followed his sister with his eyes. He was amused with his sister's sassy remark and bratty attitude.

'Well, that's Megan.'

He hurriedly reached for the door and went outside before someone could block him again.

"Whoa – hey there buddy!" Marco greeted, quite surprised by the sudden appearance of the person in front of him. He was surprised to see his younger brother when he opened the door but still managed to put on a smile.

The kid gave him - as what Marco had in mind - a weird gaze after he looked at him from head to foot, almost like what Megan previously did. His brows even quirked and eyes squinting as he stared at his older brother.

"Are you goin' somewhere?" Mavis, the adorable younger brother of Marco, asked. He's sweating and his shirt is soaking wet as he stands there carrying a basketball.

'Did this kid played all this morning?'

Marco sighed as he watched the hazelnut eyes staring at him, waiting for his answer. He sighed and gave the child a small smile. A smile filled with grief and guilt.

"Yeah… I'm off to somewhere, li'l bro."

"Can, can I come?!" the younger gleefully asked. His hazel eyes were glistering with excitement while waiting for his older brother's response.

The smile on Marco's lips immediately faded as he fell silent with his brother's question.

Seeing how excited the kid in his front who was ready to spend time with him made his heart flutter but at the same time made him sad. Mavis was the only person in this household with who he had grown comfortable. Even if their age gap was not that close, they still bonded pretty well.

Marco bent over to level his height and tried to give him a genuine smile.

"Sorry little bro… you can't," he said as calmly as he could.

"But why can't I? I'm with you so it's fine," Mavis grumpily resonated.

'He's cute when he puffs his cheeks.'

'Ugh! He's making things difficult for me! How can I leave this cute little kiddo in this messed-up house and troublesome family?'

'Mavis was the only one who treated me as a part of this family. The only person I treasure aside from my mother. But I don't have the right to bring him with me. His true family is here. This is his home. I can't take that away from him.'

"I'm sorry Mavs," he sincerely apologized.

The kid unwillingly nodded while pouting. "Fine… but let's play basketball when you come home, 'kay?"

Marco smiled at him and tussle his blonde hair.

'I don't know if I'll be able to come back here.'

"Alright, but try not to cry when you lose, aye?!" he teased which made the youngster's forehead crease.

"I won't lose to you!" The response only made Marco chuckle and smile wider. He really enjoys teasing his brother because he finds his reaction adorable.

"Go rest up for a while then take a shower. You'll catch a cold if you stay with your sweat-soaked shirt."

Mavis obediently agreed with a nod of his head.

Marco then heard heavy footsteps heading towards their direction so he stood up. "I should go now. Bye, li'l bro." He tussles his brother's hair once more as he said his farewell.

"Come home safely, big brother!"

He could not help but smile solemnly as he strode to his motorbike at the garage.

'I'll surely miss that kid.'

Marco hopped on his motorbike and started the engine after putting on his helmet and then finally drove off. Before he could get further away, he heard his stepmother's yelp that's filled with hatred, triumph, and pride.

"Get lost and never come back!"

It made him smirk at some point.

When he looked at the mirror of his bike, he saw them – his father's family – at the opening of their house while watching his drove off. Mavis was even waving his hand, ignoring the banter of his parents. Megan was just there staring at his vanishing figure; her expression can't be easily distinguished.

A moment later, Ellie dragged her children inside their house after pointing at her husband. She was still infuriated but was now grinning. Her rampaged earlier succeeded to make the black sheep go away.

'I bet she's utterly happy with me being gone in their lives.'

Having a smile plastered on his face, Marco focused his eyes on the road. The speed of his vehicle was incredible and along with his beautiful maneuvering skills, he strode forward surpassing other vehicles as he keeps speeding up.

'Well, I don't really know wherever I'm heading to but this is better than staying in a place where I am unwanted.'

He finally escaped from the rough corners that made him feel imprisoned. He is now freed from the cuffs that have been preventing him from moving. Without those shackles holding him down, he can now stride onwards.

'I won't ever regret breaking free from being incarcerated.'

With this conviction in mind, he saunters towards the path that leads to the unknown.