Shame On You Brother!
The day of her supposedly wedding day, Fem managed to convince his brother Vhan to go to the South City to buy some personal items. She had only brought two sets of clothes that she randomly gathered from the pile of clothes at home. She also had no underwears to change into and she suspects that her monthly period was on its way. Unless, by fault she really got pregnant by that man! She hoped not!
Vhan couldn't do anything seeing that his sister really needs some stuff. Although he observed how his women subordinates manage their things, he does not exactly know if they can take lending each other's underwear. That wasn't hygienic in the first place. He was irked to think that thought. It's impossible!
After convincing his comrades and subordinates that they have no other agenda in the city other than just buying personal stuff, the group agreed to release the two of them.
Even though Vhan was one of the commanders, he was subjected to some few leaders of the group.
After gaining their approval, Vhan approached his sister who was about to sulk in the farthest shade of a big tree.
"First of all, we should cut your hair short and make some marks on you to disguise your appearance. Secondly, we have to appear as a couple once we are out there. Thirdly, we cannot stay there longer than two days. Understood?" Vhan laid down the conditions.
"Hmmmm. So who's gonna cut my hair? Can you just shave it then put a mole on my cheek?" Fem suggested to which Vhan was surprised.
"Really? You want to get bald? Dont you worry that your scalp will turn green when exposed to the sun?" Vhan laughed.
"You'll be the one to worry if my hair grows and turns out to be green. " Fem counter humored her brother. " Anyway, my cash here may not be enough for everything I might need. Do you have money?" She asked.
"I have a lot but it's not for your personal shopping. And yes, bear in mind that here, whatever one has, everyone has to have it. You cannot say you have a personal belonging that others do not have." Vhan said then retrieved his pair of scissors from his large back back and started shaving his sister's shiny jet black shoulder length hair leaving just about half an inch from her scalp.
Of course, Fem knew about this. During the group's frequent visit at their home, they mentioned about this socialist system. It was good that she remembered it. That was the reason why she said her money may not be enough if she was to buy for everyone.
"There you go! You look more like Greg Law now than me!" Vhan was surprised how his sister looked like now. It's true, if she was a man, she must be the exact replica of her father in very angle.
All the subordinates made fun at Fem when she wondered how she was looking now. She must be looking horrible! Ha! Who cares?!
"Just lend me a cap to cover it bro. And I want my mark to appear very prominent so maybe just do it just slightly below my cheek bones." Fem said.
"Okay, no much problem about that. You don't want it on your forehead?" Vhan asked.
"Depends upon what color, then I would appear like an Indian woman. Don't you think so?" Fem replied.
The duo left their camp in the early dawn of the seventh day. Along the way, Fem's mind wandered back home. Today was suppose to be their wedding day with Mark. Her cellphone has no battery and there was no electricity in their camp. She wanted to know how things were progressing.
They arrived at the highway by day break and chanced an early passenger bus to the South City.
The bus stopped at its terminal at the side of a large mall in the central business district. Before they rose up from their seats, Vhan whispered to Fem's ear reminding her that they needed to pretend as a couple. Vhan alighted first then extended his hand to help Fem get down from the bus.
First thing they did was to find a charging booth inside the mall. Fem kept watch of their charging cellphones while Vhan went away to do some 'transactions'. After almost an hour, Vhan came back with a with a new simcard for Fem.
"You can only use this whenever we come here. After use, either we hide it here or discard it. We can't take it along with us." Vhan said to which Fem nodded.
After their cellphones were charged, Fem saw a fastfood restaurant and pulled her brother for a quick breakfast. She wanted to visit her office after that. Since she came to South City few months ago, she did not have the chance to roam around the whole city, thus, she was still confused which direction she was currently standing.
"Did you know I was actually hired as a manager at WangCargo Express? Have yoy heard about it? I want to visit my office later." Fem said as they sat down at the far corner of the restaurant. Fem scanned her surroundings if there were any cameras. She didn't notice any.
"Manager? How does that relate to your degree? They don't have any connection at all!" Vhan raised his brow as he stirred his coffee.
"What do I know? But I don't think I was bad at it. My boss even recommended me to the CEO. He is expecting me to return to work next week." Fem said.
"No. You will be subject to suspicion by the group if you do that. They don't allow this arrangement." Although Vhan understood Fem's point, he was not about to put the whole group into chaos.
"But I'm not even an official member of your group. You just took me there without any prior notice." Fem argued.
"That makes you even more suspicious. Everyone saw you and naturally they will look for you if you don't appear there soon."Vhan explained.
Fem contemplated for a moment. She didn't agree with her brother's logic. 'That's way too shallow a reason', she thought.
After a while, she spoke.
"I have something to ask you bro. Why did you join such a group? How come you are supporting their ideology? Do you see that Papa needs to give away his land to government if they manage to take over? Is that what you want to do? Don't you value what our forefathers went through just to have that piece of land?" Fem scrunched her forehead in disbelief of how this older brother of hers seem to be short of intelligence.
"Shut up! Don't lecture on me! I know what I'm doing!" Vhan said coldly then angrily gobbled up his food.
"I just can't believe this! You're supposed to be the one protecting our father's legacy. You and Mike! Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" Fem didn't expect herself to talk this way to her older brother but she knew it's what the situation is calling for.
"Do you think you are the right one to talk like this to me? Who gives you the permission to tell on me? You are thinking highly of yourself!" Vhan's eyes were like blazing fire scorching Fem's soul yet she didn't shudder at all.
"Why am I the one talking like this? Ask me once more bro! And think before you ask! Otherwise, I advise you to go home and check on our parents. I'm challenging you!" Fem exchanged a burning glare at her older brother, never having an inkling to back down. "Don't think that because you are a man and you are older that you have all the entitlement to do as you want! Forget all about it!" Fem enunciated under her breath then stood up to leave.
"You're not going anywhere!" Vhan caught Fems wrist but the moment she felt that caloused hand around her wrist, she raised her arms and stood still. She looked back and then flung her arm downward causing Vhan's hand to loose his grip on her wrist and release it.
Fem retraced her footsteps to her seat and half sat down on it. She leaned on the table with crossed hands and calmly stared at her brother who was now seething in anger, breathing deeply. "I have parents to care and a lot of siblings to support. They are the reason I gave up my marriage. Living on the mountains is just a waste of life bro! It's not what I dreamed in this life!"
"Are you saying you don't want to go back with me?" Vhan clarified.
"You can say that again bro! After all, my supposed training has not even started. Well, I actually don't need a gun to protect my family. I just need to work for them peacefully. That should explain everything to them."
"They will come and hunt you." Vhan warned.
"For what? Did you reveal any secret of the group to me? I don't remember any. As for your hide out, why would I even bother to reveal it? I don't want to get rich that way! I can do a descent work peacefully without getting you guys in trouble. Well, if they found out about you, then it must be their own effort and not because I sold you off." Fem said domineeringly.
"Your fiance` has a high rank in the military force. Who would believe you?" Vhan argued.
"Oh, so you rather fight for your crooked ideology than believe this frail sister of yours who is just trying to take your responsibility as a man in the family line? I can't believe I have a brother like this!" Fem was in the verge of crying. The pressure of responsibility weighing in her heart and this man's lack of concern for the family. "Shame on you, bro!"
" I was never your brother to begin with!" Vhan said slapping the table furiously that it caught the attention of the other costumers on the other tables. Fortunately, they were at the farthest table and there were no much people since it was a week day Wednesday.
Fem was shocked at what she just heard. Did he just say he is not her brother? How ingrate of him to disown his own blood! Wow! That's quite a blow! But all she knew was that there were only three adopted siblings by her parents, Ysabel , George and Belle. Vhan was never mentioned to be an adopted child by her parents so what was he babbling just now?
"Fine. If you say so, then let's end things here and now. Don't bother me as I dibt have any intention of bothering you either! Goodbye!" Fem stood up and straightly strode hurriedly to the exit.
The breakfast that was supposed to be just a brief moment became a heated argument between the two siblings and even led to alienation.
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