Capítulo 12: Cranberry juice

When Ivan started making faces, Darius tried to persuade him. "Come on, a sip won't harm. You have to give it a try, it's like—what do humans call it? Cranberry juice."

"It's nothing like cranberry juice and even if it was, I would never drink it," Ivan retorted.

"Even if someday your body craves it?"

"Not even if I am at the brink of death," Ivan stated before walking towards the stairs. "Make sure to clean the mess before leaving and next time, take my permission before breaking into my house."

"I am here to just talk."

"And I am too tired to talk, I have a meeting to attend tomorrow." Without waiting for his reply, Ivan made his way towards his bedroom.

…..

Upstairs.

As soon as he turned the lights on, Ivan gasped, "What the—when did you come here?"

Caressing the mattress, Darius smiled, "I like how soft this mattress is, where did you get it from?"

"From a store called 'None of your business'." Glaring at him, Ivan hissed, "Will you stop being a brat Darius, you are really annoying me now. I have told you this many times and I am telling you this again, I am not going back."

"Who told you I am here to persuade you to return back? I mean, can't I even come to see my little brother when I want to?"

"You see me almost everyday—you know what, I don't wanna discuss this with you." Walking towards his cupboard, Ivan added, "Stop being a chewing gum and get a life. Find someone and get married, have kids and enjoy life. I have a feeling you are so nosy because you don't have any action in your life."

Ignoring his remarks, Darius picked up a photo frame from the side table. "This—"

"Will you stop touching my things? Keep that back—" Ivan snarled.

Gently caressing it, Darius chuckled, "She looks so beautiful." Looking at him, he inquired, "Where did you get this from?"

"I—" Sitting beside him, Ivan sighed. "I stole it from you when I left home."

"Well, I have many pictures of her but I must say that this is the best one." Keeping it back, Darius patted Ivan's shoulder. "I seriously came here only because I wanted to see you, no other reason."

Contemplating for a while, Ivan said with a sense of guilt and affection. "You can come and see me whenever you want but can you please use the doors like a normal person?"

"Normal?" Darius chuckled. "Alright, I promise to take the normal route if you stop instructing your assistant to lie to me about your absence."

Without waiting for his reply, he got up. "I'll take my leave now but I am happy that you accept that you left home."

"You are—" Before Ivan could finish his sentence, Darius was nowhere to be seen. Looking at the swaying curtains, he sighed.

Picking up the photo frame from the side table, he carefully examined it in the same way he did every night. He never got a chance to see his mother, she left him as soon as he was born. In fact, he had never seen his father as well.

Before he left the clan, he had taken a picture of her from Darius' room. Though he never got a chance to spend time with both his parents, he still wanted to keep them fresh in his memories.

Slumping on the bed, he sighed. He didn't have any problem with Darius visiting him and neither did he resent his family. But the way he kept persuading him to be someone he wasn't irritated Ivan a lot.

Ivan was very sure he wasn't one of them, he was a human—a normal human. All he wanted to do was lead a normal life in a normal world. Was that too much to ask?

…..