Chapter 58 Filo toxic culture

<Mia>

"Dahie, why did you leave me back then?" I mustered the courage to ask him. We've been talking for a few days now, and I invited him to meet up, which he agreed to. We were happily reminiscing about our past lives until the topic about us came up.

He didn't answer.

I used to love him so much, and he suddenly left me without a valid reason. I don't even know if he was my first love, as I had many first loves. But I know in my heart that I truly loved him.

His sudden departure almost pushed me into depression. He wasn't a ghost to just ghost me like that.

I smiled at him.

"If you had just told me, I would have understood. But you were really cruel. You left me without a valid reason and even blocked me," I said with a smile. I observed him, weighing if I still had feelings for him. I used to see my future with him. We had so many dreams that were left unfulfilled, and it seemed like we would achieve them with someone else.

"You know, I loved you so much. I loved you deeply, but you wasted my love," I retorted.

"Why? Do you still love me now?" he asked, looking into my eyes.

Do I still love him?

He sighed deeply, "I didn't leave you, Mia. You're the one who left me."

I clenched my fist.

"I didn't leave you," I emphasized.

"You did leave me, Mia. If you had fought for me, you wouldn't have let me go. You betrayed me and let me be humiliated by your family in front of so many people. I know your family didn't accept me because we were poor, but thank you to them as well because their insults inspired me to become successful."

"I begged you, Dashie. I begged you not to leave me, but you blocked me and never gave me a real reason for leaving. I fought for you back then. You, on the other hand, couldn't even introduce me to your friends and family."

"You know why I couldn't introduce you to my parents, Mia, and to my friends. You didn't want to be with me."

I didn't want to be with him then to be introduced as a girlfriend; I wanted him to insist on it.

"I regret the things I did to you back then," I confessed to him, "I regret not giving my all. But you should know that I was deeply hurt by your leaving."

"I left you because of you. I couldn't compete with your family, and I was still studying back then," I explained to him, "plus, you never gave me any assurance. You never even made an effort," I rebuked.

He let out a deep sigh.

"I have my faults, but you have more shortcomings and mistakes."

I thought about everything that happened back then and what I did. I was scared back then because my father didn't approve of Dashie because they were poor. My father wanted me to be with someone wealthy, someone he could benefit from. I didn't want to be used anymore, so I prioritized my desires.

"Sorry..." I apologized.

"I already have a girlfriend, and the past has already happened. Aren't you already married as well?"

How did he find out?

"Let's forget about the past. What's important is that we've learned and are happy now."

I looked at him, realizing that I missed him.

"Can we be friends?" I asked hopefully. I had so many mistakes and shortcomings with him; I wanted to make amends. If only I could turn back time. But my situation now is different from before.

"Exes as friends?" he joked, "just kidding! Sure, why not!" he said with a smile, and I smiled back.

After several years, we finally had closure. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

**

<Nathan>

"Next year, you'll be studying at Oxford to become a surgeon. The hospital needs more doctors," our grandfather told my twin brother, who had been busy on his phone for a while. What is this idiot doing on his phone?

"Isn't it enough that Ethan is in Pathology? Why does he need to become a surgeon? It's not even what he wants," I countered.

Between the two of us, Ethan is the obedient one and doesn't argue. Unlike me, who follows my own desires and doesn't care about stepping on others. I don't care about other people as long as I get what I want. I don't care about being used anymore, so I prioritize my desires.

"Ethan, I'm talking to you. Put away your phone for now," our grandfather reprimanded him, and he complied. Is he texting his wife? Tsk! I don't like Mia.

"I don't want to be a surgeon, and I can't leave my wife," I smirked as I opposed.

"Yes, I agree," I seconded.

"You can't say no to me, Ethan. I'm the older one, and you will study abroad. I want you to become a surgeon at our hospital."

Here comes the controlling freak old man.

"Ethan can't argue with you. I should just be the one to study," I sarcastically suggested. Besides, Ethan wouldn't agree to be separated from his wife. He's like a pesky leech.

"Include Mia in your stay abroad," he added.

"Lo, I don't want to be a surgeon. I'm okay with studying diseases," Ethan countered. That's right, twin, fight for what you want.

"I have the final say between the two of us, Ethan, that's the price you pay for being raised by me."

I glanced at my twin, and he clenched his fist.

"I didn't ask you to raise me," Ethan answered firmly but with respect. We grew up in a family that constantly throws our upbringing back at us. Some may think that we have a wonderful life in the mansion, and that being wealthy makes us happy, but they don't know about the constant arguments and bitterness that goes on behind closed doors. We have no allies here with Ethan. From their perspective, they see a beautiful life for us. I would have preferred if they had just left us in an orphanage rather than subjecting us to this suffocating environment. That's why I promised myself that I would fight for what belongs to us, my twin and me. I won't leave him and allow them to hurt him. My twin is kind, so as his sibling, I will do everything to protect him.

"You've both been compensated for the upbringing and education that I provided. Ethan is married, so you have no right to interfere," I replied, which the old man didn't take kindly to. He dislikes being challenged and not getting his way.

"You both will pay for everything I've done for the two of you! Nathan, you are the most stubborn of all, and yet you still dare to answer me back despite what I've done for you and your twin! You have no gratitude!" he shouted angrily at me. "I only asked one thing from both of you, but you still won't grant it! One day, you will regret answering me like this! I've given both of you opportunities, but you refuse them! You think highly of yourselves. If not for me, you wouldn't have achieved anything!"

"Thank you," I replied shortly.

I held Ethan's hand and tried to leave.

"Nate! Ethan! Wait!"

I distanced myself from my twin when I saw the woman I never wanted to see again.

"Ethan, do you have plans? I'll go ahead," I said to my twin. I was about to walk away when she approached us and hugged both of us.

"You're here. Are you both going home? Stay here for a while," she happily invited us. I rolled my eyes.

"Set aside your anger towards me," she said with a smile.

"Go take care of your other child instead. That's where you should focus your attention," I said disrespectfully to make her smile disappear.

"My sister isn't angry with me. Why are both of you so hard-hearted?"

Her question annoyed me, and I wanted to shout at her right now.

"Because you don't know us, and you weren't the one who raised the two of us," I replied rudely.

"Child... Nate, I know I made mistakes in the past, and now I'm trying to make it up to both of you. I couldn't support you back then because your father and I separated," she explained.

"I don't need your explanation. I'm already an adult, and I can build my own family. I don't need you. I don't need a mother like you!" I angrily said to her.

"You're too much, my child. I left you with your grandfather because I knew you would have a good life here," she said with a smile, "and I was right because you weren't neglected."

Why does this woman have the audacity? She keeps getting closer to Ethan. Can't she feel that we don't want to talk to her, be with her, or get close to her?

"I'll go ahead."

"Ethan, my son, please don't leave yet," she pleaded, holding Ethan's hand, but my twin pulled his hand away.

"Act like a whore somewhere else," I sneered at her and pushed her slightly to pass through. She's blocking my way.

She couldn't hide her anger at my behavior. "Get out of my car and don't meddle with our marriage," she said with irritation while giving me a fierce look.

Should I punch her to wake her up?

"I don't like that woman, Ethan. I don't know why you're so in love with her. She's not even that beautiful or special," I bitterly commented.

"I don't care about your opinion. I love her, and that's all that matters."

"She doesn't love you, and it's all in your head," I countered his statement. He glared at me.

"Get the fuck out of my car!" he angrily demanded that I leave. I didn't comply with what he said. I don't care if we're the same age; I'm still older than him.

I just grinned at him.

"Nathan," he threatened.

"Yes? My loving brother?" I sarcastically replied.

"Tsk!" He got irritated with my attitude.

I leaned back in the seat. "There's nothing wrong with expressing your feelings and thoughts. I'm your twin, and I'm here to make you feel that I won't leave you," I advised him. "Who knows, I might be able to help you and give you advice. I know that we grew up without parents and without anyone to talk to. That's why I'm here, making you feel that you're not alone," I sincerely told him and looked into his eyes, "Even if we also fight because of our different personalities, I won't turn my back on you and leave you," I tapped his shoulder and smiled at him.

I stared at him for a long time, and he kept his grip tight on the steering wheel.

"You may leave everyone else, but what about me? I won't turn my back on you because you're all I have. We don't have parents, so let's help each other and I'll help you," he said.

"Thanks," he simply replied.

"I said a lot, and that's all you have to say?" I teased him.

Our relationship with our half-siblings is okay, except for our cousins, uncles, and aunts who are fighting over the hospital once our grandfather dies. But we don't care about them because what we want is for both of us to be happy. A genuine happiness that we rarely felt because of the toxic people around us.

"If you're done with your speech, get out, and I'll go to the hospital."

I tapped his shoulder and hugged him before I left his car.

That's why I'm striving to become rich for the two of us as twins, so that no one will hurt us, and I can protect him even if everyone leaves us.

I love my twin brother.