REVENGE OF THE DESPISED HEIR

AN EYESORE

Bryan left the room without talking back,

he sank onto the couch in the waiting area. Ronald had disappeared, leaving Bryan to think about his situation.

Resting his head against the wall, Bryan couldn't help but wonder where he had gone wrong, why his parents always seemed disappointed in him no matter what he did.

It wasn't just a one-time thing, Bryan could recall countless instances where he felt ignored by his family.

The time he got accepted into a top university, he had been beaming with excitement, eager to share the news with his family thinking they'll be proud of him, but when he called them, they were on a picnic with Jake, too busy to even pick up the phone and answer him.

Bryan waited the entire day for his family to come back home, but when they finally arrived close to midnight, all he heard was, "Let's talk later, Bryan, we're tired now."

When Bryan prepared to leave for university, hoping for a heartfelt farewell from his family, he found them preoccupied with coaxing Jake, who had missed out a chance on making into the football team.

"Jake, we can't drop you at college, your brother needs us now," his father spoke prioritizing Jake's disappointment over Bryan's departure.

"But you promised me," Bryan tried to remind them of their promise to see him off.

Josephine, waved off his concerns not bothered about his situation, "you're not a kid anymore Bryan, you need to learn to be independent, your brother is younger than you and needs our support, don't act like a kid for attention, your brother is upset, you've to be considerate towards your younger brother, you shouldn't be greedy like this."

With that Josephine left to look after Jake, not even been there until Bryan left the home.

Turning to Bryan, Neil asked in a concerned tone, "do you need money until you settle down in the campus?"

Before Bryan could respond, Josephine called out for Neil, "honey" immediately his attention diverted, "let's talk about this later," Neil said, before rushing off, leaving Bryan standing there with empty hands and a heavy heart.

Even on New Year's Eve, when he had prepared gifts for them, and was excited to surprise them, but they went out for a fancy dinner outside which they pre reserved already, while he ate alone at home.

On his graduation day, Bryan had worked tirelessly to earn his degree in distinction, scored highest marks and even received gold medal, dreamt about the moment he would walk across the stage with his family watching and cheering for him proudly when he received the medal.

Instead, he received a call from his father, "Sorry, Bryan, we can't make it to your graduation ceremony, we have to attend your brother's football match, congratulations on your graduation, though, let's celebrate at home, son."

The disappointment hung heavy in the air as the call ended, leaving Bryan feeling empty once again, even the medal around his neck couldn't replace the pain in his heart with happiness.

As his classmates are excited with the cheers and applause of their families, Bryan stood alone, There were no proud parents or excited siblings to share in happiest moments, it was just another painful reminder of his constant invisibility within his own family.

Everyone is capturing their happiest moments, while he is just looking at the medal and certificate with a faint smile.

Despite being hurt by everything still remembering his father's words, Bryan returned home, hoping for some celebration for his success, but as he stepped inside, the servants informed him that his family was still out and they aren't aware about when they'll be coming back, Bryan didn't call them knowing that they'll not answer.

Deciding to surprise them, Bryan arranged a party to celebrate his graduation along with his family, he invited his friends and set up everything himself, eagerly awaiting his family's return.

When they finally arrived, Bryan rushed to them, expecting greetings and praise from his parents, instead, Jake glanced at the party moment, with an upset look he just walked away from there without speaking anything.

Neil let out a sigh rubbing his temples, "How could you do this, Bryan?"

Bryan was confused, "What did I do dad?" Josephine's frustration is evident in her voice, "your brother is upset after losing his match, and here you are, throwing a feast and making celebrations, your behaviour is trying causing him distress."

"Mom, it's my graduation ceremony today," Bryan explained, hoping to convey the reason behind celebration.

Josephine is not at all interested in knowing his reasons, "So what? Are you the only one in the world who graduated? When will you start acting sensibly? Can't you see your brother being depressed, how can you celebrate at times like this?"

As Josephine went upstairs to comfort Jake, his sisters went right behind her not even glancing back, leaving Bryan alone with Neil.

"You've turned the house into a mess," Neil remarked harshly at the arrangements made by Bryan, "I don't know who gave you permission to do all this, clean up and ask your friends to leave right now," he ordered boldly before leaving from there.

Bryan's friends, understanding the situation quietly decided to leave not to make it more awkward, but one of them couldn't help but to mock the situation of Bryan, "he might be a genius at the university, but here, he's just an eyesore in his own home."

Bryan was pulled back from his thoughts by the cool touch of a metal, it was Ronald, placing the tin of coke near Bryan's face, "what exactly are you thinking about with a frown?"