James sat down on the sofa with Maribe, Angel, and Josh staring at him oddly. Maribel laughed heartily as she had listened to a funny joke. "So I put your computer in the basement, and you think you're big enough to ignore my authority by taking it back?"
"Mom, why are you so worked up with this thing? Just drive us to school. It's his life anyways, whatever he wants to do with it is his business", Josh said. Maribel sighed deeply and stared at James coldly.
"James, why are you doing this to me? Was it a bad thing that I generously picked you when no one wanted you? Would your mom and dad be happy seeing you end up like this? Maybe I should probably unadopt you because you are causing me a serious headache."
There it was, his trigger. James stood up with fire in his eyes. "Now listen carefully, Mrs Maribel. You assume I watch pornography just because Josh said so huh? You probably must Have forgotten how we met, so let me just remind you.
"I was in a morgue already declared dead by the doctors, but one mysterious woman happen to know that I was alive but in trouble, then you came to me and adopted me because of my sorry condition, something I never knew about.
"Ever since that time, I always saw you as my mother, even to the point of calling you "mom", something I never called my blood aunt. Then out of the blue, your son Josh, which you know that he hated me, concocted a scheme for you to hate me too, and you just believed him without looking for proof.
"Maybe you should unadopt me because you people don't deserve me. I have gone through a lot, I have been bullied because of the sheer excuse of being smart, and having dark skin, I saw my parent blow up with my own eyes, I have also experienced the betrayal of my blood relative. So if you think this will break me, I'm sorry to disappoint, it will never happen."
James then ran into his room, leaving Maribel stunned. "What just happened?" She asked confused.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Inside his room, James packed all of his clothes into his school's backpack and took out all his electronic possessions inside his second backpack. When he saw the radio, he paused for a while, before shoving it inside of his pocket.
"I cannot carry my monitor. Maybe they should throw it away. "James thought as he left the monitor on the study table. He then tidied the room to almost perfection. Seeing that none of his possessions was in the room, he sighed and opened the door.
But as he held the handle to push, the door was pushed from the outside, nearly causing James to fall over. "James what was that back there. Wait, what is this, and why are you wearing your backpack? Where do you think you are going?" Maribel asked the moment she set her eyes on James.
James no longer had that friendly feeling towards Maribel. He readjusted his bag on his shoulder and looked at her amidst anger. "Mrs Maribel, I am truly disappointed in you, honestly. I thought you were different, considering how people have treated me all these years, but it appeared humans are who they are, wicked. For your information, the reason I was locked up in my room all day was that I was working, yeah I said it, working."
I'm sorry Mrs Maribel, but I don't think I can stay under this roof anymore. I no longer have any affection for your family anymore, except for Angel, and she is the only sister I never had." James then shoved Maribel aside and walked out of the door, but then he stopped, and put his hands in his pocket, revealing two thumb drives and handed one over to Maribel.
"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. This drive is the copy of the proof I wanted to show you two days ago, watch it even if I manipulated it because Josh would have spoiled your mind on his matter."
James then left Maribel, stunned to even speak. By the time James walked downstairs, Angel, who was still seated on the sofa, stood up and approached James with a sullen face.
"Brother James, where are you going?" Angel asked as she pouted her lips. James could not help but feel sad, dissipating the anger in his heart seeing Angel's sad face.
"Look Angel, I am going to a place that is not too far away from here, but I will make sure I visit you from time to time alright. I cannot stay here anymore", James said, before becoming emotional. He then gently used his thumb to caress Angel's cheek. "I cannot stay here anymore, but don't worry, I would always come to visit you okay?" James said as his voice shook.
He then brought out the second flash drive and handed it to her. "This is the birthday surprise for mom. Take it and make her happy alright?" James took out her hand and placed the flash drive, before wrapping it with her fingers.
Josh was getting irritated by the second, so he grabbed Sophia away from James. "What the hell are you talking about? If you want to leave, you are free to go but don't cause her to shed tears for your sorry state. Don't be a shameless idiot", Josh hollered with a murderous glint in his eyes.
James completely ignored Josh and left the house and boarded a taxi, then he took a last look at Maribel's home, before signalling the driver to take him away.