Prologue (2nd part)
Ever since I was born I never knew freedom.
Literally.
For the sake of my parent's reputation and stature, I had to exceed far from people's expectations.
I am Xavier Kline and as you know, I came from a wealthy family. My dad's a very clever businessman with billionaire instincts and my mother is an Italian supermodel.
I grew up showered with wealth, opportunities, privileges, and anything I could ever ask for.
It was anyone's dream life, but in the real world, it's only rare for a person to be born with everything that gave him happiness and contempt. What I wanted, was something real. Because being rich is the synonym of being surrounded by snakes and dolls. And I hated every bit of it.
Really, is having something real, too much to ask?
I would've gave up, but the heavens paved my way that led me to her. That one person whom I never knew would make a king on his throne allow himself to be trampled on the dirt gladly giving up his crown.
I've been so indulged to chasing what I want ahead of me that I didn't know how I fell that hard.
I love her, and that's all I will ever know.
I don't care how anyone would react, but even if I had to give up on the path I have ahead, I'd never hesitate.
-
Growing up, I always did whatever it was to be a jerk to my parents. I wanted to spend time with them and feel the warmth of a parent's love just like the other kids. I may have everything I could ask for just as long as I mind my own business and not meddle with theirs.
I never realized what a coward I was when I couldn't dare to utter a word about my mother cheating on my dad with a gym rat.
I did that because then, I will finally be able to have what I wanted. Michael was my mom's lover and he was a good guy, as I thought would be.
I kept silent for years and enjoyed the 'quality time' I needed from a parent. I even thought that Michael was so much better than my dad who knows nothing but work.
I learned from Michael the bond a father would have to his son and my mother even spent a lot of time with me. I felt like I belong and I wanted things to stay as it always had.
Fate had other plans for me, though.
My father eventually found out of my mother's betrayal and they got divorced not long after.
As much as my dad tried to keep me away from her, I broke out of his stupid villa and went to stay with my mom and Michael. They took me in their arms and I was glad I was finally able to stay with them. My 'home'.
The plot turned a great twist when a few months being with what I thought, my family finally casted its dark side.
Mother and Michael had a strong disagreement. Without my father, my mother was nothing but an ordinary woman and not a well-known celebrity. She was not accustomed to a hard poverty life and missed the fame and money she once had.
Michael, however, got trapped into the scandal caused by my famous mother and lost the only job he loved and cherished for years. He was heartbroken and he blamed it all on my mother.
Blame.
Blame.
Blame.
They were ricochets that flew within every direction and I feel like I've been forgotten again.
What happened to the 'home' I had?
It now felt like a dream I just woke up from. I should've known from the start that I'll always be surrounded with nothing but garbage. People chase what they want and choose what they value the most. Everything is right as long as it goes in your way.
I tried to rebuild them back but when you try to fix someone's ego, you have to know that they will never be fixed by begging.
Months of arguments and they parted ways, leaving me alone in the wilderness again. I was ready to rot in the streets but I ended up finding my way back to my father again.
Not once have I seen him distressed with me like this. But I am not a fool anymore.
"I hope you got what you wanted." I told him, stone-faced.
I've had enough of dealing with the fake. If it will always be this way, then I'll be on my own from now on.
Amidst the chaos that happened in our family, I never really know who my father was. All I can see was a workaholic man who only provides his family's needs as contribution and nothing else. I lay on my bed after washing myself and the whole spacious room felt empty.
I hated this room.
My dad opened the door softly and I felt my heart lighten as someone came to join me. He looked weary and tired and I only thought he kust came here to tell me that I am not allowed to go outside again after what happened.
Instead, he sat down on my bed and sighed. He placed a small box by my feet, marked with a' happy birthday' in his handwriting.
It's June 15th and I actually forgot it was my birthday. I was dumbfounded how he actually remembered my birthday. Then again, I wished his men didn't recognize me and took me back to him. Yet, he's the only one I have left after the two scumbags left me.
"I wanted to say sorry after all these years." My dad said, looking at the blank wall that stood before him.
Sorry? After all that's happened? I wanted to say he didn't have to, but looking at his hollowed eyes, I didn't dare say a word.
"I know all these years that you wanted love from your parents and I know I failed to accomplish what I should've done." He sighed.
"If you knew, then why didn't you have to do it? You saw it the whole time." I was feeling angry. If he knows how much I wanted his attention and maybe even mingle with us when he had time.
"To keep our family together." His voice cracked.
"Together!?" I was enraged. "Are you joking right now?"
I feel like slamming the door to his face.
"Xavier, you have to know the story before you conclude the outcome." He said.
"You don't know me, and you don't even care about mother-"
"I told you Xavier, I DO CARE!" He snapped, yelling at me for the first time.
He looked at my dumbfounded face and exhaled sharply
"You don't know your mother like I do." He said softly. "I thought you'd be okay in her arms with her lover. As I thought, she never cared for anything and anyone but fame. She was a sweet woman, despite her heartless demeanor."
"You mean mom was..." Something dawned on me.
"I wanted a real family, she wanted the spotlight. I have to give her everything she wanted so she could grant my wish. When you were born, she discarded you and I have to hire a nanny to look after you. You were so frail back then. Like a drop of rain would get you a cold." He smiled softly.
That's when I knew my father is the only one true to himself in the wealthy world. There had been no mistake to what I saw. This isn't a dream.
"Will you tell me everything?" I asked, quietly.
He looked at my eyes and I saw the pain inside he was hiding.
"Ever since I rose to fame and wealth, I realized how it must've been a mistake. People are different in many ways just as how you would look at the rich and poor. The only thing I wanted was a family. When I met your mother, she was a sweet girl and is determined. I fell in love with her at first sight in a party I've been invited. Blinded by my wish, I gave her everything she wanted and made her wishes come true in order to fulfil mine. It was a good bargain, if only I'd known how much of a narcissist she was. She never wished to have a baby, but in order to keep her stature with me, she reluctantly agreed."
I felt like I got hit. I did force it my way and it ended up like this.
"Forcing someone against their own will, will only make the matter worse. I should've let her go but even if I do, she'll do everything in her power to take herself back. I made her who she was now according to what she wished. Without me, everything she had will be gone as well."
"You're telling me that my mom's a gold-digger?"
"It's hard to believe." He sighed. "I loved her too much so I turned a blind eye. It broke my heart to see her treat another guy the way I begged to be treated. So I decided to let her go. Still, I did the best I could to keep you but you ran away with your mother. I thought I'd lost it but when you came back to me, I know she's at a loss."
Hearing my father speak so true for the first time, my heart melted. Though I loved mom, I have to give her up because she never loved me.
I learned from my father that you shouldn't force everything to be your way. Because then, only then you'll realize what a mistake it has been. I watched him leave as the streaks of dawn begin to shine. Another thing that changed was the room.
Back then, I hated the way it is. Yet as the light shone on the walls of the sun rising,
The light is beautiful when it shines warmly.
PS: Hope ya'll enjoyed -Author ^_^