(Hockey Bxb) Whistle In The Wind -𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈-

 ╔══《”I’m somebody’s baby,》══╗
someone else’s midnight call.”

       The creaking of the front door startled Váli. Curled up tight, he laid on the floor of his bedroom in the fetal position. Upon hearing the squeak of the hinges, he pushed himself up. The various clothing items cushioned the typically hard floor.

       For as long as he could remember, Váli found comfort in laying on the floor. Whenever he had a fever, or his stomach hurt, or a migraine was extra piercing, he would be found on the cold tiles of his bathroom floor.

       The chilliness of the white slabs on his warm cheeks had comforted him. Instead of a mothers cold hand placed on his face, the young Váli had to rely on the floor for comfort. That’s why, even at 17 years old, Vál found himself lying on the floor.

       He hadn’t planned to. But after painstakingly climbing up the steps that felt as steep as Mount Everest, Váli couldn’t resist. When he opened his door slowly, the floor cried out his name. His sore limbs cried back, begging for relief in the soft clothes littered everywhere.

       In a single blink, he was already on his side, coiled up like a roly-poly. That’s where he laid, with his eyes closed but his mind not quite asleep, until the front door had opened. He wasn’t sure how long he had stayed in that one position. But his stiff limbs and the darkened sky indicated hours had passed. 

       Gripping the floor, he hoisted himself up slowly. His door was closed, but Váli didn’t want Aksel to see. As a kid, Aksel always criticized Vál for his habit, claiming it was unusual. Váli knew his heart couldn’t handle being yelled at, especially from his brother.

       Bustling life erupted downstairs. Laughter from male and female voices. It wasn’t hard to piece together the origin. Only two people were home. Crawling to his door, Váli placed his right ear against the white wood. Breath hitched in his throat, Váli tried to breath properly. His eyes fluttered close, and his body went limp.

       He was sprawled against the door. A look of concentration etched on his face, as if attempting to will himself through the atoms of the wood, begging his body to float down the stairs, and join his mother and brother in their laughter.

       He knew praying was useless, collapsing on the floor in a heap. The laughter got louder, as did the footsteps. Two pairs of feet thumped up the stairs and down the hall. By now, Váli’s ears were ringing. His mind was hazy, but in the fog, he heard the clear voice of his mother. She talked cheerfully and casually.

       Vál overheard her faint ‘goodnight’ to Aksel before a door closed and the voices stopped. Váli sighed, relieved that his mothers voice no longer overtook his senses. Before he had the chance to get up from his spot near the door, his mom knocked. Two short knocks.

       Immediately, Váli sucked in, holding his breath, scared a single exhale would alert his mother. After ten seconds of gruesome silence, his mother walked away. Each knock felt like a punch to Váli’s stomach, the area aching.

       Icing it was the best solution, but Vál had never cared enough to follow the guide of professionals. I’ll be fine, a little stomach pain is nothing. Stomach pain, the excuse was so simple. It was plausible, and it rolled off Váli’s tongue like the truth. Nobody will know the difference…

…

       Across the hall, Aksel had thrown his backpack on the floor. His hair flopped around him as he laid back on his bed. I should probably cut it soon. He pondered, running a strand between his thumb and pointer fingers. It reached well past his ears, and his middle part was grown out, that title no longer applied.

       I’ll ask mom to schedule me an appointment. Maybe she’ll let me go to some fancy place with nice smelling shampoo. He breathed in, smelling the clean scent of the air freshener on his bedside table. His mom had bought it for him the previous day, as one of her ‘returning home’ gifts.

       Aksel’s thoughts ran loose. Like a dog taken off a leash in the middle of nowhere. He thought about everything, yet nothing at all. Each thought passed his mind for less then a second, quickly changing to his next interesting idea. Why did I want to come home early anyway?

       Before he could begin to formulate an answer, the question had already buzzed away in a hurry. Aksel was left sitting confused, not being able to remember what he was even thinking in the first place.

       Why is life so complicated? He groaned, before thinking deeply. His life wasn’t that bad. Sure, his mom was never home, his dad home even less. Hockey was fun, but a lot of pressure. He was popular in school, but he only had a couple true friends. Overall, his life was good. It’s not like I’m being abused. He scoffed.

       My life is so good, and yet… His tongue was stuck. Something changed recently. Aksel couldn’t recall when he noticed something was different. It was a slow progression. It was so slow he didn’t notice anything had changed at all. Through the small interactions Aksel had with his brother, he slowly opened his eyes more and more.

       All of a sudden, his eyes had snapped open. How could I be so dumb and oblivious! He smiled. It all makes sense now. He huffed, sitting up in satisfaction, having solved a complex situation. I’ll just ask Váli about it tomorrow, I don’t wanna disturb him tonight. Aksel decided.

       Shuffling around his room quietly, Aksel got ready for bed. He stepped into the hallway, tilting his head to the side as he passed Váli’s room. Frowning when all he heard was silence, Aksel turned around and returned to his room. Váli and Aksel shared a bathroom, although Aksel had direct access to it through his room, and Váli had to walk across the hallway.

       When inside, Aksel fished his toothbrush out of the jar and lathered a thick glob of mint green toothpaste on the bristles. Not bothering to wet the brush, he began scrubbing his teeth, the minty paste foaming up in his mouth, burning his gums slightly. While he continued to brush, he hummed while swaying around.

       On one spin, he caught sight of the trashcan. Covering the surface, like a canopy of leaves, sat a layer of crumpled up tissues. That’s odd.

       The sight is familiar, any who try to cover something they’re throwing away would pull the same trick. If one glanced over the trash can, they wouldn’t suspect anything. Aksel himself uses this trick when covering up candy wrappers nobody knew he bought. This habit of Aksel’s being why he caught sight of the subtle trick. Wonder what he’s hiding…

       He picked up a single tissue, it was obvious that none of them were used. When he gently grabbed it, he squinted his eyes in curiosity. A shine of foil caught the light, reflecting the silver wrapper. Aksel laughed, regretting it when he choked on toothpaste.

       Spitting in the sink, Aksel splashed water in his mouth, trying to compose himself. I’ve definitely figured him out! Aksel smirked, matter-of-factly. He’s an open book! 

       Humming happily, he pranced back in his room. Snuggled up in bed, Aksel was prepared for the serious talk he would have with his brother tomorrow. Reassured that the feeling of dread Aksel recently started feeling, would disappear after tomorrow, he fell asleep within minutes. 

       Across the hall, Váli found himself unable to have the same privilege, although oblivious to his brother’s plan. He cringed, each breath or weight shift causing his body to shudder. By the time he had drifted off, the world was asleep. The darkness and silence of life encompassing him completely…

…

       “Váli,” Aksel said.

       “Huh?” Váli looked at his brother with confusion. Hunched over the counter, a spoonful of cereal was held up to his mouth. By now, the bowl in front of him was mainly milk.

       “I figured you out,” Aksel smirked.

       “Dude, what?” Váli sat up, not scared. “That’s super intimidating. You know that right?”

       “I mean, come on! We’re brothers! I’m sad you actually doubted me enough to hide this from me!” Aksel complained, throwing his arms up in the air in disbelief.

       “You sound like I murdered someone… or something,” Váli laughed, swallowing hard. He smiled for his brother, trying to find humor in his words. At the same time, he repressed his beating heart. Did he really find out?

       Did mother tell him? No, why the hell would she do that. What do I do? He’s gonna be pissed. Each new thought spawned two more in its place.

       “Come on! When were you gonna tell me you got a girlfriend before me!” Aksel whined, stomping his foot like a child.

       Silence.

       “Huh?” Váli yelped, standing up from his chair. Neither brother said a word, staring at each other in confusion. Váli didn’t know if he should be thankful his brother got it wrong, or concerned for how he came to that conclusion.

       “You know… You’ve been smiling more! And don’t tell me you weren’t on the phone with someone the other day! I definitely heard you talking to someone,” he exclaimed.

       Each sentence had a reasonable explanation. He had been smiling more because he had been more conscious of how little he had been smiling previously. They were all fake. But he couldn’t tell Aksel that. As for the facetiming part, he couldn’t tell Aksel that either. ‘I was actually facetiming your best friend’ was not something he could admit; to himself or to Aksel.

       So instead of clarifying, he just stared at Aksel with a lost look on his face. His mouth was slightly agape, and his eyes wide.

       “Dude. Am I not allowed to smile?” He questioned, “or talk to myself?” The lie slid off his tongue as though they were the truth. Váli had a talent for that. Aksel didn’t respond for a second, the gears in his brain turning.

       “So what about the condom wrapper?”

       “Excuse me?”

       “What?”

       Váli stared at his brother with a look of complete and utter confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

       “In our bathroom!” Aksel huffed, as if the words he were saying were so obvious.

       “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about?” Váli perplexed.

       “I saw it with my own two eyes! I swear. Yesterday when I got home, it was in our trash can,” Aksel explained, now more confused than ever. “If it’s not yours, then whose is it?”

       “I can guarantee you, it wasn’t mine. There’s no one else in our house besides–“

       “Is my breakfast ready,” a voice called out from the stairs. Both boys froze, paralyzed.

       “Sorry mom, we’re doing it right now!” Aksel scurried toward the fridge, opening it quickly. Neither Aksel nor Váli dared to speak, scared to speak the possibility into existence.

       Váli’s words were caught in his throat. The thick, oversized hoodie he had thrown on ten minutes earlier suddenly felt too hot. The neckline felt too tight, and the sleeves too constrictive. He could feel the sweat drip down his neck. Debilitated, Váli stood in the same spot by his chair.

       He made no move to get up and help, watching as his brother prepared the meal for their mother.  

       “Thank you dear,” she smiled when the plate was set in front of her.

       “Of course mom!” Aksel replied with faux excitement. In any other scenario, Aksel would be pleased to help his mom. He would be satisfied with his aid, and he would sit and chat with her for breakfast. She’d ask about his plans for the day, and he’d tell her about an upcoming test, or his hockey practice. 

       They would laugh until the coffee in Aksel’s mug had turned cold, and he was forced to say goodbye and leave for school. This was how every day had gone since she had returned home. The little routine meant a lot for Aksel, as he never saw his mom much anymore. 

       Yet, as he watched his mom in silence, he realized how unfazed she looked. She stared at her phone, not bothering to even look at her prized son. He realized, in hurt, that a routine he had grown to love meant little to his mom.

       The feeling left an imprint on his heart, like someone had walked across it in cleats. For the first time in his life, Aksel felt a disconnect with his mom. Previously, even when she left for months and flew across the globe, Aksel felt little to no divide between them.

       And yet here, there stood no more than 3 feet between him and her. The distance was so small, but the gap between them was so apparent it felt as though it stretched for hundreds of miles. Aksel felt small, like a little kid all over again.

       Taking a deep breath in and out, he composed himself before grabbing Váli’s arm. “We’re heading off to school! Bye mom,” he called out, not waiting to hear a reply before dragging his brother out to the truck.

       The car ride was silent, the two blonds making a mutual agreement to end their previous conversation. Váli knew, at that moment, that his familiar and comfortable life was going to change drastically, and fast…

Question of the chapter: Which meal is the best, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert?

╚══《Word count- 2,270》══╝

  ══https://open.spotify.com/track/1dODOcUBb5SrXflh3L4zjE══