Beyond You

The day my sister, Megan Slade, was taken back by her wealthy birth family, she begged her parents with tears in her eyes. "Colin Carter's my brother. I'm all he has left. If he can't come with me, then I won't go back," she said. In the end, her parents had no choice but to bring me back home with her. When we first came to the Slade family, the fake heir, Joel Slade, who had lived as their son for over ten years was spoiled rotten and constantly targeted both me and Megan. At first, Megan was annoyed by him. Whenever her parents asked her to be more patient with Joel since he was her brother, she would always say without hesitation, "Colin's my only brother." But later, she never said those words again. Sometimes, she would even compare me to him. "I wish you were more cheerful like Joel. You're always so quiet." That day, she forgot my birthday again. I didn't make a fuss. I quietly made myself a cake. But the moment I finished it, she picked it up and casually brought it to Joel. "The cake Joel ordered got ruined on the way, and he's been upset about it," she said, "just give this one to him." I was so hurt that I didn't say a word all night. Seeing that, she looked at me with impatience evident in her eyes. "You're giving me an attitude over a cake? If you didn't want to share, why didn't you just say so?" Megan snapped at me. Joel made a face. "I told you before that your brother was petty, but you wouldn't believe me. I really don't understand why you brought that dead weight back with you." This time, Megan didn't argue back. So it turned out that even she saw me as a burden now. Chapter 1 The cake I had spent four long hours painstakingly making was completely ruined with a fork. The blueberries I had carefully arranged to spell my name "Colin", had been scooped out in one chunk. They stuck to the frosting-covered "Happy Birthday" cake topper. Joel Slade picked it up with a napkin and tossed it into the trash like it was garbage. His disgusted voice rang in my ears. "What is this nasty thing? It tastes awful! It doesn't even compare to what Lena makes. She's a professionally trained chef, after all." "You're so picky." Our sister, Megan Slade, teased him. But her eyes were full of affection for him. "If you don't like it, just throw it away. I'll have Lena make you a new one." "Deal. Then have her write, 'Megan will be at Joel's beck and call for the rest of her life' in frosting!" Joel said. "It's your fault for coming back and stealing Mom and Dad's love. "You even kept fighting me because of that dead weight!" Megan, who used to clash with Joel constantly and hated hearing anyone call me a "dead weight", now showed no reaction at all. She merely smiled and ruffled Joel's hair. Helplessly, she said, "Okay, fine. You win. It's all my fault, alright?" They were so affectionate, as if no one else were there. It made me feel like I was an outsider. To be fair, I was. Megan was the Slades' biological daughter who had been separated from them as a child. Joel had been switched at birth, but he had been raised in the Slade family with everything he could ever want. Over the years, he had already formed a deep bond with them. When they found Megan, they couldn't bear to let Joel go. So they adopted him. From the very beginning, they were one family. I was the only one who didn't belong. This morning, I saw Megan's social media post about taking Joel to an amusement park. That's when I knew she had forgotten my birthday again. I wasn't even hoping she would celebrate with me anymore. So why couldn't I even keep one cake? I couldn't hold back my tears. They fell to the floor one after another. Megan frowned and instinctively reached out to wipe my tears, just like she used to. "Why are you crying?" she asked. But Joel suddenly scoffed. "I just ate your cake. Do you have to be this dramatic? You've been sulking all night! "Looks like your usual good behavior was all fake." He turned to Megan and said, "Megan, you spoil him too much. That's why he's become so unbearable." Her hand paused for a moment before she pulled it back, and her expression turned cold. Megan said, "This isn't your old home. You're living under the Slade family's roof now. It's just a cake. Don't be so petty." When I saw the irritation in her eyes, my heart sank little by little. The day Megan was reunited with her family, I stayed awake all night. I was happy for her. But deep down, I was afraid she would leave me behind. When she noticed how down I was, she hugged me and promised again and again, "I'll never leave you, Colin. From now on, my home is your home, too." But now she was saying this place wasn't the home I came from. At some point, without me even realizing it, I had become a burden to her. "I understand." I nodded numbly, hearing the tremble in my voice. "Megan, I think I'll move out." Chapter 2 Joel rolled his eyes and said, "You make it sound like living with us is some kind of hardship. You weren't born a spoiled rich kid, but you sure act like one. "And now you're using this to get attention?" Megan's expression darkened. She asked, "Why are you throwing a tantrum?" I replied quietly, "I'm not throwing a fit. I just think staying at school will be more convenient for my studies." But the frown on Megan's face didn't disappear. "Do you think I don't know you? You could have moved out anytime, but you chose now instead. Aren't you just upset with me because of the cake?" Then, she added, "That's enough. If you really want a cake, I'll have Lena make one for you later." After that, she ignored me. As she wiped the cream from the corner of Joel's mouth, she laughed. "How are you still like a little kid? You can't even eat cake without getting it all over your face." "I'm Mom and Dad's baby forever. You got a problem with that?" Joel retorted. "Fine, fine. You're their forever baby," Megan replied fondly. I couldn't stay there any longer, so I quietly went upstairs. After applying to live at school, I stood in my carefully decorated room, lost in thought. There were the expensive, beautifully made superhero pillows on the bed. By the window stood a pot of rare orchids. Also, there was the elegant bookshelf I could reach without stretching and the small night light on my bedside table. Everything was something Megan had carefully chosen for me when I first came to live with the Slades. She even had the layout changed to match my old room because she was afraid I wouldn't feel comfortable here. Megan said, "This is our home from now on. We were poor before, and I couldn't even afford to get you a proper bookshelf. "Now that we have money, I want to give you the best. I won't let you suffer anymore." I was so happy back then. We had moved into a big house we never even dared dream of owning. We didn't have to worry about bills and living costs every day. And we didn't have to fear the roof leaking whenever it rained, or waking up to find the whole house flooded. Megan didn't have to work nonstop just to scrape together money for my tuition anymore. I thought things were finally getting better. But I never imagined I would have to lose her in exchange for all of it. A knock suddenly came from the door. When I opened it, a beautifully wrapped cake box appeared in front of me. Megan peeked out from behind it. "Colin, happy birthday!" Seeing my eyes still red-rimmed, a hint of guilt flashed in hers. "I'm sorry. I only just remembered that today is your birthday," she said. For a moment, I thought I saw the sister who used to have eyes only for me. I held the cake in my arms. For a moment, it felt like I had something to hold onto again. I followed closely behind Megan into the room. My resolve began to waver. But that small bit of hope shattered the moment I opened the box and saw it covered in mangoes. My lips trembled as I said, "Megan, did you forget? I'm allergic to mangoes." Megan's brows immediately furrowed. For a long time afterward, I couldn't forget the way she looked at me at that moment. It was the look someone gives when they see something that's become a nuisance. Chapter 3 Megan clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Next time, just tell me sooner if there's something you can't eat. Otherwise, it's just a waste." As she spoke, she picked every piece of mango off the cake and pushed the rest back toward me. "Joel asked Lena to make this cake to apologize to you. He knows you like orchids, so he specifically asked for an orchid design. He thought you'd like it," Megan said. "He can be rude sometimes, but he's really kind-hearted. At least have a bite, or he'll get upset." I felt my throat tighten. I dug my nails into my palm until I drew blood without noticing. "But I'm allergic to mango," I repeated under my breath. Megan sighed impatiently. "I already picked it off, didn't I? One bit won't hurt you." Just then, Joel suddenly pushed the door open. "Don't tell me Colin doesn't like the cake I had Lena make. You've been trying to cheer him up forever. He's way too hard to please." Before I could speak, Megan chimed in first. "This is your gift to him. He has to like it." "Good! Once you're done here, come downstairs. I didn't like the designs on the cakes Lena made earlier, so help me eat them," Joel said. Megan laughed and playfully scolded him, "So I'm your garbage disposal now?" "Of course not. You're my favorite sister," Joel replied. Megan froze for a second. "You only call me your sister when you want something. I swear, I spoil you too much." She said that, but the happiness in her eyes was impossible to hide. So it turns out, she just ran out of patience with me. If it was Joel, nothing was ever a waste. And just hearing him call her his sister made her that happy. It seemed as if no matter what I did now, I only annoyed her. - The next day, I quietly moved out of Slade Residence and into the school dorm. I squeezed in only a few hours of sleep each day. The rest of my time was spent either cramming for the SAT or working odd jobs. Keeping myself that busy left me with no time to think about anything else. Until today, when Megan called. The moment I answered, she immediately demanded an explanation. "Colin Carter! Why haven't you come home yet?" she shouted. "You used to be so well-behaved. Now you're actually staying out all night?" I answered quietly, "I told you before. I'm living at school now." "Who gave you permission? You think you're all grown up now? Is this your belated rebellious phase? Get back here right now!" Megan yelled. I stayed silent. After waiting a while and getting no response, she laughed in anger. "Fine. Then don't ever come back! Let's see how long you can keep pretending you're so tough." After that, I went on with my routine of classes, studying, and part-time work. As the SAT drew closer, I felt like the end was finally in sight. Then, three days before the SAT, Megan suddenly called me. Her voice over the phone was hoarse and unusually tired. "Colin, I'm at the hospital now. You haven't been home in a long time. I want to see you." I tightened my grip on my phone. Ever since her attention had slowly shifted to Joel, this was the first time she had swallowed her pride and reached out to me. I thought about the early acceptance letter I had just received and the savings I had built up over the past few months. I finally had enough to leave this place and make it on my own. After a long hesitation, I finally replied, "Okay." This might be the last time we would ever see each other. I didn't want to leave with regrets. I wanted to tell Megan I had been accepted to a university in the north. I would never be her burden again, and I wouldn't bother her anymore. But I never saw this coming. The moment I reached the hospital room and opened the door, I was greeted with a hard slap across the face. Chapter 4 A woman I had never met before rushed at me like she had lost her mind. She punched, kicked, and yanked my hair. "You put a needle in my son's pencil case and cut his hand!" the woman screeched. "The SAT are just two days away. "If we hadn't brought him in time and the injury hadn't been minor, you would've ruined his whole life! "You're only 18 years old. How can you be so cruel?" I pulled away from her in confusion and said, "I didn't do it! I don't even know your son." "Colin, stop lying. I saw you put the needle in his pencil case!" Joel suddenly stepped out from behind her. He was pointing at me with complete confidence. My expression hardened. "Why would I put a needle in his pencil case? You have no proof. What gives you the right to accuse me?" "Who says we don't have proof?" The moment I heard Megan's voice, a chill ran down my spine. She held up her phone and played a video. Because of the camera angle, it looked like I sneaked up to a classmate's desk and slipped something into their pencil case. Then, I suddenly remembered. I had been delivering a reward from the teacher next door to the top student in their class on the mock exam. It was just a pen, not a needle. But my explanation fell on deaf ears. The student's mother snapped, "Joel saw everything. We have a witness and the evidence. How can you still deny it?" I turned to Megan and asked through clenched teeth, "Did you see it too?" Megan avoided my gaze and stayed silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse. "Colin, you've always been jealous and picked on Joel. I never thought you'd go after one of your classmates too. I'm so very disappointed in you." I stared at her in disbelief. Those words confirmed that I had injured someone on purpose. "How could a school produce someone as evil as you? I'm going to take this to your school and make sure everyone knows what kind of person you are!" The victim's mother stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I looked at Megan, shaking all over. "Why?" I asked. She clenched her fists. A mix of emotions flashed in her eyes as she said quietly, "Colin, Joel didn't mean for this to happen. He never thought a prank would get so out of hand. "If Mom and Dad find out, they will be so disappointed in him. He's always been so proud. This is the first time I've seen him cry like that. He was so scared and heartbroken." By the end, her voice was so full of sympathy for Joel. I glared at her and spoke slowly, "So you pretended to make peace with me just to get me here, all so I could take the blame for Joel?" Megan's breath hitched before she answered with difficulty, "I've already arranged a way out for you. I won't let anything happen to you." That shattered the last bit of hope left in me. - I don't remember how I got back to school that day. I only remember the disgusted looks and cruel words from my classmates. "He's the kid who put a needle in his classmate's pencil case. It's dangerous being at the same school as him!" "Can they just put someone like him in prison and keep him there? He's terrifying!" Before I even reached my classroom, I was called to the principal's office. The principal slid a document across the desk to me. He said, "The victim's family has made a huge scene about this matter. They're demanding an explanation. Your early acceptance has been revoked. "Other than that, the school's board has unanimously decided to expel you." I froze where I stood, a chill running through my body. I couldn't understand. I had worked so hard just to protect the few things that mattered to me. But ever since I went back to the Slade family with Megan, it felt like I was always losing something. I lost Megan. I lost my home. I lost my early acceptance. In the end, I even lost my place at school. I only wanted to leave quietly. Why was even that so difficult? A message popped up on my phone. Megan had sent me transfer papers and two plane tickets. "The Slades helped establish a school in Harborton," she wrote. "I've already spoken with them and arranged for them to accept your transfer. "It's too late for the SAT this year, but with your grades, you can still get into a good college if you take a gap year to retake it. Once the finals are over, I'll go with you." So Megan had thought through every consequence. She knew exactly what I would face. Yet, she still chose to destroy my life for Joel. I stood outside the school gate in a daze, clutching the papers until the security guard told me to leave. - After the SAT ended, I was about to board the train with my suitcase. A message from Megan popped up. She wrote, "I'm already at the airport waiting for you. Where are you?" I sent her one last message. "I'm not going to Harborton with you. We're even now." The moment I sent it, my phone kept ringing nonstop with her calls. I didn't answer and blocked every way she had to contact me. Then I turned around and boarded the train. 'Goodbye, Megan. Forever.'