Chapter 41: Candy Iii (1/2)

On the first night of mid-term examination, it was pouring outside.

I had English and Science papers the next day.

After I finshed up my revision for both subjects, I left the room only to find that the house was empty and the food on the table was still hot.

Everyone was missing and my first thought was that Mom and Dad must've gone out to search for little brother once again.

I went to the balcony that he loved hiding in. I found a makes.h.i.+ft rope from bedsheets tied together.

We lived on the third floor.

I saw small footprints on top of the air conditioner.

It was obviously his footprints.

Looking at the pouring rain, I quivered. He must be at one of the shops, I thought.

Mom and Dad weren't home. For a short while, I sat on the sofa, gasping for breath.

The door opened and I imagined it to be Mom and Dad bringing my brother home.

But only the two of them returned.

”Where is he?” I asked.

Mom only wept.

”Nowhere to be found,” Dad responded.

I suggested to call the police and Dad proceeded down to the nearest security station.

Upon his return, the three of us stared blankly at the walls, waiting for news.

The phone rang all of a sudden.

He's been found.

It was a supermarket manager on the other end of the line.

My little brother had made his way to the nearest supermarket after sneaking out.

He'd been found snacking on candies under the candy counter.

A staff spotted him stuffing all the sticky candy wrappers into his pockets.

When asked about it, he refused to say anything.

Fortunately, the staff had managed to get our number by tempting him with candies.

Mom and Dad dashed straight for the supermarket and I followed closely.

It was still pouring when we got there.

As I kept my umbrella, I saw Mom rus.h.i.+ng over to grab my brother's hand as she thanked all the staff in the store.

It was on that day that I knew he was addicted to candies.

Result day. I was eligible for many senior high schools.

Little brother grew crazier with each pa.s.sing day.

He would make noise if not given candies.

He would even start harming himself.

Not knowing what to do, Mom sent him to a rehabilitation center.

It was a mental hospital actually. Mom and Dad were no longer able to handle him.

Within a week, with the help of sedative drugs, he started to accept treatment.

Something else happened in that week.

In his ward was another patient who was suffering from depression. He had been down with a cold for the longest time.

When he switched over to Chinese medicine, the nurses gave him candies to tackle the bitterness.

Later on, he got attacked by my little brother, and the nurses weren't able to stop it in time, resulting in severe injuries.

No one could've imagined that a seven-year-old would possess that much strength.

Little brother was placed on isolation because of this. Visits weren't allowed as well.

In order to avoid my brother, I chose to attend a senior high school in the neighboring city.

Time pa.s.sed quickly and I had fun with my cla.s.smates.

All was good save for the part where they started discussing about their siblings.

They asked about mine, of course, but I only shook my head and said I had none.

Even when it came to winter breaks, I chose not to go home.

I simply told my parents that I had work or interns.h.i.+p commitments.

They would call me regularly to inform me about my brother's condition.

Many things had happened to him of course.