Mom led me into a room. “Don’t make trouble. Brielle ranked in the top fifty thousand in the whole state; it wasn’t easy. It’s normal to praise her more. If you had placed, we would surely have praised you too!”
“Don’t cause trouble.”
After saying that, she turned and walked out.
I let out a dry laugh, but I was the eighth-highest scorer in the whole state.
Anyone could spot my name clearly on the school honor roll. Why didn’t anyone notice?
On the day of the enrollment banquet, Brielle stood at the entrance, greeting relatives and friends.
I was placed to stand next to her.
As the daughters of the parents, side by side.
The smiles on Mom and Dad didn’t drop until an elder frowned at me.
“Brielle’s dress is dragging on the ground. As the one next to her, don’t you know to hold it for her?”
My parents spoke up in discomfort. “President Wagner, this is our older daughter. She’s also graduating this year.”
President Wagner froze, then let out a joking laugh. “Oh… I made a mistake, sorry.”
Honestly, I wasn’t shocked.
My deep red dress with loud plastic gems had nothing similar to Brielle’s designer crystal-decorated gown.
It was normal that people couldn’t place us together.
I didn’t stay long before walking out.
Even though it was called an enrollment banquet, many well-known local figures had shown up.
Though Mom and Dad led Brielle and me around to greet everyone, they never once mentioned my name.
I understood they never meant to bring me into contact with those important people at all.
Watching Dad down a glass of alcohol for Brielle, I held my own cup of orange juice and quietly stepped aside, leaving all the bright lights and noise behind me.
Out in the garden, the wind cleared my mind a little.
I was about to call a taxi home when Brielle’s voice came from behind.
“Sister, how could you slip off by yourself? Dad’s drunk and you weren’t even there!”
Her tone was loud.
People walking past turned their heads.
“Sister, Dad drank himself sick for us! Even if you won’t take care of him, at least don’t just walk off!”
Among the guests, a few recognized me.
“Isn’t that the girl who was brought back later? Leaving her own father passed out at the banquet? No wonder children who weren’t raised by their parents don’t feel close to them, even if they share blood.”
“Poor President Hopkins, drinking himself half-dead for that ungrateful child.”
I glanced at Brielle.