It was almost comical the way both my parents' faces fell the moment I stepped on the makeshift podium they had erected, most likely to shine the spotlight on my brother. My father's eyes darted across the room, probably looking for a way to take me out while simultaneously assessing the potential damage I would cause by opening my mouth. While it was entertaining to watch him fumble, I refused to resort to unimaginative revenge with something as mundane as outing my aggressors in front of their friends. For one, there wasn't a single person present, related or otherwise, who had any affection towards each other. Each one of us had a hidden agenda, and most people in this room had no qualms with killing to obtain what they thought was rightfully theirs. There was no salvation to be found by confessing my plights to these people, it wasn't my intention.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Knowing my parents, there is no doubt that your every want and whim has been catered to. Judging from the laughter ringing in our humble abode, I trust that we are all having a great time…are we?"
The previously concerned faces relaxed, and cheers erupted all over the room; only my family remained weary and nonetheless joined the crowd that was converging on where I was. I scanned the room and had the displeasure of meeting Mathew's eyes. His mother, the minister of agriculture, and his father, one of the supreme court judges, stood behind him. Their distaste for me was palpable, the daggers from their eyes, however, fell useless to my feet, not standing a chance against my armor of fury.
"We are all here for my dear brother Brian Nanjira, a round of applause for the pioneer. He has worked incredibly hard to get to this moment. My father may have paid for his admission and some test results, but it was his tenacity and huge ego that allowed him to get here." A wave of discomfort rippled through the room along with scattered applause.
"Please, waiters, distribute that champagne all around, it was meant as a joke, guys! We need to toast with something stronger. This is a happy occasion, we all know exactly how much effort Brian put into his job, which is why he is getting a promotion." I winked, and the guests joined in because there was no doubt in anyone's mind that my father's connections got Brian his place at his job.
"Let's be honest, hard work and fairness are in the same category as hope. You either have what it takes or you don't. If you are not lucky to be born with it, you can either remain down or fight for your place at the table. I come from a family of warriors, we do whatever it takes to get to the top, which is why we are here. When I turned sixteen, my brother took me on an unforgettable adventure. Back then, I was too young to appreciate the lesson of that night, but that day marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, even if I refused to acknowledge it. So here I am, a little over a decade late but no less grateful for the lessons I learned that night."
There was a small stirring in the crowd, and I did not have to look to know it was my brother's friends making a beeline for the door. Sunshine was not far behind the fleeing men. I couldn't help the smile that splashed across my face; they were too predictable, and I almost felt sorry for them. My brother, on the other hand, unable to flee from his party, was quietly trembling next to my concerned parents. My father gave me his best glare, but that only widened my smile. The fun was only beginning.
"So let's raise our glasses to my one and only brother." I paused as everyone raised their glasses in the air except my family. I waited, looking directly at them until they reluctantly did the same, my mother letting out a nervous smile.
"To Brian, may he get everything he deserves and much more!"
The crowd echoed my toast before downing their glasses. I stepped down from the podium and was immediately flanked on all sides by my family. My brother nudged me forward while my parents stuck by my side, probably to ensure I did not escape. I grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and almost knocked down Mathew, who had been making his way to me. I gave another brilliant smile with a complimentary wink before motioning to my parents with my champagne glasses and shrugged as I was once again nudged forward.
I was led into my father's study, and the door was immediately shut behind me. I went on ahead and plopped onto my father's chair behind his desk. I emptied one glass, making a show of smacking my lips once the glass was empty. It did not take a genius to see he was livid. My mother slunk into one of the corners as usual, and my brother was pacing in front of the door.
"You all look stressed. Come on, this is a happy occasion, be happy and enjoy it. You never know when you will have another occasion to celebrate."
"What are you doing here?" Brian paused his pacing long enough to ask before resuming. "What the hell was that? What are you trying to accomplish?"
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurd situation that was unfolding in front of me. Better still, it seemed that the family's dynamic had shifted while I was away. My father, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his face, held his tongue, which in itself was surprising considering he had the chance to put me down again. Despite his pacing, my brother was exercising more control than I remembered. His reaction to any inconveniences was to throw a huge tantrum that often ended up with people hurt. This was why I had chosen his special day to come around, and it was turning out to be more beneficial than I had originally anticipated.
"Come on, brother dearest, I was nothing but nice to you. Am I not allowed to celebrate your successes? Everyone thought it was a nice gesture. Why are you questioning my good intentions?"
"Good intentions? Is that why you brought up your sixteenth birthday? I will not sit back and allow you to screw this up for me."
"Am I not allowed to speak about my very own sixteenth birthday? I told the truth, didn't I? You taught me a lesson that I could not forget even if I tried, and believe me, I have tried. You are as anxious as you should be. I am not sure why, but I am certain that I scare you. Before, it was probably abstract fear of what was to come, but thanks to you, there is cause for you to be very afraid. Of course, I could be wrong, and you will remain secure in your position, and I will be nothing more than a nuisance. Either way, you made poor choices that led us here, so we will have to see how it unfolds, won't we?"
I watched as my brother opened and shut his mouth like a fish out of water. My mother was engrossed with an art piece that she most likely picked out, but my father stood back watching us. The anger was gone from his face and was replaced by a naked curiosity that I found repulsive. He saw an opportunity in our argument, a chance for him to reassert his dominance over us. It had been years since I left this house, and yet somehow its occupants had remained unchanged in the ways that mattered. They had grown older, but none of them had become wiser. The slave driver, his doll, and their brat were forever imprisoned in their depravity. It made me grateful and erased the thread of guilt that had been nagging at my subconscious. They deserved everything that was coming to them.
"Look, I came here to congratulate you, but you are the same sour puss I remember. I am not wanted here, so I will leave."
I made it as far as turning the door handle before my brother grabbed my hands. I turned and went straight for his jugular, leaving him painfully gasping for breath in seconds. I kicked him straight in his balls, quickly followed by kneeing him in the stomach as hard as I could, and had the pleasure of watching his eyes roll back as he fell unconscious to the ground. My father remained in his spot while my mother rushed to fuss over her baby boy. I walked out of that room feeling lighter than I had felt in a long time.
He must have been listening in on our conversation because the moment I opened the door, I came face to face with Mathew. If he was not a shitty excuse for a human being, then Mathew could have won an award for his beauty. He got his looks from his grandmother, a former Miss Universe. His light brown eyes were his most striking feature, in my opinion. They were what I first noticed about him, and I would enjoy watching the life drain out of those beautiful eyes. He was flustered at my sudden appearance. He was probably unaware that these walls and doors told no tales. I walked around him, unwilling to engage him. Today was not his day; when the time for his reckoning came, there would be no mercy for him.