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I wake up to the sound of Felix’s loud music blaring from his room. Rolling my eyes, I kick off the worn-out blanket and drag myself out of bed.
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Another day, another dollar, as they say.
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Our apartment is nothing fancy—just a cramped space filled with mismatched furniture and the constant smell of instant noodles.
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But it’s home, and it’s where Felix and I have been holding it together since Mom and Dad left us in that stupid car accident.
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I shuffle into the kitchen, the linoleum floor cold beneath my feet.
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Felix is already there, his eyes glued to his phone as he slurps his cereal like it’s the last meal on earth.
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“Morning, Junebug,” he grins, his mouth full of soggy flakes.
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I grunt in response, too tired to muster up a fake smile.
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“What’s with the long face?” he asks, finally tearing his eyes away from his phone long enough to shoot me a curious glance.
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I roll my eyes, resisting the urge to snap at him. “Nothing, Felix. Just tired, that’s all.”
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He raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh, sure. You know, maybe if you actually got out once in a while and did something other than work and read those cringe novels of yours, you wouldn’t be such a buzzkill.”
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I feel my blood boiling at his words, the familiar sting of resentment bubbling up inside me. Why does he always have to be such a jerk?
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“Excuse me? It’s too early for this, please.” I snap, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Last time I checked, it’s none of your business what I do in my free time.”
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Felix shrugs, unfazed by my outburst. “I’m just saying, maybe if you put yourself out there once in a while, you might actually meet someone who’s not a total loser.”
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I clench my fists, trying to suppress the urge to punch him in the face. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
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He smirks, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me. “Oh, come on, June. You’re getting old and you’ve never had a boyfriend since… What's his name? Tom? It’s been ages since you two broke up? Don’t you think it’s time to have another man?”
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I feel my cheeks burning with humiliation, the weight of his words crushing me like a ton of bricks. He knows exactly how to push my buttons, and he’s not afraid to use that knowledge against me.
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“Shut up, Felix,” I retort, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “And for your information, those ‘cringe novels’ are my escape route from this crappy reality.”
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We’ve been at each other’s throats more often than not lately, and I can feel another argument brewing beneath the surface.
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But despite our constant bickering, there’s a bond between us that runs deeper than words.
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Felix, at 16, is all I have left of our family, and I’ll be damned if I let anything tear us apart.
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As I pour myself a cup of lukewarm coffee, I steal a glance at Felix.
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Despite his annoying habits and his tendency to drive me up the wall, I can’t help but feel grateful for his presence.
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He’s growing up so fast, and sometimes I forget that he’s still just a kid trying to figure out this messed-up world.
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I settle into my chair, bracing myself for another day of whatever life decides to throw our way.
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I grab a slice of bread and plop it into the toaster, trying to ignore Felix’s annoying humming as he slurps his cereal. Seriously, does he have to be so loud this early in the morning?
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“Hey, June, you mind picking up some more milk on your way home from work today?” Felix asks, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
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I shoot him a glare, my patience wearing thin. “And what, you’re just gonna sit there all day, playing video games and stuffing your face?”
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Felix rolls his eyes, unfazed by my irritation. “Hey, someone’s gotta keep this place from falling apart. It’s not my fault you’re too busy working your butt off to notice.”
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I bristle at his comment, that familiar sting of resentment bubbling up inside me, again. He knows I’d do anything for him, but sometimes it feels like he’s just taking advantage of me.
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“Yeah, well, maybe if you pitched in once in a while, we wouldn’t be living paycheck to paycheck,” I snap, my frustration boiling over.
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Felix scoffs, his tone mocking. “Oh, please. Like you’re some kind of saint, working yourself to the bone while I sit around doing nothing.”
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I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, the toaster pops, startling us both. With a huff, I grab the burnt toast and toss it onto a plate, my appetite long gone.
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We stand there in silence, the tension thick between us like a fog. I can feel Felix’s eyes on me, waiting for me to apologize, but I refuse to back down this time.
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We’ve had this argument a thousand times before, and I’m tired of pretending like everything’s okay when it’s not.
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Finally, Felix sighs, breaking the silence. “Look, June, I didn’t mean it like that. I know you’re doing your best, okay?”
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I sigh, too exhausted to keep up the fight. “Yeah, well, it’s not good enough, is it?”
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Felix reaches out to touch my arm, his expression softening. “Hey, don’t say that. We’re in this together, remember?”
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I nod, feeling a pang of guilt for snapping at him. He may drive me crazy sometimes, but he’s still my little brother, and I’d do anything to protect him.
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With a resigned sigh, I force a smile and ruffle his hair. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll figure it out, somehow.”
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Felix grins back at me, the tension between us dissipating like smoke in the wind. “That’s the spirit. Now, are you gonna eat that burnt toast, or can I have it?”
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I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but laugh. Maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
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I flop onto my bed, feeling like a sack of potatoes. Felix’s nagging replays in my head like a broken record. Am I really pulling my weight? Or am I just kidding myself?
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I grab the dusty photo album from my nightstand, hoping for a distraction.
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Flipping through the pages, I see Mom and Dad’s smiling faces staring back at me.
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A lump forms in my throat, and before I know it, tears start streaming down my face.
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I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, feeling like a total mess. Mom and Dad are gone, and no amount of wishing will bring them back.
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It’s just me and Felix against the world now, and sometimes, it feels like we’re losing.
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I shove the album back into its hiding spot, burying my sadness along with it.
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