Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart
Chapter 34 - 33

Chapter 34: Chapter 33

In that moment, the door swung wide, and Sora entered, carrying a nylon bag filled with food. Fatigue marked his features, evident in his weary demeanor. His clothes bore the signs of hard labor, appearing soiled and coarse.

But despite the worn-out jeans and blue shirt he was dressed in that hinted at the hardships he had faced, Sora’s striking features take center stage. His dark, tousled hair was covered by a face cap but there were loose strands that framed his handsome face. His usually dark penetrating eyes were shrouded by fatigue and the eye bags under his eyes bore testament to his sleepless nights which were all dedicated to making money.

"Brother!" Hiro called, elated to see Sora. He went over and hugged him tight. "Are you okay? You look so tired."

The second Sora walked in, Raiden tensed. He stepped away from Saika, a storm brewing in his eyes as he gazed at the person he harbored extreme disdain for.

Watanabe Sora.

The man who had turned his life upside down.

Sora placed the nylon bag on the nearest table and ruffled Hiro’s hair, letting out a deep sigh. "I’m fine. Thanks for being here and taking care of Saika."

"I’ve told you to stop thanking me for this" Hiro chided. "She’s my sister too."

Sora smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He had promised Hiro he would get the money to save their sister but he hadn’t gotten a single dime. He had gone to everyone he knew. He had grovelled and begged at peoples’ feet but no one wanted to help him. He didn’t know what to do anymore and could only go to the hospital, dejected.

He didn’t even know how he would break the bad news to them. How could he look at their hopeful faces and tell them that he couldn’t get any money? That he, their big brother was a failure.

"Hey, won’t you say hi to me too? Is it only Hiro you can see here?" Saika taunted, feigning annoyance. "I’m the one getting a transplant tomorrow you know."

It was only when Saika talked that Sora noticed there was an extra person in the room. The second Sora laid eyes on the tall man standing by Saika’s bed, he froze.

The air crackled with tension as his jaw clenched. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He balled his fists, glaring at Raiden.

Raiden’s smokey eyes, usually vibrant, darkened like an impending tempest. Despite the urge to confront Sora there and then, a cold mask of indifference settled on his face for he remembered Hiro and Saika were present. Saika could have a heart attack if he did anything rash and he didn’t want Hiro to see his ugly side.

Watching his brother and Raiden glaring at each other like they would attack at any minute, he realised that he had severly miscalculated. He didn’t think Sora would recognise Raiden immediately he saw him. He even wondered how it was possible when Raiden had changed so much.

He began to panic, not knowing what to do. His brother and Raiden weren’t exactly buddies. It was due to Sora that Raiden was put in Juvy so Raiden should still be holding a grudge. As for Sora, he had seen countless pictures of his baby brother in Raiden’s room. Of course he’d hate Raiden.

In that charged moment, the air seemed to echo with the unspoken clash of conflicting emotions. Sora even made the move of hiding Hiro behind him which made Raiden furious. It reminded him of the times Hiro avoided him like a plague. Always hiding behind his big brother.

"Uh....do you two know each other?" Saika asked, gazing between her brother then Raiden.

"Know him?" Sora seethed. "This is the bastard that-"

The door swung open and a nurse strolled in with an empty wheelchair, cutting Sora off.

"Hello everyone." The nurse said cheerfully, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. She wheeled the wheelchair towards Saika. "I’m going to have to steal the patient for a few minutes. We’re going to run some more tests and brief her on the surgery."

Sora was confused. "Brief her on the surgery? What surgery? I haven’t paid yet." He said to the nurse.

Saika frowned. "What do you mean you haven’t paid? Hiro told me everything was taken care of."

The nurse was confused. "Are you sure sir? The payment has already been processed. She’s due for surgery first thing tomorrow morning."

Hiro groaned inwardly. He never expected the cat to be out of the bag so quickly either. What a mess. The night wasn’t going the way he had planned. At the rate things were being revealed, he was afraid more secrets would be spilled.

He stepped forward, chuckling nervously. "Oh yes nurse. That’s right. We’ve already paid. My brother can be quite forgetful at times, can’t you, brother?" He elbowed Sora in the midriff, urging him to play along. If not for anything, then for Saika.

Instead, Sora folded his arms, giving him a questioning look. "What the hell are you talking about, Hiro?"

Sora wasn’t convinced and neither was Saika. Hiro was definitely hiding something. Saika knew Sora didn’t forget things easily and Sora knew he didn’t pay for anything. In fact, he was about to tell them he had failed. What was all this about now? Why was Hiro acting as if everything was fine?

Raiden stepped forward, facing Hiro directly. "Stop lying to save your brother’s face, Hiro. I’m the one that made the payment."

Saika and Sora were stunned.

Hiro, red-faced, stammered out, "R-Raiden, you didn’t have to say it like that." His eyes flickered with embarrassment as he struggled to find words to express his feelings.

Raiden side-eyed him, his anger evident. "Then should I just stand back and watch as you give your brother all the credit?" No fucking way. He would rather let his enemy get a contract of a billion dollars than let Sora take credit for what he had accomplished.

"I’m not trying to give him all the credit." Hiro defended. "I’m just worried about my sister. I was planning on revealing everything after the surgery."

"Save it, Hiro." Raiden scoffed. "You weren’t planning anything. You were just trying to cover up for your useless brother."

"Raiden stop" Hiro pleaded. "My brother is not useless." He knew why Raiden was being rude but he didn’t like it. Especially when his brother was being insulted.

"Oh really? If he’s not useless, why did you have to run to me, crying and begging me to help save your sister’s life?" Raiden questioned, his words laced with a challenge that echoed in the charged atmosphere. "Why didn’t you stick to your almighty big brother?"