Inside the room, Liam kept pacing around, studying everything carefully, the walls, the furniture, the books. Everything looked so familiar that he almost felt he could find anything with his eyes closed.
He began opening the drawers and shelves, checking through his belongings, hoping to find something that could explain what had happened that day. Maybe a clue, an object, or even a note. Anything that made sense.
He searched through the bookshelf and even his box, but there was nothing unusual. Just ordinary things. As he stood up, glancing around the room again, his eyes caught a few books lying on the desk near the bed. There was a chair beside it, and the books looked as though they had just been used.
He hurried over and began opening them one by one. There were textbooks, notebooks, and a few jotters. Then his eyes landed on a particular jotter, one he immediately recognized. He picked it up quickly and flipped through the pages.
It was empty. Completely blank.
Just like the one he had seen earlier that day in school.
But he was sure he had written in it before. He remembered the notes, and everything he had jotted down. Yet now, it was all gone.
Liam sat back, confused and frustrated. It was as if someone was erasing everything connected to him, every trace, every word, every memory that could prove what he knew. He didn't understand what was happening or why.
He was still staring at the blank pages when he suddenly heard his mother's voice calling from the living room.
"Liam!" she shouted. "Hurry up and get out here before I lose my patience!"
Liam dropped the jotter on the desk, sighed, and walked out quietly.
He went straight to his chores, washing the plates, cleaning the tables, and watering the flowers in front of the house. It was the same routine every day after school, and he did it without saying a word.
By evening, his sister Gwen returned from school. She looked tired but kinda cheerful.
"You're home late," Liam said. "What kept you?"
She dropped her bag and stretched her arms. "You know I'm running for student president," she replied. "There's a lot to prepare. Meetings, posters, speeches, it's stressing me out."
Liam smiled a little. "Take it easy on yourself, Gwen. You're winning already."
She looked at him and smiled softly. "Thanks, bro. And Liam," she added as she turned toward her room, "You know if something's wrong with you, or if anything's bothering you, you can always come to me?"
Liam smiled at that and nodded. "Sure, I know. Thanks."
She shook her head with a faint grin and went inside.
For a moment, Liam just stood there, feeling a bit lighter. At least someone in this house cared about him. But then he wondered what had made Gwen say that. He remembered what had happened earlier in class and shut his eyes in embarrassment.
Not long after, he heard the familiar sound of a car pulling into the garage. It was his father, Matthew Scott. The police car door shut, and soon Matthew appeared at the entrance still dressed in his uniform.
Liam couldn't help staring. Something about seeing his father like that, froze him.
Matthew noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What's up, Liam? Why are you looking at me like you've just seen a ghost?"
Liam blinked and looked away quickly. "Oh… sorry, Dad. I was just, um, observing you in your uniform."
Matthew gave a small chuckle. "I dress like this every day, son."
"Yeah, I know," Liam said quietly. "Forget it, don't mind me."
Matthew smiled faintly and walked inside, leaving Liam standing there by the doorway with a smile as he had just confirmed that his father was nice to him here. He hastened to finish up his chores.
Later that night, dinner was ready. The Scott family sat together at the dining table with their plates filled, but the room was quiet as usual.
It stayed that way for a while until Gwen, who always had a way of brightening the mood, spoke up with her usual cheerful tone.
"So, no one's going to ask me about the update on my election campaign?" she said, looking around the table.
Her mother, Helen, who was eating slowly, looked up and replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry, darling. I totally forgot. I've been so stressed today." She paused for a moment and then added, "Although, some retard who goes to the same school should have reminded us."
She shot a cold glance at Liam.
Matthew, who had been quietly eating, didn't like that one bit. "Helen, don't," he said.
"What?" she replied, pretending not to understand. "Think about it. He should be the one telling us about our daughter's success in school. But instead, he doesn't even want to make anything of himself there."
"Stop it," Matthew said again with a heavier tone. "Leave the boy alone. I don't want to tell you that again."
Helen rolled her eyes and decided to ignore him. She turned back to Gwen with a wide smile. "So, my darling, tell me, how's everything going? Are you getting people's support?"
The tense air in the room began to ease as Gwen smiled. "Well," she said, "the result of the second interview came out, and guess what?"
Everyone looked at her, waiting.
"I passed!" she said excitedly, raising her hand in the air.
Her mother clapped her hands in joy. "Oh, congratulations, sweetheart! I knew you'd make me proud."
"Now what's left," Gwen continued, "is the third interview and the students' voting."
Helen was still celebrating. "You'll definitely win, my darling. Congratulations in advance!"
Then she turned to Liam and said, "You have nothing to say to your sister?"
Liam looked at Gwen and smiled softly. "You know I've got your back, pup."
The word slipped out of his mouth before he even realized it.
Gwen blinked in surprise. "Wait," she said, "I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me that anymore, and I wouldn't call you bug?"
"Pup" and "bug." Those were the names they called each other when they were kids.
Liam froze, staring at Gwen as old images started flashing in his mind, memories that weren't his. Memories of Liam's childhood.
He saw flashes of a younger Liam being yelled at… beaten… crying quietly in the same house.
His chest tightened. He suddenly stood up from the table.
"What's wrong?" Gwen asked looking concerned.
"I'm… I'm full," Liam said quietly and turned to leave. He walked down, entered his room, and shut the door behind him.
Leaning against the door, he whispered to himself, "So this is what your life was like… Liam Scott."