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Not even an oxygen canister can give you a hint of fresh air in the tightness in the car.
It was silent, the unspoken tension holding on tightly as if the three people occupying the car were its lifeline. As he fidgeted with the rim of the medal slung over his neck, Simon couldn’t help but glance at the two people in front of him.
His elder sister, Scarlet, was focused on maneuvering the car, having been put in the responsibilities of taking care of everything since their parents were away on business trips. What with their father being away on an important political meeting, and their mother having been called to yet another fashion show.
It was all ironic, really, since she was actually looking forward to a little break on her college holiday for once.
“My work never ends, I swear…” She would mutter to herself whenever something more was put on her plate.
On the contrary, besides her was Sven, the middle child of the Gwon family. He was sitting on the front passenger seat, occasionally scrolling on his phone and checking out “the daily meme”, whatever it was, it was surely not something necessary for Simon to know more about.
With a slightly forced grin, purple eyes glanced at the rearview mirror, “So! You won first place… again, huh?” Sven whistled as he glanced at the golden medal held in his little brother’s hand.
“...I suppose so,” Simon shrugged, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words as if to say “Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Sherlock”.
Preferring to avoid another small talk, he turned his attention towards the city lights glimmering in the night sky.
It was late, already passing around an hour since his national physics olympiad. With the competition ending so late in time, it was simply impossible for anyone to bring Simon home, which leaves him to Scarlet and Sven, who had gone back from college for holiday.
He couldn’t help but wonder if his older siblings already had another plan for that night, which they had to cancel just to pick him up. It wasn’t like he couldn’t go home on his own. He had tried to convince his parents of how independent and self-sustainable he is. However, they simply won’t budge.
It was always how it is, after all: The favorite and gifted Simon Gwon, unable to do things without at least a bit of supervision and control.
To be fair, he shouldn’t have expected his older brother to stop bugging him. Yet more words broke through his thoughts.
“But hey, how many competitions have you won so far? Like… uncountable?” Sven chuckled and turned to face his little brother, “What, trying to make Scarlet and I jealous of something?” His face made it clear that his intention was to tease, but Simon could see a dash of envy pass by his voice.
Perhaps Scarlet noticed it too. Simon didn't t think she would, or should care. She was already beyond him, after all.
Simply unreachable and perfect already.
Despite the lack of response he got, Sven continued anyway, “You know, we should do a celebration or something! Like, what about eating out at our favorite fast food chain?” Simon could hear his voice soften into mere mutters,
“...just like old times.”
Simon couldn't remember when was the last time they actually ate there. That place was only reserved for special occassion, like when mom was in a good mood and didn't shove her quinoa salad diet down their throat.
Before anyone could even prepare what to say, his mouth crooked upward into a grin, “C’mon, it will be fun! What do you think, Scar?” Finally, their oldest sister was addressed.
“I can’t. I’m busy,” She simply said, focusing on the road ahead. Both of her younger brothers could see the way her body tensed ever so slightly when Sven’s idea came up.
“You’re always busy. What does college holiday even mean to you?” Sven pouted.
“A chance to prepare for the next semester, so I don’t end up like you,” Scarlet’s tone was cold and unimpressed.
She could see a small hint of hurt on Sven’s face, yet she brushed off the guilt in her heart and continued, “Also, I already have many plans for the week. The cheer captain is already expecting me to take her role next year. I can’t afford to lose this one damn chance.”
Simon raised a brow at Scarlet’s insistence, he couldn’t lie and say that he didn’t relate to her in terms of plans and avoiding distractions. She seems to be in quite the short temper at the moment, though.
“Just ignore him, man,” Sven rolled his eyes and assured him, “Scar’s salty because not only did Tanya manage to get Bread’s honor last year, this year she got beaten by Rohan. Bread just wouldn’t come to her, and she’s pissed,” He snickered, earning a smack on his arm from Scarlet.
Simon sat there puzzled for a moment. ‘Bread…? What kind of honor involves pastries? And who in the world is ‘Rohan’...?’
“What…?” Though he quickly shut himself up, deciding he would not participate nor take interest in this tomfoolery. “Uh, I mean, I can’t go. I have a science fair coming up.”
His last science project did really well. His parents were proud of him for the robot arm he had built.
But that just means the standard and expectation was raised, even more than it already was.
Taking this as a chance to be excited for his little brother, Sven exclaimed cheerfully, “Oh, really?! What are you going to display? Any progress yet?”
“It’s none of your business,” Simon finally shut him up, “Stop talking to me.”
First, the pressure his father had put on him to win the competition. Then the amount of teachers bothering him and judges constantly interviewing him. Now this. He was getting more and more exhausted by the constant chatter. Really, if he could just shut the world out and be in his room for an eternity, he would.
Hearing Sven sigh just made Simon want to hide away anymore, even when Sven tried to reason with him, “Look, Simon, I just… it’s been a while since we saw each other, ya know? Would be nice to–”
“Sven, be quiet. I need to focus,” Scarlet didn’t spare him a glance, but a turmoil of emotions inside her was hinted by how tightly she was gripping the steering wheel; her knuckles white from strain, a physical evidence of her struggle to face any tension between the three of them.
Sven was silent for a moment, an eerie sight of him. His expression was unreadable. Eventually, he just huffed and directed his attention back to his phone, “...fine, whatever.”
Not even a single breath could save you from suffocating. Especially not with the ignored elephant in the room. Nonetheless, the car kept on going, and going… just like how every occupant inside kept on going with their life, purposely avoiding the wall their environment had steadily built between them.