They Saved Him, Not MeChapter 3

I didn't want to wish someone else a happy birthday on my own birthday.

So I went back to my room and took out the gifts I'd stashed in a flimsy plastic bag.

If I didn't give them now, I'd never get the chance.

When I came back to the living room, Alistair's eyes were red, and he sounded hurt.

"Dad, does Bennett not like me? Why won't he wish me a happy birthday?"

My parents' faces darkened, and they were about to scold me for being so inconsiderate.

Then, to their surprise, I handed them two scarves I'd knitted myself.

Their eyes lit up.

Our neighbor, Mr. Patterson, was always bragging about the scarf his son had knitted for him, and every time, my parents looked so envious.

So I had spent more than six months learning how to knit.

Mom held hers like she never wanted to let it go.

Dad wrapped his around his neck right away and dropped the matter of me not wishing Alistair a happy birthday.

Then he asked, "Bennett, when's your birthday? Your mom and I will make sure to get you whatever you want most."

"Today," I said.

My parents exchanged a look and froze for a few seconds.

Mom quickly forced out a laugh.

"Ha, ha! We're just teasing you. Of course we know today's your birthday."

She hurried to her room and came back a moment later with a watch.

"Look! We bought you a watch."

But Alistair's name was engraved across it in big letters.

I didn't throw a fit like I used to, but that only made Mom panic, and Dad started to look nervous too.

She kept rummaging through the cabinets.

"Bennett, believe me, I really did buy you one. We got one for each of you!"

Afraid I didn't believe her, she added, "We bought them at the beginning of last month, when the family went on that trip abroad. You have to believe me!"

Dad's face changed instantly. He nudged her with his foot, and only then did Mom realize what she'd let slip.

Regret and panic flashed in her eyes, as if she was terrified I'd be upset.

So the three of them had taken a trip abroad last month.

No wonder that when I came home as usual one evening, I'd found the gates locked tight.

I held the watch Alistair hadn't wanted and felt nothing at all.

"It's fine. This one will do."

To make it up to me, my parents bought me a pile of gifts.

I took all of them to the office and gave them to my coworkers as goodbye presents before I quit.

Meanwhile, the earthquake was all over the news.

A camera had happened to catch me fighting my way out, and the clip was trending on every platform.

My parents recognized me the second they saw it.

They lowered their heads and didn't say anything for a long time.

That night, they took Alistair and me to dinner at a five-star hotel.

Dad drank glass after glass, saying over and over that he'd failed me as a father and apologizing again and again.

I almost believed him.

But once the wine had loosened them up, their real intentions finally came out.

Mom spoke up carefully.

"Bennett, you know every news outlet is looking for you right now, don't you?

"And you know Alistair has wanted to be a star ever since he was little... So we were thinking, maybe you could give him this opportunity? You can't really see the face in the video anyway..."

Seeing my expression darken, Mom hurried to add, "It's not that I'm playing favorites. I just think opportunities should go to whoever needs them more. I love you both equally..."

Equally?

Hearing that almost made me laugh.