Mango

1 My sister, Rachel, ate half a plate of mangoes I’d left on the table. She broke out in an allergic rash. My brother, Bernard, stormed into my room, pried my mouth open, and started forcing mango juice down my throat. “You love mangoes, don’t you? Today, I’m going to let you have your fill!” The juice went down the wrong pipe. I couldn't breathe. My throat was swelling shut. I begged him to save me. Instead, he dragged me to the basement and locked the door. “Rachel is suffering, so you don’t get to be comfortable either!” he snarled. “You can stay in here and think about what you’ve done. You had no one to teach you growing up, no wonder you’re so vicious!” Two days later, my mother finally remembered me. “Bernard, that’s enough. Let Lina out,” she said. “If you keep her in there too long, she’ll start to resent Rachel.” My father, standing nearby, added carelessly, “What’s the big deal? We can just buy her something nice. That’ll make up for it.” I was floating above them, a ghost tethered to my father’s shoulder. I followed them as they drifted toward the basement. I wanted to see. I wanted to see just how they planned to “make it up” to me. … The day I was locked in the basement, my brother Bernard stormed back into the living room and smashed a glass on the table. “Is Lina even part of this family?” he raged. “Mom, Dad, are you sure the paternity test was right? How could we have a child like her?” My parents’ faces were grim. Our housekeeper, Maria, stammered, “Sir, Miss Lina looked like she was in a lot of pain. Her face was turning purple. Are you sure we don’t need to take her to the hospital?” Bernard whirled on her. “Shut your mouth! You feel sorry for her? Who feels sorry for Rachel? A girl’s appearance is everything to her. Lina knew Rachel was allergic to mangoes, and she still deliberately left half a plate out on the table just to give her a rash. She’s always pulling these petty, underhanded tricks. Does she think no one can see through her?” His face was a mask of disgust. “She brought this on herself!” Maria opened her mouth, then shut it again. “Brother, don’t be angry…” a delicate voice drifted down from the top of the stairs. Rachel was leaning weakly against the railing, her eyes brimming with tears. The image of my own tear-streaked, desperate face flashed in Bernard’s mind, but he shook it away and rushed to Rachel’s side. “Your rash hasn’t cleared up yet. Why did you come out?” Rachel’s face was pale. “Brother, don’t blame Lina. I’m sure… I’m sure she didn’t do it on purpose…” Bernard stroked her cheek, his expression full of concern. “You don’t have to make excuses for her. She deserves everything she gets.” As soon as he said it, Rachel’s sobs grew more pathetic. “It’s all my fault! If I had just watched her more carefully when we were little, she wouldn’t have been taken…” My sister Rachel and I were twins. When we were five, she told me she was going to buy me some candy. She told me to wait right where I was and not to move. But she went straight home without me. By the time my parents came looking, I was already gone. For sixteen years, I lived in a remote, impoverished mountain village, enduring endless beatings and abuse. One day, my foster father looked at my developing body with a predatory glint in his eye and reached for me. In my moment of deepest despair, my real parents found me. I thought I had finally escaped hell. I never imagined that this beautiful, wealthy home would be a place where I couldn't even survive. Bernard closed his eyes. “Don’t blame yourself for everything. Lina is just a naturally malicious person. It has nothing to do with anyone else. But I’m her brother. I’ll teach her. I’ll at least make her a decent human being.” Rachel nodded. “I know, brother. I’ll help you. We’ll turn our little sister into a real princess…” My parents nodded in approval. I flew at Bernard and Rachel, slapping each of them across the face. But the smiles on their faces didn’t waver. My hands passed right through them, into nothingness. I’d forgotten. I was already dead. Before I died, my face was contorted in agony. I clutched at my chest, the feeling of suffocation driving me to despair. But even then, I had held onto a sliver of hope. Hope that my brother would open the door and take me to the hospital. Hope that my parents would save me from the darkness, just as they had before. But nothing came. My consciousness was fading, my vision blurring, but my hearing remained sharp. I heard Bernard outside the door, instructing the housekeeper. “Don’t give her anything to eat or drink without my permission.” “Won’t that… be a problem?” Maria asked hesitantly. Bernard scoffed. “What’s the problem with starving for a few days? I’m doing this for her own good. If she doesn’t suffer a little, she’ll never learn.” I felt a ghost of a smile stretch my lips. I was laughing at Bernard, but more than that, I was laughing at myself. I remembered a time Rachel had been in a bad mood and only picked at her dinner. Bernard had noticed immediately, fussed over her, and even went into the kitchen to bake her favorite cupcakes. But for me? I could starve for days, and no one would care. I didn’t understand. I was his sister, too. I was their biological daughter. Why couldn't they love me? Why wouldn't they believe me? When their gazes, filled with annoyance, disappointment, and even hatred, fell upon me, I felt like I had already died long ago. I died on that hot summer day when I was five years old. Filled with bitterness and resentment, I finally lost consciousness and slipped into eternal darkness. 2 The morning of my second day in the basement, my mother finally remembered me. “Bernard, that’s enough. I think Lina has learned her lesson. Let her out. I’m worried she’ll hold a grudge against Rachel.” Bernard frowned. “Fine. I’m her brother, after all. I’ll teach her properly later.” My father nodded. “What’s the big deal? If she throws a tantrum, just buy her something to make up for it.” But Rachel chimed in with a sweet smile. “Speaking of making it up, brother, you promised to take me shopping yesterday. You can’t go back on your word.” Bernard tapped her forehead gently. “Of course I didn’t forget. I’ll take you right now, okay?” My mother looked at Rachel with adoration. “I’ll come with you. Didn’t you say you liked my custom necklace? I ordered one for you, too. Today, we’ll make your father our personal chauffeur and bag carrier!” My father smiled at them and stood up. Just like that, the family that was supposed to let me out completely forgot about me. They went to the mall, happy and laughing. I floated behind them, a silent observer. Rachel shopped and bought whatever she wanted, while Bernard and my father paid with smiles on their faces. My mother fussed over her, straightening her clothes. They looked like the perfect, happy family. As they passed a toy store, Bernard paused instinctively. Rachel noticed and tightened her grip on his arm. “What’s wrong, brother?” she cooed. “Why did you stop?” He hesitated for a moment before replying softly, “It’s nothing. I just remembered I promised Lina I’d buy her a stuffed bunny.” Rachel’s face fell. She pouted. “I knew it. You like Lina more than me!” She turned her back, feigning anger. Bernard immediately started to console her. “How could you say that? Rachel, you’re the only princess in my heart…” His phone rang, cutting him off. It was Maria, the housekeeper, her voice tinged with anxiety. “Sir, Miss Lina… she hasn’t made a sound since yesterday. I’m a little worried…” Bernard’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “What’s there to worry about? A little mango juice isn’t going to kill her, is it?” “But… I’m just afraid she might be dead… Why else would she be so quiet?” “Just leave her alone,” Bernard snapped, his patience wearing thin. “She’s just doing it for attention. Maria, how many times has she pulled this? Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” He hung up abruptly, but before he turned away, his gaze lingered on the stuffed bunnies in the store window. When I first came back to the family, I was in a daze. The villa was beautiful and warm, the bed my mother prepared for me was soft, but I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my foster father’s monstrous face. When Bernard found out, he put a small stuffed bunny in my hands. “Lina, do you remember this? I gave it to you when you were little. You used to have to hug it to sleep every night. If you can’t sleep, try holding it.” Tears instantly filled my eyes. I clutched the bunny to my chest as if it were a precious treasure. Later, Rachel cut my bunny to shreds with a pair of scissors. I ran to confront her, furious. But she just burst into tears. “It’s all my fault! But… but it’s because you said… you said I stole your painting for the competition, and you ripped up my award certificate. That painting was mine. I was just so angry, I took it out on your toy. I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault…” Bernard saw her crying and immediately pulled her into a protective embrace. My parents crowded around her, comforting her. I ran out of the house in tears. Bernard caught up with me. “Lina, can’t you just be a little more understanding? Rachel has already been so tolerant with you!” The darkening look on his face made the words I wanted to say die in my throat. “Then… then will you buy me another bunny, brother?” Bernard’s expression softened slightly. He raised his hand as if to pat my head, but then let it drop. At that moment, I thought I could also be a little willful, that our blood ties would allow for it. It was only later that I realized I was aiming too high. My mother received the custom necklace and gently fastened it around Rachel’s neck. My father, as if suddenly remembering something, said, “We should buy something for Lina too, to appease her.” Bernard frowned. “These are all custom pieces. We didn’t order anything for her. What can we buy?” “I saw a jewelry store by the entrance,” my father said dismissively. “Just get her a gold necklace.” Bernard chuckled. “Good idea. Lina is so greedy. Gold is a universal currency. She’ll definitely love it.” Just then, Rachel spoke up hesitantly. “Brother, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Lina is already so vain at school. If we buy her such an expensive necklace, won’t that just encourage her to be more materialistic?” 3 “Rachel’s right. We can’t encourage that kind of habit!” my mother immediately agreed. She turned to Rachel. “Then what do you think we should get your sister?” “Doesn’t she like bunnies? We could get her a little bunny hairpin. I saw some in a lifestyle store we just passed.” “Great idea. We’ll do whatever Rachel says.” Just as my mother finished speaking, her phone rang. I froze when I heard my aunt’s voice on the other end. Her voice was thick with unshed tears, but she was trying to keep her emotions in check, her words trembling. “Sis, where are you?” Hearing her voice, I could no longer hold back my own sobs. But no one could hear me cry. In the two years since I’d returned to this family, only my aunt had ever stood by my side. She trusted me, she loved me. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to grow up, to make a lot of money on my own, and give her a comfortable life. She was a proud woman. Despite her own struggles, she had never asked her wealthy sister for a single penny. Instead, she would often secretly slip me money so I could buy things I liked. We were both daughters of the family. Rachel got an allowance of ten thousand a month, while I got fifty dollars. This, too, was Rachel’s suggestion. “It’s easy to get used to luxury. We can’t let our sister develop bad habits.” I was already insecure, and next to Rachel, I was like a scrawny, ugly duckling. The other kids at school whispered all sorts of things. Illegitimate daughter, the housekeeper’s child, an adopted orphan. Rachel would always put on a show of defending me. “Don’t say that. It doesn’t matter if we’re related by blood or not, she’s still my sister!” We were twins, but because of years of malnutrition, I was small for my age, my features not yet fully developed. Still, there were similarities between us. But no one ever believed we were sisters.

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