Page 64 of The Pucking Fake Marriage

Even before it happens, there’s a sickening feeling in my gut.

Ken shoulders through the crowd congratulating him, literally pushing some of the men out of his way. There’s a general sound of surprise and disgruntlement, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He heads right up to his brother, who only has time to turn and flash a cocky grin at him before Ken throws a punch at his face. Kali’s nose breaks, blood splattering everywhere.

I hear myself yell, but the loud gasps from people nearby muffle the sound. Within seconds, Ken has got Kali flat on his back. He punches him over and over, turning his face into a bloodied mess. I stare at them, my ears ringing, hardly believing what I see. All around us, pandemonium is reigning; people are running onto the porch from the main house, three men are trying to pull Ken off Kali, and their mother is screaming for Ken to stop.

Ken keeps punching for what seems like a full minute before he finally stands up. Kali’s suit is torn and muddied, and I can barely distinguish the features of his face. His parents go to him instantly, dragging him to his feet. Elizabeth is already yelling at Ken, and some of her words—“How dare you attack myson?”—still manage to surprise me.

But again, Ken doesn’t seem to notice. His dark gaze finds Kali. There’s no trace of satisfaction in them, even as he watches him spit out a tooth. I’m aware of my mother sliding up beside me, but I don’t even look at her. I can’t, not now.

Plus, I already have a feeling about what she’s going to say. That this display of rage is connected to me.

Only, there’s no way I could have caused this.

“Say it,” Ken says. His voice, hard and furious, makes me flinch.

A second ago, their mother was yelling, their father trying to restore calm, and there were murmurs all around from the thick crowd of people that surrounded the family. But Ken’s voice brings a hushed silence to the place.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Elizabeth says.

Ken doesn’t look at his mother. “Say it. Tell her.” And then, he raises a hand and points. Everyone follows his finger as it lands on me.

Thiscannotbe happening.

“Want to tell me what this is about?” my mother asks.

I shake my head, unable to speak with the eyes watching us. A ball of anxiety forms in my throat. What the hell isKen doing? Trying to play a game because I reminded him of what he did?

“Say it,” Ken’s voice is louder now, and everyone turns right back to him, dislodging my fear only by a breath. “Or I swear I’m going to fucking kill you.”

Elizabeth steps protectively in front of Kali. Murmuring starts again. Underneath his bloodied face, his eyes are flickering nervously. From trepidation? Or…guilt?

“Tell her. Tell her right now.”

“I don’t…” Kali spits out a mouthful of blood. He’s no longer smiling, and he sounds more like a scared little boy than I’ve ever heard him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“My dumbbells? Ten years ago? You fucking better remember like your life depends on it.”

My blood turns to ice.

No, no, no.

Kali gazes at Ken. His eyes are still flickering, but there’s a stubborn set to his jaw. “Dunno what you mean.”

Ken’s fist clenches just as Elizabeth yells, “Stop terrorizing your brother. You’ve been bullying him all his life, and now?—”

“I’m going to tell you what your darling son did,” Ken says, his cold voice cutting across his mother’s. “Ten years ago, when Charlie had that injury? Know what caused it?”

A few eyes flicker to me before turning back to Ken. Elizabeth’s eyes narrow at her second son. “That’s what you’re talking about? A ten-year-old injury?” She sighs in frustration. “You know, Ken, I’ve had it with you and your obsession with everything your brother does. You’re an adult now. You?—”

“Your son,” Ken cuts her off. “Kali. He placed my dumbbells on the stairs. Charlie tripped on them, and he set me up to take the blame.”

The crowd gasps. My mother makes a strange noise behind me. Kali’s parents turn to him, their faces white.

“Why would he do that?” one of the neighbors asks.

Ken keeps his gaze fixed on his brother as he replies. “Don’t know. Maybe he thought he’d have a better chance of getting into PBT if she was delayed. Maybe he just wanted to give everyone another reason to hate me. Or maybe out of pure spite, who knows. Why don’t you enlighten us, brother dearest?”

There is total silence on the porch. Fifty adults gathered, and you could hear a pin drop. My body is bursting with goosebumps, my mind too frazzled to process new information.

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