Tyler didn't waste any time. As soon as the little ruckus involving Travis ended, he headed straight to the playground where his younger brother always waited for him.
According to his memories, his 12 years old younger brother, Devin, would always wait for him at the playground after school closes. And while he waited, he would play with his friends.
Tyler couldn't help but smile from the thought of meeting his younger brother again.
Their relationship in his past life went sour after their mother's death. Her death was devastating to them, to say the least.
To deal with the pain, grief and void left behind by their mother's death, Tyler buried himself in work.
He took up his responsibility as the older brother and to provide for his younger brother, he took up different jobs at once, and started working his ass off.
With so many jobs, he barely got any time for himself and barely any time to spend with his brother.
Now that he thought about it, this was when his relationship with his brother started straining.
He had thought providing was enough but when he actually thought about it, what Devin, who was 14 years then, had actually needed then was someone to help him through the grieving process.
What he needed was his older brother but Tyler was busy with other things.
Tyler smiled wryly, as the memories continued to surface. Even with the mental fortitude of a middle-aged adult who had weathered the storms of life, he was still feeling very emotional at the moment.
"I'm sorry I failed you, Devin. But I promise that in this life, I will be the best big brother a younger sibling could ever ask for. And I won't allow that sickness to take mom from us. I will do everything in my power not to let that happen," he muttered, with his fist clenched and eyes blazing with determination.
Two years from now, Tyler's mom will suddenly fall ill and diagnosed with Late-Onset Multisystemic Atrophy Syndrome (LMAS)*.
She was immediately admitted and Tyler was about to start running around to get the money for her treatment, but was devastated when he and his brother were told that the sickness was extremely rare and incurable.
Not just incurable but it's also a fast killing sickeness and his mother barely had a year to live after diagnosis.
Tyler and his brother had to watch their mom on the hospital bed, everyday in excruciating pain, as life slipped from her body.
Her condition deteriorated very quickly and in just three months, she started finding it hard to walk on her own. And in six months, she started finding it difficult to breath on her own, followed by a fatal amnesia.
She was only able to hold out for ten months before the sickness finally won, and she died with pain in her eyes.
That empty look in her fading eyes haunted him, even now. The twitch of her face as life left her... it never stopped replaying in his head.
It was the worst day of his life and no matter how much he tried, he never recovered from it.
As the memories continued to surface, Tyler had no idea when his eyes started to sting, or when the warmth trailing down his cheek turned into silent tears.
He quickly wiped the tears off, steeling his heart.
"Not in this life. It may be extremely rare and incurable, but not this time. I still have two years… a year to be safe. That should be enough to find a cure. The system holds knowledge—I'm sure that through it, I will find a way to destroy that sickness," he said through clenched teeth, his eyes burning with even fiercer determination.
Tyler let out a deep breath, steadying his emotions. Now wasn't the time for too much emotions, as he has a lot that needs to get done.
He continued walking to the playground and he arrives there, a few minutes later. He looked around for a Devin and he saw him seated alone in his usual spot, away from all the kids playing with each other.
Tyler sighed heavily and walked towards him, making sure to steady his emotions. He didn't want to get emotional and having tears streaming down his cheek.
He's a grown adult for heaven's sake.
But who would blame him? The cute little Devin in front of him, died in prison at age 26 after he was stabbed during a prison riot that took place.
Tyler sighed once more, gathering his thoughts and forcing down the memories that were trying to surface.
He reached where Devin was seated and sat down beside him.
"Hey, buddy. How are you?" He asked, ruffling his hair lightly.
"Fine...," Devin replied with a low voice, lowering his head.
Tyler sighed internally when he saw this. He knew Devin to be an introvert and a kid who was too self conscious for his age, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
"So, what are you doing alone? Why aren't you playing with your friends?" He asked.
Tyler still asked those questions, knowing fully well the answers to them.
"I don't have friends," Devin said simply.
Tyler smiled sadly and ruffled Devin's hair, when he heard his response.
"I understand, buddy. But why not try playing with them once in a while. Who knows? You might actually find friend," he said.
"I don't want to. They will only laugh at me behind my back. I'm fine being alone," Devin added.
Tyler felt his heart ache a little when he heard this. He felt that a thousand blades pierced his heart.
The truth is that he understands Devin, as he was also the same. But Tyler doesn't that kind of lonesome life for him.
He wants to see a smile on Devin's face everytime and on his mom's. He wants them to be happy, without having anything to worry about.
But Tyler understood that this isn't something he can achieve immediately and on his own. To change Devin's personality, he will need help from Devin himself.
But all these are for later.
"Ok, then. Let's get going. You must be hungry. I will make you something when we get home," Tyler said, standing up.
Devin nodded slightly and also stood up. He adjusted his school bag and looked up at Tyler.
Tyler smiled and ruffled his hair one more time, as the two of them started walking home.
As they walked home, Devin asked a question that made Tyler pause his steps for a moment.
"Do you think mom ate before leaving for work?"
Tyler sighed silently, as the question replayed in his head. He knew that that wasn't the question that was supposed to be asked.
The actual question is if their mom had actually eaten for the whole day?
Due to how poor they are, they barely get enough to eat. More often than not, their mom have to go hungry so that whatever little food is available would be shared between him and Devin.
Sometimes she goes to work hungry and come back home hungry, having not eaten anything for the whole day.
Tyler couldn't help but clench his fist, as related memories surfaced.
"I need to make money fast," he muttered.