Elio has always been trained to become his family's honor and pride. From a young age, he was expected to become the best in all aspects, whether attitude, behavior, talent, or intelligence. Of course, as the only son and successor of Oswald's century-long legacy of wealth and success, there's no room for him to fail and excuse himself for disappointments.
No, it would never...ever be an option for him.
That's why he thrived. He did his best so that his family could brag about his achievements and never question his potential to become their family's heir. He thrived harder as he grew so that his parents, especially his father, would beam with pride every time someone in their elite circle praised him, even though the weight of everyone's expectations felt like heavy chains binding his free will.
Regardless, he never complained.
His sister, Annette, though usually overshadowed by her brother's forced and overly forged image of a "perfect son," still admired him quietly and believed his older brother was uniquely remarkable compared to anyone in their family.
And with that, his future was predicted to be bright and without fail.
But that was before. As Elio matures, the achievements, the pride, and the bright future slowly fade away. He failed college, did not graduate, and was dragged by his so-called friends into many problems. He came to a point where he was almost put behind bars, all thanks to his father's influence that he remained a free man.
But Elio wanted to change and prove himself to his family and himself again. However, he was a risk taker, too, and most of his failures were a product of his poor judgment and decisions. Part of his grand plan to redeem his pride was to start his own business and earn money. He tried to invest, hoping it would succeed. He put all his savings into it, but eventually, that ambitious plan turned sour, and this time, it wasn't just a minor setback- it was a catastrophe.
Elio had sunk his and the entire family's savings into that investment scam, and the money he invested was gone. Worse still, he was tied to a loan with high interest rates, and now, with no way to pay it back, the family was facing the wrath of the loan sharks.
It was a nightmare.
For months, his phone rang non-stop. The people he owed money to were starting to come and disrupt their once peaceful home. The following week, the damage was apparent. He became an instant celebrity, a laughing stock among the business elites where the Oswald family belonged. He cannot hide it. Elio became a public embarrassment and a cautionary tale for others not to do what he did.
And with that, his remaining chance to redeem himself crumbled under the weight of his failure.
But the effect of his downfall was strongly felt at his own home. It was the day he was confronted by his family about the issue. Elio couldn't explain it, but it was full of unspoken tension. He was aware of his father's anger, who always had high expectations of him, which was understandable but still terrifying. When he confronted his son Elio, his voice was shaking due to rage, with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief.
"You disappoint me, Elio!" His father's words cut through him like a knife. "Everything that this family worked for years--all gone! All of it! For what? For that foolish dream of yours?"
Elio was speechless and frozen at the same time. He can't agree anymore. His father's anger was so pressing that it could crush him into pieces. His mother was there too, listening to the conversation, her hands folded in her lap while weeping in silence because she had nothing to say, and that was enough to send a pang of guilt through Elio's chest.
His younger sister, Annette, looked at him briefly with her eyes filled with confusion and sadness. When she realized his brother was looking back at her, she quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze. There's no need for words to tell how much she disappoints her. It was evident by the way he avoided his gazes.
Elio felt a lump in his throat. He failed them.
"I'm sorry...." Elio said it with his voice almost cracking. He wanted to explain that he didn't mean for any of this to happen, of how much he wanted to be recognized again, of how deeply he wanted to be seen by his family as someone worthy of their praise just like the old times, but the words wouldn't come. His father's glare silenced him so hard he could not speak.
"Sorry? Ha! That's too late for that now!" his father snapped angrily. Although he was used to his father's bad temper, it was the first time the older man raised his voice with such power. "You've ruined your life, and you've ruined ours too! Can you gamble away everything this family built for so long? No. You're done!" He waved his hands angrily, telling Elio to go out and never show his face again.
And that's it. It was the end of it. He didn't argue. He didn't fight back. Instead, Elio chose silence. That same day, he gathered a few things in his room, never said a word, left their home, and went far away where no one could recognize him. No one knows his name.
It was hard, but that's the most practical thing to do.
He went to a city called Ridgeville, a suburban town in the southernmost land. It has a mix of modern and historic charm, and it also has local diners, as well as a downtown area with small businesses. It is a good city to have a fresh start, a new beginning.
Elio's first few days living in the city were okay. At least he has some savings to survive those few days in the streets. But as the weeks passed, the savings had gone, and he remained homeless and jobless. He slept on a public bench with a grumbling stomach for the first time. It was so hard that he came to a point where he tried peeping in a trash can to look for food. He felt ashamed and powerless but had to do something to survive.
Elio gathered all his courage to apply for work. Luckily, he was accepted as a part-timer in a local bar, serving coffee. It does not pay well, but enough to save for a small apartment he has been eyeing for weeks. It was a small apartment on the city's outskirts, with one single bed, one small dining table, and at least a decent bathroom with a sink. There were no photos on the walls, no reminders of his past.
At first, the loneliness was suffocating. At night, whenever he lies in his bed and stares at his apartment's cracked ceiling, he wonders where he went wrong. He blamed himself for everything. He thought about his family's disappointment, but all he could hear was: You're done.
But all he can do now is move forward.
Then, one afternoon, as Elio was busy dusting the entrance side of the café he was working at, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Elio?"
He turned back to see his sister, Annette. She stands at the café entrance; her expression is a mixture of surprise and concern the moment he sees his brother.
"Annette..." Elio felt happy and uneasy the moment he saw Annette. But he didn't want her sister to see him in that state, so he smiled and stepped closer to his sister.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you for weeks now..." Annette asked. She tried to hold his brother, but Elio stepped back.
"I'm fine," Elio replied, his voice was low and hesitant. "I'm...good. You don't need to worry about me."
But Annette insisted, her gaze flickered with concern. "I know things have been hard for you and our family, but you don't have to go through this alone. Mom and Dad...they're just upset. You know them. They are angry, yes, but they still care for you."
Elio smiled bitterly. "You don't have to explain their side to me. Things are different now, so...I can't go back. Please do not tell them I'm here. I don't want them to know."
Annette stepped closer to his brother; her eyes were pleading, almost crying. "Please, do not say that. We're still a family. I know things are hard right now for us, but you can always return. We can figure this out together, so please..."
Elio shook his head. "I can't. I can't go back. If the loan sharks knew I was there, Mom, Dad, and you..." Elio shook his head again, but this time, he wanted to eliminate his thoughts about his family being in danger because of him. "It will be safe if I'm here. It's safe for all of you. Don't worry. I'm working hard and trying to save money to pay all the people I owe money to. But I can't go back; I'm sorry, Annette."
"Oh, Elio..." Annette tried to insist, her voice trembling. "Please..."
"I'm sorry, I should go back to work..." Elio said it as an excuse. He cannot look at his sister, her face full of hope and concern. He felt that familiar pain in his chest-the pain of guilt and loss. Elio missed her sister so much. But he couldn't go back. Not yet. Not after everything.
"I'm sorry, Annette," he whispered. "I can't go back. I need to figure this out on my own."
Annette's eyes were filled with tears, but she didn't push his brother. He knows him so well that she only nods and slumps her shoulders in defeat. "Just...do me a favor, please, take care of yourself, that's all."
And with that, Annette walked away, leaving Elio standing, feeling more alone than ever.