Darn Stupid Brother You Are

Angel's POV

As we scrubbed the cafeteria floors, the silence was a welcome relief. Miss Stefan was nowhere to be seen, and we could finally talk freely.

Cylan spoke up first, her voice laced with frustration. "Ugh! I can't believe this place. It's a joke that is not at all funny. They're literally stealing our freedom."

I nodded in agreement. "I know, right? It's like they think we're not capable of taking care of ourselves."

"I'm telling you it's like a prison. I can't believe we are to learn how to be better humans here in this archaic system!" Cylan said, dumping her mop on the floor. She was a radical activist of everything, I was getting to learn.

Dilada, ever the peacekeeper, chimed in. "Let's not forget, we're here for our own good. We need to focus on our studies and personal growth."

But Cylan was having none of it. "Personal growth? You call being locked up and controlled personal growth? I call it suffocation." She groaned, "I'm just fed up, okay? So my dearest sweetheart, this is not learning, this is being controlled. And I'm sick of it. We're not kids for heaven's sake."

Hande, always the jokester, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least we have each other. And who knows, maybe we'll learn to appreciate the little things in life...like freedom."

I sighed. "I just wish we could talk to someone about this. Someone who would listen and understand."

Dilada sighed too. "I just want to get through this year and get out of here."

But Cylan was undeterred. "We can't just sit back and accept this. We need to stand up for ourselves."

Hande nodded. "I'm also sick of being watched all the time. Can't we just have some privacy? Why does she have to live with us, in our room?" She whispered that last part, her eyes darting to the door as if Miss Stefan would appear any minute.

Cylan's face lit up with passion. "That's exactly my point. They don't trust us, which is really shitty. But we are capable of anything. We're smart, strong women who deserve to be treated with respect. We have the right to speak up y'all." Dilada sighed. "Cylan, please can we not do this? I'm begging you. You will get us all in trouble."

But Cylan was just getting started. "No, we haven't talked about it enough. We need to acknowledge the systemic oppression we're facing here."

Hande raised an eyebrow. "Systemic oppression?"

Cylan nodded. "Yes!"

"Girl, what are you tapping about? You know I don't know so many words..." Hande said, dropping her mop too.

"Systematic oppression is what it is. They're controlling our every move, dictating what we can and can't do."

Charlotte laughed.

We all looked at her, wondering what made her crack up. Hande's face had a funny look though.

"I forgot that someone else didn't know more words than I did." Hande said, and whispered into my ear, "Maybe she thought Cylan said she'd light her hair on fire or something." I snickered, covering my mouth.

"Charlotte, why are you laughing?" Cylan, the only one who seemed genuinely interested, asked.

"Cylan, zee way you speak... eet ees like... comment vous dites... like conference no?

"TED talk?" Dilada asked out of the blue.

"Ah, oui!" Charlotte exclaimed excited that someone got her.

Cylan smiled wryly. "I mean every word, and you shouldn't take it lightly. This is serious. We're being denied our basic human rights."

We all burst out laughing at that.

Cylan smiled. "Exactly, Charlotte! I'm giving a conference talk, and you all need to listen!"

"Oh my gosh, Charlotte! Your references are always on point!" I said to her, giving her a thumbs up and she laughed.

"But I'm serious, guys!" Cylan insisted, "We need to take a stand and fight. They shouldn't have to bullshit us all the time."

After Cylan finished her speech, Hande who had been pensive and unexpectedly sombre spoke up. She'd been quiet for a while, looking really upset.

"You know what's really annoying me?" she said. "I can't even sneak out to see this guy I met anymore."

We all looked at her, curious.

"I'm sorry, who?"

"What guy?"

Dilada and I asked at the same time.

Hande's face turned dreamy. "The most handsome guy I've ever met. I met him here, in the dorm, and... ugh, it's like they're ruining everything."

I raised an eyebrow. "Hande, we had no idea you were seeing someone. Who is he?"

Hande sighed. "I don't know if I should say. You guys will just tease me."

Cylan encouraged her. "Come on, Hande, spill. We won't tease you... much."

Hande hesitated, then blurted out. "Fine. His name is Max, and he's... perfect. He's just really sweet, and we have a lot of fun together. And he's really cute. But now, with all these rules, I can barely even talk to him." "Ugh! She said 'perfect'." Cylan made a gagging sound. "I can never understand ladies who like men. They disgust me. They are all sweaty and masculine."

They rolled their eyes at her and smiled.

"You make it sound like such a bad thing for a guy to be masculine." I said with a raised brow.

She scoffed and waved her hand dismissively and I laughed.

I felt bad for Hande. I knew she liked her freedom.

"I was just about to hook up with him, and then Miss Stefan showed up and now everything is ruined."

I cleared my throat. "Um...okayyyy. But Hande, come on. You know why you're here. You got in here for a reason. Max also had the same problem."

Hande glared at me. "Oh, so now you're my cock blocker, huh? Reminding me of my past mistakes just when I was about to get some?"

I shrugged. "Someone has to. You got an STD, Hande. That's why you're here. To get your life together, not to hook up with random guys."

Hande sighed, looking frustrated. "I know, okay? I'm not stupid. But that doesn't mean I want to be trapped here, doing chores all day and missing out on fun." "If you say so." I said, smiling and shaking my head.

"You're really annoying, you know that?" She said but there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

"I know, love." I said with a smile.

Hande who had abandoned her chores by now, sitting cross legged on one of the tables continued.

"Aside from that, I can't even sneak out to parties anymore. And now, with all these chores, I'm exhausted."

We all looked at her, curious. "I thought you were just upset about Max," Dilada said.

Hande rolled her eyes. "Max is just part of the problem. I like my freedom, okay? I like going out, having fun. But now, with all these rules, I can barely even breathe."

Cylan nodded in agreement. "We all feel trapped, Hande. But we need to stick together and figure out a way to make this work."

I realized that with Hande speaking something had changed the atmosphere. It was a bonding moment for us. It was like a pipe had burst, and now it seemed everyone wanted to say something too. Cylan had her moment, Hande followed suit and I now I wanted to be upfront too. These set of crazy girls had somehow become my friends and I felt it was only right to open up to them too. Now it was my turn to be honest about why I was really here.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning the room. "You guys don't know why I'm really here, do you?"

Cylan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? You're a patient, just like us."

I shook my head. "No, I'm not. At least, not exactly. I'm only here because my parents insisted I come to help my stepbrother recover from his... illness."

Hande's eyes widened. "Oh my God? Are you serious?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to share. But something about their concern felt genuine. "He is the one with an STD. Not me. And my parents thought it would be a good idea for me to be here, to support him." Hande's eyes sparkled with surprise. "Wait, you're not a patient? But why are you stuck here with us?"

I sighed. "I didn't expect it to be like this either. I thought I'd be able to see my stepbrother, help him through his recovery. So I'm stuck in this... center-like place with all these rules and restrictions. To make matters worse, now, I'm being punished for our misbehaviour with extra chores, and Hendrix has been skipping meals... which means I don't get to see him during meals, the only time I usually get to see him."

Hande frowned. "That's so not fair. You're being sent here for something like this. This is like a rehab. Who sends a perfectly normal person here?"

The others nodded, shaking their heads at the either because it really was absurd but who was I to say anything different to mother?