PHOENIX

4| THAT'S NOT FAIR

He was walking down the street to a small diner when he heard someone calling his name. When he realized that he shouldn't have stopped, it was too late.

"Sorry, I thought you were someone I know. Everything about you reminds me of him," Sue said as soon as she was in front of him.

Sue was his sister from one of the foster homes he grew up in. She was adopted by that family, and she was always nice to him. Even though he was still beating himself inside for stopping, he knew he could trust her.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Singapore? You always wanted to study there. What changed?" Jackson asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rush of emotions.

"Jackson? So it's really you? I missed you, brother." She jumped into his arms, and Jackson had to try to balance his feet to avoid falling over. "When you left home, I thought I would never see you again. I've been looking all over for you. You've changed. You're still handsome, but you look completely different, like someone else."

"A lot has changed over the years. I've changed too," he replied, his voice softer now, filled with the weight of all he had been through.

"I can see that. I was always worried about you," Sue said, her eyes reflecting genuine concern.

Jackson felt a lump form in his throat. He hadn't seen Sue in years, and the sight of her brought back a flood of memories. She had always been the kind-hearted one, the only person in that foster home who treated him like family.

"Let's sit down," he suggested, gesturing towards the diner. They walked in and found a quiet corner booth. Jackson ordered coffee for both of them, needing the warmth and the caffeine to steady his nerves.

"So, tell me everything," Sue said, her eyes never leaving his face.

Jackson took a deep breath. "It's a long story. After I left, things got... complicated. I met someone, fell in love, and it all fell apart. I've been on the run ever since."

Sue reached across the table and took his hand. "I'm so sorry, Jackson. You always deserved better."

"Thanks, Sue. It's just... hard to believe that someone who meant so much to me could hurt me that deeply. I thought I had found a family with her, but it was all a lie. Enough about me, though." he looked at his sister.

"What about school? You're supposed to be in school. What happened?" Jackson asked, his curiosity piqued.

"That's something we can discuss over dinner. Come to my place tonight and I'll cook," Sue replied with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"You'll cook?" Jackson raised an eyebrow. For as long as he could remember, Sue was a terrible cook.

"I've improved a lot, you know. I know what you're thinking, but none of us will end up in the hospital after dinner, I promise."

Jackson chuckled. "I just want you to know I don't have anything you'll gain after my death. In case you were planning on killing me."

They both laughed, a sound that felt foreign yet comforting to Jackson. It had been too long since he last laughed so easily.

"I would never do that. Not to you at least," Sue said, grinning. "I took classes at a culinary school. My cooking skills were so horrible that even I, myself, was embarrassed by it. It was just for a few weeks, but I learned what I wanted to learn."

"That's impressive. I'll come and have dinner with you. I could use a change of scenery. Give me your phone; I'll just put my number in, and you can text me your address. I'm going somewhere for now."

Sue handed him her phone, and he quickly entered his number. As he returned the phone, she hugged him tightly before heading off. A few seconds later, Jackson got a text from her with her address.

He smiled to himself, a mix of nostalgia and hope filling him. He couldn't wait to taste her food because, from what he could remember, her cooking had the power to get you sick. Tonight was going to be interesting.

He went to the diner where he wanted to have his lunch and then headed back to his hotel room. He figured it was time he bought an apartment and maybe put it in the name that he was currently using as his undercover, Zachary Stone. He wanted to go with Stanford, his original surname but then he figured it will make people suspicious.

Later he went to the address that Sue sent him for dinner.

The sun dipped below the horizon as Jackson approached Sue's apartment. The neighborhood was quiet and welcoming, a stark contrast to the chaotic life he'd been leading. He found her building and took the stairs to the third floor, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

When he knocked on the door, it swung open almost immediately. Sue stood there, smiling brightly.

She was wearing an apron, and he could tell she was busy preparing dinner for them.

"You're a bit early," Sue said with a warm smile. "I wasn't expecting you to be here for at least another fifteen minutes. I'm glad you're early, though. You can help me with dishing up. I'm almost done with cooking. Come in and make yourself comfortable. I'd love to give you a tour, but I'm still cooking. You can look around if you want to."

Jackson stepped inside, taking in the cozy atmosphere. "You still love purple, I see."

"Why wouldn't I?" Sue chuckled. "It's a beautiful color, and it makes my apartment look lovely and alive."

"I can see that. You have a beautiful home." He looked around, his eyes landing on a series of photos adorning the walls. One photo, in particular, caught his eye—a picture of them taken the week he left the foster home where they both met. He was smiling, a rare and genuine smile that seemed so distant now.

"I decided to frame it and put it there when I bought this apartment," Sue said, noticing his gaze. "It was the only way I could feel close to you. I never expected to see you again, not after trying to look for you for nine long years and always meeting a dead end. I gave up and decided to buy an apartment here. It was cheap and close to town. I also needed a home for Ethan. We've been moving a lot, and it's not good for him."

"Ethan?" Jackson turned to her, surprised. "Who's Ethan?" he asked, hoping his little sister wasn’t a mother. He couldn’t even picture her in that role or having s*x. If it were up to him, she’d stay a virgin all her life.

"He's my baby brother. Mom gave birth to him a week before she died." He released a sigh of relief, though he didn’t like the fact that she was raising a child alone.

He looked around and saw pictures of a small boy; there were too many of them to count. He couldn’t hide his smile when he saw how happy Ethan looked. The boy appeared so peaceful and innocent in those pictures, and Jackson wished that Ethan would always stay that happy and that nothing bad would ever happen to him.

"He's adorable," Jackson said, finally turning back to Sue. "How old is he now?"

"He's five," Sue replied, her face lighting up with a mix of pride and affection. "He's such a smart kid, always curious about everything."

Jackson nodded, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was comforting to see Sue so settled and content, despite the challenges she had faced.

"Do you need any help in the kitchen?" he offered, trying to shift his focus to something practical.

"Actually, yes," she said with a grin. "You can set the table. Plates are in the cabinet above the sink, cutlery in the drawer to the left."

As he moved around the kitchen, setting the table for two, Jackson couldn’t help but feel a sense of normalcy that had been missing from his life for so long. The simple act of preparing for a meal with someone he cared about made him feel grounded, even if just for a moment.

Sue hummed softly as she finished cooking, and the aroma of her efforts filled the room. It was a stark contrast to the chaos and uncertainty that had dominated Jackson's life for the past few years.

"Smells amazing," he remarked, genuinely looking forward to the meal.

"Just wait until you taste it," she replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I’ve come a long way from burning toast, you know."

Jackson chuckled, feeling an unexpected lightness in his heart. "I’m looking forward to it."

He found himself looking at the picture again. What surprised him though was that even though the kid was a boy, he looked just like Sue and there was no mistaking it.

The last time he knew, Sue was adopted in that family and there was no way the boy could look just like her unless they had the same parents and Jackson wanted to ask about it when she suddenly went to the door opposite where they were standing.

The door opened and the same boy from the picture ran to her and hugged her legs.

"Hey buddy, you're awake. I was beginning to think you would sleep the whole day. Auntie Sarah said you weren't feeling good so she had to take you to see the doctor. How are feeling? Your sister has been worried." The boy flashed her a smile.

"I'm okay. The doctor said I should sleep and stop playing games late at night."

"The doctor was right, from now on you will have to sleep early. No more late nights for you."

"That's not fair. You always sleep late and sometimes I don't even see you when you get back."

"I'm sorry buddy, I'll try to be here every time you go to sleep. I promise." She took the boy's hand and went over to Jackson. "Jackson, this is my baby brother Ethan and Ethan, this is your big brother Jackson, the one I've always told you about. The one in that photo in your bedroom."

"Yay, We're going to have so much fun together. I have so many games in my room and we can share my bed."

Jackson couldn't help but smile at the kid, he couldn't wait to see the bed that they could share. A man his size, in a bed of a five-year-old? Now that was something.

"I can't wait." He gave the boy a smile he never thought he still had and that should've scared the s**t out of him but it didn't.

As Ethan darted off to his room, eager to show Jackson his toys, Sue turned to him, her expression a mix of pride and concern. "He's a good kid. Life hasn't been easy, but he's resilient."

As they sat down to eat, Sue began to tell him about her life after he left the foster home, how she had struggled but eventually found her way. Jackson listened intently, grateful for the connection that was slowly being rebuilt.

He thought that since Sue was adopted, her life would be better than his and the other foster kids but he was wrong. Sue promised he was going to answer every question he had but they had to eat their dinner first.

He realized that despite everything he had been through, moments like these were what truly mattered. Family, no matter how unconventional, had a way of anchoring you to the present and giving you hope for the future.

Ethan came back with his toys and Sue had to ask jackson's help into bribing the little guy so that he would eat his food and evetually, they won.