You Are Sick and Needed Help

Western Command Zone — Military Base

It was thirty minutes past seven in the evening when Lucas saw the silhouette of two high schoolers lazily pushing their bikes on the sidewalk that led towards their houses.

*honk honk*

A loud horn startled the two. They stared at the pick-up truck and wondered who dared blow his horn inside the military base. It was a big no-no to blow your horn inside. And anybody who would did would be penalized.

To their surprise, it was their Big Brother Lucas.

"Big Brother Lucas!" Macaw exclaimed, excited at the sight of their Big Brother.

Giant rolled his eyes. He hated how his friends adored his big brother. That guy doesn't even know how to speak for Pete's sake!

"Baby Brother," Lucas teased in his signature monotonous voice after the car window rolled down, a gummy smile appeared on his face.

"Big Brother," Giant replied and nodded his head. This was the first time today that Giant behaved. His boastfulness vanished into thin air in the presence of his big brother.

His deep respect for this big brother of his was just the tip of the iceberg. He would swallow a bomb for his brother even if their father killed him twice for doing so.

And of course, Big Brother Lucas would do the same for him, and Giant knew that even if his Big Brother Lucas was not that vocal with his feelings.

Lucas flashed his gummy smile at the sight of his baby brother and Macaw. "Mmm. This is the second date that I encountered today," he teased his baby brother further.

The heavens were rejoicing for the punishment of Giant in the form of his Big Brother Lucas's teasing. The gods knew that Giant would never dare fight back against his big brother no matter what the latter would do.

Giant's face turned red from anger - clearly affected by his big brother's teasing. Lucas continued to pour hot water on Giant's burned self-esteem, "Oh, right. I almost forgot we are neighbors."

His gummy smile could still be seen on his face. He wanted to push his baby brother's buttons, and he successfully did. But the final blow came from the person he least expected...

"Of course we would never date, Big Brother Lucas! Giant is not my type," Macaw proclaimed as she patted Giant on his arm.

"Ha-ha! Ha-ha!" Giant forced out a laugh.

"Alright, go on now. Your mom might be worried sick. It's past dinnertime."

Lucas rolled up the window, and the EP who manned the Wan Household opened the gate for the pick-up truck.

The EP stood ramrod straight and gave a salute to the pick-up truck that drove by, and Lucas replied with a two-finger salute to the EP that made the EP smile up to his eyes.

Giant shuffled Macaw's hair then pushed her towards her house.

She threw her head back, leaning backwards against Giant's big hands that were clamped over her shoulder, supporting her in place. Her body relaxed, trusting that Giant would not let her fall. "Could you please send me til our doorstep? Please? Better if my mom sees you too."

The immediate emotional appeal from the bazooka mouth sent butterflies to the beast's stomach. He let out a gentle double nod to appease his friend.

They hadn't reached Macaw's house yet when the door flung open.

"My princess!!!" Uncle Long was about to light a cigarette when he saw Macaw. He put his cigarette and lighter back into his pocket then stretched out his arms, ready to receive his prized possession.

Macaw pushed Giant's hands that were pressing on her shoulders away, then sped off towards her dad and gave him a big bear hug.

"Ehem-ehem," Auntie Greta cleared her throat from behind, "Thank you for dropping her off, Young Master Wan."

"Good evening, Uncle. Auntie. You can call me Second Master Wan. My brother is the Young Master. Not me."

Auntie Greta eyed the Wan Household, then gave Giant a nod and said, "I see your brother is back. Please say hi to your grandma for me."

"Ok, auntie. I'll go ahead, Uncle and Auntie. Goodnight." Giant turned his back away and went home as fast as he could. Auntie Greta was not called the Ice Queen for no reason.

Once Giant's shadow was out of sight, the Sai Family head inside their home.

"Go eat your dinner. You have to drink your medicines on the dot," Auntie Greta said in a low soft voice, afraid that the neighbors would hear them.

"I don't need those medicines, Ma. I'm not sick!" Macaw protested, her voice raised two notes higher.

Auntie Greta walked closer, and her face showed no emotion. Then she said in gritted teeth while she grabbed Macaw's tiny wrist, revealing a faint scar that was not easily detectable unless one looked closely, "Yes, you are sick..."

"... you are sick, and you need help to get better, Zoey."

Edited by Swaning