Curious

Unlike many times, he now felt bad about the tone he had used to speak to the minor, but he also had no intention of apologizing, as his pride was greater than any attempt at apology.

There was nothing more to say, leaving the guilty silence present, slowly eating away at the black-haired boy. Nathaniel was constantly typing something on his cell phone, probably some messages, and going back to reading. Instead, Sebastian reluctantly solved the problems written in his notebook, just as he drew a couple of doodles. The pencil he was using had lost its fine point, leaving thick, loose lines in its place, making her numbers look squashed and small.

The youngest was the first to break the silence.

"What do you want to study?"

The question caught him off guard, causing him to shake his head a few times to understand what he was asking.

"Excuse me?"

"Once you graduate, what will be the next step?"

Nathaniel's wide eyes seemed to be those of a small child. He looked at him for a few seconds as he thought about his answer.

If he was honest, he had never thought about it. His life was much simpler in a way, since he already had everything relatively settled. Being an only child, he would be forced to continue with his father's company, inheriting all its purposes. Therefore, his father would not hesitate to order him to enter business administration and, as always, he would agree to that choice. His path had been traced since before his birth: a path without too many obstacles.

But if he thought about his own decision a little bit more, he couldn't find something that caught his eye. He had several hobbies, true; however, none of them seemed attractive enough to do so for the rest of his life. And even if he had a vague idea, would his father listen to his decision and respect it? Or, as always, would it be worthless?

"I would like to study acting or gastronomy," he finally answered. The silver-haired guy closed his book and put it on the desk.

"I didn't know you were interested in acting," said the minor, taking his head with both hands, interested in the small conversation that was taking place.

"It's not something I can say out loud. And even if I did, I don't think I'm good at it. It just gets my attention, that's all." He shrugged, shrugging it off and returning his attention to the notebook.

"I think you would be very good."

Nathaniel's smile appeared on his face. Instinctively, Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

"Are you saying it because I'm dramatic?"

"Not at all. But you are very attractive, you catch everyone's attention just by passing by. I think acting would go very well with you. It may be a bit tedious to learn a script or not to make so many mistakes on recordings, but I'm sure you would be the best actor in the world."

"Thank you...?" The boy's words made him feel uncomfortable for a few moments. "Although I don't think I was born for the big screen. Thinking that I will be under pressure all the time does not please me, I prefer something simpler than that."

"Have you acted before?"

"In school plays. We once played Hamlet."

"Oh. What character did you played?"

"I was a tree."

Nathaniel's laugh echoed throughout the room, causing laughter in himself. He wasn't kidding when he said it, but it was true that it seemed funny to tell that anecdote. They both laughed loudly, throwing their heads back and covering their mouths to stop their laughter, but again it gushed out with nature, staying in that cycle of enjoyment for a long time.

He discovered something else about Nathaniel at that moment: his laugh was quite contagious and he dared to say that, in the same way, pretty. But, of course, it was just something he said to himself.

However, believing that his laugh was cute and that the dimples that appeared when he smiled were quite attractive did not mean that he liked it one bit. It was the same with Yoram: his cold image was something that attracted –especially Hirsch–, but he could not deny that he did not like him too much.

"And to think that those are Lovejoy's new best friends", he thought, turning the pencil between his fingers. He bit his inner cheek, trying to contain the anger that was creeping up on him. Because it was true: Hirsch Lovejoy only hung out with idiots, including Sebastian too.

He couldn't deny it, he was still somewhat annoyed at how things had turned out. Thinking that he was largely to blame did not make him feel better, much less knowing that the redhead was really fine without him. Lately he was thinking about "what would have happened if ...", which ended up sinking him back into sadness and despair until he had no more tears to shed.

"I'm going to study something related to the music industry." Nathaniel interrupted his thoughts, catching his interest again.

"Music industry? Do you even play an instrument?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow. The youngest was made small in his place, a little embarrassed, but did not hesitate to answer.

"I don't need to know how to play an instrument to make music. I think I'm a bit clumsy with instruments"

"And a lot of things other than that." He bit his tongue to not let those words get out of his mouth, letting the boy continue, "but I've made some tunes and rhymes on my computer."

"I didn't know you were interested on that."

"I don't look like it, right? They tell me that many times, especially my parents." He sighed, stroking the back of his neck. A smile crossed his face. "But it is something I want to do and I will do my best to achieve it."

"Do your parents approve it?" He was surprised to find himself so interested in Nathaniel's life and slapped himself a million times in his mind to stop asking so many questions.

"No, they think my intellect would be wasted on something like that. However, I don't need approval for it to do so. It may sound too rude of me, but I know that they won't understand that wish no matter how much I tell them about it. Therefore, I will have to show them that I will not starve or something like that."

"Too brave ...". How could he be so sure that this was the best decision he could make? He was envious that Nathaniel could be so free as to choose for himself. He, on the other hand, feared that his father was going to do something with which to manipulate him and be forced to obey. He knew his father well enough to know that he could do anything to enslave him over and over and over again.