Brother

My Brother begged and kneeled in front of Mom. I tried to stop him but I couldn't.

"Harrison..." I called him silently, my tears fell from the sides of my eyes.

"I don't want to leave... don't you want to see me grow up, Mom...?" He said pleadingly. I felt the heaviness on my chest when he said that. I'm his sister, I want to grow up with him. He's just 10 years old but the way he talks and the way he values things really make me proud as his elder sister. He's a grown-up boy, but for me, he is already a man.

When we were young, our parents thought us many things. They have already opened our eyes to the truth of we aren't financially stable.

"Of course, I want to watch you grow up... but I know you were already a grown man," Mom uttered, she kneeled and caressed my brother's face. She wiped his tears away.

"What if I am a grown man? that doesn't mean that I don't need you all." He shifted his gaze to Dad and then me. Mom tried to hug him but he refused. He is calmer now than earlier. He stood up and offered his hand to Mom, she accepted my brother's hand.

"I'm so sorry, I know we already talked to this but... I need more time to be with you all." He said with a small smile on his lips. When his eyes darted at me, his smile became wide but his eyes were still sad. Then he started to turn his back.

I was quiet the whole time because I don't know what to do... Is this really happening?

"H-Harry..." I uttered silently, I want to talk to him but Mom smiled at me, saying that just let him be alone.

"Mom..." Mom looked at me, I saw Dad looked really hurt but he just stayed silent.

"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows, she was different right now. My mom used to be so jolly, now she looked tired... so tired. Well yeah, this is life. We'll go through our highest and we'll go through our lowest.

"What if I go to New York instead Harry?" I asked though I know they will not agree. We already talked about this because we know that this day will come. Then here it is.

Harrison was requested by Aunty Bella, my Dad's sister. She wanted a son but she never had one. Aunty Bella really admired Harrison for being matured at his young age. She wants Harrison to be with her in New York. She wanted to take care of Harrison, she doesn't want anyone else, she wants my brother.

"Briana, just go to your room and... sleep. We'll talk tomorrow if your brother is already okay." Mom said.

Will he be okay? I feel so sorry for him. Even if I wanted to go instead of him, I know people around me will not agree. If Harrison will stay here, Mom and Dad cannot pay for his tuition. We have a lot to pay for my tuition, even if we don't have enough money, they still managed to enroll us in private school.

I just nodded and went to my room, I laid down on my bed and forcibly closed my eyes. I tried to sleep but I couldn't, I'm still overthinking what happened earlier. My tears fell when I realized my brother needs to be away from us because we don't have enough money for his tuition. I let out a deep sigh, can't wait to be financially stable.

I wiped my tears away and closed my eyes until I fell asleep.

I heard the birds chirping so I slowly opened my eyes, I was dazzled because of the sun. I fixed my hair and pinched the remaining hair to the side of my ear. I stood up and I realized I felt unmotivated today. I still clearly remember what happened yesterday.

Even if I still feel unmotivated, I went to my bathroom and took a bath. I quickly put on my uniform and went downstairs. The whole house was quiet, no one was eating. This... this is unfamiliar. We used to eat breakfast every morning, the house wasn't this quiet.

Since there's no one I can eat with, I just decided to left. Before I left, I put a note on the table. Saying I already left and I'll be back quickly when the class ends.

When I got to school, I tried to smile so no one could notice. I was walking peacefully when I felt someone wrapped her wrist around mine. I was no longer surprised because I know it was Sabrina.

"You okay? you look sad." She looked at me straight into the eyes.

I just smile and nodded, indicating that I'm okay.

She sighed. "I know you're not, you can tell me..." She said. She pressed her grip on me even more.

"My b-brother..." I said, slightly stuttering and trying to hold back my tears.

"You want to talk about it?" She asked carefully.

I shook my head, not because I don't want to tell her. It's because I don't want to talk about it... here, in School.

And she already knew about it, I already told her back then.

She just nodded and smiled at me. "I love you." She said, my lips formed a smile. She really knows me better.

"I love you," I told her.

"How are you?" I asked her while we're walking.

"Still the same." She answered.

"How 'bout your crush?"

"I don't know?" She asked like she has no idea.

"Huh?" My brows furrowed in confusion.

"I mean you know his socials, right?" I raised an eyebrow.

"So, should I contact him?" She raised her brows.

Seriously? I playfully rolled my eyes. "My pride said 'no'." She emphasized the last word, then smirked at me.

"The hell, Sab!" I said with a laugh.

"How will he know you if you didn't do the first move?" I told her.

"If we're meant to be, then we are." She said with conviction. We both just laughed because of what she said.

"What about you and Travis?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He called so we talked." She playfully rolled her eyes. "Of course! You're supposed to talk when he calls, what should you two do? Eat?" She said sarcastically but after a second we laughed again.

"My gosh, Sab! you're so-" I stopped talking when I sa our Teacher entering our room. We quickly followed and sat down in our chairs.

My eyes darted on Travis's seat, but he still wasn't there. I shook my head, I'm sure he's late.

I wasn't wrong, after a few minutes he came. He apologized first for being late then went to his seat. When he tilted his head, his eyes darted on me. He smiled.

I felt my familiar feeling when I'm seeing him but I just ignored it. I just smiled at him and looked back to the front. But then I remember what happened yesterday, I feel so sorry for my brother. If I just can go, I will.

I tried to listen but I don't understand anything.

"Hey..." Someone whispered behind my back.

I lifted my head to see who's that but I saw him looking at me intently.

I raised my brows and smiled a bit. "Why? do you need... something?

He shook his head.

"Are you... okay?" Concerned etched on his face.