You are different

“Who was he?” Gun narrowed his eyes at me. He didn't attempt to take my bag from him like he would have done before.

“Max?”

“Don't act as if you don't know who I am talking about.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “what were you doing with him?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Brother clenched his hands into fists, “how can you say there is nothing wrong when you were standing with him Just minutes ago?”

“He's my classmate. We were just discussing something.”

“Is he your friend?”

“You can say that.” I nervously scratched my hair, “he helped me during class earlier. That's why.”

“Oh.” Brother suddenly turned, and that made me almost walk into him.

“Give me a sign whenever you want to turn.” I create a distance between us, and turned my face to the side, to prevent him from seeing the pink tint in my cheeks. There is no way I will allow him to know how much his presence affects me.

“Give me your bag, baby boy.” He took my bag from me, and smirked, “you look tired from carrying your bag. Come, let me help you out.”

“Thank you.” I grinned like a fool, and my eyes cringed at the sides.

“Let's go. I'm famished.” Brother took my hand in his and led me through the crowd of students that were hurrying home.

“You are walking fast, brother,” I tried to make him stop, but he didn't do that until we were near our car.

“I didn't eat my breakfast, so I'm naturally hungry.”

“Didn't you eat in the cafeteria?”

“One cute baby ran out of the cafeteria. He was the one who prevented me from eating lunch.”

“I'm sorry,” I look down in embarrassment.

If only I didn't run out of the cafeteria when I did, at least, he would have finished his lunch.

“You don't need to be. It was my choice to run after you. You don't need to worry about me.” He opened the door, and I climbed into the passenger's side. He closed the door and hurried to his side.

“What of Dinma? Isn't she with you?” I frown as I asked, but I tried to look unconcerned about it.

“No.” Brother started the car and drove off. He didn't say anything more about the question I asked him, which was odd.

Brother does not love to keep to himself, especially when he's with me.

“What's wrong?”

“It's nothing, baby boy. Don't worry about it.” He gently ruffled my hair with his right hand and drove with the other.

“Okay.” I turn my face to the other side and pretended as if I'm not worried about his odd character.

This is unlike brother to act this way.

Could it be that he and Dinma fought? Is that why he's angry?

Brother didn't say any word, and I didn't try to disturb him. I allowed him to drive and planned to ask him about his odd behaviour later.

Maybe, something is bothering him.

His phone started to ring, and I turned to it.

“Check who's that?” Brother commanded as he drove.

I took out his phone and checked the caller ID.

“It's Dinma?” I darkly frown at him.

“Drop the phone.”

“Why?”

“I'm not in the mood to take the call. Just drop the phone.”

“Okay.” I dropped the phone, “what's wrong with you? Did you have a problem in school? Did you quarrel with Dinma?”

“No.” He continued to drive and didn't turn to look at me until we reached home. He packed his car, came to my side, and opened the door for me.

“You need to tone down on your gentlemanly ways.”

“Why? Isn't that good?”

“What if I get a girlfriend? Don't you think I might be too lazy to open the doors for her? I might even expect her to be the one opening the door for me.”

I tried to make a joke out of it.

“Why will you get a girlfriend? You are too small to be thinking of something like that.”

“Why? I'm eighteen!”

“Almost eighteen. You are not eighteen yet.”

“But I will be next month. It's near, so I guess I'm already eighteen.”

“Next month?” Brother furrowed his brows, “you are still young, despite that. It's too far.”

“But you are eighteen! And you have more than your fair share of girlfriends. Why shouldn't I have mine?”

“I'm almost nineteen.”

“But you were dating before you became eighteen!”

“That's different. You are my baby boy. I won't allow you to date those girls. They are not worthy of you.”

“And what of you?” I stupidly said my thoughts out loud.

“What?” Brother blinked.

“Oh?” I nervously chuckled to cover my nervousness. “I was just asking about the others. Were they worthy of you?”

Am I not worthy of you?

Is it because I'm a boy?

“They are just substitutes.” He touched my jaw, “you don't have to worry about me. Currently, we have you to worry about.”

My cheeks turned red at his proximity. “Let's go in. You said you wanted to eat, Right?”

“Yeah. That's true.” He let go of his hold on my jaw, and smiled at me, “let's go in and prepare lunch.” He slung my backpack on his back and closed the door.

“Let's go,” I took his hand in mine, and entered inside.

His phone rang at that moment.

He checked the caller ID and pocketed the phone.

“What's wrong? Is it Dinma? Why don't you want to answer her calls?” I sounded concerned.

But deep down, I was happy that he was not answering her calls.

Could it be that they quarrelled? Is that the reason he's not answering the call?

“It's nothing.” Brother removed his shoes and wore the indoor slippers before he sauntered into the house.

I did the same thing and followed him.

“It's not, nothing, if your face is like that. What's wrong, brother?” I blocked his path and prevented him from entering the kitchen without answering my questions.

“I broke up with Dinma.”

“What?”