A Big Bro!

After the trip, everyone is slowly settling into their daily routines, but they still have a few days to relax before classes resume. Lina, upon returning home, realizes that her mother is nowhere to be found. It dawns on her that today is January second, the day her mother went to the airport to pick up her husband. Lina is left alone for three more days, just like before. Determined not to feel lonely, she decides to spend the day at Maria's place, hoping to find some company. Maria places a plate of warm apple pie in front of Lina, and the sweet aroma immediately fills the air. Lina can't help but smile as she takes a bite, savoring the delicious flavor.

"So you only meet your father these two months ha?", Asks Maria, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Lina nods, taking another bite of the pie, "Yeah, you're right! Guess what, this is my first time sleeping over at someone's house!", she says with excitement.

Maria raises an eyebrow, impressed, "Is that so? Then it appears that I'm having quite the honor, right?", she says with a grin, playfully messing Lina's hair, "Lily, don't you have other friends, from the other places that you lived in?"

Lina shakes her head, her expression turning a bit sad, "Well, not really", She replies, "We always end up traveling almost seven times a year, and it's really hard to settle in a new place, you know. I didn't make that many friends, to be honest."

Maria's heart goes out to the small girl, "That must be tough", She says, "Does your family have plans to move again this year?"

Lina brightens up, a smile returning to her face. "No," She answers with enthusiasm, "it appears that I'll be enjoying my time with you guys!"

"Well, that's good to hear!", Smiles Maria warmly at the girl.

"MARIA!!!! IS ALEX HERE??", a man's voice demands, which made Maria roll her eyes and sigh, "NO, HE'S NOT!!" she replies, her annoyance evident in her voice.

"THEN WHO'LL BE SLEEPING OVER TONIGHT?", the voice persists.

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!", Snaps Maria, feeling her blood boil.

Lina looks at her curiously, wondering who could be the one screaming, "Who was that just now?", She asks.

Maria sighs, realizing she needs to explain. "That's just my dad," she says, rubbing her temples.

"Are you in some kind of a fight? Should I leave the house to avoid any trouble?", Asks Lina, looking concerned.

Maria shakes her head, reassuringly. "No, we're not. Don't worry! That's just our normal life. Dad's the type who screams while talking. Really! Take it easy, Lily!"

Lina nods, still looking a bit wary. "Then he knows that Alex is your boyfriend?", she asks.

"Of course!", scuffles Maria, "I bet Alex took the habit of smoking from my old man! If that's the case, dad won't stay alive much longer!" she jokes, her tone lightening up.

Lina laughs, relieved to see Maria in a better mood, "Well, let's hope that's not the case." then she leans in, curious about Alex's life, and Maria meets her gaze, ready to share, "Maria, what about Alex?", Asks Lina.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Replies Maria, momentarily confused.

"I know what's up with Romeo's life, which is kinda hard. As for you, it appears your life is ordinary so far. But, what about Alex? I've never heard him talk about his family!", Explains Lina.

Maria sighs and takes a deep breath, "Well, just like Romi, Alex has only one family member as well," She says, taking a forkful of Lina's pie.

Lina's eyes widen in surprise, "A dad, mother, grandpa?"

"A big bro, Lily", Replies Maria, admiring the shocked look Lina's wearing.

"Alex has a big brother? What about his parents?", Lina asks.

"They died...", Answers Maria, her voice low and somber, "They died in an air crash along with one of his grandmothers."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!", Replies Lina, gently placing a hand over Maria's, "I wish I knew sooner to be honest. When did they die?" Lina asks, sympathy clear in her tone.

"Nine years ago", Replies Maria.

Lina shakes her head in disbelief, "So when we were still 10 years old! How old is Alex's brother right now?"

"Leo? I think he's 29! They are brothers from only the mother! I guess that explains the big gap between their ages," Maria explains.

"A whole 10 years! He works then, right?" Lina asks.

"Remember when Mr. Brown said that only 4 students got a perfect score, including Romi?", Asks Maria.

She takes some moments to refresh her memories, "I think he said so when we got our results, right?", suggests Lina.

"Bingo!", Confirms Maria, snapping her fingers, "Well, Leo's one of them! He's quite a big brain and a CEO as well!", Says Maria, a hint of pride in her voice.

"WOAH! So Alex is rich as well?, "Gasps Lina, "Come to think of it, he has a bike that fuels it 4 times a week!"

"And he's way too energetic, even clumsier than you!", Continues Maria, leaning back on her hands, "He's quite reliable as well! I mean, he did take good care of my Alex and Romeo. Those three lived together as if they were a real family. He does respect Romeo a lot as well!"

Lina doesn't spell a word, she just leans her head a bit to the left, question marks etched all over her, which made Maria finish explaining:

Nine years ago, Alex experienced a heartbreaking moment when his parents passed away, and I did not know him at that time. Despite this, Alex confided in me about a painful memory that still lingers in his heart. It was the day of the parent-child school competition, and Alex was eagerly looking forward to it. However, his excitement was cut short by the sudden loss of his parents, leaving him all alone in the world. Big brother Leo was also abroad at that time, so Alex was practically alone. Even worse, some insensitive kids kept teasing him about his chances of winning without his parents, making him feel even more isolated and vulnerable.

As the competition began, Alex sat alone, shedding tears, feeling utterly hopeless and alone. But then, out of nowhere, a stranger appeared. Romi passed by. Covered in bandages, Romi sat beside Alex, munching on chocolate with his usual expressionless face.

"Are you alright?", He asked. and Alex didn't know how to respond at first, thinking that Romi would leave him alone. But to his surprise, Romi stayed by his side, offering him comfort and kindness.

"Why are you crying?", Romi asked gently, "Today is supposed to be a fun day for everyone."

"It's not fun for me," replied Alex, "I have no family to share it with."

Romi nodded in understanding. "I know how you feel. Mother can't come with me because she's always busy, and I don't even know my father. I'm alone too, but even if I can cry, I won't. Tears won't bring back our families or heal our pain."

Despite his seemingly cold exterior, Alex was surprised by Romi's words and warmth. He was touched that someone would stay with him and show him such kindness, even though they were strangers.

"Why are you here?" Alex asked, his voice shaking with emotion, "If you want to tease then go for it already!"

"I'm here because I know what it's like to be alone," Replied Romi, as he was raising his head to admire the sky, "Sometimes, having someone there, even if it's a stranger, can make all the difference. So, even if you don't want to talk about it, and even if you're finding me annoying and a personal space intruder, I'm here for you, okay? I was told that being alone makes you sad, and I don't want others to be sad."

As he raised his head, his eyes finally stopped shedding tears, and he looked admiringly at Romi, finally acknowledging that this boy is different, "So when you make lots of friends, I'll leave you alone", Added Romi, his head still raised to the sky, "You won't need my help any longer."

Maria poses, gazing at Lina's sudden blush. As she raises her hand toward Lina with a grateful smile etched on her face, she tucks a loose strand of hair behind Lina's ear, making the blondie snap out of her daydream.

"From that moment, Romi and Alex became the closest of friends", Continues Maria, slowly moving her hand away, "And Big brother Leo, Alex's brother, heard about their encounter and was forever grateful to Romi. Romi's kindness and compassion proved that even the smallest act of kindness can make a world of difference to someone who feels lost and alone. Those are one of the reasons that made Alex and Big brother Leo respect him so much!"

Taking a moment to reflect on the story, Lina's feelings for Romeo seem to deepen even more, and she can't help but blush. Maria enjoys seeing the look on her friend's face and smiles, "And what about you, Lily?" Maria asks, her playful grin growing wider.

Lina is taken aback by her friend's sudden question and is left with question marks all over her face. Maria decides to be more direct and asks, "What's so irresistible about Romi?" She adds a melodic tune to her question.

Initially taken aback by Maria's question, Lina begins to feel a growing sense of embarrassment as her skin reddens and she avoids her friend's gaze. She fidgets with her hands, nervously looking down at her thighs before finally mustering up the courage to answer.

"Maria, have you ever seen those movies where the hero is fearless and always ready to help others, even if it means putting themselves in danger?" Asks Lina as she raises her hand to feel the strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, that's what Romeo is like to me. He may seem emotionless on the outside, but he has a heart of gold. He's always there for me when I need him and never asks for anything in return. He's selfless, kind, and makes me want to be a better person, to be more like him."

Lina takes a deep breath and raises her head to look directly at her friend, her face shining brighter than ever. "Romeo is my hero," she adds, a soft smile spreading across her lips. "That's why I love him." Her words ring out with sincerity and conviction, leaving no doubt in Maria's mind about the depth of Lina's feelings.

"How adorable can you get?" Exclaims Maria, gently setting Lina back down on the floor and sighing contentedly.

"Please don't call me that," Stammers Lina, feeling her cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

Maria laughs, teasingly adding, "But you are a cutie pie, Lily! Your grey eyes are like silver and your long, thick, wavy golden hair is enough to cover you since you're so tiny! Although come to think of it, you've been straightening your hair lately. Why is that?"

Lina's blush deepens, feeling Maria's penetrating gaze on her, "I just...I just wanted to...to try something different," she mumbles, hoping that Maria would drop the subject.

But Maria is not one to let things go easily, especially when it comes to her friend's love life. "Something different, huh?" she grins slyly. "Come on, Lily, spell it out. What's the real reason behind it?"

Lina's heart sinks as she realizes that she can't escape the conversation. "Well...well, Sara has straight hair, and since I was thinking that R-Romeo has f...F... feelings for her, I...I thought that..." She chokes on her words, her emotions too overwhelming to finish her sentence.

"Oh, so you thought that Romi might like straight hair better!" says Maria, nodding in understanding. "Well, too bad for you that won't work, not with Romi that is."

Lina lets out a frustrated sigh, feeling embarrassed that her thoughts were so transparent to her friend. "Thanks for making it obvious," she replies, an annoyed look etched on her face.

"I have an idea," adds Maria, reaching for her phone. "Let me message Alex real quick!"

Lina watches as Maria quickly types out a message on her phone and sends it off. She feels a sense of apprehension, knowing that her friend is up to something.

After a few minutes, Maria puts down her phone and turns to Lina with a devilish smile. "I don't really like that look," Lina says, realizing that her friend is about to tease her again.

"Tomorrow you're going to meet Leo for the first time," interjects Maria, poking Lina's cheek with her finger.

Lina's eyes widen in surprise, "Really? I can't wait to meet him! I'm excited to meet another prodigy, to be honest. Where are we going to meet him though?"

"We're meeting him at the coffee shop where Romi works!" says Maria, making Lina realize the reason behind her devilish smile. Lina feels a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"But more importantly..." Maria adds, trailing off as she reaches for Lina's arm, touching it with one hand while feeling Lina's face with the other.

Lina flinches at the sudden touch, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Woah!" gasps Maria, "Your skin is so soft! What kind of cream are you using?" she asks, her fingers still exploring Lina's face.

Lina couldn't help but laugh as Maria gasped at the touch of her skin. "I don't really wear make-up and use creams, to be honest," She answers, amused.

"WOAH!" Maria gasps again, quickly removing her hands from Lina's face. "You've got a gift from the God of beauty then!"

"You know something, you become really childish when we're talking about Love and boys," she confirms, trying to change the subject.

"Okay then," Says Maria, rummaging through her make-up case after taking it out of the drawer. "I'll be taking care of you personally! Can't wait to see Romi's reaction, you know..." she trails off, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Lina's cheeks flush as she thinks of Romi seeing her all dolled up. "Wait a sec, he's not going to react if you think about it," she tries to reason with Maria.

"Never mind, I'll do it," Says Maria, grabbing her eyeliner and getting closer to Lina's face.

Lina leans back, trying to avoid the makeup. "Wait, is it really necessary for me to wear makeup? I mean, I always look fine without it. Why should I try it?" she asks.

Maria doesn't seem to be listening. However, as she becomes more and more absorbed in seeing Lina wearing makeup for the first time, "Maria? Maria?" Lina calls out, but it's clear that her friend was in her own world now.

The next day, the girls meet up with Alex and his brother, Leonard, at the coffee shop where Romeo works. Lina's eyes are fixed on Leonard, the older brother, and she can't help but feel a bit nervous.

"Hello there! So this is Lina, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Leonard!", Leonard introduces himself with a friendly smile.

"Ummm, Lily?", Stumbles Maria awkwardly over Lina's name, causing Lina to shoot her a look.

"When did Alex become tall like that?", Blurts Lina out while pointing at Leonard, barely registering Alex's presence.

"I'm literally standing beside him you dumb fart!", Retorts Alex, rolling his eyes.

Then Leonard giggles while gently putting his hand on Lina's shoulder, "Can't deny I was expecting to hear that", He replies, "Everybody keeps nagging about how we ridiculously look alike you know."

He pulls out his phone and shows Lina a photo of their mother, "Look, this is our late mother", Says Leonard with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Whoa! So Alex was actually a girl!!!", Gasps Lina, clearly taken aback.

"She's a lost case!" Alex sighs, shaking her head, "And why did she dress so girly all of a sudden? What have you done to her, Maria?", He asks, referring to the make-up and the dress.

"She looks great, right?", Beams Maria, clearly proud of her work.

"Oh, I know why!", Leonard interjects before Alex could continue, "You're doing this to see if Romeo will like it better or not since you have feel..."

"Alright, that's enough mumbling, Leo!" Alex cuts him off by putting his hand over Leonard's mouth, looking a bit annoyed, "Guess it was a wrong move to tell you about Lily and Romi."

Leonard, who always seems to be brimming with energy, can't contain his excitement as he spots Romeo working in the café, "Hey it's Romeo!", He exclaims, practically bouncing in his seat, "Hello my man! How's life treating you?"

Romeo, physically tired and looking unhealthy, politely greets him back, "Leonard. It's been a while", he replies.

Leonard isn't deterred by Romeo's lack of enthusiasm, however, "Come here cutie boy!", He adds, pulling Romeo closer to him, "Still working hard as always ha? How's miss Leila? Is she getting better?", he asks, his voice dripping with affection.

"She's alright", Answers Romeo, hugging the man back with just one hand, "Thanks for asking."

Meanwhile, Lina can't help but roll her eyes at Leonard's over-the-top behavior, "Maria, you're right!", She whispers to her friend, "He's way too energetic! Is he really older than us?"

"Hey!", Scolds Leonard, catching wind of their conversation, "Show some respect to the CEO here!" he says, pointing to his chest with his thumb.

Then there's Amanda, unable to catch her excitement after seeing Lina, finally pipes up, "Awwww so Lina finally decides to visit us again!", she exclaims, grinning as she starts squishing Lina's cheeks

"Is that a friend of yours?", Asks Maria as she turns to Lina, taken aback by Amanda's sudden spawn.

"No", Scoffs Lina, trying to move out of Amanda's spamming hugs, "This is the devil itself!"

As the conversation continues, Romeo notices something on Lina's face and Lina does notice the way our boy is fully focused on her, " S... Stop glaring at me like that!!!" she says, shooting a look of embarrassment at Romeo.

Romeo gets closer to the girl. As he wipes the lipstick off Lina's mouth, her cheeks begin to flush with embarrassment. She can't believe he would suddenly pull such a move. As Romeo takes off his hands, she can feel the eyes of awe of her friends on her, which only made her feel more embarrassed.

"You're better off without that", He adds, causing Lina's embarrassment to intensify.

Feeling completely exposed, Lina can feel the heat in her face rising. She stutters out a response, "W... What...? You're telling a freaking lady not to wear makeup? How weird can you actually be?"

Romeo simply sighs, seemingly unfazed by Lina's embarrassment, "What are you going to order, guys?", He asks, switching his gaze to the other three. But Lina can't shake that scene off her head, even as the conversation shifts to other topics, "But he did notice it though...", Thinks Lina, a soft smile drawn on her face, "And he thinks that I'm better off without it... That's good enough... At least for now!"