What if?

Chapter 72: Lorax

Nick

“Whaa! That was a good movie we watched.” I said in a loud voice. It was really indeed an amazing type of story. “Yeah. Good for both kids and adults.” Michael said as a reply to me. He was just looking at the TV screen while he said that. 

“What do you think about Lorax?” I said the title of the movie. “It is great. It tells a lot about the nature of humans and the consequences of our actions. I like it a lot. How about you?” Michael said. 

We are on the same page. The movie actually tells about the consequences of the people in the movie in damaging the natural resources. Using a lot of natural resources for greed made most of the things that we get in our nature lose. 

Even oxygen is bought in the story after some time because they don’t have a choice. They cannot eat proper food at the same time. Too bad for kids in the story that were not able to see the beauty of nature in the past because all they see are artificial things. 

This is possible to happen in the real world if we people do not care about the environment. I just hope that others will watch it too. 

“I like it too. It just doesn’t talk about the environment and people but as a whole that when we make actions, we should be responsible for the consequences.” I said to Michael. 

“I know. You wouldn’t say out loud how good the movie is if you don’t.” Michael said, trying to tease as always. He is referring to the time when the movie finished because I shouted how much I like it. 

We just chose the movie randomly and did not even try to read the synopsis of the story. It turned out that we chose the right movie to watch. I wonder how many people watched the movie.

“Pftt! I want to eat.” I said to change the topic and started walking. “Why are you changing the topic and walking away?” Michael asked me. 

“Is it not that obvious to you?” I asked Michael. Why is he even questioning common sense? He definitely knows why the hell I do this every time. 

“You tell me because I don’t know. Why did I even ask?” Michael said playing dumb. He does this every time. 

“I don’t care. I will go to the kitchen first.” I said and continued to walk. “Wait! How about the TV? It is still on.” Michael shouted because I have been far from him already. 

“You turn it off then.” I shouted back at him. He knows how to turn it off and by the way it was not just me who watched. He also watched so he did his part. I was the one who turned it on so he turned it off. Now it is fair between the two of us. 

I do not know if he said something as a reply but I just continued to walk until I reached the kitchen. 

“Good evening Nick.” Leonora said. “Good evening.” I replied with a huge smile. 

I am definitely now better and feeling good because of Michael. Even though he was teasing me, it made me feel better. He does his things differently than to others.

“Are you up to eat your dinner now?” Theresa said who is beside Leonora. “Yeah. It is ready.” I said and giggled. “Of course. To be honest you are just right on time. We just finished it when you came here.” Leonora said. “It is ready to be served now.” Theresa said.

“Thank you.” I said with a smile on my face. I want to show them that even though it is their job or let us say their responsibility to do all of these things, I still want them to know that I am thankful. “A simple thanks and smile can bring joy to one’s person’s heart.” I said to myself.

“Oh. You are so sweet as always.” Theresa replied to me. I just smiled even more as a reply to what Theresa said. 

“Nick, where is Michael?” Janice said who just came while holding a phone. I am guessing that it is mom and dad on the phone.

“He is…” I was not able to finish what I was about to say because Michael came out of the blue. “Here. What is it?” Michael replied to Janice.

“Your mom is looking for you.” Janice said. See? I was right. Mom and dad always look for Michael not because it is their biological son but because he is older than me. Even though they talk to Michael they are still talking about me. 

Mom and dad always tell Michael to take care of me well. It makes me really happy. 

“Okay.” Michael replied and then Janice gave her the phone. “Mom, good evening.” Michael said and their conversation continued.

“Nick? Wait, I will pass the phone to him.” Michael said. I guess his turn is already finished so it is my turn. “Nick…” Michael said and passed the phone to me. 

As soon as I got the phone in my hand I immediately put it on my ear.

“Hello? Is this Nick I am talking about now?” Mom said to me. “It is me.” I replied to mom. “I heard the plan from Janice already. So I agree with it.” Mom said all of a sudden. “Really? Thank you.” I replied back to mom. “Tell me if you already found a place. And I am very sorry but today we will be late when we come back home. We are still on our way home.” Mom said.

“I understand. Be safe.” I said to mom. “Bye Nick!” Dad shouted. “Bye.” I replied to dad. Then passed the phone to Michael.

Dad is really bubbly. I know that he is tired yet he tried his best to sound well.

“Bye. Be safe.” Michael said as he ended the conversation on the phone. “Mom and dad will be late again.” Michael said to Janice as he handed over the phone back to its owner.

That is why Janice is using her own phone. A while ago I already noticed it but did not put more attention into it. 

So Janice already said it to mom and dad. Now my goal tomorrow is to talk with Jake and sort all things out.

“Nick. Why are you zoning again?” Michael asked as he waved his hand closely on my face. “I am not.” I replied. “You were. Right, Janice?” Michael asked Janice. “Yeah.” Janice replied. 

“Ugh! I thought Janice would be on my side. “I said to myself after Janice replied to Michael.

“See? Even Janice saw it.” Michael said to me. “So? I want to eat.” I replied to Michael. 

I am having a loss of identity whenever I am with Michael because I am becoming a person that I am not because he likes playing his tricks with me.

“There you go again.” Michael said in a soft voice and sat on the chair. “Sorry. You said what?” I asked Michael.

I heard him pretty well but I want to ask him again if he will say it in front of me.

“Nothing. I said, let's eat because I am hungry.” Michael replied as he turned his attention to me and presented a fake smile. 

“Fake.” I said to him. “Hahaha. I know.” Michael laughed and started to get the food that he wanted to eat on the table. The foods are already on the table prepared because while we were talking to mom on the phone. Maria, Leonora and Theresa prepared it quietly.

It is getting late so we have to eat already and do our study. I think I will study but just for an hour and watch a movie then sleep. 

This is my everyday routine. I have to watch by myself only before going to sleep. 

I don’t understand too but I like doing it. 

“Michael, what are you going to study today?” I asked Michael. Actually I do not know if there will be a quiz or what tomorrow because I totally lost my attention on our teacher. 

“Math. There will be a quiz tomorrow too. In case you didn't know.” Michael said to me. He really knows me well. 

“What? A test?  Ugh! I have to study Math then.” I said to Michael. I really hate studying Math. It is really hard. Back to my school in the past, the subject there is easier than my school now. Mathematics is so advanced that I don’t understand it. 

I have no choice now. “Michael, teach me again. Please?” I said to Michael. Last time I remember that I got a perfect score because of him. Now I need him again because I want to get a perfect score. 

The thing is, the teacher in our mathematics class is good but when Michael teaches it to me, it is better. I can understand it easily. 

“How about I teach you mathematics every day?” Michael said to me. “What?!” I asked Michael. 

Is he kidding me or really want to help me?

“I am not kidding. I will teach you every day, it is also a review for me though so are you good with the idea?” Michael said. “No! It is definitely a no for me. I don’t want to overwork myself in mathematics.” I said to Michael. “Okay. How about 3 times a day?” Michael said to me. “Deal.” I replied to Michael. 

“Cool then.” Michael said to me and continued to eat. “Thank you.” I said and continued eating too. 

“This is what you get when you have someone who is smart. I mean he is the smartest. He is so smart that he doesn’t have to study but he is studying everyday just so he cannot forget everything he learned and also reads a lot on the internet and books too. After that he will play his game and sleep. He studies for 2-3 hours these days. 

“How can he live his life like this?” I said to myself while thinking about Michael.

“I am finished.” I said excitedly because I want to study already so I can still have time to watch. “Yeah.” Michael said. After Michael said he is already finished I stood up and grabbed him then ran towards our bedroom.

“Thanks for the food. We will study now.” I shouted while getting out of the kitchen. “Hahaha! Study well!” Janice, Maria, Leonora and Theresa shouted back with a laugh. 

They all know how much I hate studying and love watching on the other hand. So they already know why I was in a hurry. It was the reason they all laughed.