What if?

Chapter 4: Jealousy: His friend

Nick

“Finished!” I shouted as soon as I finished my dinner. I am so excited to go to bed and continue my sleep.

“Sleepy?” Michael asked. “Well, yes? As you can see, I have not been able to sleep well since the time I got here.” I said sarcastically. 

“Ahh that’s so sad. I’m sorry to hear that.” He replied sarcastically. This guy just doesn’t know to give up huh? Ughh! “Whatever. You’re finished right?” I asked. “As you can see, yes.” He said. Ughh this guy is getting on my nerves, really. “Okay.” I said shortly and started to clean the table. 

“Why are you doing that? You don’t have to do that. We have maids to clean that.” He said. “I know but I just want to help.” I replied. 

“Whatever you like, Nick.” He said and left the table. I thought he was a great guy but he really is acting so annoying today. What is wrong with him? He has been acting like this since morning.

“I hope tomorrow the good and not annoying Michael will come back.” I said. “Michael is doing that on purpose.” Janice said. I didn’t know she heard me. “Sorry, have you been standing there for quite some time?” I asked. 

“Just got here, but I happened to hear what you said a while ago.” Janice explained.

“Janice, what do you mean by Michael doing it on purpose?” I asked Janice for clarification. 

“I meant that Michael is really a not so talkative kid but he is being like that to ease the awkwardness between the two of you. Maybe he thinks that if you see him like that, you can freely talk to him whatever you want to say to him, not minding if it might be awkward to the both of you.” Janice explained. 

I think what Janice said might be true. Because when I was still at the orphanage, Michael would visit me there every day to talk to me. But he never acted like this annoying.

“I think you are right Janice.” I agreed to what Janice said earlier.

“Michael’s strategy is working though. You too are getting closer to each other because of that.” Janice said. “Yeah, I feel like I don’t feel shy with him anymore.” I said.

“Thank you for helping the maids in cleaning the table.” Janice said. “It’s okay, I used to do more than this in the past.” I said to Janice.

“I hope you are happy in this household.” Janice said. “I am.” I said. “That’s good to hear.” Janice replied. “I’ll be going upstairs now.” I said. 

“Have a good night sleep Nick.” Janice said. “Thank you, You too Janice, have a good night's sleep.” I replied.

After saying that to Janice, I went upstairs to take a shower and of course prepare myself to sleep. 

“What are you doing here?'' I asked Michael. He is on my bed playing with his phone. 

“Ahmm I will be sleeping here tonight.” He looked at me and said with a smile on his face. “No! Please Michael I just want to have a nice sleep, just let me have a nice sleep.” I said. 

“What’s the connection? What would it be like if I slept with her?” He asked which made me mad.

“Do you know what you did to me yesterday evening?” I asked. “No.” He said shortly. 

“You kept on hugging me and getting all the space on the bed and left me with no choice but to stay awake.” I said nearly crying.

“Sorry. I promise not to hug you and take all the space on the bed.” He said while facing me. He then went back to playing with his phone. “You better not do it again.” I said.

“Yeah.” He said shortly. 

After that discussion I went inside the bathroom and took a shower. 

“Michael, have you taken a shower already?” I asked. “Yeah.” He said

“When?” I asked to make sure. “Come on Nick, you don’t believe me?” He asked back. “You did not answer my question.” I replied. “Fine, after eating my dinner, I immediately went to my bedroom and took a shower.” Michael explained. 

“Okay.” I said shortly. “So you believe me now?” He asked. “Yeah I do. Let’s sleep.” I said to change the topic.

“Nick, tomorrow my friend will be coming over.” He said. “Okay.” I replied and turned my body to the other side.

“Good night.” Michael said and he tapped my head. 

“Yeah, Good night.” I answered. I was shocked by what he did and suddenly I remembered the first time we met each other where he also tapped my head. 

I smiled gently when I remembered the first time we met. Everything seems surreal to me. After I met Michael that day everything went like a dream. Having a complete family, a brother, and a big house to live in. 

“Michael?” I said. “Yes.” He answered softly. “Thank you for everything.” I said without turning to his side. “You’re welcome.” He replied softly. 

After saying those words, I then closed my eyes and slowly went to sleep.

MORNING

“Nick, wake up! it’s already 10 AM in the morning.” Michael shouted in my ear. “What?!” I asked. I was so shocked to hear that the time was already late so I jumped out of the bed and noticed that Michael was laughing.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked curiously. “I was kidding.” He said. “Do you really have to do that?” I asked him. I am not mad but I am annoyed. “Sorry.” He said. “Whatever, I’m going to take a shower now.” I said. 

“You’re not mad at me?” He asked. “Do you want me too?” I asked. “No.” He said and smiled. “Okay then.” I replied to Michael. 

“Nick, why are you going to shower at this hour? Are you planning to go somewhere?” Michael asked. 

“Have you forgotten that your friend is going here?” I asked. “No. What’s with my friend?” He asked. “You're going to meet your friend here without taking a shower?” I asked again. “Yeah, so what? My friend doesn’t take a shower when I go to their house too.” He explained.

“What kind of reason is that?” I asked. “A great reason.” He said. “Whatever you like.” I said. “Nick, I'm going downstairs.” Michael said. 

I did not respond to what he said, instead I just continued taking a shower.

It took me at least 10 minutes inside the shower to finally finish. I got my best clothes on because I want to be presentable in front of Michael’s friend.

“Nick, come here.” Michael said while dragging me to his friend. “You must be Nick right?” His friend said. “Yes, I’m Nick. Nice to meet you.” I said properly. 

“Stop with all the formality. Okay, so Nick, this is John, my childhood friend.” Michael said as he introduced his childhood friend to me.

John seems like a good kid. 

“Nick we are going to watch a movie, watch with us.” Michael said. “Okay.” I said shortly. I mean I don’t have a choice but to join them. 

“So what movie are we going to watch today?” Michael asked us. “I want to watch a documentary about treasures.” John said. 

What is he talking about, a ten year old kid wanting to watch a documentary? That is boring as hell. 

“Yeah let’s watch one, National Geographic just posted a new video on YouTube about that.” Michael replied to John. 

Okay so I left with no choice but to watch it with them too. Ughh!!! I think I am surrounded by these two geniuses. And I’m like the dummy here at their side who doesn’t understand anything about the documentary. 

“You two must have been friends for a long time right?” I asked while watching the documentary.

“Yeah, well not really. Just 2 years ago, we met at school and we had a lot of competition together. We thought we could be friends since we both like the same things though.” Michael said. “Yeah.” John added. 

They are making their words as simple as they can, enough for me to understand how their friendship started. I think they didn’t want to sound proud that’s why they used some words to describe how they ended up being friends but it still sounds like they are saying that they got friends because they’re both smart.

“What a great friendship you have both.” I said. 

I did not get any reply so I decided to get some snacks for us to eat while watching. 

“John, did you eat your breakfast already?” I asked awkwardly. “No I haven’t.” He answered. 

“Okay, since we all have not yet eaten our breakfast, how about I ask for some bread and milk for us. Besides, we can still eat that while watching.” I said.

“Yeah sure!” Michael said. 

I went to the kitchen and talked to Janice. “Janice, we want to eat some bread and milk.” I said to Janice. “Okay but that will be okay?” Janice asked. “I think so because we are watching if you eat rice we can’t eat it while watching in the living room.” I replied to Janice. “Well then I will let the other maid prepare all of it.” Janice said to me. 

“Janice by the way, when will we get to eat?” I asked Janice just to be sure. “Maybe after 5 minutes it will be served to all of you in the living room by the maids.” Janice answered me. “Okay thanks Janice. I need to go back there.” I said to Janice and went back to the living room.

“How was it?” Michael asked me. “Janice told me that it will take at least five minutes to prepare the food and drinks.” I answered Michael. 

“Great! Are you good with that John?” Michael asked John. “Yeah, what choice do I have?” John replied to Michael.

“John, what are the snacks that you brought today?” Michael asked John. “What else? Of course our favorite.” John replied to Michael.

What’s their favorite snack? I am here on the other side of the sofa just listening to their conversation but still can’t understand clearly where their conversation is going. 

“Peanuts?” Michael asked John. “Yeah.” John answered shortly. “Yes! That’s what we are talking about.” Michael replied.

So peanuts? Michael likes peanuts?! 

“Do you also like peanuts?” John asked me a question. “Not that I dislike it, same goes if I like it. I’m like so-so with peanuts. 

“Really why?” John asked another question. “I don’t exactly know but I guess it is because whenever I eat peanuts there are some peanuts that get stuck in my teeth. I think it is troublesome, that's why I don’t usually eat it.” I answered John's questions. “I see, well we have different preferences though.” John replied and continued to watch again.

Honestly, I don’t understand a thing about the documentary. I don’t like watching it. I prefer watching entertainment shows or music videos instead. I feel so sad right now because I don’t have a choice but to watch the documentary as if I like it too.

Michael and John are sharing their knowledge and thoughts about the documentary while watching which made me like a dummy here on the side. 

“Breakfast is here.” Janice said which made me at least happy.

“Thanks!” Both Michael and John said at the same time. 

After they said that Janice laughed.

“You too are really alike.” Janice said. 

“Ughh I’m so hungry, let’s eat.” I said and got some bread on the table. “Yeah, let's eat.” Michael said. 

(After an hour)

The documentary finally ended. I have been trying myself not to fall asleep while watching it because I don’t want them to think bad about me most especially John. 

“I need to go to the restroom.” I said to them, actually I am lying about going to the restroom. I just made it as a reason to get out of here. “Yeah sure.” John replied. “Are you okay?” Michael asked. I can feel that Michael seems to be worrying about me.

I don’t know why but knowing that Michael worries about me makes me smile. “I am okay. I’ll be back.” I replied to Michael.

After that I replied I went straight to the kitchen to talk to Janice first. I saw her sitting on the chair near the refrigerator.“Janice, by the way, thanks for the help in preparing the breakfast.” I said to Janice. “No worries, it’s my job.” Janice replied to me.

I was not able to say thanks to her after she brought the food to us because I felt uneasy a while ago. 

“You’re thinking too much, remember that you’re still young to think too much. Just let every flow.” Janice said while looking at me and touching my face with both her hands.

“Thank you. I need to go to the restroom.” I said to Janice. 

After I excused myself to Janice I went to the restroom. A while ago I didn’t understand why I felt so uneasy but after Janice said those words I finally got the answer. I am jealous of John. 

“Is this normal?” I asked myself while looking at myself in the mirror inside the restroom. I don’t know if this is okay but I can’t help myself knowing that they have so many similarities and they have been friends for two years. 

“Ughh! This is so frustrating!” I shouted inside the restroom. I shouted because I know that no one can hear  me and I can’t take it anymore. 

I am shocked that Janice knows about my feelings. Her words are powerful and I think she’s definitely right. I am too young to overthink, I should understand the friendship of Micahel and John.

(After 5 minutes in the restroom)

I went outside the restroom and went back to the living room where I left Michael and John.

“Where are they?” I asked myself.

“Nick, Michael and John went out.” Janice said. “What?!” I replied. “They said that they are going to buy something so I let them out together. “Just them? What if something wrong happens to them?” I said to Janice. “Don’t worry, John’s maid is with them.” Janice said.

“I will go upstairs.” I said sadly. I did not wait for Janice's reply and just went upstairs. Since the day I came here Michael has been so annoying to me and gives me a lot of attention but when John came here all his attention went to John.

“Ughh!” I exclaimed with so much irritation. I hope they are having fun now while leaving me here alone, not even telling me they went out. Well I think it is better that they left me because I will be out of place again. 

I looked at the clock and saw that the time was still 10 so I went to my desk and wrote a note saying “do not wake me up because I need some sleep.” I went back to my bed and grabbed the pillow beside me and used it to cover my face and slept. 

*Knock *Knock *Knock

“Who’s knocking?” I said to myself. I already put a note outside so that nobody’s gonna wake me up. “Ughhh!” I sighed. Then I left my bed to see who was knocking on my door. 

“Hi.” Michael said as soon as I opened my bedroom’s door. What the hell is wrong with him?  “What?! I thought you went out with your best friend.” I said irritably. “Yeah I did.” He replied. “So where’s your best friend now?” I asked Michael. “He went home already because he had something to do.” Michael answered. “Great! Then why did you wake me up?” I asked. “I just got home and wanted to see you.” Michael said. 

After Michael said that I closed the door. “Ouch! Nick, my hand, my hand!” He shouted in pain. “Sorry. Why would you do that?”  He tried to stop me from closing the door so his hands were sandwiched. 

“Ouch! I just wanted to give you this.” He said. “What’s that?” I asked. “Why don’t you let me in?” Michael said sarcastically. “Okay.” I said shortly and opened my bedroom’s door for him. 

We both went inside and he sat on the bed while I was still standing in front of him waiting for him to show what he wanted to give to me. “So what now?” I said in an irritated tone. “Here.” He replied and gave me a box. “What’s in this box?” I asked Michael. “Open it so you can see what’s inside.” He answered directly. 

I opened the box and saw that there was another box inside. “Are you playing with me? I don’t have time for this.” I said and gave him back the box. “No. Really trust me.” He said. 

I grabbed the box back to me and opened the second box. There I saw a phone inside. “A phone?” I asked. The box that I  just opened is not the original box of the phone. “Did you do all this effort just to annoy me right?” I asked Michael. “Hmm yeah but also to make you happy.” He answered. 

I can’t stop myself from smiling at what he said. “Thank you.” I said. “You’re welcome. Aren’t you gonna eat yet?” He asked me. “Of course I am.” I answered him. “Then let’s go downstairs.” Michael said.