What if?

Chapter 3: No longer in the past

Nick

“HAHHH!!! Finally!” I sighed and shouted as soon as I got on my bed.

We got home at 1:32 PM after all the shopping we did in the mall. Honestly, I never thought that Michael would be a great brother to me. I know he was enough as a friend but having as my brother hits differently.

*Knock *Knock *Knock

“Nick, open the door, come on.” “Ughhh!” I complained then opened the door for him.

He then got inside and sat on one of the chairs inside my bedroom. “What do you want?” I said it in an irritating way. “What? Can’t I be here?” Michael said that made me more irritated.

“Of course you can, but aren’t you tired?” I asked irritably. “Nah, I ain’t.” He said shortly then stretched his legs on the desk near the chair he was sitting on. “Michael if you aren’t doesn’t mean I am not too.” I explained myself hoping he would understand. 

“Shhh! stop all the negative. You know it’s better to get tired now, at least you are prepared for the future.” Michael said.

“What?!” I said. What Michael said made me stupid or he is just saying stupid things that is why I can’t understand it.

“Nick, what I meant was. If you get tired now then you are just preparing yourself for the future not to get tired easily. It will make you immune to all the tiredness. In the end you will still thank me.” Michael explained

“What kind of philosophy is that? Be honest, why are you here?” I asked irritably.

“I came here to ask if…?” Michael. What the hell is wrong with him?

“If what?” I burst. 

“HAHAHAHA Come on, don't get mad yet.” He said while patting my head. I take all I said about him being a great brother. “Shut up!” I said. We just became brothers for 2 days but now I feel like I regret everything.

“Okay, I came here to ask if you want to watch some cartoons or movies?” Michael asked. “I think I’ll pass.” I said. “Why? what do you want to do then?” he asked one more time. How much energy does this guy have left? “I just think that today was so exhausting, even if I wanted to watch it I still can’t focus on it because I will be sleepy.” I explained thoroughly so that he will understand my situation. 

Today was really tiring. I wasn’t able to get enough sleep, I ran and walked a lot inside the mall and all the waiting at the mall and on the street because of traffic made my body so tired that all I wanted right now is a nice sleep. 

“Then you will just sleep?” He asked. “Yeah, I am really really really tired right now. I am still not used to all these activities.” I said. 

“Okay. Last call, you really don’t want to?” He asked one more time. I don’t know what’s the deal with him.

“No really, just let me sleep.” I said and prepared myself to sleep.

“Have a nice sleep then.” He said and closed the door of my bedroom.

Michael

I am so happy that Nick had a great time today. I always wanted to take care of him, and do things that would make him happy. When I heard everything that happened to him on the first day we met each other I just felt like I don’t want to let him be sad again.

After the day we met each other, we continued to meet every day. When my parents found out that I go out and go to that park every day without them knowing they confronted me. 

They said that they didn’t want me to go there again. I left with no choice but told them the real reason why I kept going there. I told them the story of Nick and their hearts softened. I begged them to adopt Nick, at first they were hesitant but after two days they talked to me and said that they will adopt Nick. I don’t know what made them change their minds but that time I was so happy that I can’t even express it with any words. 

Nick has been through a lot of pain. I don’t know how much suffering he had or even still have. He is secretive but I am glad that whenever he feels too much of it he comes to me and asks for my presence.

Maybe Nick thinks that I'm annoying now but I don’t care. I just don’t want him to be alone and think too much.

I know that whenever he is alone he just happens to overthink so much which is not good for his health.

That’s why I kept bugging him so that he would not think about his past memories anymore.

“I will take care of you.”

Nick

I don’t know why he acts like a very annoying kid. He was never like that. ``Maybe Michael must be a really annoying kid.” I said to myself. If he acts like this every day I will not survive him.

I got out of my bed and stood up to go to my desk. Honestly I didn’t know why I wanted to go to the desk but I still did.

“A sticker?” I said as I saw a piece of stick that was stuck on the desk. I got it and saw that there were some words written on it.

“Please forget your past and look forward to what the present has for you. I will always and forever be here for you most especially now that I am legally related to you. You are no longer the Nick I knew in that park, you are Nick my brother and the youngest of this family. I love you!

Your beloved brother,

Michael.”

“Thank you.” I said. I see, that was why he was acting like that. He just wants to cheer me up and no longer dwell on my past. 

“From now on, I will be Nick, the youngest in the family and the one and only brother of Michael Travera.” I said softly to myself.

After committing that promise to myself, I went to my bed and slept.

Michael

“Janice, have you already prepared the food for dinner tonight?” I asked Nick to have a nice dinner. “Not yet.” Janice replied. “Okay that’s good. Please cook the food at 6 PM so that the food is still warm when we eat it.” I said. “It is noted.” Janice said and smiled softly. 

“Oh sorry, before I forget. Please prepare vegetables for dinner, just vegetables and warm fresh milk for Nick.” I said. “How about you, don’t you want some milk?” Janice asked. “Yeah, make one for me too. Thank you!” I said and walked straight to the living room. 

“I will watch a movie first before going to sleep.” I said as I sat on the sofa in front of our wide TV.

This TV is new. I requested this one from Mom and Dad as a gift for my 10th birthday. It may sound exaggerated, you know, like asking for something really expensive and big. But actually I have been really into watching movies and random videos a lot. 

Besides when I asked for this thing I wasn’t just thinking about myself, but also to my parents. Like we can get to watch movies with each other. No need to go out and watch in cinemas, well my parents don't have that much time to go and watch movies in cinemas though. 

I was so excited about the thought of watching movies and random videos with Nick but sadly he is tired and as what he said EXHAUSTED so I am now the only one here watching some random stuff in YouTube.

*brrtt *brrtt *brrtt

“I think that’s my phone. ” I looked for it on the sofa but it wasn’t there. I can still hear the sound of my phone vibrating. Then suddenly it came to my mind that it was inside my small bag. “Aha! You’re here.” I said as I finally found my phone. 

When I got it out of my bag, I saw the name of the person calling and immediately answered it. “Yes?” I said shortly. “Michael, Mom said I can go to your house tomorrow, please prepare the things and besides I really really want to see your new brother.” The person on the phone who called me.

“Yeah, bring some food, don’t be such a dork like last time.” I said. “Yeah yeah.” The person on the phone who called me.

“You should because you still don’t bring any, you are not allowed in my house.” I said.

“What? so strict! what’s that, NO food NO entry?” The person on the phone who called said in an annoying tone of voice. 

“EXACTLY, Bye!” I said and immediately cut off the call.

“Who was the person you are talking to Michael?” Janice asked me. “Just an annoying person.” I said. After hearing those words Janice smiled and went back to the kitchen.

I just continued to watch after my conversation with Janice. I kept on laughing at the videos I watched on Youtube. 

“Ughh! This is so boring.” I exclaimed. This is the first time that I felt bored after watching for two hours.

“Why do I feel so bored right now?” I said loudly which caught the attention of Janice.

“Michael, is there something wrong with you?” she asked. “No, there isn’t but I just feel so bored right now.” I said to Janice. 

“Maybe because you know that there is a person here that can play with you or join you but that other person doesn’t want to.” Janice said. I think what she said makes sense. 

“I want to play to spend time with Nick but he got tired because of going to the mall.” I said to Janice. “I know but you know what, try to understand Nick, he is still adjusting himself in all the activities that you do.” Janice said softly as she caressed my head.

“I know, I am not complaining though.” I said softly. “Yeah but you are acting as if you are.” Janice scolded. “Sheesh!” I complained. 

“Janice I will go to sleep please wake me and Nick at 6 (six) PM okay?” I said to Janice. “Yep, Noted.” Janice responded. Then I went upstairs and entered my room. I jumped to my bed and slept.

Nick

*Knock *Knock *Knock

“Hmmm.” I said in my sleep. Who is that, ughh I am having my sleep, “Why do people like to mess up my sleeping time?” I asked myself. 

“Nick, wake up, it's time for your dinner.” Janice shouted. “What?!” After Janice said that I immediately looked at the clock near my bed then saw that it was already 6 PM. 

“I’m awake!” I shouted back to Janice. “Okay, please prepare yourself to get down for dinner.” She shouted back. “I am now, thanks!” I replied. 

I just washed myself for a minute and then immediately went downstairs. When I got there I saw that Michael was not there.

“Janice, where is Michael, did he go somewhere?” I asked Janice. “No, he is still in his bedroom preparing to get down.” Janice replied.

The foods are already ready but I still can’t eat because Michael is not yet downstairs. I waited for Michael for 10 minutes already and I got mad because my sleep was disturbed because we needed to eat already. So I went upstairs and went straight to his bedroom without knocking. Luckily his door was open.

“Why are you still sleeping?” I shouted near his ears to make sure that he would definitely wake up. “What?!” He said while brushing his eyes. 

“Janice said we have to eat dinner already. I waited for you for 10 minutes thinking that you are still preparing yourself for dinner.” I said to Michael irritably.

“Ah sorry.” He said. “What are you still doing? Get up, we need to eat now or Janice will get mad.” I said.

“Why would she be mad?” Michael asked.

‘Because she woke us at 6 and it is already 6:13 and yet we haven’t eaten.” I answered Michael.

“HAHAHA.” Michael laughed. What the hell is he laughing at? “Why are you laughing?” I asked Michael.

“I was the one who told Janice to wake us up, she was just doing her job. HAHAHA she will not get mad.” Michael explained. 

“Shut up.” I said then went out of his bedroom.

“Hey sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He said. “Do you even know what wrong you did?” I asked Michael. “No. But I still need to say sorry.” He said. “It’s okay, let’s go downstairs and eat.” I said to Michael. “Okay.” Michael said and jumped on my back. 

We both fell on the floor because I was not prepared when he jumped on my back. I lost my balance and fell straight on the floor. 

“What are you doing?” I asked seriously. “I’m sorry, I thought you could handle my weight.” He explained. “Stop it and let’s go downstairs, NO PLAY.” I said to Michael to make sure that he will not do such things again.

“Yeah!” Michael said and ran downstairs. “He’s smart but he is so childish.” I said.

I know we are just 10 years old but a smart guy like him should not act like that. Sometimes I just don’t understand his characteristics.

When I got downstairs I saw him on the right side of the table so I went on the left side of it.

“Nick, not there, here beside me.” Michael said and pointed to the chair beside him. “Why?” I asked. “Just here.” He said. s**t there he goes with his CEO attitude-like. “Ughhh! Fine.” I said and went on his side.

“Do you like the dishes for dinner?” Michael asked. “Yeah, I like vegetables so I like it. Besides whatever’s on the table I will eat it.” I said. “Really? You will eat it?” He asked. “Yeah, I just said so.” I replied.

“What if the food is a cockroach? Would you eat it?” He asked. “What?! Of course not.” I said directly. “You said you will eat anything that’s on the table.” He said trying to annoy me.

“Michael, if you want to eat cockroaches, don’t ask me.” I said. “Well, I was not the one who proudly said that he can eat anything that’s on the table.” He said as if he’s really trying to annoy me. “Whatever.” I said and got some food and placed it on my plate.