What if?

Chapter 23: Luckiest or Unluckiest

Nick

Michael kept on spacing out and I really think he is kinda weird. I mean, he is not like this. Although I already sensed something was not right with Michael I just continued on helping him with the things on the table. “Pst! Nick!” I heard someone calling me. I turned to look at the person who was calling me. Janice made a gesture to come to her without saying anything so I immediately went to her. I just thought that maybe it was something important that’s why. 

I walked to Janice’s direction without telling Michael. “What is it?” I asked Janice as soon as I arrived at her place. “Is there something wrong with Michael?” Janice asked. “I don’t know either. Why?” I asked Janice. I think she thinks the same as I am thinking right now. “Look at Michael.” Janice said. I turned back to look at Michael and saw that he was again spacing out. “There is something wrong with him.” I said while I was looking at him. “Actually I noticed him being like that when the movie finished, at first I thought that maybe he was thinking a lot about the movie but now I just don”t think so.” Janice said.

I really think so too. I have never seen Michael being like this for a long time. I think he has something in his mind that is so deep. I wonder what he is thinking about. “What do you think he is thinking about?” I asked Janice. “Oh, I don’t know, I am pretty sure that it is not about the movie.” Janice answered in a confused tone. Same Janice same. I was about to say something when I heard Michael say something behind me. “Hey Nick, what are you talking about?” Michael said. For a minute I felt frozen, I didn’t know what  to say. I looked at Janice and she gave me a glance. It is like a sign. “I need to go to the kitchen to do something.” Janice said as she excused herself to us.

Janice started to walk away from us and she left me with Michael. Does Michael think we were talking about him? Janice saved herself and totally forgot about me. “Thank Janice.” I said to myself. “It is a secret.” I replied to Michael while acting confident. I need to act confident because if not he will start to ask more questions. “I see.” Michael said. After he replied to me I felt so good that I was able to release a deep sigh. 

“By the way, why did you come here?” I asked Michael to change the topic. “I wanted to ask something.” Michael replied. “What is it then? Ask now. I will be going to bed after this.” I said to Michael. “Well, I haven’t watched the last part of the movie.” Michael said. What the hell is he talking about? He was by my side when we were watching TV. “What do you mean? You were by my side the whole time.” I said to Michael. “Well, the fact was I was spacing out thinking about some sort of thing.” Michael replied. So he was spacing because he was thinking of something. So not about the movie huh? “What was the thing that you were thinking about?” I asked Michael because I was curious. I mean, why would he put a lot of effort into thinking about that. “Tell me about the ending of the movie first, because I am really curious.” Michael said. 

Woah! Luckily he didn’t think about what we were talking about. But I am not gonna tell him the ending of the movie easily, not until he tells me the thing that happened and why he was spacing out a lot of times. “Not gonna tell you. But if you tell me the reason why you are spacing out or what you were thinking back then. Maybe I can change my mind and tell you the ending of the movie.”I said to Michael while taunting him. “Maybe? that is like 50 percent you will tell me only. I need you to tell me the ending if I tell you the reason. Then without anything else to say I will immediately tell you. Deal?” Michael said as if he is negotiating a business with me. “Yes boss.” I said unconsciously. “What did you say?” Michael said. “Nothing, I said deal.” I replied. s**t! That was near. I think he was not able to hear what I said, today is just my lucky day. 

“Okay, so this is the thing. I was spacing out without knowing it. I just remembered thinking about a plan to get back at you.” Michael explained. I was not able to totally understand what he meant so I asked a question to better understand him and besides, I know Michael he will keep on talking and talking when in fact I just want to know what he was thinking about when he was spacing out. “What do you mean by getting back at me?” I asked Michael another question. Michael scratched his head first and avoided eye contact with me. “Hey, just get straight and answer my question. It’s late now, okay? I also want to sleep early.” I said to Michael in frustration. Why does he like slowing things down?  

“Just wait. Don’t hurry, okay?” Michael said. From what I am seeing right now. Michael kept on scratching his head and his ears are also so red. Don’t tell me he is shy? But why is he shy? Now I am getting more and more curious. “Fine, I will wait here until you get all your courage to tell me.” I said to Michael. Fine I will let him take all the time he wants because I think that the information that I will get will be worth it for me to wait. “Okay, I am ready to say it.” Michael said and made a deep sigh. I also prepared myself to listen to what he is going to say. I shook my hands to calm myself. I don’t know but I feel so excited about what he is going to say.  

“The thing is that I was thinking about... a plan to get revenge on you because today you were just amazingly annoying. So I was spacing out the whole time thinking of my revenge.” I heard Michael say. For a minute I felt like my whole body was shaking and my ears were numb to what I just heard. My eyes were also dark. There is only one thing on my mind. I want to hurt Michael. “What the hell? You freaking made you so curious about something that is so pointless? Ugh! I can’t believe I fell for your tricks.” I said to Michael in an annoyed voice. I was about to walk away to Michael but I stopped when he grabbed my hand. “Hey. I am not kidding here. That is really the reason why. And besides, you made a promise that you will tell me the ending of the story after I tell you the reason behind my spacing out.” Michael said. I turned to look at him to see his facial expressions. 

I felt guilty after seeing Michael’s face. I got off his hand first and held my other hand. “Fine, the ending of the movie was that there was an old guy who helped the young boy.” I said. I was not able to finish what I wanted to say because Michael cut me. “Old guy?” Michael asked. “Listen first okay? So that this will be quick. The old guy was the one that his brother told him that kills people, do you remember? Oh this one, the one that the young boy saw inside the church was looking at his granddaughter practicing a song in the choir inside that church. The old man that he thought was a bad guy but actually wasn’t.” I said. I paused to see if Michael already got the old guy that I was referring to him. “Yeah, I get it now.” Michael said. 

Oh finally he got what I meant. “Okay so good. Now I will continue. That old guy helped him when the thieves got the young boy. So in the end the young boy was able to escape from the hands of the thieves. Then police officers came and caught the thieves and the young boy was able to see his mom. In the end it was a good ending. The young boy was able to reflect on his attitude and doings. He realized how important his family is to him.” I added. Now finally the story ended. “Oh. That is a great ending though. I thought that something might have happened to the young boy.” Michael said sarcastically. I can hear that he is acting as if he is surprised by the ending. “Michael, of course it will have a good ending. Besides, the story is meant for young kids Gosh!” I said to Michael. “Kidding! I know.” Michael said. “So now the deal is over. I will go upstairs first.” I said to Michael. “Hey. I will be in your room tonight.” Michael said. I stopped walking after hearing what he just said. “Not gonna happen, I won the bet and the deal is a deal.”I said to Michael. “But I just heard from you that the deal is over.” Michael said, trying to get on my nerves. “You know that it is not what I mean. Stop being such a jerk Michael.” I said to Michael because I am really annoyed at him. 

“Awe… so cute!” I heard mom say, I turned to look in surprise and saw that they were looking at us. “How long have you been listening to the both of us?” Michael asked both our mom and dad. Mom’s eyes are sparkling while dad’s smile is over his ears. “Not gonna tell.” Dad said, trying to tease Michael and me. “Awe… Dad, our boys are so cute together.” Mom said. “Ew!” I said to myself. Of course I can’t say that in front of them. “Mom, it just came to my mind. What if we let Michael and Nick share a room?” Dad said to Mom. “Yeah!” Mom and Michael said at the same time. s**t! They were faster than me. “No! I can’t sleep with Michael around.” I murmured to myself. I can’t imagine how my nights will be now. “What do you think Nick?” Mom asked me while her arms were on my shoulders. Mom also bent to be on the same height as mine. I turned to look at Michael. As soon as I looked at him I saw his evil smile. s**t! I thought I was lucky today but I was wrong. I turned to look back at mom. “Yeah. I think that is a great idea.” I said while gritting my teeth. 

I don’t know how to explain my anger right now. “Yay!” Michael said and jumped to hug me. s**t! He must be very happy now that everything is going the way that he wants. “Okay then. Now that it is already talked about. Tomorrow we will get people to fix your rooms. Michael’s room is bigger than Nick so Nick your room will be each other’s storage and closets. You will find all sorts of things in that room. And in Michael’s room, we will buy a bigger bed for the both of you to sleep and will make Michael’s bedroom more beautiful.” Mom said. “Why does it have to be tomorrow? That is so early?” I murmured to myself. “That is a great idea mom. Now our boys will grow fonder and closer to each other.” Dad said to mom. “That is definitely a hundred yeses.” Mom replied to what dad said. “Thank you mom and dad. I think Nick will be a lot happier because of this. Today was a blast and I think that Michael really enjoyed every minute of it.” Michael said with his acting again. How can he be so good at this age in acting? Does he have any acting lessons? “Is that right Michael?” Mom asked. 

Now I just feel pressured. What Michael just said is the opposite. Ugh! I really want to say something but I can’t. “Yeah.” I said shortly while biting my lips in anger and trying hard not to cry. I looked at Michael to see his reaction and he was grinning like an evil villain in my life today. “Gosh! I just feel so happy today. I just feel like I am the luckiest person in the whole world.” I said sarcastically. “Thank you!” Mom and dad said. Why can’t they get the true meaning of what I said?