What if?

Chapter 5: They’re back

Nick

I have been staying in this family for a week already and guess what, I feel so at home. Michael said that Mom and Dad are going back home so I woke early and dressed myself formally and now I am here at the garden. They have this not so big garden but there is a table and chairs for people to eat and relax here.

By the way the house is big and there is also a swimming pool. I haven’t swam at the swimming pool yet because I don’t know how to swim. I hope someone can teach me because I really want to try swimming in the swimming pool.

“Nick!” Michael shouted as he ran to me. “What?” I asked. I think there is something important since he shouted while running to me. “Check your YouTube.” He said. “What’s with YouTube?” I asked. Michael doesn’t make sense.

After some days of exploring the phone that Michael bought for me, I think I can confidently say that I now know how to use this phone. I also made accounts for some applications like f*******:, YouTube, Google Account, and i********:. 

“EXO released a new song just now.” He said. “What EXO?” I don’t know what EXO is saying. “A KPOP group, they are cool, try to watch them, you’ll like them.” He said. I had no choice but to look at the new song that Michael is talking about or else Michael will not leave my side and continue to annoy me which I hate. 

“Is it this one?” I asked to confirm the video before playing it. “Yeah that’s right.” He said and we both started to watch it. I saw that the title of their new song is Love Me Right. The intro of the song is already catchy.

“Whaaa!! He dances well, who is he?” I asked Michael when I saw the first person at the very beginning dancing. “He’s Kai, he is the main dancer of course he should be good at it.” He said. “Well, I didn’t know that not until I asked you.” I replied. “HAHAHA.” He laughed. 

“How can they be so handsome?” I asked when I saw the rappers. “Well, they are all-rounders though. He said. “Ohhh nice voice.” I said. “They all serve great vocals.” Michael said to me. “Really?” I asked. “Basically, yes!” He answered. 

“Whaa! It was good!” I exclaimed to Michael. “Yeah, I know! Ughh I have been waiting for this Music Video to come out.” He replied. “Do they have more?” I asked because I wanted to watch more of their music videos. “Nick, you can watch them, just search them on YouTube and all their music videos and songs will pop up.” He said. “Okay, I will watch.” I said. “Okay, it’s good to know that you like them too. HAHAHA by the way they have really great songs too, just check it out.” Michael told me and left me in the garden.

The time that Michael left the garden, I immediately started to watch their previous music videos and listened to some of their side tracks.

“Ahhh they are so talented.” I exclaimed to myself after watching and listening to some of their songs.

“Nick?” I heard Janice. “Yes Janice?” I said. “Your Mom and Dad are on their way here, they are already near, they said that they will be here for at least 5 minutes.” Janice said. So I will be meeting them again. “Thanks Janice I will go to the living room after I finish here.” I said to Janice. “Okay, I will go first then.” Janice said and smiled before going back in the house.

Actually I have been looking forward to seeing the both of them ever since the time that I promised myself to live my life differently as part of this family and forget my past. I finished fixing the chairs to their places first and then directly went to the living room. 

“Michael, Janice said that Mom and Dad are on their way here.” I said to Michael who is currently sitting on the sofa while playing a game on his phone. After I said that he stopped his game and put his phone beside him on the sofa. “What are you smiling at?” I asked. He was smiling as if I did something great. “You just called them Mom and Dad.” He said then hugged me tightly. “I’m so happy for you. You’re starting to really begin to accept that you are part of this family now.” He said while hugging me. “Yeah.” I said shortly to Michael. 

“What a great view we have here.” I heard someone say that so I looked at who said it. “Mom, Dad. Welcome back. Oh I am so happy that you too are safe.” Michael said. He then ran to his parents after saying it and both hugged them. Michael is such a soft boy to his parents. This is the second time I heard him talking about the safety of his parents. I mean our parents.

“Welcome back.” I said and went straight to all of them to give them a kiss on their cheek. “Thank you Nick. How was your stay here for the past few days?” Mom asked. “Everyday was amazing.” I replied to her question. “Great! Ughh I am so happy to hear that.” She said with a teary expression. “Was Michael a good brother to you these past few days?” Dad asked. “He was.” I said with a fake smile. I wanted to say no because he was so annoying. “HA HA HA.” Michael laughed sarcastically. “Of course I was! I’m very good, not just good Dad.” Michael said proudly.

I can’t take his boastfulness so I sighed a bit not loud enough for them to hear. “Come, let’s go inside first.” Mom said. “Did you bring any stuff?” Michael asked Dad. “What stuff? Son, we went there for business not to buy stuff.” Dad answered. “What?! But you always buy things for me whenever you go outside the country, most especially Nick is here you should have bought something even just for him.” He complained to his Dad and Mom. “Kidding!” Mom said and showed us a bag full of souvenirs from China.

“Yay! Nick, come see this.” He said and gave me the bag. Michael was thinking about me a lot. I like it. “That bag is yours Michael.” Mom said to us. “But where’s Nick’s?” Michael asked. “It’s okay.” I said and tapped Michael's shoulder. Why is he thinking about me this much? I get and understand why Mom and Dad were not able to buy some souvenirs for me because maybe they forgot that they have me now. I mean I just got adopted and then within the day they left for business.

“Do you think we didn’t buy some for your brother?” Dad asked Michael. “Of course we did. Nick is our son now so here. You have your bag full of souvenirs too.” Mom said and gave me a bag full of souvenirs. “Thank you so much.” I said to Mom and Dad while looking at their eyes. “You are very much welcome.” Mom replied to me. 

“This family is so warm. I like it. This feels surreal, I don’t want to wake up yet.” I said to myself while watching Michael, Mom and Dad having conversations. 

“Janice?” Mom called Janice. “Yes ma’am?” Janice replied. “Come, you have yours too.” Mom said to Janice and gave her a bag of souvenirs. “Thank you ma’am and sir.” Janice said with teary eyes. She might be really happy to receive her gifts just like me. “No need to thank us, you looked after our sons when we weren't here.” Mom said while tapping Janice’s shoulder.

Yeah Mom was right. Janice had a hard time taking care of the both of us though. What great parents we have.

“Dad, I forgot to buy a phone for Nick.” Mom said to Dad. “It’s okay, Nick bought me one already.” I said. “Really? Oh what a nice brother.” Mom said while tapping Michael’s head as if he did a really great job. “Of course, now that I have a brother, I am no longer just a good son but also a good brother.” Michael with gestures as if he is having a speech in front of a lot of people.

“Ma’am and sir have you eaten already?” Janice asked Mom and Dad. “We had already before we left the airport.” Dad answered. “How about the boys? Have you two eaten your lunch already?” Dad asked.

Michael was staring at me and doing some gestures. “What are you doing?” I said without a voice. “Say that we didn’t yet and don’t tell them I just ate breakfast.” He replied without a voice. “We haven’t, but we are going to eat at 12 noon sharp.” I answered Dad's question. “Good. Oh by the way, do you know Michael’s weird habit?” Dad asked. “Yes Dad.” I answered shortly. 

Michael’s habit is really weird but I get it you know every person has their own weird habit. It just so happens that I still haven’t discovered mine yet.“Great! I’m really sorry kids but we are quite tired because of travelling and such so we need to go to bed now to get some sleep.” Dad said. “Goodbye kids! See you at dinner okay? Hope you like the stuff that we bought for the two of you. Love you!” Mom said and she both kissed us on our foreheads. 

“Nick, come let’s go to my room.” Michael said. “Why?” I asked. Why do I also have to go to his room though, that’s why I asked. “Just come on. Do you really need to ask questions?” He asked. “Actually no, but you are just this boy that keeps on telling me to do I think.” I replied sarcastically. “Oh come on Nick, let’s go.” He said. Michael then pulled my hand and ran upstairs until we reached his room.

Michael has so many characteristics. Sometimes he is kind, annoying, caring, smart, stupid and BOSSY which I really hate about him so much. 

“Sit.” He told me. See he is being so bossy, I feel like I’m a pet. “Hmm okay.” I replied and sat on his bed. “Take a look at the souvenirs that Mom and Dad bought for you.” He said. “Do I just get them all out of this bag?” I asked. “Yeah, it’s okay though.” He answered. 

I started to put out all the souvenirs inside the bag that Mom and Dad bought me and Michael did so too.

Michael

Nick is here now inside my bedroom because I wanted to see the stuff that Mom and Dad bought for us. Actually the thing is, I just want to see Nick’s reaction after he saw all the stuff. I want to see him smile and be happy. 

“Whaaa! There is so much stuff inside this bag Michael.” He said. I saw him smiling as he was looking at each of the souvenirs. I am so happy seeing him smile. 

“How about yours?” He asked. I think he noticed I was actually staring at his smile without me noticing that he was also looking at me. “Ahhh yeah. Whaa! These are good but I think yours are better.” I answered awkwardly. “Why would you say that?” He said and pouted. “Cute.” I said. “What?” He asked. “Ahhh no...nothing.” I answered awkwardly. What the hell is wrong with me? 

“Weirdo.” I heard him say in a soft voice. I think he didn’t want me to hear him say that but I still heard it. “Tsk!” I replied to what he just said. He glared at me like he was going to do something bad to me.

“What?” I asked as if I didn't know anything. “Nothing.” He answered. I smiled after hearing him. I continued to look at the souvenirs. “This is cute.” I said. “Let me see.” Nick said so I let him see the thing that I think is cute. “Oh you have one too?” He asked. “Do you have the same?” I asked back without answering his question. “Yeah sort of.” He answered. “Here look. They have the same features but just not the color.” He said. 

The thing is a toy that is 20 centimetre long. The stuffed toy looks like Elmo from Sesame street. Nick’s Elmo is the color red while mine is blue. 

“They are so cute.” He said one more time. “How many times do you have to say that?” I teased him. “I’m just stating facts.” He replied. I saw Nick kept looking at my Elmo. “Do you want to swap them?” I asked Nick. “What do you mean?” He asked. “Dude what I meant was, you give me yours and I’ll give you mine.” I explained. “Really? Thanks! I like your Elmo’s color.” He said while smiling. 

Nick grabbed the blue Elmo from me and hugged it. “Do you want to name them?” I asked. “I’ll name mine Michael.” He answered. “Why use my name?” I asked him. “Because it’s from you, and I want to call him Michael so that if you are not around then I can talk to him like you.” He answered. “Then I’ll name mine Nick.” I replied. “It’s a great name.” He said and we both laughed.