11.

Zayed looked up, as his brother walked in, a scowl on his face.

“Why do you look like someone spat in your bean curd?” Malik asked.

Zayed shook his head.

“Where did you get that line from?”

“Mulan. A cartoon. But that’s not the point. Why do you look gloomy and sad?”

“I’m not,” Zayed argued even though he knew his expression betrayed him.

“Yes, you do. You’ve been one grouchy bear all week.”

Zayed knew better than to argue. Arguing only meant that his brother was right and he was trying to deny. He had learnt this a long time ago. So he said nothing and waited for what he knew would follow.

“Did you have a fight with Moonbeam?”

Aha. He knew his brother had been itching all week to ask but did not know how to go about it. A