Chapter 4 THEIR FIRST MET

Arkael didn’t bother to go ahead towards the sixth floor but choose to stand nearby the corner of his personal elevator. He was leaning on the wall lazily thinking of the man whom had ignored him. He closed his eyes for a moment shielding himself from the hustle bustle around the premises.

How much did he missed him? How much does he longed to see him? How much prayers did he uttered everyday and every night just to find his way back to him? How much does his heart ached for him? How much tears he had shed for him?

During those years, he was worried sick that he might be crying again alone! Two decades had passed and there he was, already grown up into a man! A full handsome man! His mouth curled up slowly as he recalled the cold stares he had received from him. His brother had his personality changed completely! He couldn’t even recognize him if it wasn’t for his golden ID card that he furiously thrown out from his wallet. 

His heart had already turned cold during those years, but now... seeing him again brought some warmth in his heart. It was beating wildly on his chest. His childhood brother that he missed was actually here in his establishment!

A playful smile appeared on his lips when he thought of his childhood brother way back. He could still remember their very first meeting. It was the most precious memory he chose to keep inside his treasure chest and it was buried on his heart deeply.

He was only eight years old that time. He was running off from their house clutching a little doll in his hand. His older sister was chasing after him.

“Mitchy! Give that back to me! You brat! I’m gonna make sure that I would tell mom that you kept on bullying me when she’s gone!” His sister shouted furiously, catching for her breath.

“Na..na..na..na..na...! If you want your doll then you must catch me first!” He shouted playfully at his mad sister waving the little doll up in the air.

The eight year old Arkael kept on running until he reached to their village clubhouse. His breathing was heavy as he slowed down his pace.

“Hoh.. hoh... hoh...” He finally stopped on his tracks to breath some fresh air and took his time to rest for a little while. He glanced behind him waiting for his sister’s arrival but no to avail. He released out a long sigh and smiled triumphantly clutching the doll on his hand. He turned his body around, wanted to go back to find his sister but...

“Mom..?” a boyish voice of a child caught his attention when he tried to go back on his tracks.

Arkael squinted his little green eyes and looked around. He was looking for the little boy whom was talking just a few seconds ago. He was longing for a brother but his parents had already divorced and that made him felt frustrated.

It’s been years that he’s watching his parents loving each other. He felt disgusted first but soon he was informed that parents do hugged and kissed to each from time to time according to his older sister’s careful research from her classmates herself.

How good it would feel if he could get a brother for himself? How good would it feel to have a little brother to play with? That must feel so awesome and exciting!

The little Arkael was smiling sheepishly as he imagined himself playing and tickling his little brother the whole day. How he longed to have a little brother so much! His sister wouldn’t even let him play with her! She would always tell him to stay away from her.

“Mommy..?” The little boy’s voice echoed again. It came from the corners with benches beneath the huge trees.

Arkael took his childish steps towards the sound and kept on looking around cautiously.

“Mommy! Mommy!” The little voice came louder to his ears. He hastened his steps towards the tree nearby and there he was...

Arkael looked at the little boy which seemed to be younger than him. He looked so pale and skinny. He studied him carefully from afar waiting for his Mommy to come for his aid.

“Mommy where are you..?” The little voice was quivering in fear.

Arkael panicked on his spot. He felt some surge of strange emotions on his little heart as he starred at the young boy. He rose up from where he had hidden himself and took his little steps towards the crying little boy.

“Hey...” he began to spoke as he wanted to comfort the crying little boy.

“Who are you..?” The little boy looked at him carefully as he sobbed hard.

“I’m your superhero...” Litte Arkael joked as he glanced around and smiled at the curious little boy.

Pffftt!

“Hahaa...” the little boy began to laugh his little ass out.

Arkael starred at him wide-eyed. What’s the problem of this little boy? He was crying a few seconds ago but now he was laughing hard! Does his joke really made him laugh that hard? He was curious!

“Hey, why are you laughing so hard?” He asked.

“Ahem! Ahem!” The little boy choked on his saliva for laughing so hard.

Arkael went forward and patted the little boy’s frail back. He felt that his little heart was about to jumped up to his throat when his little hand landed on the young boy’s body. He was so skinny and his bones was visible on his touch.

“There... there... that’s enough...” he coaxed softly. He was rubbing his back in a gentle manner.

“Why are you rubbing my back..? Aren’t you here to bully me..?” The little boy flinched a slight as he felt he was being rubbed by a strange boy on his back.

“Come on, I’m not a bully. I want to be your friend if you allow me...” Arkael cleverly reasoned out.

“A lot of kids told me that they despised me for I am looking so ugly...” the young boy stated sadly. He was about to tear up again.

“No! No! No! Don’t cry again please, I don’t have any idea how to stop you again if you cried...” Arkael hurriedly stopped his little fellow from crying. He was honest enough of his words because he truly indeed hadn’t had the ideas how to coax a young brother. He had none to coax anyway...

“Don’t you have a little brother..?” A question came out of the young boy’s mouth seemingly interested.

“Don’t have one actually, would you like to be one?” Arkael stated straightforwardly. He then settled himself beside the young boy.

“A-are you sure...? Y-you want me to be your brother..?” The young boy stammered out seemingly excited as he tilted his frail form towards the strange boy.

“Yeah, of course! Don’t you want me to be your brother?” Arkael also tilted his body and looked at the young boy’s teary little face. His hand was itching to touch the young boy’s face. It looked cute for him!

“O-of course! I wanted to have one but... but my mommy said that she couldn’t gave me one so... so...” the young boy trailed off his words as he felt that his face turned redder in embarrassment.

“So...? What..? Come on, please continue speaking...” Arkael urged as he was enjoying to hear the little boy’s blubbering.

“So, I... I won’t refuse your offer to be... to be your brother...” the little boy lowered his voice shyly.

“Hahaa...” Arkael’s laughter sounded so loud causing the young boy startled on his seat.

“You... were you just bluffing me..?” The young boy asked him in disbelief as he looked at the laughing Arkael sideways.

“Ahem! No! Don’t think of that way... I just felt happy to finally have a brother of mine...” Arkael responded immediately as he felt that the young boy was about to cry again!

A relief wash over the young boy’s heart as he nodded his head in a vigorous manner. He was glad that someone wanted to be his brother. Soon, he wouldn’t be alone in this park mending his little worries alone.

Arkael starred at the young boy beside him. He took a careful observation to the young boy’s features. Dark brown hair, furrowed eyebrows, blue eyes, long perfect nose, agape lips and a smooth skin-face.

He raised his little brows in confusion. What was he saying earlier? What was that again?  He tried to recall the young boy’s words earlier.

“A lot of kids told me that they despised me for I am looking so ugly...” that was the young boy’s words earlier that made his brows rose up higher.

When did the good-looking kid turned ugly to those kids’ eyes? Had they gone blind?