Chapter 2

The next day at the international airport, I was wearing a black suit and custom-made leather shoes. My hair was combed back, revealing a strong and sharp jawline.

The moment I walked out of the arrivals exit, I heard a familiar voice.

“Why isn’t my brother out yet?”

Sean was wearing that dark grey bespoke suit which accentuated his tall, towering figure. His arm was around Wren’s svelte waist. There were a few other boys following behind him.

Wren had sunglasses on and said irritably, “We’ve been waiting for so long. Did he get stuck in his seat because he’s too fat?”

The boys doubled over in laughter.

Just then, a fat boy wearing a flat cap came walking out, dragging a luggage case behind him. He had a broad back and was wearing a loose sports jersey.

Sean’s eyes lit up as he said in a low voice, “He’s here!”

Wren took off her shades and yelled at the figure. “John Jackson!”

Sean covered his mouth and chuckled. “How did he end up fatter than he was two years ago?”

The boys pointed at the figure and laughed till they could hardly stand straight.

“My god, he’s huge! I’m sure he weighs at least half a ton. Wren, aren’t you afraid of being with someone who looks like a tank?”

“How dare he boast about appearing in that bespoke suit when he’s so fat! He’s really just shooting his mouth off online. He won’t live up to his words in reality. No wonder he has to wear that flat cap. He has a guilty conscience! Thankfully we came early to see what he really looks like, or he might just find someone to disguise as himself!”

The fat boy walked right past them.

Wren’s brows furrowed as she looked at his back.

She said irritably, “John Jackson, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear us calling you? Do you know how long Sean has been standing here waiting for you? John Jackson, I’m talking to you!”

The boy looked up at her and then turned to look away.

Wren pursed her lips and marched over to him. She patted his shoulders hard and said with frustration, “John Jackson! Are you deaf?”

If I were really that boy, would I end up being subject to their relentless bullying?

I stopped right there and filmed everything with my phone.

The boy they called “John Jackson” turned back and looked confused. “Who are you guys? I don’t know you.”

Sean immediately approached him and hugged his arm. “John, I know you’re mad that we saw through your lie about successfully losing weight. I missed you so much, that’s why I came early to pick you up from the airport. Just blame me alone, they have nothing to do with this.”

The boy shoved Sean to the ground. “You must be insane! I don’t know you guys at all! Also, I’ve seen the likes of you around, you pretentious, two-faced bastard. Hurting your brother in the name of doing good for him!”

“No, John! I didn’t! You can’t pretend you don’t know me just because I exposed your lie…”

“He’s pretending not to know us now when he was so arrogantly boasting about wearing the suit in the smallest size. Why didn’t he consider the possibility that we might see through his lie?”

Wren helped Sean up from the ground and whipped the flat cap off “John Jackson’s” head.

She said coldly, “You’re John Jackson, alright. Cut the act. Apologize to your brother right now or we’ll break up!”

The boy they insisted on calling John Jackson laughed as he pulled out his identity card from his bag. “Open your eyes and see what my name really is!”

All of them stood stunned.

Sean took his identity card and looked at it for a long time, mumbling to himself, “How could he not be my brother?”

“Cut the crap!” The boy pulled out his phone to call the police. “I recorded what you said earlier. You slandered me and even hit me. Mark my words, I’ll pursue legal action against you. Just wait for the police to arrive!”

I chuckled as I put my phone away. Putting on my shades, I turned to leave.

An announcement started playing.

“Mr. John Jackson, you left a notebook in the arrival hall. Please come to the information counter to retrieve it.”

Wren rushed off the moment she heard the announcement. “John must be here somewhere! Find him!”

Wren beat me to it and managed to get her hands on my diary. I was standing right behind her.

They lifted my notebook high up in the air as they recited every page.

[Today, Wren caught the flu. Her throat was so hoarse she could barely speak. I was so anxious I wished I could fly back to take care of her.

[Today, she sent me the very first voice message. I replayed it dozens of times. Her voice sounds so nice.

[On my birthday, she sent over a suit. It was too small and I couldn’t fit in it. But this is her first time giving me a present. I must work hard to be able to wear it!

[The tattooed area is inflamed. My roommate told me off for being stupid, but I think those two letters are the best part of my body.]

The entire notebook was filled with details of our online relationship.

I noted down every word she spoke and all her preferences and favorite things. I even checked out the weather of the cities she was in and always reminded her to put on more clothes or bring an umbrella.

Wren flipped through the pages. The smile on her face deepened. “See? I told you he loves me so desperately. Just wait! When I manage to find him, I’ll make him kneel to apologize.”

I pulled my luggage case along and walked past them. None of them recognized me.

I saw my notebook from the corner of my eyes. Trash had to be cleared away immediately, and that applied to both people as well as objects.

I didn’t want them anymore.

With that, I turned and walked out of the airport.

“Mr. Jackson!”

Everyone’s gaze landed on me, even Wren and her gang.

My back profile was lean and powerful, attracting the gazes of many as I stood there.

A middle-aged man waved at me and took my luggage case from me. He said respectfully, “Hello, I was sent here by Mr. Shackelford to pick you up. He's waiting for you in the car.”

I nodded and left with him.

“Did he just call that man Mr. Jackson?” Wren stared at my back for a long, long time.

“Wren, what are you thinking? How could that man be John Jackson? He’s a fatty who weighs 340 pounds!”

"Wren, they’re right. That person can’t possibly be my brother!”

Wren nodded, her gaze still fixed on my back profile as the corner of her lips lifted in a smirk.

“You’re right. John's a lovesick fool. How could he bear to throw away anything to do with me? Let’s go to the hotel first. I’m sure he’ll be there.”