Carlyle's eyes widened then he glanced at his best friend who had been silent and watching from behind. He was taken aback by Brooklyn's statement since every time Bea and him ate he never thought of David and he was about to invite him for sushi! Did he want his best friend to die?! How can he forget that fact?
Seeing the attention, David stepped forward and greeted Brooklyn. Brooklyn exchanged a pleasant greeting too.
"It's fine, Bonie. I'll eat the cookie on my desk."
Brooklyn puffed his cheeks, acting helpless. "But... But.. wouldn't you be lonely?"
He turned to Carlyle with a puppy gaze. "Brother... will brother David be fine? You wouldn't leave him alone, don't you?"
David stared at Brooklyn, he was not surprised. Brooklyn had always acted like this whenever he wanted something. Years ago, the three of them became close. Even when he wanted to be with Carlyle alone the kid would suddenly appear like a sun, bringing warmth and order this and that from Carlyle, wanting to be pampered. Carlyle never became upset and indulged the child's whims. He did too.
He and Brooklyn were close because the kid was really good to be with and they had a lot to talk about as they were both music enthusiasts. He remembers that they would unintentionally end up alienating Carlyle as they talk when music becomes the topic. The three of them bonded because they love reading books, especially Brooklyn who was homeschooled and had no other means to have fun nor friends aside from the young Chen. Remembering it, he can't help but pity Brooklyn, if only the kid who grew up was not overly protected and overly sheltered his life might have ended up differently.
His gaze squinted as he wondered why would Brooklyn act like this. This was a good time for him to get to know Bea who was Carlyle's girlfriend. He side glanced at Bea if Brooklyn didn't like this girl, should he be happy?
Carlyle was helpless and lost, being stared at by those glistening eyes. It was his weakness ever since Brooklyn was a child. Many years had also passed since he last felt this dependence from his brother. He felt good. His heart was filled with warmth and he patted the youngster's head with a tender smile.
He turned his head towards his girlfriend and said, "We can just eat that later, what do you say?" There was no room for denial. Carlyle had declared that they'll eat it later. But if they eat it later the freshness would be lessened. What's sushi and sashimi without freshness?
Bea's mood was complicated and was turning sour. She had tried to delude herself from all Carlyle's change. She placed effort with this and it would become spoiled. She felt hurt but she would be immature if she reacted.
She stared at Carlyle. She opened and closed her mouth. Her heart was freezing. It would be dumb not to notice that she was being cornered by the younger brother.
Lumping her adversaries she said, "Oh... Sure. Sure. We can eat it later." And forced a smile.
"Thank you." Carlyle's smile was so blinding that it melted half of her frustration on the spot. Her smile brightened too.
"Master, the table has been set."
"Thanks, Butler Wang." Carlyle grabbed the bento and from Bea and smiled at her which Bea returned. He gave the box to Butler Wang to be kept away.
They entered Carlyle's office. Brooklyn eyed his surroundings curiously. Bea watched Brooklyn's reaction and couldn't help but smirk. She had been here a couple of times, she felt superior in some way, there was an obvious smugness in her heart. When she realized it she didn't feel good about it. Why would this kid's existence bug her? Why would she feel the need to compete? The kid was Carlyle's brother, why would she compete with a brother? Bothered by it she looked away picking her phone.
The main furnishing of the office was glass. The space was spacious and sophisticated mirroring the owner's temperament. The tables were made out of fiberglass and metal, the sofa leather. Brooklyn went and peaked from the window blinds and he gasped startled.
"Careful." Brooklyn blinked and closed his mouth.
He stood up from Carlyle's support. "That was shocking."
"I know." Carlyle stood beside Brooklyn reaching out the blinds.
He said with a teasing tone, "Do you want to open the blinds?"
Brooklyn gave a glare and pouted. He shook his head and went away to sit beside David, his mood sour.
Carlyle chuckled and sat beside Bea. He took it upon himself to appease his younger brother by pouring him his soy milk. He then gave the container to David as both of them loved soy milk with their cookies plus the fact that both of them are lactose intolerant.
"Thanks." Carlyle nodded.
Bea on the other hand watched this tacit understanding and felt excluded. Still, she chewed her bitterness and waited. Carlyle grabbed the fresh milk and placed one for Bea too but the action didn't lessen Bea's discomfort.
When the three started talking Bea sored out. Whenever she spoke Brooklyn would manage to divert the flow, blatantly alienating her. She even caught that smirk when Brooklyn did it the first time. Carlyle didn't react against it like before.
She silently nibbled her cookies tasting cardboard instead. She glanced at Carlyle who was so different than usual. His smiles were much wider and his eyes were much brighter. He seemed to glow when he laughed. He was like a normal person, not some domineering president. She was reminded that Carlyle was human too, not some god.
Her gaze went to David. This guy always gave her a placid judging look. David was known as Mr. Stoic because of his face that didn't seem to change and display emotion but that same person was smiling and chuckling from Brooklyn's words. He was also being talkative and looked very approachable.
Her gaze shifted to Brooklyn. The new entity. She knew Carlyle had a younger brother but Carlyle didn't talk much about him. She noticed the elusiveness of Carlyle and didn't open the brother topic again, thinking it was some family issue. But she never imagined that the younger brother would be seven years younger and undeniably beautiful like a piece of art. She searched for any news about Brooklyn but found none. As if the child didn't even exist in the first place.
Her grip tightened around her mug. The milk had gone cold. There was so much more that she didn't know about Carlyle and Brooklyn was showing her that and letting her know that she wasn't suited for him. As the three continued to talk, she felt the heaviness in her heart deepened. She felt her will shook and her heart trembled. Her heart tugged. She felt that things weren't supposed to be like this but she couldn't understand why she would feel this way.
"Why?" She blinked and noticed her surroundings were silent. She looked up to her side and saw her hand grasping Carlyle's arm. Her eyes met Carlyle's who was looking at her worriedly.
Now you look at me?
"Are you fine? You're pale. " She breathed a shaky breath. No, she can't stay anymore. She shook her head. "No, I'm not feeling well. Can you send me out? I think I'm gonna go first and rest."
"Are you sure? If you're feeling sick, you can take the rest of the day off. Just send your letter tomorrow." She nodded and stood up.
Carlyle did too and said to the other two, "I'll send her. I'll be right back." David and Brooklyn nodded, not caring or bothered.
When Carlyle and Bea went out Brooklyn shifted his seat near David and said, "Do you like my brother?" David spilled his soy milk and choked.
He coughed. Brooklyn went to his side and patted his back. "I'm sorry, was I too upfront?"
David gasped and wiped his misty eyes and said, "Ha... Bonie... Just what did you say?"
"I said... Do you like my brother?"
David stilled as he looked at Brooklyn's serious gaze. He can't help but involuntary nod. There was something in Brooklyn's eyes that he couldn't dare say a lie. It was an oppressive feeling that he felt chill in his back. For a split second Brooklyn seemed to become the devil.
Brooklyn broke off a triumphant grin. Carlyle entered with an expectant look, he asked the two, "What did I miss?"
Brooklyn shook his head and chuckled. "Nothing much, brother."
David's eyes widened in horror, his face paled. Brooklyn shot him a nonchalant look and glanced at Carlyle. David grabbed Brooklyn's shoulder in panic but he was too late.
"Ah, but it's our secret, Brother dear." David's breathing hitched and he nervously breathed out. He glared at Brooklyn, was he trying to kill him?
In his dismay, Brooklyn acted nothing.
"Oh?" Carlyle shifted his gaze at David.
"Why are you pale David? Are you sick too? Was it something you ate?"
The last question held nonchalance but it only irritated Brooklyn. Especially when he saw that teasing grin again. Carlyle was implying that the cookie made two people sick. It wasn't the cookie! The cookie was innocent after all it was him who made the two people pale! Jumping to the teasing he threw a throw pillow to Carlyle who caught it instead. Carlyle chuckled when he saw Brooklyn's frustrated look.
"Mm. Fine. It's your secret. I'm not gonna ask anymore." He sat down and squinted his eyes at David. "Go home early today you look sick. "
Brooklyn jabbed his elbow to David who was still silent. David nodded in pain. He glared at Brooklyn. Brooklyn just smiled at him innocently as ever.
===
To be continued…