I watched my brother from my peripheral. He was talking to one of the girls we came with, and I'm left to mingle with the others.
The party, we came with, wasn't as I expected. There was no loud music and no sweaty bodies. It was more like a gathering of friends.
“I will be right back,” Brother said to them before he headed towards me.
“Are you going to be okay on your own?” Brother asked when he came to my side, he ruffled my hair a bit and smiled.
“Yeah, what's up?”
“There's something I need to do with Kate. She asked for my help earlier.”
“Kate? Who's Kate?” I frown at him.
Could it be the same girl he was talking about earlier?
“You don't know her. She recently packed into the Street with her family.”
“Oh.”
It's official.
She's the one he was referring to.
“What's wrong? Why's the expression on your face dull?”
“Dull?” I laughed it off. “There is no such thing as that.”
“If you say so.”
Brother looked like he wanted to say something more, but thought better.
“What are you doing with her?”
“She asked me to help her pull a bike up. I will be back before you notice my absence. If you need anything, just tell Kin, he will help you with it.”
“Okay.” I turn my back to him, “She's waiting.”
I pretended as if I were okay, while deep down, I wasn't.
“See you when I return,” Brother said before he left me to my device.
“Guess it's me alone, then.” I glance around at the unfamiliar faces of his friends as I wondered why I accepted to come to this party with him.
Well, I thought my brother might spend all his time with me.
Who knew he will leave me behind, in pursuit of a girl that just happened to capture his heart?
I sat at the end of the couch close to the door that probably led to the corridor, this way, I won't get in the way of the seniors who were chatting in groups.
No one paid attention to the poor boy by the side, and it was okay. At least, I won't be forced to answer some annoying questions seniors ask their younger ones.
“Hi.”
I turn at the sound of a familiar voice.
“Max?” I was surprised at the sight of my classmate.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came with my brother,” I smile at him, “what are you doing here?”
Last I checked, this small party is for close friends who happened to be seniors.
Max is no senior, and he doesn't look like a person that follows the same crowd as the seniors.
“This is my house. My brother is the one throwing this excuse of a party.” He sat next to me on the couch, without asking for my permission to do so.
I guess this is his house.
He's free to do as he, pleases.
“Oh.” I glanced around the parlour. This time, I wasn't hasty as I studied the decor, “you guys undeniably have a taste in things like this.” I point to the cushion and the curtains.
“Yeah, my mom is an artist. Each of the houses we pack into always ends up as canvases to her. Wait until you see the corridors, it's filled with her paintings!”
I don't know why, but his words sounded as if he was inviting me to look at the said paintings.
“That's good.”
As I don't know what to do, I opted to nod along.
“Do you want to see the paintings?”
“I think I will pass,” I glance at the door once more.
“You've been looking at the door for a long time. Are you expecting someone?”
“My brother. He said he won't be long. I'm waiting for him to return.”
“Oh.” Max frowned a bit, “is he your biological brother?”
“No. He's my stepbrother.”
It's not a secret that I'm not related to him by blood.
“Oh.”
“Is there anything wrong?” I arch a brow at Max.
“No.” He shrugged, “I overheard someone talking about how close you are with each other despite not being related by blood.”
“Oh.”
I didn't say anything more because I don't know what to say about it.
Max didn't say anything for a long time, and I thought he wasn't going to say anything.
The silence didn't bother me at all since I got used to it.
Brother confiscated my phone, so there was no way I can contact Jane, to gossip a little.
“Do you want to see something nice?”
“What's it?” I turn to fully face him, but I made sure to keep my entire focus on the door, so I won't miss my brother when he comes in.”
“Let's go.” Max stood up and expected me to rise with him.
“Where?”
“I want to show you something. It's better than sitting here all night. Nothing fun happens whenever my brother throws a party. The only fun game they play is truth and dare. And it doesn't start until late at night.”
“I will wait for it,” I sat on my chair, and made no move to rise.
“Why?”
“I'm waiting for my brother.”
“He's not lost, is he?”
“No, he asked me to wait for him. He will be back soon. I don't want him to look for me when he does so.”
“Don't worry, I will ask my brothers to tell me where he went.”
“That won't do. What if your brother forgets to tell him when he returns?”
“He won't. I will ask him to tell your brother the moment he returns and starts looking for you. Don't worry, I will let him know.”
“But—”
“If you don't want to go with me, you can just tell me that, you don't have to beat around an overgrown bush.” Max sounded pissed.
And somehow, I felt bad for him and wanted to cheer him up.
“Okay. But make sure you tell your brother to tell my brother of my whereabouts.”
I don't want to get brother worried.
“Don't worry, I will make sure brother does that,” Max said before he left. He went over to his brother and whispered something to him before he left.