"What do you mean by Ethan is dead?" Bradyen, a 6ft 1.2in handsome guy in a black leather jacket screamed, jerking to his feet.
"I just saw him three days ago. We were drinking and laughing until we called it a night. He was fine and healthy, so how could he possibly be dead huh?" Brayden yelled.
As he spoke, he paid no attention to the other customers who were staring at him like he was a mad man who ran away from a mental institution.
"Ali, if this is a joke then let me tell you that it isn't funny..."
"I also wish this was a joke too. You don't know how hard I am praying that this was a nightmare and that when I wake up Ethan will be right there laughing and calling me silly as he often does," Allison, a family friend said in a dejected voice.
"If this isn't a joke then are you trying to tell me that my elder brother whom I saw three days ago is dead?" Brayden demanded as he ran his ten fingers through his well-styled undercut hair.
"He was pronounced dead by the doctor half an hour ago and his body has been deposited in the morgue," Allison explained as calmly as he could. The sadness in his voice made Brayden realise that the news might not be a prank like he thought.
"If this is a dream then I wish I could wake up from it," Brayden murmured. He sank into the brown sofa behind, lost and defeated.
"You are needed back here. I..."
"I will be taking the earliest flight back home," Brayden cut in without waiting for the caller to finish his sentence.
"Ok, I will inform your parents about it and get everything set for your arrival," Allison said. He was about to say something else when someone called his name from behind.
"See you soon," He muttered and immediately disconnected the call.
Brayden had come out to the bar to have fun like he often does every evening but after the bad news that greeted his ears, he could not take a sip from the glass of vodka in front of him.
He sat down there for five minutes staring into space. In this vast place occupied by more than twenty customers, he heard nothing that transpired there.
Even his favourite music playing in the background lost its beauty at that moment.
"Brayden, this is not the time to sit here and mourn. Don't forget that you are needed back home," Brayden scolded himself, standing up from the table he occupied alone.
He made his way to the bar's exit instantly.
"Bray," A lady in a mini red skirt that barely covered her thigh called out to him but the distracted guy couldn't hear a thing.
He walked out of the bar without hesitation.
On his way back to his apartment Brayden booked a returning flight to Naviler Country; a place he hadn't visited for the past four years even though his family resided there.
When he got to his apartment, it took him less than thirty minutes to pack his stuff. Although there were about four hours before his flight would take off, Brayden couldn't get a wink of sleep.
He kept staring at the clock as if time would move faster this way.
While trying to kill time, he picked up the blue photo album lying at his side table. Gently, he opened the album and took a look at the photos.
Although this was his photo album, there were more of Ethan's pictures than his. He was never fond of taking pictures because he enjoyef his privacy but for his sake, Ethan normally took not less than thirty pictures whenever he visited him.
His elder brother was one of the busiest men in Naviler Country. If he wasn't at the office working he was seen at home taking care of his kids.
Despite his business, he constantly made time to visit him at least twice in three months to ensure he was doing alright notwithstanding the long distance.
Ethan was that kind of big brother to him and he has started missing him already.
"With my best buddy and biggest supporter gone, what is gonna become of me now?" Brayden murmured caressing the picture in which Ethan was smiling the brightest.
A drop of tear fell from his eyes onto the photo album when memories of him and his elder brother flowed into his head.
Brayden continued to go through the photo album until an hour before his departure time.
As soon as his alarm clock set off, Brayden set out to the airport with the few things he had managed to pack.
Upon his arrival at Pillred International Airport, three tall guys in blue suits were already waiting for him.
"This way, Young Master," The guy wearing a different shade of blue suit from the other two guys said and led the way out of the Airport.
While he was responsible for leading the way, the other two guys took care of Brayden's luggage.
"Dylan, what exactly happened to Ethan? Did he suffer from an accident? Was he poisoned? I won't ask if he was ill because he looked perfectly okay when we parted ways four three nights ago," Brayden spoke to the guy walking side by side with him.
"We learned from the doctor after he collapsed at his office and was rushed to hospital that the President was terminally ill..."
"Ethan was terminally what?" The stunned Brayden shouted, causing passers-by to focus their attention on them.
"Ethan was as lively as ever when we met up that night. He made fun of me and laughed a couple of times. He showed no sign of being sick, so how could you say he was terminally ill?" Brayden asked in a much calmer tone.
"Nobody believed it when the doctor disclosed the truth last night. Madam Lawrence even accused the doctor of lying so he would escape taking responsibility for not doing a better job at treating the President," Dylan, the guy in a different shade of blue suit replied.
"Madam Lawrence almost had the doctor locked up if not that he provided President Ethan's medical report," Dylan added.
"Ethan was terminally ill? How?" Brayden murmured in a daze. He resumed walking again but at a slower pace.
Upon reaching the Lawrence Mansion, Brayden was greeted by a gloomy atmosphere. His parents who always nagged him to return him didn't stand up to welcome him like they would have done in a normal situation.