Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 113: You are So Weird

That day, the weather was not very good. The wind was strong enough to blow the snow off the trees. Louis drove slowly and carefully.

Nael, sitting in the back seat, seemed oblivious to his surroundings, busy with his cell phone.

"Nathan, are you wearing the bracelet I gave you for Christmas?" he asked.

"No." Nathan, who was staring out the window, replied briefly.

"Why? You don’t like it?"

"I never wear bracelets."

"But it’s not like jewelry. It’s just an accessory. It’s cute."

"Thanks, but I’m not interested."

Nael pouted. "I made it myself for you."

"Don’t make me feel guilty. I appreciate your gift. I will keep it. I’ll bring it with me later once I get out of the house," Nathan replied, promising.

Nael stared intently at Nathan. He was silent for quite a while, his face suddenly sad. Then he looked down.

"I’m sorry... I made you uncomfortable at home," he said.

Nathan sighed, finally looking at Nael. "Nothing can change my decision. I’ve already decided I won’t stay after six months. I’ll get my money and leave. It has nothing to do with you. Although you are really annoying."

He looked back out the window, at the expanse of distant houses covered in snow and the trees swaying heavily.

Nael looked at Nathan again. "You hated me from the beginning. If I were in your position, I would feel the same."

Nathan was silent. At first, he had hated the boy, feeling that his life was unfair. Nael had everything, while he had to struggle just to survive and eat properly every day.

But he knew he couldn’t change his fate. The longer he knew Nael, the less he hated him. That didn’t mean he loved him. It just meant he didn’t care anymore.

Nael poked his arm, demanding attention.

"What?" Nathan looked up lazily.

"Do you think if I go, you will stay with our brothers?" he asked, his face very serious.

Nathan immediately clicked his tongue. "What makes you think you can leave? You won’t survive with your weak body and mind."

Nael immediately pouted. "I’m not that bad. I’m the winner of the inter-school fencing tournament. I’m quite strong."

Nathan shook his head, unimpressed. "I’m sure you’ll cry on the street. You can’t even open a tuna can."

Nael sighed. "No, I’m serious—"

"Forget about your stupid ideas. I don’t like any of you. I’ll stay if all of you get out of the house," Nathan replied, cutting Nael off.

"How can we all get out of the house? Why can’t you love any of us? They try their best to love you. You even refused Alex’s invitation for a day out," said Nael.

"Because I don’t feel I have an obligation to love you. Even if you die, it won’t make me want to stay."

Nael sighed deeply. He looked back at Nathan with a pleading expression. "I’m sorry for last time. I really didn’t mean to be an asshole. I was mean. Please don’t hate me..."

Nathan was annoyed. "What’s wrong with you? It’s still morning!"

Nael opened his cell phone. "Do you like this?"

Nathan was lazy, but he turned his head and saw a box of chocolates with a red ribbon. It looked tempting.

"What is it?"

"Last year I made this for my friends. But this year, I think I’ll only make it for Hale. I’m planning to make one for you too."

"Shouldn’t you keep it a secret?"

"Why? I’d like to know which one you like. I’ll make one for you." Nael showed him some of his collection of pictures.

Nathan was quite surprised to learn that the boy had the patience to make chocolate. He frowned suspiciously. "You bought the chocolate, right?"

Nael clicked his tongue. "I bought chocolate bars, then melted them and poured them into molds. Satisfied?" he grumbled irritably. "Choose!" he urged.

Nathan clicked his tongue, looking at the pictures again. "Up to you."

Nael refused to accept this. "No! You have to choose!"

Nathan finally chose the box with the red ribbon from the first picture.

Nael smiled contentedly. "I want some chocolate too."

Nathan glared. "I didn’t say I would make it. Too much hassle."

"Oh, come on! Make me some chocolate too."

"You can’t force people to give you chocolate on Valentine’s Day! Seriously!"

"Come on! Nobody gives me chocolate..."

"Ask your brothers!"

"What? They’ll only prepare for their lovers. Not me. And they’re your brothers too!" Nael complained.

"Well, I will not make chocolate for sure."

Nael clicked his tongue, finally sitting up straight again, seemingly accepting that his twin was not enthusiastic about Valentine’s Day.

"If only I had a boyfriend," Nael complained again.

Nathan immediately remembered Zimmer and Nael. He looked at his twin. "Don’t ever think about it! What’s fun about having a lover? Just for chocolate? You can get that in stores!"

Nael pouted even more.

"You really like a girl. Seriously," Nathan mocked.

"Take that back. It hurts me!"

"No way."

Nael growled in annoyance, but before he could start an argument, the car entered the school grounds.

Louis, who had been listening all along, immediately separated them. "We’re here! Have a good day!" he exclaimed.

Nael looked at Louis. "Louis, after school, let’s stop by the chocolate store. I need to buy something."

Nathan sighed. "No way. Not today."

"Oh, come on!"

"Okay, okay, we’ll see later. See you! Have a good day!" Louis exclaimed, ushering the two boys out of the car.

As they walked to their classroom, Nael spoke seriously to Nathan.

"Nathan, do you know Huan is resigning this month? Do you think we can help him stay?" he asked.

Nathan frowned. He didn’t know. Maybe he was too busy in his own world. "Huan is going to resign. It’s up to him. I wouldn’t be happy working with Alex either. It’s different from Louis. Louis was fired unfairly."

Nael looked sad. "But I like Huan. Alex will go crazy if Huan is gone, and then the house will feel like hell."

"Well, it’s not my problem."

Nael walked ahead and stopped in front of Nathan. "Please? Can we try to change Huan’s mind?"

"You can’t even change my mind about staying, let alone Huan’s."

Nael grumbled. "Come on, we have to do something."

Nathan was silent. He wasn’t close to Huan, but the man seemed patient and attentive. It seemed he was the one who actually took care of everything in the mansion.

If he wasn’t there, it would be like a fireplace without fire. He could imagine how cold the mansion would be.

But he couldn’t do anything if that was what Huan wanted.

That afternoon, Nathan wanted to take Zane to the cafeteria, but the boy shook his head and walked out.

"Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to smoke again?" asked Nathan, who knew why he cared so much if Zane smoked. He was afraid the boy’s asthma would flare up again.

"I’m going to the library," replied Zane.

Zane usually didn’t talk much, but this time his tone was cold.

Nathan felt something was strange. He finally contacted Eli to say that they wouldn’t be going to the cafeteria, but to the library instead.

Zane glanced over, not expecting Nathan to follow him to the library.

"You should eat," he said, stopping in his tracks. "You can’t skip meals."

Nathan looked at Zane. "We’ll have lunch together during the second break. You want to go to the library, right? I’ll come with you."

The air in the library was thick with the scent of old paper. The distinctive quiet atmosphere made him feel peaceful, as if he had stepped into a different world. There weren’t many students there. Some of the students looked familiar to Nathan, but they didn’t pay any attention to his arrival, busy with the books on their tables.

Nathan took the opportunity to look for some books. He saw Zane grab a random book and sit at a table by the window.

Nathan felt uneasy about the boy’s attitude. Ever since their last visit to Gabriel’s house, Zane had changed. He didn’t know what the problem was. Had he accidentally hurt the boy’s feelings?

Zane lazily opened the history book in his hands. He wasn’t enthusiastic about studying, nor was he interested in reading anything. He just wanted to avoid Nathan.

For some reason, he felt uncomfortable. He glanced at Nathan, and the boy also looked at him, causing him to immediately look away.

At Gabriel’s, Nathan had been soft and comfortable. He laughed and even joked with Gabriel casually, like a best friend. Meanwhile, he had just sat quietly, watching.

He didn’t like that closeness. For some reason, seeing Nathan laugh there made him upset. The boy never laughed that hard with him. Why, of all people, was Nathan so happy being close to Gabriel, his arch enemy?

Their time in the library wasn’t long, and when they returned to class, Nathan couldn’t take it anymore.

Now, Zane sat at his desk, his pen moving with mechanical precision across his notebook. He ignored him.

Nathan pulled his chair closer.

"Are you angry at me?" Nathan finally asked.

Zane didn’t pause his writing. "No. Why should I be?"

"You’re so weird today. You haven’t said more than ten words to me since this morning."

"I just need to study more."

"Since when?"

Zane sighed. "Just... leave me alone."

Nathan felt a sting of irritation. He felt the distance. Zane was right there, but he felt miles away.

"Did I make a mistake?" Nathan asked, still unwilling to give up. Something was definitely wrong.

Zane was silent for a long time, until finally he blurted out, "I don’t think you need me anymore."