Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 81: Strange Nael

That afternoon, school ended. Most students had already swarmed toward their luxury convoys. In the locker room, Gabriel Perlich stood in the center of the tiled floor, his massive frame casting a shadow that seemed to climb up the wall and across the ceiling.

Nathan stood three feet away, clutching his backpack straps so hard his knuckles were white.

"I told you, Gabriel, it’s fine," Nathan whispered, his voice echoing. "Franc is the one who did it. You were just misled."

Gabriel looked determined. "No. I’ve made a mistake."

For several minutes, they argued about this ridiculous thing, until Nathan felt annoyed.

"Well, okay. What do you want? I need to go home now."

Gabriel stepped forward, making Nathan step back reflexively.

"Hit me."

Nathan’s eyes widened. "What?"

"Hit me. I don’t want to feel guilty."

Nathan stepped back, giving them enough distance. "Are you crazy?"

"I’m sorry. I didn’t give you a chance to defend yourself." Gabriel looked so dejected, a far cry from the big, scary giant Nathan knew.

Gabriel stepped forward, his heavy boots thudding. "I placed my hands on someone innocent. I almost hit you, twice. My father taught me that if you take someone’s dignity, you owe them a piece of your own."

Gabriel stopped inches from Nathan. He reached out, his hand, nearly the size of Nathan’s head, grabbing Nathan’s wrist. He didn’t pull, but the strength was undeniable.

He lifted Nathan’s hand and balled it into a fist, then pressed that fist against his own square, unshakable jaw.

"Hit me," Gabriel commanded again. His eyes were flinty, dead serious.

"You’re fucking crazy! No!" Nathan tried to pull back, but Gabriel’s grip was like a vice made of warm iron.

"Do me a favor, Salazar," Gabriel growled, his face hardening into a mask of professional severity. "Take your shot. Right here. I won’t move. I won’t retaliate. We walk out of here even."

"I’m not going to hit you, Gabriel!" Nathan shouted, his voice cracking. "That’s not how this works! You don’t just pay for mistakes with violence!"

Gabriel’s brow furrowed, a genuine flash of confusion breaking through his harsh exterior. To him, the world was a series of transactions. If you broke a window, you paid for the glass. If you broke a person’s spirit, you offered your skin. At least, that was what he had learned from his parents.

"Why not?" Gabriel asked, his voice dropping to a low, intense rumble. "You’re afraid I’ll hit you back? I’m telling you, you have a free pass. One hit. Full force. It’s the Perlich way. We don’t leave debts unpaid."

"I don’t care about the Perlich way!" Nathan retorted, finally wrenching his hand free. He took a step back, his chest heaving. "I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. You said you were sorry. You knew the truth, you fixed it with Franc. That’s enough for me."

Gabriel stood frozen, his fist still half-raised in the air where Nathan had dropped it. He looked hulking and absurdly out of place in the locker room. For a second, the "tough guy" facade crumbled, revealing a boy who was simply trying his best to be honorable in a world that had taught him honor was a violent business.

He looked down at his own hands, then back at Nathan.

"It’s enough?" Gabriel asked quietly. The strictness was gone, replaced by raw, quiet vulnerability.

"The fact that you’re standing here, making this weird, terrifying offer, it’s enough. Even if you’re a total lunatic about it. We’re even. I promise."

But Gabriel seemed unsatisfied. "Hit me once! What’s the big deal? Make us even."

Nathan stared sharply at Gabriel. "It’s not even. You didn’t hit me. Why do I need to hit you?"

Nathan stepped past Gabriel to leave immediately. He noticed several students standing nearby, too scared to enter because of them and Gabriel’s loud voice.

"Salazar?"

Nathan stopped at the doorway. "What?"

Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy, high-end silver pen with the name Perlich engraved on it. He pressed it into Nathan’s hand with the same intensity he’d used to demand a punch.

"Take the pen. It’s a gift. If you ever need ’help’, if Franc or anyone else breathes in your direction, you call me. I’m on your retainer now."

Nathan stared at the pen in his hand, still shocked, still not understanding why the boy was so insistent on paying for his mistake. For a small, natural misunderstanding.

He just stood there, staring at Gabriel’s broad, sturdy back until the boy disappeared behind the wall.

Why was this school filled with such strange kids?

As soon as he stepped out the door, Zane ran toward him, panting as if he had just run a marathon.

Nathan worried that Zane’s asthma would flare up. "Hey! Are you okay?" he asked.

Zane straightened and took a deep breath before speaking. He looked Nathan up and down, then sighed deeply. He ignored the students around him, who were hurriedly grabbing their bags.

"What is it?" Nathan asked.

"You okay? I heard Perlich was giving you trouble," Zane said softly, his breathing still irregular.

Nathan shook his head. "No, he came to apologize."

Zane stared intently at Nathan. "What? He... apologized?"

Nathan nodded. "He’s not that bad."

Zane shook his head. As long as he had known Gabriel, he had never seen any good in that kid. "Don’t go near him anymore."

Nathan was silent, staring at Zane, then smiled. "You worry about me?" He patted Zane’s arm gently. "Thanks, but I’m not a kid. I can take care of myself."

Zane stood there until Nathan walked past him. He didn’t want to seem too concerned, but in truth, he was worried. At that moment, he couldn’t say anything, his tongue felt tied.

"Thanks for the soup," was all that came out of his mouth.

Nathan waved. "No problem! See you tomorrow!"

Nathan stepped into the car, quite surprised to find Nael already inside. It was unusual.

"I thought you were still inside," Nathan said.

Nael just smiled slightly, saying nothing.

Nathan didn’t talk during the whole trip.

Louis stared out the rear window, looking at the houses passing behind them. Occasionally, he glanced at Nael’s silent, sad expression. He wondered what the boy was thinking.

Louis wasn’t sure if the boy knew what had happened to Zimmer. Alexander would never let him know, for sure.

Nael stared at the road, his mind full. He couldn’t concentrate all day. Even though he had convinced himself that he had made a mistake in having a relationship with Zimmer, he felt that something was strange.

Frustration and anger filled his chest. Why did that man have the heart to play with him? He had trusted him with all his heart. Why did everyone want to hurt him?

Was there anyone who truly loved him?

Nael was lost in thought, his face sad.

Nathan occasionally glanced at the boy’s strange behavior. He didn’t want to care, but Nael’s silence felt very strange at that moment.

"Are you heartbroken?" Nathan asked.

Nael frowned and shook his head.

He then looked at Nathan. "Tomorrow, can I have Louis? I want to go for a walk after school."

Nathan was silent. "No, I’ll take the bus. Don’t worry."

Nael looked at Nathan. "Why? You can ask Jack to pick you up."

"No, I don’t want to. I don’t need it."

"Don’t you remember what happened last time?"

Nathan sighed. "It will just take half an hour. It’s crowded here."

He didn’t know why Nael seemed so annoyed at the moment. What was wrong with taking the bus?

"Can’t you just not be annoying for one day?" Nael said suddenly.

Nathan stared at him. "What? Do I need your permission to take the bus?"

"No. But you make everything complicated. You can just ask Jack to go with you. Why do I need to give in to you?"

"What? Give in? I never asked you to give in. What are you talking about?"

Nael felt very annoyed and turned his face away.

Nathan was confused and angry.

Louis swallowed hard behind the wheel. He was unsure whether to interrupt, knowing it would only make things worse.

But he felt that Nael was acting out of character.

However, the next day, Nael agreed to let Jack pick him up to go downtown. Meanwhile, Louis picked up Nathan as usual.

The five brothers felt the tension between the two. They didn’t talk at all, not even during dinner. Nael deliberately avoided Nathan. Nathan, as usual, didn’t care.

Three days passed, and their relationship was on the brink of collapse. Until that night, Nael asked Alexander to assign another servant to Nathan. He wanted Isabel for himself.

Alexander frowned. Isabel had been taking care of all of them and had never complained. The woman was used to it. It wouldn’t change whether Nathan was there or not.

"Why, Nael? Do you need something from Isabel?" Alexander asked.

"I want her to stay in my room longer instead of wandering around, especially taking care of Nathan," Nael said.

Malvin, who was sitting there, looked at Nael. He had discussed the boy’s change with his siblings, and right now Nael seemed to be at his peak.

"Is this because of Nathan, or because you need Isabel?" Alexander asked for clarification.

Nael stared at his food, not answering. He played with it on his plate.

"Nael?"

Nael pouted. "I just want Isabel!"

Nathan stared, not caring who served him. "You can have Isabel as you like."

Nael looked back down at his food.

Alexander sighed. "Nael, tell me, what’s wrong? Before, you wanted Louis, and you know this month it’s his schedule to watch Nathan. Now you want Isabel only for yourself. What happened?"

Nael was silent. He didn’t feel the need to explain. He just wanted everything to be the way it used to be, before Nathan came along. He didn’t mind that they were all busy, it hadn’t changed anything anyway. They were still busy now, busy loving Nathan.

He was just a shadow.

Alexander knew the problem wasn’t Louis or Isabel. If he granted this request now, later there would be more things Nael wanted.

"Nael, Isabel will take care of everyone like before. If you want something else from her, just tell her. I’m sure she’ll know how to manage her time," Alexander said.

Nael looked away, clearly dissatisfied, but remained silent.

He chose to leave and go home with Jack instead of Nathan.

Nathan didn’t seem to care, but Nael’s attitude was clearly provocative, and that bothered him.

What was wrong with that kid?

So annoying!