Brother Knows Best

Today is the day my brother and I sit down in the garden with a cup of coffee and talk about what took place during the week. It’s a good way for us to vent and ask each other for advice while we’re at it too. I know what you’re thinking, despite what people might think we’re not always at each other’s throats!

“Dad’s got me working extra,” my brother grumbled.

“What! Why?” I ask.

“Don’t ask something about our rival company…” he mumbles the last part.

I could tell he was annoyed but was trying to keep calm.

“Aren’t you supposed to go on holiday with your girlfriend soon?” I asked.

He turned to me with the intent of murder, I flinched back but his eyes softened.

He sighed, “Had to bloody cancel like I said overtime.”

“Oh, but I’m sure she understands,” I tried to sympathise with him.

“That’s the thing, she does! And I hate that she’s too good and none of these things bothers her, if I cancel on her she doesn’t mind, if I accidentally forget important dates she doesn’t care, if I yell at her because I’m too tired or frustrated she doesn’t get angry!” he put his head in his hands.

“Whatever you do, do not take up this job no matter what Dad says do not join the business!” he told me.

I looked at him wide-eyed, did he want me homeless?

“Start looking for a job now! Save up then by the time you’re my age you should have enough saved up for your place,” he explained while looking at the far end of the garden, past the field, straight to where a forest is.

“Why didn’t you do that then?” I asked.

“Because I didn’t think THIS would happen! I didn’t know Dad would present me with an ultimatum,” his tone took a sharp turn.

“Okay, calm down,” I chuckle slightly.

It’s okay if my brother and I argue because we do it over stupid things, but if it’s over something serious, it gets me a little anxious, and I hate it.

“I’m sorry I know these things bother you, anyways enough about me, tell me how’s school,” he leans back a slight smile on his face.

“It’s good,” I shrug.

I contemplate whether or not to tell him about the club.

“Looks like there’s something on your mind, come on Spill,” he nods.

I exhale slowly trying to build up the courage to tell him, he always makes me feel like some nerd whenever it comes to my books.

“I joined a club,” I admit, quietly.

“You… what?” he asked, leaning forward this time.

“I-I joined a club,” I say a little louder.

“You joined a club? Does that finally mean you have friends?” he laughed loudly.

“Hey I have friends,” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Uh-huh. Books don’t count you, Nerd,” he laughs.

“Hey I’m not a Nerd, I’m a…”

“A bookworm! I know what’s the difference?” he rolled his eyes.

Did he just ask me that?

“About the same difference there is between Rock and Classical Music,” I grinned knowing he’s got my point now.

“Oh wow. I thought that since you were so into books, you’d be a nerd,” he shrugged.

No! To simplify everything a nerd is someone who reads to learn as well as be a ‘know-it-all’ and a bookworm is someone who reads to escape reality,” I explained.

“So, you read to get away from all this, kinda like how I use my music to escape from all this,” my brother smiles.

“Exactly,” I nod.

“So, now that you’re in a club does that mean you’ll be making actual, human, from this world, friends?” he asks.

“Technically, but…”

He lets out a loud laugh.

“About time little bro, I was worried you were gonna die single,” he told me in mock sympathy.

Ahh, I see the brother I love, hate, and wish I never knew is back.

Ha! You wish! I’m running this club with a girl!”

I immediately regretted saying that when I saw the look on his face.

“Ooooooooooh” he gushes.

I swear I’ve never heard or seen him like this, sounds like a right girl he does.

He shifted his chair closer, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned forward resting his chin on his hand.

“Spill it, boy! Don’t keep me in suspense!” he urged me to tell him more.

I swear he’s acting more and more like how girls do when there’s juicy gossip that needs to be told.

“She’s a bookworm too, we recently just met but I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. We have a similar interest in everything and honestly, I just regret not meeting her sooner,” I admit.

“Well, everything happens for a reason, little bro. Perhaps you guys were destined to meet now,” he shrugged, leaning back again.

I looked at him surprised.

“I thought you said you’ve been busy with work,” I ask raising an eyebrow.

“I have,” he nods, confused.

“You sound just like your girlfriend,” I laughed.

He smiled wide, a scarlet tint on his cheeks.

“I guess she’s rubbing off on me,” he looked down.

“Good, if you become more like her then maybe you’ll be nicer to me,” I grinned.

He picks up a cherry from the bowl sitting on the table and launches it at me, it bounces off my head and lands back in the basket.

“Whooooo!” my idiot of a brother cheers shooting his arms up.

“Oww,” I say rubbing my head.

“How did that cherry not go splat?” I pick up the cherry surprised.

“I don’t know but that was a damn good shot if I do say so myself,” he bows to an imaginary audience.

I roll my eyes, “You got lucky that’s all.”

“Whatever, besides I’m always nice to you! I just don’t like it when you go in my room and take my stuff without my permission,” he says.

“Okay, enough of that, what’s this girl’s name anyways?”

“Oh, it’s Akabane Ichigo,” I tell him.

I watch as the colour drains from his face.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I hear him mumble.

“Out of all the girls… maybe it’s a different Akabane Ichigo I mean there could be loads of Akabane Ichigo out there,” he continued to say quietly to himself.

What don’t I know?

“So, how long have you two been friends?” he asks, a smile plastered to his face.

“About a week,” I tell him, sceptically.

He seemed to calm down a little.

“Okay, okay that’s good.” He nods.

"Okay, seriously what’s going on?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he shrugs.

“What do you mean nothing? Come on I saw the colour drain from your face, you looked like you saw a damn ghost and you’re saying nothing? That’s bullshit!” I yell.

“Hey, language!” he chided.

“Oh, shut up! I’m 17 for crying out loud stop treating me like I’m some five-year-old! Don’t I have the right to know? I got to school with this girl, I’m supposedly friends with her, and to top it all off I’m in a club with her as well! If there’s something shady about her, don’t I have the right to know?” I ask.

He huffed a little annoyed a little tired, “Look, all I’m saying is you’re new to the whole friendship thing, so just watch your back, okay?” my brother says.

“Oh, and for your good, DO NOT under any circumstance say her name again, at least not when Dad’s home,” he explained while gripping my shoulders.

He gets up and quickly walks back inside the house leaving me to my thoughts.

What did he know?

Why was he acting all suspicious?

And why can’t I mention a girl, who’s my friend’s name in the house and especially not around Dad?

But now that I think about it, whenever I’m around Ichigo I feel like I’ve known her my whole life, we just clicked immediately, how is that possible? I’ve only read about these things in books I never thought I’d be able to experience them in real life.

Do I know her? If I do then why don’t I remember?

So many questions and not enough answers, well I’m determined to find the answers and I’m going to get them one way or another!

I get up and march to my brother’s room, he is going to tell me everything I need to know whether he likes it or not! The way he’s acting is making me a little worried and not just about myself but this whole friendship between Ichigo and myself.

And not to forget that not only her, but her dad’s name seemed familiar as well, why does it all sound familiar and why can’t I remember? All these questions were making my head spin.

I stormed up the stairs and into my brother’s room, he was lying on the bed, his headphones in his ears and a guitar resting on his stomach, he lazily played while listening to whatever song he was listening to.

I yanked the headphones out of his ears, he slowly opened his eyes a stoic expression on his face.

“I demand answers!” is all I say to him.

He sighs and gently places the guitar next to him, while running a hand down his face and at the back of his neck he gestures towards the door and then the office chair in front of his desk.

I first shut the door and then sit down on the office chair, waiting for him to start.

“Before I dive into the details, just out of curiosity what’s her dad’s name?”

“It’s Akabane Chiharu,” I tell him.

“Fuck,” my brother mumbles.

Shit! I already don’t like the sound of that!

Akabane Ichigo who are you?