Chapter 4

Eric’s mouth dropped open. “Dude, are you kidding me?” I lit a cigar, tapping my finger on the table—a habit I had before every mission. “If it is you...your brother liked you, what would you do?” Eric thought seriously. “If it were me, I’d get married and have kids. Let him pine forever!” I must have lost my mind to ask someone as improper as Eric that question. I exhaled a puff of smoke and continued thinking about how to resolve the relationship between us. But my mind kept drifting back uncontrollably to my reaction that day, making me more irritable. I crushed the cigar out. Sigh. Eric suddenly blurted out, “Wait, you don’t think he’s trying to turn you gay with those guys, then ‘save’ you, lock you up, and force you to love him, do you?” “Shut up!” I threw a thick stack of contracts and a silver key at him. “Here. Investment for your business project.” “Condition: play along with me.” Eric grinned, happily pocketing the key. “Got it, boss. I’ll nail this.” I called Dad, arranging a family dinner and making sure Abel came. Dad didn’t say much that day, but Abel could barely stand, his eyes burning into me like they might pierce through. At the table, I took Eric’s hand and announced his “status” officially. Eric raised his glass to Abel smoothly. “Cheers to me and Simon.” It was a deliberate provocation to Abel. Abel’s face went white. He stared at me for seconds, then downed his drink. His eyes turned red. For some reason, I couldn’t bear to look at his teary eyes. Eric served me food naturally. “Honey, eat up.” “Want shrimp? I’ll peel some for you.” Abel slammed his utensils down. “I’m done. You two enjoy.” His lean, straight figure walked out, making my chest tight. Eric was still in character. “C’mon, honey, open up.” I gave him a disgusted look. “Enough.” He was overdoing it. After that, I stayed at Eric’s place on purpose, rarely going home. I wanted to give Abel time to calm down, but instead, he got worse. While I was gone, he gave Eric a check. Abel:[Name your price. Leave my brother.] Eric: [Your brother and I are in true love.] Abel: [I’ll double whatever he invested in you.] Eric: [Let me think.] When Eric told me, he swore on his life: “Boss, I didn’t betray you! I just said that to keep him calm.” I scoffed. “You wanted to get paid by both sides.” Eric smiled sheepishly. I rubbed my temples—Abel’s obsession was deeper than I thought. I lit a cigar, then decided to talk to Abel myself. Dad wasn’t home. The house was pitch-black. I checked Abel’s room, but he wasn’t there. I’d just opened my own room door when a pair of large hands suddenly reached out, stroking me gently before pulling me tightly into an embrace. A familiar scent surrounded me. I was about to push away when I my fingers touched the wetness at the corner of his eyes. “Been crying?” I tried to turn around, but he held me tighter from behind. His voice was tearful. “I thought you’d never come back.” “Don’t be silly.” I sighed. “This is still my home.” “Simon, break up with Eric, please? We can go back to how we were. I won’t cause trouble or interfere with your life. I just want to be with you forever. I don’t want someone else in our lives.” His voice trembled with unbearable sadness. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, and a strange ache spread through it. “Abel, this isn’t right.” “Is it not right, or do you not want it?” Abel was as stubborn as a little wolf. “Why can you be with him, but not me?” “Because you’re my brother!” “Hah! Brother? A brother who makes you have a physical reaction?” The second Abel laid that out, my blood rushed. I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him right up to me. “Shut up!” Abel stared at me without the slightest trace of fear. “Guilty, Simon? You like me too, don’t you?”