My Second First Love

He smells like soap

What does it take to be happy?

    All my life, I’ve been recognize, I can say that I was the family’s favorite. Maybe because I already met my passion in a young age. My parents supports me a lot as well as for our relatives. Every award that I receive, it seems like the world is clapping at me. It seems like everyone has been watching me hoping that I could be someone better in the future like how I used to be. Everyone expects me to be in a National team when I grow up. My parents loves that idea so much especially my dad who is a real estate expert and has a huge hotel company with several branches all over the world. My mom is very supportive and attentive mother to me and to my brother.

    Well the story is quite different for my brother, he is not as fan of sports as much as I am. He is more on literature. Unlike me, our parents are not too supportive of his passion. They want him to follow dad’s step in business but he still insisted his writing passion. I wish they could support him as much as they are to me. He is great of what he is doing, he’s even nice to me more than a brother. I just can’t understand my dad’s concept regarding him.

    A tournament was done and I was given a chance to choose where I want to study. I choose Peciliar Magnets High School not because I want it, it’s because of my friends. Niel is the son of the owner of this school. He’s my childhood friend together with Aciel, the only son of the largest pharmacy company CEO of our country. We met since grade school and we never been apart since then. 

“Jun, I heard you won on your tournament. Congratulations” said Ms. Park. “Thank you, Ma’am.” I answered. “Alright, you three can come to your classes, the school might be unfamiliar to you guys since you all came from abroad but trust me, its nice here. I hope you could focus on your studies more in your stay” she said with a smile.

    After our talks with Ms. Park, we headed to our room. Bunch of girls are waiting outside, it was completely unexpected. I though no one would recognize us since we came from abroad but yeah, girls are covering the hallway.

“Niel, did you made an announcement? Why are there so much girls?” asked Aciel. “What do you take me for? I have no idea about this either.” Niel answered.

    We walked through the girls although they were so noisy blabbering so many things that I couldn’t even understand. It was a rough path but we managed to escape and continue our walk to our classroom.

“Wait” I heard from a girl. I don’t actually know who said it but I stopped at walking.

“I smell something like a soap” she said again. I looked at the girl who said it. She’s cute, she has a small face with light complexion. Her eyes looks like a fox but in an innocent face. She’s beautiful. I smiled.

“What is it?” asked Niel. I am still looking at her while smiling but she had no expression at all. She’s just practically staring at me.

“Do you need something?” I asked her. “Uh, nothing” then she turned around and walked with her friends.

“What was that?” asked Niel. “No idea” I answered. “You’re hooking someone this early? It’s our first day man. Let’s behave” he added. “What are you talking about? Where’s the room?” I said. Then we proceed to our room in the upper floor.

    We introduced ourselves to our class and as usual, some girls are giggling. What’s with them? Niel, Aciel and I sat at the back next to each other. Usual classes started and I felt a quite uncommon since there were several differences with school laws. This might take a while to practice.

After class, Niel, Aciel and I went to our private class. We should take some special classes to catch up with other students. It was pass 7pm when we finished our first special class. Niel and Aciel had their own chauffeur to take them at home. Our driver took 10 minutes late so I waited there since Niel and Aciel left first.

    My driver arrived and we went straight to the natatorium where I am having my swimming training every day. Our village was nearby so I always ask my driver to leave me since I can walk all the way there. Walking heals me and it gives me a self-time moments. I love seeing people. I usually walk there at 8:30 to 9PM. The place was full of vehicles going home, rushing people to get their busses, stalls and restaurants. It takes 30 minute walk before I get to enter the village and that was actually the best part of my day. I got to be someone who’s not so special. Someone that is able to walk freely and appreciate the things around me. It heals me inside, regardless of how hard my day was.

I was peacefully walking when my phone started to ring. My mom was calling.

“Hello, Mom”

“Jun, where are you? Your brother came home and were having dinner. Hurry up” she said.

“Jake is home? Will he sleep there?” I asked. “I don’t know, where are you, are you on your way home?” mom asked. “Yes, I’ll be there soon.” I answered. I turned down the call and started to run. It’s been ages since the last time I saw my brother. I didn’t even met him since I came back from abroad. He’s free spirited and is nowhere to be found. He loves to do stuffs on his own, I have to rush before he decided to leave.

    They were all in the dining hall when I arrived. Both dad, mom and Jake are silent as they eat. “Bro!” I rushed to Jake and gave him a hug.

“oh Jun! What’s up” Jake answered. “Why didn’t you welcome me when I arrived?” I asked him with a childish tone. “Let’s talk about it later, let’s eat first” he answered. “Ohh, I forget”. I started to eat and the environment was so cold. It was almost 10 minutes when Dad started to speak.

“How’s school, Jun?” dad asked me. “It’s good dad, everyone was nice.” I answered.

“Don’t make any fuss okay, I don’t want to be in bad terms of the Gonzalez. Remember that” he added. I just looked at him and nod.

“Did your special class gone okay?” mom asked me. “Uhh, yes mom. But I’m still struggling” I answered. “Don’t worry, you’ll get better. Study hard” she said. “Yes mom” I answered.

    I looked at Jake and he seems disappointed. It still awkward between Jake and Dad, they keep on focusing at me and I feel bad for my brother. He just came home and they didn’t even seems to be excited at all.

    After dinner, I saw Jake at the backyard sitting on the bench looking at the night sky. I sat beside him and gave him a canned soda.

“Are you okay?” I asked him. “What do you mean?” he answered.

“You’re still not good with dad?” I asked. “He still not good with me”. He answered. “But its fine, as long as I am still welcome in this house, though it doesn’t look like that” he added.

“Are you staying now?” I asked him again. “Nope, I’ll leave later. I just stopped here to see you” he looked at me and smile.

“Why don’t you stay? Maybe you’ll gain dad’s attention this time?” I suggested. “I don’t need that” he said while looking at the sky with a smile. “There is a lot of things beyond what we see. There are more beautiful things and people to look for rather than staying to those who don’t seem to appreciate you” he added.

“But still, he’s Dad. “ I answered softly. “Congratulations” he said. “Huh” I said as I looked at him. “You’re indeed a great swimmer” he said while smiling at me.

“Then why did you just arrive?! You should came earlier, huh. You don’t even watch me at my contests and trainings. You sly” I complained.

“You’re mad now? What do you want, a banner, a cheerleading welcome parade?” he jokily asked me. I looked at him seriously.

“You kiddo, you’re being sulky again?!” he said and started tickling me on my waist.

    We had a long talk that night. We reminisce our memories together and we had lots of stories about our experiences. It was great, I felt really great that time. Being with my brother feels more of a home than being with my dad.