My Adopted Brother and I

A bar and some advice

Khaelus Cross

"Where are you going again?" I heard Khaelles' voice when I tried to open the front door so I could go out.

"I swear to God Khaelus, if you're going out just to drink again, I'm going to lock the door" he threatened me, which I didn't mind at all.

"Nick invited me somewhere" I said, hoping it would let me leave

"Nick? I'll come with you then" he said, which shocked me.

"No! You can't!" I squealed

He'll probably question me if he finds out that I'm going to a gay bar with Nick.

"There you go again.. I told you, didn't I? Stop pushing me away" he reasoned and I felt dejected

"I'm not though, you just can't come with me" I said and he shook his head

"If you're not going to drink then let me come" he said before turning and rushing upstairs.

I quickly opened the door and tried to escape while he's still in his room. I opened my car's door and hopped in.

"Khaelus!" I heard him call my name but that didn't stop me from driving away. Who knows what he'll do if he finds out where I'm heading. It'll scare him.

****************

"Where are you? I'm already here, you told me you would come with me" I said to Nick who's in the other line

"Relax bro, I'm already inside. Just ask the guard" he said so I went inside and talked to the guard.

"Legal I.D please" he demanded so I reached for my wallet and gave it to him.

"You're a Mexal? Is this your first time?" he asked and I nodded with a smile

When he returned my wallet, that's when I asked where Nick was, he told me that he's in the bar counter so I bowed and went on my way.

"Here Hiro!" someone said, I turned my head and found Nick with his other best friend

"How am I supposed to find my answer here bro?" I asked before sitting on a bar stool next to him

"Have you looked around?" he grinned

I slowly turned my head on the other side. A bunch of people making out, what's more shocking is that they're with the same gender as themselves. There was also a small stage right in the centre and a couple of men singing.

"What do you mean?" I asked again and Nick sneered

"This place will be the answer to your question" he briefly said, which made me scowl.

"How can this answer anything?" I annoyingly queried and he face palmed at me.

"Can't you feel anything at all?" he questioned and I nodded

"D*mn bro, you're down bad. Let's get you laid, a'ight" he said before advancing to the small stage and borrowing the microphone from the performers.

"Hi ladies and gentlemen, so… i have this friend over there and he's confused of his orientation, can someone help him out?" he said that made me flustered

The whole room was filled with shouts and cheers as if they're celebrating something.

"Let him be, he's always like that" someone said from the side which is Nick's other best friend

"That's embarrassing me though" I whispered while covering my flushed face

"Say… Do you wanna share your worries?" he asked and I turned to him, judging what he said. He smirked "Don't worry, I'm not interested on you or something, I'm taken"

"Is it really ok?" I mumbled and he shrugged

"It's up to you" he sipped at his cocktail and stared at Nick who's talking to a bartender

"Are you guys… like that?" I queried and he laughed

"We wouldn't come here if not," he answered, "Penny for your thoughts?" he added and I scowled

"I just need a piece of guidance, maybe you could help" I started and he fixed his clothes and rested his chin on his hand that's on top of the bar counter "I have a brother… well, not really a blood brother or something. He's adopted. We've been really close since we were children and somehow I developed… something—"

"—Feelings?"

"Well, sort of. I'm not really sure. I've only had a certain desire towards him and I don't know if I like him or not. It's making me crazy it's like—"

"You fell in love…"

"What?" I asked

"From the way you're speaking and the expressions on your face…. I can tell that you already fell in love" he explained that made me stop. What expression?

"Is that really it? I mean, what if it's just l*st rushing in?" I asked, clearly confused

"Why don't you invite some guys over there and tell me if it's l*st" he suggested so I looked at the other side again and shivered "I can't do that, if it's not—" I stopped

"There. You got your answer" he said

"No. No way" I grunted and messed with my hair

"It's ok to be in denial for sometime" he said composedly

"You got it wrong. I'm not like that. I don't like him" I said beyond belief

"Yes, you don't like him—"

I stared at him. It's confusing. All this talk is nonsense.

"—I said, you LOVE him"

My shoulder dropped.

"If you still don't believe me then answer my questions" he suggested "Do you feel butterflies in your stomach when you're with him? Do you smile with the littlest things he does? Do you—"

"—Stop."

"I'm right, ain't I?"

"This is wrong though. He's my brother. I don't even know why I like him"

"You don't need a reason. Love is love. As simple as that" he quoted and finished his cocktail and ordered another one "If you're still confused, go with the flow and you'll find the answer sooner or later"

"Are you telling me not to stop my feelings?" I asked

"Yes."

"What are you guys talking about?" Nick asked

"Stop bothering him. It will confuse him even more" that person said and grabbed Nick's hand and went somewhere

—

Clock ticking. That's all I can hear. I didn't even bother to play some music or anything. I just stood there, at my room's door. Doing completely nothing. I'm kind of regretting not letting Khaelles stay.

"Why'd I do that anyway? He's just trying to be closer to me" I sighed

Maybe it's better this way. I don't know what mom will say if this keeps up, might as well create a line while it's still early.

It's ok. As long as I could avoid him until my head clears up, I would be able to solve this sh*t.

Oh how wrong I was.

After a month of the "avoiding" plan, my mind got worse. Just from the slightest touch or even just a glance from him it would always, in a blink of an eye, react.

"F*ck!! What the hell is happening to me?!!! I just need a little time out!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs to try and wrap things up

"So, you're telling me that, when you avoided your 'little' brother, your feelings increased? That's crazy men" Nick said while patting my shoulder. I can feel him giggling just from his stupid hands

"The hell it is! Don't you dare laugh at my misery!" I growled

"D*mn, you're down bad" Nick's 'boyfriend' stated "Can I ask, though?" he added which made me frown

"Why did you avoid him? I clearly remembered that you were supposed to go with the flow. What happened now?" he continued

"Because… even if I did, the outcome would still be the same" I blurted "My opinion doesn't even matter anymore! My heart just wanders off on its own. It's luke it's no longer part of my body" I stated

"Are you planning on giving up, bro? What if he likes you back?" Nick asked

"I don't care! I'm giving up because I need to! Even if he likes me back, we can't— we can never happen. He's my brother… he's a guy." I stated "What would my parents say if I come out? It's not like everybody is open for that kind of relationship" I added and I heard them sigh

"Look, Khaelus. Everybody in this club went through that. They once cared for other people's opinions but look at them now, flaunting with pride. You have to be brave" Nick's boyfriend said

"I'm not as courageous as you guys. I only came to peace with the idea of liking him last week and it was because I took some psychological test. Coming out is whole different level" I groaned

"Whatever man. Just know that we'll support you" Nick stated chivalrously

"Thanks, I would really loooovvveeee to hear that right now" I sneered and we all laughed

---

When I entered the house, mom welcomed me and asked me for a midnight snack which I kindly declined because if I did come over she would nag me about drinking again. I continued walking 'til I reached my room where I immediately threw my car keys somewhere and hopped in the shower.

After that, I changed into a new set of clothes and let myself drop on the bed, front facing the sheets.

I was about to fall into slumber when I heard a knock on the door.

"It's me…" I heard Khaelles say from the other side of the door

I let out a small groan and opened the door for him but I didn't let him in. Who knows what I'll do if he's inside.

"Hehe…" he giggled, which made me frown. That's when I smell something else on him.

"Khaelles?" I called out

"Hehehe… what?" he answered

"Are you drunk?" I questioned him but he shook his head

"Noooooo…???" he playfully said

"Where did you get the liquor?" I ask and he shrugged

"What the hell, you two? Why are you guys so noisy?!" Mom growled

"He's drunk mom." I said

"Oh… Why though?" she nonchalantly asked "How too. I didn't even see him leave" she added

"Mom. Our refrigerator has liquor inside" I rolled my eyes

"Go take care of your brother. You owe him that." she said and left

"Really?" I grunted

"Hiroooo" he called out that made me snapped back to reality

When I turned my head to where he was, I was shocked at what I saw. He's trying to remove his shirt.

"What are you doing?" I calmly asked and he started kicking the air, jumping up and down "Khaelles!" I called out

"I-I'm s—stuck… Wahhhhhh!!!! Khae— *huc* —lus"

I shook my head and walked towards him.

"Stop that. You'll hurt yourself" I said but he didn't listen, he's still trying to pull his shirt up his head "Khaelles! I said stop moving!" I growled, that's when he stopped and dropped himself to the floor "F*ck! Sit up so i can remove your shirt" I said and he obliged

When I removed his shirt I saw tears dropping from his eyes that stunned me.

"Why are you crying?" I asked softly but he remained silent "Khaelles…" I called out his name

"I can't s-stop it—" he said in between his sobs

"Stop what?" I asked

"Water k—keeps dripping *hic* f-from my eyes" he responded that made me laugh

"Let's go to your room, ok?" I said and he nodded so I pulled him up gently and led him to his room

"I'll get your bath ready. Just sit here and don't move around" I said and wiped his tears

I went to his bathroom and filled his tub with water. After that, I prepared his toothbrush and added some toothpaste on top. When I'm satisfied, I went back to Khaelles and told him to take a bath first before going to sleep and he agreed.

"Thank you Khaelus" he said