Alec was 12 years old when started playing soccer. His first competitive game was a few months after he started playing. This was how the day went. 

It was a cloudy and windy afternoon, Alec, who was 13 years old at that time, played and won his first-ever soccer game. He had been training, with his friends, every day after school for a few months now, leading up to the day of the competition. 

After winning his first-ever game, he was so excited to go back home to tell his father, who played soccer as well when he was younger. 

That day, Maria was the one that picked him up from school. 

“Maria,” Young Alec shouted and ran into his caregiver's arms all sweaty, “guess what happened today!” 

Maria chuckled and said, “What happened, Hijo?” 

“I won my first soccer game! The coach was so proud of me for scoring the last goal. I can’t wait to tell dad all about it!” Alec jumped up and down, excitedly said. “Do you think he will be proud? Do you?! Do you?!” Alec, who can’t keep his excitement to himself.

“Of course they would be proud of you,” Maria smiled while holding Alec’s small hands and started to head home, “you are their son after all.”

“Guess what?” Maria said to the small boy, “I am also proud of my Hijo.” Maria, who pinched Alec’s cheek, said. “How about to celebrate, I bake my famous chocolate lava cake for dinner later? I know how much you love them.” Maria said, and right there and then started to jot down dishes to cook for dinner on her phone.

“Yay, yay, yay!” Alec, who started to jump up and down more, shouted. “I love you! I love you! I love you!” He was jumping for joy after hearing he is having his favourite chocolate lava cake for dessert later. 

Maria, who was smiling, said, “I love you too. Remember, once we are back home, go and have a shower first. You are very sweaty at the moment."

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Following what Maria asked Alec to do, Alec went straight to have a shower when they got back. 

Alec was drying his hair in front of his bathroom mirror and didn't hear Alexander coming into his room.

“Alec?” Alexander, who was looking for him as he wanted to take back his PS4 controller that Alec borrowed last week. Alexander hears the hairdryer blowing in the bathroom and suspects Alec just finished

d showering. He decided to hide in his closet and wait for him to come out to scare him. 

After 5 minutes of blowing dry his hair, Alec was happy with how his hair looks. He kept everything away into their respective drawers and started to head out of his bathroom. 

Alec was heading out of his room. But, head something moving in his closet. He turned back and slowly walked over to his closet. He never likes anything spooky and gets scared easily. 

Suddenly, Alexander jumped out of his closet and shouted, “Ooga Booga, Booga!"

“Ahhhhh!” Alec, who screamed at the top of his lung. “You asshole! You know I hate anything spooky, why the hell did you do that.” Alec started to tear up and left his room. Leaving Alexander in it all by himself laughing away from his brother ‘manly’ scream. 

Alec stomped his way down the stairs and shouted, “Dad, Alex scared me again!”

“That is great, son.” Adam, their dad, didn’t care about what he said and continued looking through his email.

“Bu-, but dad…” Alec said and started to look defeated.

“Yeah? What can I help you with?" Adam, still looking at his email, said.

“Never mind what I said earlier, I guess…” Alec sighed and continued excitedly, “ I won my first soccer game! My coach was so proud of me. I wished you could have been there. You should have seen-” Alec, was cut off by his father.

“Alec, can’t you see I am busy! Go and do your homework or something. I have a lot of stuff I need to complete today. I don’t need you yipping away while I am doing all this shit.” Adam, who all of a sudden, shouted at Alec angrily.

“Ok…” Alec’s shoulders dropped and walked out of his office and went straight to his treehouse. 

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Meanwhile, Alexander, who got his PS4 controller from Alec’s room, was coming out of Alec’s room and heard his father shouting. He went to put down his controller in his room and went straight down to see what was going on. 

“Dad, What happened? Why are you shouting?” Alexander, who cautiously asked his father as he didn’t want to piss him off even more. 

"Your dumbass brother was annoying me while I was doing my work,” their father said grumpily. “I have no idea why your mother and I thought having another child was a good idea,” Adam said under his breath, hoping Alexander didn’t hear him.

“Oh… do you know where he went? I need to tell him something.” Alexander lied to his father and focus on asking where Alec was, knowing he was in a bad mood.

Their parents always reject Alec when he talks to them and acts like he isn’t their son. Alec, who was being optimistic, hopes that one day, they will be as grateful to have Alexander as their child with him. But, after what his dad said today, he finally decided to accept the fact that they will never come around.

“I don’t know and I don’t care where that little shit goes. You better not be like him, a useless piece of shit.” Adam said before leaving the office to get a beer.

Alexander sighed to himself and went straight to Alec’s comfort place, his treehouse.

“Little bro, are you up there?” Alexander said standing at the bottom of the tree.

“No… no one is up here. You may leave….” Alec said while sniffling from time to time.

“I’m coming up now,” Alexander said and started to climb the ladder leading up to the treehouse patio. The treehouse used to be Alexander's. Their parents bought it for him as a birthday present when he turned thirteen.

But, Alexander not being home all the time because of school and his parents trying to train him to become the next CEO, he decided to give his treehouse to Alec.

Their parents were not happy with it as they spent a lot of money on it. But, they slowly forgot about it after two weeks. Alec, who was jumping for joy when his brother gave him his treehouse, love what his brother gave him and turned the space into a place where he can relax.

A mattress with multiple plushies was located in the corner of the treehouse. A tv was spotted sitting on top of a table in front of it. Multiple photos of Alec with his friends, brother, and Maria was hung with string lights that surrounded the entire treehouse.

Alexander knocked and opened the door and went into the treehouse, and said, “Hey buddy,” Alexander sat next to the younger kid who was sitting on the floor, hugging his leg, head lying on it, “I heard what dad said, are you ok?” Alexander puts one of his arms around Alec’s shoulder and tries to comfort him.

“I don’t get it.” Alec sniffled, “Why do they always treat me like this? I try my best to meet their expectations. But, it is always not enough for them.” Alec said while tears were falling down his cheeks.

“I know bud. I am always proud of you, you know.” Alexander told Alec while smiling. “ I heard from Maria that you won your first soccer game today.”

“Remember how I practised together a few days ago? How I kicked the ball towards the goal but the ball hit the side of the pole and the ball came back and hit it right in my face? That was a good day, wasn’t it?” Alexander, who was reminiscing said.

Alec chuckled and lifted his head and said, “Yeah, that was a good day. Remember after that happened you fell and you were covered from head to toe with mud?”

Alexander, bust out laughing and hugged his brother, said, “I love you, you know that, right?”

“Yes, I know. You tell me that every day.” Alec hugged his brother tighter and said, “I love you too.”

A few minutes had passed after they had their brotherly love moment. Alexander suggested that they watched Alec's favourite movie, Teen Beach Movie from Disney.

He put the DVD into the player and they started to cuddle up on the mattress that was in the corner of the room.

One hour later, they both fell asleep, the movie was still playing in the background and the last thing Alec remembered that day was the warmth and love from Alexander.