CHAPTER 2

My brother is without a doubt considered beautiful. Curly brown hair that goes to his shoulder, a soft face with round edges that gave him lots of charms and an appearance of kindness.

My parents are both mixed which made my brother and I mixed as well so we are quite tan. We both had brown almond shaped eyes : his several shades darker than mine.

Even with being brothers, I don’t think we looked like each other. Everyone saying didn’t actually put much thought into it and either wanted an easy small talk or flattered one of our parents.

I looked at myself into the review mirror. My face was longer and I had more edges compared to Nash. My eyes were smaller and my lips thinner. My eyebrows were straight.

We definitely didn’t look like each other.

I parked myself in the parking lot of the Reverie’s gardens, and walked through it for about 20 minutes. Considering his proximity to the hospital, a lot of elderly people and disabled people were roaming here with their close ones. I don’t come here often, it’s not that far from my house but I don’t find the appeal in just walking to walk, especially alone. 

They had a good bakery though. I quickly passed in it to buy 3 pieces of flans. I held the boxes in my left hand with my car keys and my phone. I didn’t have any pockets.

I put the digicode in the building and take the elevator to the second floor. There are three neighboring doors but only one is occupied by tenants, the other two even though vacant were bought by these tenants to ensure calm and privacy.

I don’t ring the bell and just knock lightly on the door. When the door opened, Elson, opened the door letting me enter with a slight frown on his face « Morning » I smiled awkwardly. Even though our family used to frequent each other, we never were close, even less recently.

He barely responded and opened the door wider, he probably was informed of my venue. As usual.

This interaction doesn’t linger, as soon as I see my reasons for coming here.

« Holliiis and my love » I set my bag on the table quickly and go to the latter in his dad’s arms. I approached my hands from him and the baby gave me this adorable toothless smile and grabbed my finger.

I can’t hide my delight at this and Hollis let me take him.

«Is this my cake ? » He excitedly went to the plastic bag and opened it before I even confirmed it.

« Yes, but can you pretend you like my arrival more than the cake » I laughed sitting on the sofa with Aage.

« Can you pretend you like me more than my son » He teased back

« Can’t lie that much »

Few know but Hollis and I started being friends around three years ago. As I don’t publicly engage with him, only his husband must be aware.

« I brought three cakes, so you have one too » I informed Elson that just opened the fridge

« Thank you I guess » He responded automatically, looking intently at the fridge.

« Well that means more for us » Hollis said, looking in his kitchen for cuttery.

Elson seemed to take as much food as he could to nibble and water, went to kiss Hollis and went away. Probably planning to avoid me the whole afternoon.

« Can he pretend he likes me? » I sighed when he was out of reach

But he was unfortunately within earshot and that seem to anger him

« Depends. Do you plan on treating us like humans in the daylight?» He retorted

I was taken aback but didn’t have time to respond because Hollis did.

 « Stop it, just go watch your movie. We have spoken about it » He got up. His tone indicating me, it was an occurring issue between them. Not that I was unaware that he resent me for not acknowledging them in public but also -

« Yeah so he can mingle with you » He snorted

-that he was too jealous to let an a freely hangout with his husband. I didn’t intervene because I wasn’t proud of ignoring them in daylight but I couldn't have my family find that. And concerning the jealousy he wouldn’t believe me.

« We are friends, – and you know I don’t have much friends » He said the second part more quietly. This was an euphemism, excluding his husband he only had me. That’s probably why Elson was happy to see me speak with him at first.

« I trust you, » He  came back to Hollis to kiss him on the forehead « I am next door if you need it». He looked at me intently.

« Sorry about it » Hollis apologized

« Don’t worry, as you say it’s more cake for us. Let’s have fun » I couldn’t blame him when I was such a bad friend and that I did have ulterior motives for befriending him.