His green eyes twinkled every time he blinked. With his hazelnut brown hair, the defined features on his face popped out more. The emerald green in his eyes intrigued my curiosity. Now and then, he would smile and his bright straight teeth would show.

The only imperfection he had, was his talking.

"...so I told my coach that I couldn't practice as much as before because of my injury but he still made me do hard-ass training." He stretched his arms as he leaned back on his chair.

I observed him.

First of all, we were at a library. This was a place where people usually had to be quiet. I didn't think he'd ever been to such a place.

Second, this wasn't a date, so I wasn't sure why he was bragging about himself all that much. We were supposed to start the English project, but obviously, he had other plans.

"But you know, sometimes I like it when people force me to do things." He nods.

I tried to stop my eye from twitching. This was annoying. Couldn't he shut his mouth for a second?

I had to try to get him to stop, without sounding rude.

But how can you do that?

If I say: Hey let's start doing the project.

It'll sound like this: Stop talking, you talk too much and you're wasting my time with this bullshit.

As if reading my thoughts, he squints his eyes at me."Alright, so how are we splitting this project?"

I hope it didn't look like I was bored of his rambling.

Well, I was.

But he can't know that.

"Umm... I think we should come up with the story first." I mumble.

He nods repeatedly. "Of course, of course." He looks inside the packet of papers we received for the task. "Any ideas?"

I shake my head no.

For the rest of the hour, I tried to be as humble as possible. We brainstormed ideas on a loose leaf and wrote down the ones we were going to stick with. Thinking that it would be respectful, I let him choose most of the ideas for the plot.

"Alright, so in summary, it'll be about a lady who falls in love with a midget. But, the midget is a playboy and broke, while she is rich and powerful."

"Right." I agree, going against all the ideas I had in my brain. He could've chosen any other topics but he ended up with these? Yes, the story would be funny, but it wasn't logical at all. I don't think Shakespeare would write a play about this...

He exhales a long breath. "I think that's good enough for today then."

I nod and smile, happy that this hour of torment was finally ending. I couldn't explain how hard it was to listen to him changing subjects all the time. When it came to making decisions he would simply blurt out something and not ask for my opinion. Many times passed when I wanted to give my own ideas, but I would overthink telling him in fear of his reaction.

When I looked back at his face, I noticed him squint his eyes at something.

I think he needs to get his eyes checked.

"Shit, isn't that Andrew?" He whispers.

I turned around to look for the answer to his question.

He was right. ANdrew stood in the distance, holding two indistinguishable books in his arms.

Curious, I turn back around and observe his expression.

He wasn't worried nor was he happy. His face showed an amusedly curious expression.

"Why are you surprised?" I ask with a tone that makes my question seem less personnal.

For a brief moment, his eyes flicker to mine.

"He's a pussy, that's why. " He crosses his arms, and eyes the guy up and down. "He cant hold a single streak. Not for classes, not for boxing, not for friendships." He spits out. "Goes to the gym almost every day yet he still punches like a bitch."

I glance back at Andrew as he stands in the distance, checking out the same two books.

Then, I hear shuffling in front of me. Ethan started to pack his things.

"Aight, I'm heading out." He shoots me a brief smile. "Gotta get to the gym." He hits a bodybuilder pose before leaving the table.

I cringe internally, refusing to let him see how much I've been jugding him today.

Getting my head out of my thoughts, I pack my stuff as well.

I slide my backpack on my shoulder and make my way through the book aisles.

Stopped by the whining of a child, I try to comprehend what the complaining was about.

Through the holes created by the empty slots of the bookshelves, I spotted a small figure next to a larger one. It was Andrew, the same guy Ethan was cursing at, with an unfamiliar boy by his side.

"Where is it?" The little boy whines.

Andrew glances at the boy, not saying a word.

Whatever the little boy was trying to do, it wasn't going to work. The man standing next to him only thought of himself and himself only.

Just before I was about to step in and offer my help, the unexpected happened.

"I can help you find it." A deep voice speaks up.

Help?Andrew?

It was practically impossible for those words to be repeated in the same sentence.

The little boy gleamed up at him and informed him of the title of the book he was looking for. Andrew, surprisingly aware of the library's system, lead him towards an alley and searched for the novel.

I followed discreetly behind them, pulling up the hood of my hoodie.

There was no way in hell I was going to let him notice me.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Spotting the book, he pulls it out of its place. "Here." He says dryly.

The boy cutely thanks him and gives him a hug that Andrew does not return. He simply pats his back awkwardly.

As soon as they begin to make their way out of the corridor, I run out of the place.

◆◈◇

I sat in the waiting room with my brother right next to me. His leg bounced up and down while the other people around us waited as well.

"What if I don't get the job." He mumbles worriedly.

The fish in the aquarium in the wall stared at me. One kept peeking out of a sunken ship and going back in, as if he was playing peekaboo.

"Don't expect anything." I tell him. "What's meant for you would never miss you."

"Right, right." He nodded.

Soon enough, a lady came into the room and everyone turned to face her, waiting on her to call out the name that was going next for the interview.

"Cristian Medina?" She looks up from the paper she was holding.

As if he knew he was passing next, he shoots upwards from his chair and makes his way over to her. "That's me." He grins at her and turns around to look at me.

I give him a thumbs up and mouth 'good luck' to him. He exhales slowly and turns back around.

She gives him a soft smile before leading him to the interviewer in another room.

Now my leg was bouncing.

I wanted my brother to get the job. He couldn't spend his entire life living in his parents' basement while his little sister became a successful doctor that was very, very wealthy.

That sister is me if you didn't figure it out.

I pulled out my phone and started playing the car game I've been getting addicted to. Winning race after race, I ended up getting bored and left the game lobby to buy a couple cars with the money I made.

Whoever said that time is money was a liar. The only thing 'time' did was take my money while my sibling was away.

The seconds turned into minutes, turned into losses, turned into bankruptcy, turned into jail time, turned into-

Finally, I see my brother walking up the hallway. He wore a neutral expression on his face and I was unable to analyse if the interview had went well or not.

Not saying a word, he walks up to me and grabs my arm, leading me outside and to his Honda Civic.

Confused, I hopped inside and stared at his face, still keeping the same neutral gaze.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I wanted to ask him how it had gone. "Well?" I say calmly.

He turns his head to face me and I notice the pain in his eyes. "Unfortunately..." he says before stopping.

My heart shatters even though I was the one who told him not to have high hopes.

We never actually do the advice we give.

"...I'm gonna be the breadwinner of the house." He puts his hands behind his head and relaxes on the seat, a big toothy smile reaching both sides of his face.

This jerk tricked me!

"You little shit! I was about to give you the best speech you've ever heard." I scream as I grab his dark brown hair and shake his head.

"Okay! Okay!" He yells out, grabbing my wrist to try to get me to loosen my grip. "I'm sorry!" He laughs.

"Not funny." I cross my arms and puff, knowing that this was indeed funny.

"Mamá! Im hired!" Cristian bursted into the house yelling, while I walked right behind him.

My mom who was sitting on the couch watching a Spanish show, gives him a questioning look.

He stood in front of her, expecting a response. Seeing that she was too focused on the tv than on his too-good-to-be-true statement, he yanks the remote out of her hands and switches the television off.

She looks up at him, pissed, with a frown on her face. "Cristian, what is this behaviour?"

He rolls his eyes at her as I get closer to watch the scene unfold. "Mamá, I just told you I got hired!" He whines, throwing his arms in the air.

She huffs out a long breath and stares at the ceiling. "You know I don't like liars, mijo." She looks back at him. "Stop playing this silly game."

Stepping in, I attempt to defend my brother, "No, mamá. It's true. He got hired at TecNick Graphic." I say, unable to contain my grin.

Her gaze flickering between us, she takes in my words and a smile reaches her eyes. Swiftly getting up from her seat, she looks up at my brother and bring him in for an embrace.

"Gracias a Dios." She says as a tear slides down her tanned cheek.

Cristian hugs her back and stares at me mockingly. I could hear the look in his eyes, "Haha, now you can't win anymore."

This guy really taking the fights he caused to heart.

I roll my eyes and head to the kitchen, looking for something quick to snack on.

After their heartfelt moment, my mom calls for a celebration and phones my dad. Telling him about the good news, she offers the idea of heading out to eat at a restaurant.

On the other line of the call, my dad agrees, surprisingly.

I was dressed in a simple black dress, flowing at the bottom and fitted at the top. Cristian wore a short sleeve button down black shirt and beige pants. I was impressed at the good fashion sense he unknowingly had.

We didn't go out much, so I guess he didn't have many opportunities to show off this talent.

We were seated at a table, eating our deserved meal. At least Cristian deserved it.

My father was constantly making sure we were eating, so that his money didn't go to waste, while my mother kept smiling at the thought that my brother would finally be employed.

I chuckle at a thought that went through my head. "Are you smiling because you're finally going to be able to boast about him to your friends, mamá?"

Cristian nudges my arm from beside me and mumbles a comment, not so subtly. "I bet she's gonna tell Maria."

"No I am not!" She lightly slams her fork on the table. "I do not tell anyone our family business." My mother frowns, offended.

Me and and my brother eye each other knowingly.

Suddenly remembering something, my mom puts down her utensils. "I forgot to tell you guys that I will be visiting Maria this Saturday, and you are coming with me." She stares.

We're finally going to meet this Maria lady?

"I start my formation on Saturday, I cant come." My brother says, happy that he wouldn't have to go through the embarrassing questions asked by our mom in front of other people.

She sighs and turns to me, expectantly. "I'll come, don't worry. I've been wanting to finally meet her." I laugh even though I, too, was a little bit worried of what she'd bring up this time.

She smiles and nods.

I take one last bite of my pasta before deciding that I was full and push away the plate. My dad, noticing my action stares at me questioningly.

"Are you not finishing your plate?"

I hesitate answering. "I'm full."

He sighs. "These people are thieves, robbing people of their money. This plate right here in Colombia costs probably a fourth of the price." He complains, pointing angrily.

A brief feeling of guilt washes over me and I decide to finish up my food, forcibly.

Luckily, my brother takes the situation in his hands and offers to finish my plate.

"So," my dad starts the conversation, "is graphic design going to pay well?" He asks my brother.

"Well, the pay starts at 70 thousand, so I should be fine." He answers truthfully.

Raising his eyebrows, a smile creeps up my fathers aging face. "Well done, Cristian."

I'm proud of you, I wait for him to say, but he doesn't.

It's hard to please my father. On the other hand, disappointing him is easy.

Coming back home, my brother runs straight to the bathroom whereas I run straight to my bed. I know it's unhygienic but I really didn't feel like brushing my teeth. I felt like I overdosed on food.

◆◈◇

Exactly a week from now, on Friday, would finally be the school festival. Me and my group were in the same room where we've been preparing our things. Since the beginning of the week, the other participants in the planning of the activities hung up posters all around the school, so most people knew about the event. I mean, it happens every year so it's not something we usually would forget.

I checked the map on the wall of the classroom another time. It was so complicated. The stands for the festival we're placed at random so none of it made any sense. There was a juice bar right next to the bathrooms and the tables for the school clubs were right in front of the stage, where they held a presentation for the newcomers. In my opinion, I would've moved some stands around so that their placement wouldn't be as awkward as it was. But the other people who chose to plan were persistent and I was too scared to tell them otherwise.

It was whatever, I guess.

"Abraham Lincoln." Bella said proudly in front of my face.

I eye her up and down, rolling my eyes. Although she couldn't see my action, she felt it.

"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me." She crosses her arms, frowning and smirking.

Laurie, who was sitting at a desk right next to Laylas station, where she finished sewing the last of the costumes, adds on to the conversation. "I mean, you kinda do look like him to be honest." She sends me and upside down smile.

I walk to the mirror placed in the corner of the room and observe my outfit.

I couldn't say they were wrong. I really did look like him, in my costume. But hey, I was glad no one would find out who I was.

"Haters." I state.

Later on, we tidied up our materials and left the school campus in Layla's car. Singing a couple of songs along the way, she dropped us off one by one at our houses. Laurie didn't come with us because she was an international student, so she had a dorm room. We were going home, so it wasn't like she was missing out on anything.

When Layla drops me off, I hug her and wave her goodbye before running into my house.

"I'm home!" I yell out.

I look around, sensing unexplainable tension. My brother was on the couch, leg bouncing up and down, whereas my mother was on the couch right next to his, staring at her phone.

"I start working tomorrow." He mumbles anxiously.

"Maria didn't call me." My mother continues.

I stare at them weirdly and go upstairs to my room, evading their 'stressing time' or whatever you call what they were doing.