Chapter 19 - Happy birthday Adam

When we entered home, I can immediately smell the ginger and lemon tea my grandmother made for my grandfather. As I entered the kitchen, I put the two Idris flowers in the flower pot laid on the one corner of the table. "I really missed this Tea," I said pouring the tea in two cups. "Your grandfather is still asleep. I will go wake him up and give this to him. Beth thought you lying in bed next to her was a dream. Where did you both go early morning?" she asked nodded Jack who is sitting on the porch and looking into his phone. "We went for jogging, Is she awake? Is Adam awake? Mother.." she cut me off. "A lot of questions for a single question. Your parents are up and fixing something to help your grandfather's in a garage. Beth went to collect some stuff from her friend." she said. I nodded, took a sip of the tea which is my all-time favorite and it is really very good for health. I took another cup and walked to the porch and gave the tea to him.

"Thanks" he said sipping tea.

"I like your Tea better than Grandma's," he said sipping.

"That must be a joke." I said.

"What else could it be?" He said laughing. I rolled my eyes.

Pinkie came in her bicycle and parked it over the corner of the garage. She didn't see us yet. When she was stepping into the porch her cinnamon-brown eyes same as mine caught me then Jack.

"Wah.." that's all she said before she ran into me and gave me a bear hug. She really loved us. She is one of us always. I returned her hug very carefully holding the teacup away. "I really missed you, there is a lot to talk to you," she said let me go and turned to Jack. "Hey, Pinkie." He said giving a hug she grew but she still not the same height as me. So it is hard for them to proper hug when they stand. Its better Jack sitting on the chair. "I really thought it was a dream you lying next to me," she said sitting on one of that Jack's chair arm. "Yeah? Grandma told me." I grinned. "I thought it was a dream until I saw your car." she pointed the car where we parked yesterday.

Jack laughed and Pinkie suddenly jumps like a child by seeing someone behind me. When I turned to look who is that, Adam is walking in night pant and sleeveless t-shirt rubbing his eyes like a child. "What?" he asked pinkie. "Good morning," I said gave him a salute. "When did you reach here? I was up till late night but I didn't hear you guys" He said stretching his hands and body. He not short anymore. He is already a little taller than me. "Happy birthday, little brother," I said comparing our height with the shoulder of us with my hand he is two inches taller than me already. "Guess, I'm not a little brother anymore." He tried in his puberty turned a boy to man's voice. "Happy birthday, Adam." Pinkie shook his hand. He smiled his cute smile, thanking us. "Happy birthday Adam." this one from Jack. "You guys are not just stopped by shaking my hands and patting my head right?" He said looking ma and Jack back and forth. "Do we have to say anything else?" Like you are sixteen now you have to move into your own house, you should start paying your own bills. you should ..." I said in a fatherly tone. "Guys, seriously? I refused the birthday cake but I didn't refuse anything other than that." He deadpan. I and Jack laughed loudly and our laugh cut out by my Father's "Happy Birthday little one." He is in a t-shirt, he looks leaner than we last met which is merely six months ago. "Hi, dad. How are you?" I said noticed my mother is coming from the garage. "I'm Good, Idris. How you both are doing?" He asked me and Jack. Jack nodded his head and my mother gave me another bear hug which I expected. "You lost a lot of weight, are you both eating or not? you both should take care of each other?" She said moving to Jack to give him a hug.

"Don't start any lesson this early. Happy birthday young man." This one from my grandfather, grandmother followed him. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. Let's prepare breakfast first. we have a lot to do today." My grandmother said as she walked to the kitchen. "Happy birthday, son." my mother said and kissed him on his cheeks. "Seriously you guys bought any gifts to me?" Adam asked hurt. He doesn't like gifts but he would be feeling okay if he knows what it is. he doesn't like any embarrassing gift in front of others. "Jack planned something if it gives you a hint," I whispered in his ear walking side by side. He entered into his room and me into the Pinkie room. "I want to show you, someone, Pinkie said as she entered into the room closing the door." From the tone of it, I knew what it is. "What's his name? or hers?" I asked taking cloths from the bag carefully and don't want to hurt her feeling if she likes girls.

"How did you know?" she confused.

"I was once fifteen too" I said. "So tell me, who is that lucky boy who got my little sister's attention?" I asked sitting on the bed putting two hands on the side for support and leaned back.

"He is going to the same school as me, but we met at the drama class. His name is.." She cut off by door popped open Jack comes in "Can you give your phone, Its urgent. My phone died." He said. I gave my phone to him, while he left the room and close the door, he holds the handle and said "I need to know everything about this drama guy" to both. "and you are too young to date." to Pinkie. "You are not giving any bad idea" to me and he left. Pinked already freaking out.

"He won't do anything. Just barking no biting." I tried to lighten the mood.

"I still can hear you." Jack said from the other side of the door.

"Do the doors and walls really have ears and communicate to other ends?" She metaphorically whispered to my ear.

"No, He is just joking. Ok, tell me about the boy?" I asked turning to face her.

She exchanged the look to the door thinking what if Jack is still on the door and listening to us."He is not here you can tell me now" I assured her.

"He seems interesting, I couldn't have the chance to meet him other than the drama. His name is Jordan. He is simple and funny." she said in awe.

"Well, I can learn about him more today, then I'm gonna give you tips.cool?" I said

She smiled her bright smile the same as our aunt Bertha.

"Jack won't do anything. right? I might be right young. But I'm not going to do anything inappropriate with him either." She said honestly.

"I just want to go out with him, spending little time. that's all. I will not get pregnant or do that leads to that." her words shocked me. I know girls this age know about sex, getting pregnant there is a sex-ed involved in their class. But this felt too much maybe because I got my first kiss "at the age of 21. I shake my head as I don't want to remember it now.

"I know you Elizabeth Isabella Harrison. He just concerned about too. But once he knows he is good enough for you, trust me he will support you more than anyone" I said taking her face in my hand.

She smiled and said "okay, we better get fresh and go for breakfast before grandma called us" she and took a towel and went to take a shower.

I saw my brother pacing on the porch, talking on the phone. I can see it from the window. Within a few seconds, he caught me staring at him and motioned his index finger to me and him. I closed the curtain and went to the porch. "I'll call you later," He said when he saw me.

"Who is that guy? Do we know him? Does our family know his family? Is he fifteen too or older than her?" He stacked questions. My mouth already popped open with all his questions.

"Will ever take off from your responsibility even for a minute. We know you are our big brother and you should take care of us. But Man, let her be happy for once without any restrictions."

"I know, she has gone through a lot. I don't want her to be fooled or disappointed by anyone. I actually trust her choice in boys than yours." He returned my phone and walked away from me.

"Excuse me?" I walked to him to stop him.

"You heard me," He said to my ears and left. He is really pissing me off more. He knows the reason why I don't get along with any boys. Yet he said those words to me. Without knowing, my eyes already filled with tears. I look at the ceiling and blinked my eyes to dry the tears before it falls. He never hurt me. he never did. Why it's so different now. Does he really want to hurt me because I kissed him which a sister shouldn't do or it is me overreacting because I love him very much even small thing hurting me? Does he know that he is the first and foremost reason that I never had any guys? than which he already knew. I want to say He is wrong, I choose him over any other guy. And I'll always choose him. My choice in love will never be wrong or regret. He is my brother except that there would be no reason for anyone include him to say NO. I couldn't believe that he is thinking of me very low. He always respects me and respects my decision and now, here he is telling My decision about my love life is always wrong and worst compared to a teen girl. He doesn't even know about my love life, my only love life which I desire the most.

Like saving me from my thoughts, Pinkie called me "Idris, I'm gonna help grandma and aunt for breakfast, you can take a shower and get ready for the excitement day" behind me. I went through the back door on the other side. I don't want to confront anyone with the sadness in my face left by Jack.

Even the hot water doesn't help to forget the pain caused by him. I want to go to his room and hug him, tell him. he is the one that I love for my life. I wanted to cry on his shoulder when he holds me. Guess what? It will never happen. One wrong move to him, I'll lose my Jack forever. My Jack? I smiled a dope when did he mine? He will never be mine. Years before he was Amber's. In High school, he was Thalia's. In college, there would have been plenty to list. Weeks before he was Sophia's. He was never mine. He will never be. I should stop obsessing over him. I should get over him Maybe I'll If he hurt me like today or even worse he married someone he deserves who is not his sister. I lost track of time as I drowned in my own thoughts. I couldn't hear when the door knocked first. I heard and turn off the shower and wrap myself in a towel as I opened the door. Jack is standing in the room wearing a plain half sleeve t-shirt. He turned away he eyes caught me on a towel. It must have been an embarrassing moment for him. "Come for breakfast," he said try to leave. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I didn't mean that way." he apologized. "it's okay, It's true though." I shrugged as I opened the bag to give me the shirt I'd bought for him. "Here, I bought these shirts for you" I hold it in front of him. I couldn't see his eyes. I kept my gaze on the shirt I was holding. He took from me after a minute of hesitation.

"Thanks" he left the room door closed. I locked the door and dressed, left my hair open to get dry, and headed to the dining hall where everyone is sitting.