Episode 8

...

Eder Olid: I didn't feel... I don't know what it was. But it felt like it was inside the house. Did you see?

Louis Olid: No.

The Housekeeper noticed the commotion downstairs and came down to check what was going on.

Housekeeper Larissa: Boys? What happened?

Eder Olid: Larissa, please go to sleep. Whatever it was, it's gone. Tomorrow, we'll get a security guard or cameras.

Housekeeper Larissa: Are you sure?

Eder Olid: Yes... Everything's fine. Go! Let's go back to sleep.

Louis Olid: Brother?

Eder looked at Louis.

Louis Olid: Can I sleep with you?

Eder Olid: Sleep with me!? You... No. You're a child, aren't you? Just lock your bedroom door.

Louis Olid: Okay.

Louis went back to his room, but couldn't sleep. He stared at the door all night.

|||

At the OL company

Some employees in the coffee area were waiting for the system to update. Meanwhile, they were doing what they do best.

Deise: Look who's alive and always shows up, huh? A fourteen-day sick note, missed a lot of things.

Patricia: Missed? What?

Deise: Our CEO's brother spilled coffee on Mr. Grumpy, and then fainted in his lap.

Patricia: Really? How about that. And him? I'm sure he didn't let it slide, did he? He's so mean.

Deise: That's what nobody understood.

Patricia: What do you mean?

Heriberto: He carried Mr. Louis in his arms to the hospital.

Patricia: You're lying!? Seriously?

Deise: Dead serious.

Marcia: And yesterday? Guess who showed up to confront Eder?

Patricia: To confront my handsome CEO? Who was the bold one?

Marcia: Mr. Jurane.

Patricia: What does that guy want anyway?

Deise: Explain it to her, Marcia. She's not an old employee like us, is she?

Marcia: Oh, yes. Mr. Jurane was also one of the partners who founded OL. He left the company with a good amount of money and opened his own company.

Deise: Yeah...

The three old employees started laughing.

Patricia: Why are you laughing? Wasn't it good for him to start a company?

Marcia: The thing is, it's a big sex shop company. They make and sell... "toys"

Patricia: Wow!? I wasn't expecting that.

Heriberto: Guys, look over there.

The unoccupied employees looked at Louis in a chair. He was also waiting for the system update, but ended up falling asleep with his head tilted back.

Marcia: That's going to end up hurting his neck.

Patricia: How can he be so different from Mr. Eder?

Heriberto: Because they're not really brothers?

Patricia: That's not it... Even though they're not blood-related, they were raised by the same parents since Mr. Eder was eight years old. The upbringing is the same.

Deise: That's true.

Patricia: Mr. Eder is elegant, polite, refined, and very firm. Aside from the looks, which this poor thing wouldn't have even if he didn't have the genes.

Deise: You think Louis is ugly?

Patricia: Ugly? He only has pretty eyes. That curly hair looks like it's never seen a comb in its life, he has very thick lips, and a thin nose, it doesn't match at all.

Nestor was already behind the gossip group and had been listening while Patricia spoke. Suddenly, they noticed his presence.

Deise: Hey... Patricia.

Patricia: What is it, guys?

The woman looked back and turned white.

Patricia: Mr. Temi... Grumpy.

Nestor Grize: Could you do me a favor, Patricia?

Patricia: Yes, you can ask, sir.

Nestor Grize: Tell me how long he's been sleeping there?

Patricia: Well... We've been waiting for forty minutes for IT to update the system. They said it would only take ten minutes... So I think he must have been sleeping for about twenty-five minutes, or more.

Nestor Grize: Thank you.

Nestor ignored the group and sat next to Louis, gently touching his face, bringing his head forward.

Nestor Grize: I didn't want to wake you, I think this update is going to take a while, so come with me?

Louis Olid: Yes!

Louis straightened up and maintained his posture, as if receiving an order.

Nestor Grize: Just follow me.

Louis Olid: Okay.

The group of gossipers watched the two of them follow each other to the elevator.

Patricia: Gosh, I wonder if he's going to get scolded?

Marcia: I bet Mr. Grumpy came here to get one of us to help him with something in his office, and then he saw someone else even more unoccupied.

Deise: Yeah, because at least we weren't sleeping.

|||

Louis entered Nestor's office.

Nestor Grize: Want a cappuccino?

Louis Olid: Ah, yes! I'd love one, I really like coffee... And I need it.

Nestor Grize: You look tired.

Nestor went to the counter in the corner of his office, where a capsule coffee machine was. He put in a capsule and a cup, and waited beside it.

Louis Olid: I didn't sleep...

Nestor Grize: Your face does look terrible.

Louis Olid: I know... I look awful. But it's not going to get better for a while.

Nestor took the cup and handed it to Louis.

Nestor Grize: What happened?

Louis Olid: Something strange happened at home yesterday... I felt a presence, and it seemed like someone touched the doorknob. I thought it was Eder...

Nestor Grize: Does he usually go into your room?

Louis Olid: No. Actually, I'm the one who goes to his. When he has his episodes and... Please don't mention this to anyone.

Nestor Grize: Don't worry. I know how things are around here.

Louis Olid: I just thought it was him. So when I left, I went to the living room, as if I could still see who it was, but...

Louis took a sip.

Louis Olid: Eder was also in the living room. Whoever it was, they went outside. And we just stared... Without understanding. I was... scared.

Nestor Grize: That's why you didn't sleep last night.

Louis Olid: Yes.

Louis laughed.

Louis Olid: I know... It's childish, but I'm not used to feeling this way. And I don't like this feeling.

Nestor Grize: It's okay to be afraid. We're not machines, Louis. And the truth is, everyone is afraid of something.

Louis Olid: Thank you.

Nestor Grize: For the coffee? Or for the encouraging words?

Louis Olid: For being nice to me. That's how having friends should be. And I like that. If you can, let me know if I annoy you, or if I do something you don't like... because I can correct myself... I wanted to keep going out with you for coffee, and talk.

Nestor looked at Louis with affection.

Nestor Grize: I want to stay close to you too. Because you make me feel really good. And I don't believe you could ever annoy me, quite the opposite.

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