Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 114: Valentine’s Day

Nathan frowned. "What?"

Zane had no intention of explaining, he even regretted saying anything. Since when had he become so irrational? How could he possibly restrict Nathan from forming relationships with other people?

He wasn’t even anyone special to that boy. And besides, did Nathan even like boys? What if he turned out to like girls?

Nathan stared intently. But luckily, the teacher arrived.

Nathan tried not to think about it. But then, during the second break, Zane accompanied him to eat without saying a word.

Nathan tried to lighten the mood, maybe the boy was in a bad mood about something.

"My brother’s bodyguard is going to resign. But I think we all love him. Do you know how to make him stay?" asked Nathan.

Eli, who was eating in front of them, had been feeling uncomfortable since earlier, and he listened carefully to Nathan’s words. "He’s going to resign? Why?"

Nathan shrugged. "I don’t know."

Eli looked serious. "But I think adults are very difficult to persuade. If they’ve made up their minds, it means they’ve thought it through carefully."

"I don’t know. I feel like they have a strange relationship."

"Strange?" Eli was curious.

Nathan nodded. "They often sleep in the same room. Isn’t that strange? Or is it normal?"

Zane listened intently. Suddenly, he interrupted. "If it’s true that they have a relationship, what do you think? A relationship between two men?"

"I shouldn’t care. It’s just weird, and I’m thinking maybe Huan resigned because their relationship wasn’t working."

Zane wasn’t focused on the main issue. He wanted to know Nathan’s opinion on the matter. "Is a same-sex relationship disgusting? What about you? Do you prefer girls or guys?"

Nathan wolfed down his food, feeling a little calmer now that Zane seemed to be back to normal. Then he thought about the question.

He had never had a lover. He had never even thought about it. But because he saw Vale and his boyfriend, he got used to seeing gay couples. And for some reason, he felt more attracted to guys than girls.

"I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. But it seems like I’m not very interested in girls," replied Nathan.

Zane exhaled the breath he had been holding. For some reason, he had been really afraid to hear Nathan’s answer.

Did he really like that boy? He knew the answer, and he was very sure of it.

He liked Nathan. Very, very much.

Eli chewed carefully, watching their interaction. Then he quietly looked at Zane, who was blushing. He immediately looked down, certain that Zane liked Nathan, more than just as a friend.

At that moment, Gabriel appeared again. This time, the atmosphere was not as usual. Zane was usually cold, but this time he was clearly irritated by the boy.

Zane left the table abruptly, took his tray, threw away his food, and put it on the dirty tray table.

Nathan was shocked.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, offended. "What happened to him?" he muttered. They had been fine since the boy last came to his house.

Eli was too sensitive for situations like this. Only he understood what was really going on.

Gabriel looked at Nathan. "Do you have time today? My mom asked if you would come again today."

Nathan was silent. They had played together quite often last week. "I think I’ll study more today. Maybe I can come with Nael on Friday."

Gabriel looked a little disappointed, but he nodded. "Well, okay. You know you can come anytime you want."

"Thanks."

After Gabriel left, Nathan was about to leave, but Eli stopped him.

"Nathan, do you think Zane likes you? He looks jealous," said Eli.

Nathan frowned. "What? I like him. We are friends. I like you too."

Eli clicked his tongue. "Not as a friend. I’ve noticed many times that Zane seems so possessive of you."

Nathan clicked his tongue. "No way. He’s just being bitchy. I don’t know what his problem is."

"I don’t know, but maybe you need to think that he might like you, if it makes sense for his behavior."

Nathan didn’t want to think about it that way. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship. But Zane’s attitude was very strange, especially since Gabriel’s house.

Or did Zane actually like Gabriel?

What was it? He was confused.

But suddenly, thinking about the possibility of Zane liking him as a lover made his chest flutter strangely, like butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

Nathan shook his head. "No way! How could he like me?"

"Why not? You are so handsome and cute. And very kind." Eli sighed in disbelief that Nathan doubted himself.

It wasn’t that Nathan didn’t want to believe it, but he guarded his heart against hope and fear that he was misjudging the situation, which would cause their relationship to fall apart.

But Zane’s attitude was indeed strange. He didn’t talk to him until after school. Nathan didn’t want to bother him, so in the end, they were both silent.

But the next day, they couldn’t avoid each other because they had to study together after school.

"Do you want a ride in my car?" Zane asked suddenly that afternoon after school.

Nathan, who was tidying up his desk, was quite surprised, not expecting the boy to talk to him. But he shook his head. "No, I can’t. Louis will take me."

Zane nodded and walked away.

Nathan felt so awkward. He walked quickly to catch up with Zane, thinking it was impossible for them to study in such a cold atmosphere.

"Zane, should I stop coming to your house?" asked Nathan when they were in the corridor, which was now starting to empty. Only a few students passed by and hurried away.

Zane was stunned. The question made his heart seem to stop beating. He was really surprised. He turned around and looked at Nathan. For a moment, since yesterday, his gaze was intense, and there was anxiety in it.

"Why?" asked Zane after a long silence.

He deliberately did not get close to keep his heart sane. But that didn’t mean he wanted to lose Nathan.

After that question, he realized he had overreacted. Nathan might actually be distancing himself because of his childish attitude.

Nathan stared intently at Zane. "I don’t know, you seem weird since yesterday. You didn’t talk to me. You only answered a few words. I’m afraid if you’re angry with me for a reason I don’t know, and it makes you uncomfortable. So maybe I can come next time. I can study by myself," said Nathan.

Zane looked at Nathan but couldn’t for too long and ended up turning his face away. He didn’t want the boy to leave and stay away from him.

"No, just come." Zane didn’t realize how pleading his voice sounded.

"Are you really okay? Did I do something to make you angry?" asked Nathan, pressing him. He felt suffocated thinking about Zane’s strangeness, which made it impossible for him to study properly.

Zane shook his head. "No. You did nothing wrong. I just... feel angry. But not at you."

"Why? Do you have a problem? Are your mom and David still giving you trouble?" asked Nathan.

"No. Not at all. I don’t even know where they are, and I don’t give a damn."

"So?"

"Just..." Zane felt his throat suddenly go dry. It was difficult to speak. His chest was pounding. "Forget it."

He turned away, but Nathan pulled his arm. "We’re friends, right? Can’t you tell me what’s wrong?"

Friends...

Zane looked down, smiling bitterly. They were just friends. He sighed. "No, it’s nothing. Really sorry to make you uncomfortable."

That night, Zane seemed normal while they were studying together. But his face was still gloomy, and he seemed to be hiding something heavy. Nathan didn’t know what to do anymore.

Valentine’s Day

Contrary to Nathan’s expectations, at home, his brothers didn’t really pay much attention to it. They only sent chocolate to every staff member in the house.

Nathan only saw Nael busy in the kitchen, helped by Malvin. Lucas had been busy with reservations since yesterday. Roger seemed normal. Alexander said nothing. Leo... who knew where he was.

Nathan felt a little relieved that at least he was free from the obligation of sending chocolate.

He bought chocolate at the store, for Nael, because that boy would definitely keep bothering him. Also for Zane.

The chocolate was wrapped in a gold box with a blue ribbon. He didn’t know how to tell Zane without it looking like a declaration of love. He didn’t want the boy to get the wrong idea and end up hating him later.

Damn... What should he say?

Valentine’s Day at school was really chaotic, making Nathan dizzy. Not only did he hate the noise and lovey-dovey teens who filled the corridor, but his locker was also overflowing. Pink envelopes, red ribbons, and boxes of expensive chocolates from girls he barely knew!

When he opened his locker, he saw it was full of chocolate. He thought someone had sent the chocolates to the wrong person. But the letters and chocolates had his name on them.

Nathan Salazar, with lots of cute messages.

What?

Nathan stared at Nael’s locker in a different row, which looked the same. He immediately clicked his tongue. That boy said he never received any chocolates. Meanwhile, his locker was full of chocolates, although not as overflowing as Nathan’s.

What made his locker look full was that someone had sent him a large bouquet of roses.

"Wow, happy Valentine’s Day, Nathan!" giggled a boy who saw his locker.

Nathan wasn’t ungrateful. But the chocolates overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t close his locker. He was still busy arranging the chocolates inside so he could close it when Zane arrived.

The boy just glanced at him, seemingly indifferent. But his face grew more annoyed.

"Morning, Zane!"

Zane nodded and walked away.

Nathan frowned. Was the boy acting up again? What was going on now?

At the locker door, Zane passed Gabriel. It was enough to make him stop and stand in the doorway.

"Good, you’re still here!" Gabriel laughed happily when he saw Nathan there.

Nathan turned his head. "Hi! Morning, Gab!"

The boy pushed a giant unwrapped chocolate bar into Nathan’s chest, knocking him backward.

"Happy Valentine’s Day! I got you the biggest one!" Gabriel exclaimed enthusiastically. Then he stared at Nathan’s full locker.

"Wow! You got a lot of chocolate!" he said, looking disappointed. "You won’t eat mine then."

Nathan clicked his tongue. "Why? I can eat it all year! Btw, you don’t need to give me chocolate."

"Don’t worry, my father got a lot of chocolate. I don’t know where I can dump them all."

Nathan just realized Gabriel was carrying a large bag in his hand. "Seriously? All that chocolate?"

Gabriel nodded. He turned his head and saw Zane still standing in the doorway. He immediately broke into a wide smile. "Hey!"

But Zane quickly walked away, his face sour.

Gabriel immediately clicked his tongue. "That angry bird. I don’t think he likes chocolate."