The Days That Count

8. The Day He Realized It

Days later, last week of October

"Hey Kam." Jordan greeted his brother who sat on a bench in the campus. He is a tall twenty one years old guy with a sharp, yet adoring look in his eyes just like all the Parker brothers.

Kameron Parker studies computer science as well and has one more year to go. His going to university has proven to be responsible and mature as he scored practically all the best scores and studied restlessly. Jordan found an idol in his brother's figure and always tended to be just like him, although he usually showed less care to be perfect at school and was way more social than his older brother. He went to the extent of going to the same college as him, even though he could study computers anywhere else. Jordan just wanted to be close.

"Joe! Hey. How was your class?" Kameron asked his brother while leaning back casually.

They exchanged greetings and Jordan fell to the bench beside him.

"Good. I got thirty five out of forty points on todays assignment. I'm glad that's done. " The younger one breathed out.

Kam patted him on the back. "Good job. I see you have gotten a bit more serious lately."

"Well, if I don't wanna fail my exams I obviously need to focus a bit more. What's up with you?"

"Nothing much." Kameron shrugged.

Jordan found it rather unconvincing and eyed him carefully.

"Who's your 'nothing much'?" He questioned with a sly feel to it that it had Kameron get a bit frustrated.

"Look at you enrolling at college and suddenly thinking you know all about people." His brother joked and laughed lightly while running a hand through his long and messy brunette hair.

Jordan raised a brow, smiling. "I don't know people. I just know you."

"Well, since you're all grown up, I might as well let you know." Kameron took a small box out of his pocket and to Jordan's surprise, it was a pack of cigarettes. He took one out and put it between his lips, carefully lighting up. The older one breathed in and let out a puff of smoke.

"Since when do you smoke?"

"Since this summer. What was I going to tell you? Oh right. Chloe and I broke up."

Jordan could not hold in his surprise so he just let his mouth hang open for this statement. Chloe Thompson was Kameron's girlfriend since the second year of highschool. She is a year younger than Kameron. They've been through thick and thin together, surviving through his leave for Philadelphia for one year, before she finished highschool as well and got into college here too. This year it would be their fifth anniversary.

"What? How? When did this happen? Why?" Jordan rambled on questions.

Kameron stroked a trace of beer he had on his chin that made him look at least twenty four. It suited his seriousness really good. "About three weeks ago."

"And you haven't told me yet?" Joe snapped. He liked Chloe. He thought she was a good match for his brother, with her warm-hearted personality.

"Well, you haven't showed me your apartment yet, too." Kameron defended himself.

"That's different! I can't believe this. Why did you guys break up? You know what? We'll just speak on our way because I cannot sit still right now. Let's go."

The two brothers were supposed to go to Jordan's apartment since Kamerom hasn't really seen it yet. That was the purpose of their meet, at first.

"Let me finish this first." Kam referred to his cigarette.