The Final Year (PROJECT 2.0)

Empathy

Really long ass chapter...

"You still came along with her?" Martins gruffy voice asked the first question i am sure he had on his lips ever since he saw the two of us this afternoon.

Tega only grinned throwing a heavy arm around my shoulders.

"He refused to stay at home, claiming he will be lonely" i said pushing his arm off me causing him to pout.

"Don't listen to her"

Martins rubbed a finger on his forehead before looking at the two of us again.

"Who should i listen to?"

"What is that one thing Batman can't do without?" Tega asked all of a sudden. Martins only stared at him.

Seriously? Batman?

I know he is a DC fanatic but he does not have to drag Martins who was also a low key fanatic into another talk. This is not what i came here for.

"Robin Hood?"

"Wrong. It is Alfred"

I watch my brother's eyes widen in realization before nodding in support to what he just said.

"Who is Alfred?" i asked in confusion. I don't remember any sidekick or superhero bearing the name Alfred.

"The Butler" the both said in synchronization.

I mentally face palmed myself.

"What as batman's butler got to do with his question?"

"Don't you get it. I am batman, you are the butler" i hissed shaking my head in pity.

He is a lost cause.

"Here." I look up just in time to see him give Tega something that looks like a phone. The apple product shone under the dim light.

"How?" Tega asked looking dumbfounded.

"I told you i will get it back for you. Why are you asking me stupid questions?" he only deadpanned but he looks annoyed all the same.

"Bros thank you o" Tega thanked him checking his phone for any damage.

"Thank you big bro" he said nothing waving off our words of appreciation.

Bro Martins was not always like this. What made him this way was what you call environmental pollution and peer pressure.

After getting his secondary school leaving certificate, he stopped schooling. A personal decision made by him. My mom went hysteric, my dad tried talking to him, Tega's dad offered to help with his tuition fees in the university but it all fell on deaf ears.

His mind was made up.

I had always wondered as a little child that what could have made him make that decision and i had also pictured it in my head what he could have made of himself if he had chosen to further his education.

Martins is a twenty three year old. A street thug and a feared hoodlum. Something i am not proud of, that was why i rarely mentioned him.

He is a cool person to be with though we don't have this perfect brother and sister relationship, i don't know why though.

Was it because we came from different fathers or he never gave me the room to express myself adequately before him?

It such a funny thing that Tega had unconsciously filled that vacuum he had left in my life and he allowed it.

Am not going to lie or pretend that i saw the jealousy in his eyes when he saw me and Tega together. That was what prompt that question.

'you still came along with her?'