The Light in the Dark

CHAPTER 4, BEDTIME HAS ARRIVED IN OUR HOUSEHOLD

It was around time to go to bed, but things were different this time. My brother was here, it's been long since we've been under the same roof.

It seems like he could maneuver around the house just fine for not being here in a while, but still he managed to get lost. I then showed him his old bedroom, and when he saw it, he had a sad look on his face.

He walked around the room as he looked around. Mom and Dad refused to touch Leo's room after he disappeared that day, so everything in his room stayed the same. But a good majority of the things in his room that were on a shelf and his dresser were dusty.

He continued to look around, then sat on his bed and sighed. "Dang, this room hasn't changed much from the last time I saw it."

I looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, we missed you so much that we just couldn't do anything to the room so we just left it alone."

"Man, so what else did I miss?"

"So much happened after you left, I guess glad you're here."

After I said that the atmosphere went tense, his expression turned into this somewhat emotionless and serious one. "You really mean that?" His voice, it was...nerve wracking. It had a more mild tone than his normal voice. "I mean, I've been gone for 10 years. I just cut contact with everyone. How are you 'glad I'm here'"?

"Wait what? What do you mean by that?" I was confused

"You know what I mean. There's no way you're happy to see me. You should hate me right now."

"Nardo, come on. Yes, I'm upset that you went missing for years, cut all contact and now just decided to show up. But, I would never hate my own brother. I love you too much to hate you, and I'm really happy you're here, and so is Leah."

Leo looked up at me with a shocked expression, then I saw tears fill his eyes. But he wiped his tears before they could reach his cheeks "heh, thanks dude."

I playfully punched his arm. "No problem."

He sighed, but that sigh turned into a yawn. I just realized how tired he looked.

"You should get some rest." I said as I patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess." He said. He even sounded tired. He turned his body and laid down on his bed.
"We can start training tomorrow, if I'm going to be suspended, might as well be productive. And once again, I'm really happy you're..." Before I could finish my sentence, I heard snoring. Leo had already fallen asleep. I took his glasses off and put them on the dresser next to his bed.

I left the room and made my way to my room but as soon as I walked out of the room I was greeted by Leah. "Oh hey Leah." I said, smiling at her.

"I'm guessing he's sleeping right now?" she asked.

"Yup, he's out."

She sighed "I just wanted to apologize from earlier, I came off as rude. I just wanted him to know that..."

"That you're happy he's here. Yeah, he knows." I smiled, reassuring her.

She looked up at me confused.

"Yeah, don't ask. We kind of had a bit of a moment."

"Noted..." She sighed "It's great to see him again. And you, you and I are going to have a talk. You haven't fully explained what happened at school today, now I want an explanation." She said with an upset expression.

"I'll tell you everything in the morning, right now; Is it okay if I head to bed?" I said, rubbing my eyes.

She sighed "Fine, you can go to sleep but tomorrow I want an explanation, got it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Alright."

She chuckled softly and kissed my forehead. "Love you."

"Love you too, sis." I said before I headed to my bedroom.

After we parted ways, I went to my room. I took my watch off and laid down on my bed, I wasn't ready to go to sleep yet. I know that this was a time where you just winded down but I just couldn't go to sleep.

Some time had passed and after a long fight between the two teams, sleep had won and I was able to get a good night's sleep.