All The Arts That We're Not

Chapter 40

Arkin

Arkin was changing glances to his cooking back to the recipe on his phone. When he arrived from school, he decided to prepare a dinner since Zeke would probably go home late. It's the first time he would cook with zero idea on what to do which kinda scare him.

He lean against counter while waiting for the food to get cook when suddenly he heard his phone ringing.

He went to grab his phone on the couch and figured it was his mum's calling. He stared at the screen for a few beats before he decided to decline her call.

He remain staring at his phone while he lets a heavy sigh escaped from his lips.

He doesn't want to talk to his parents, knowing they should only convince him to get back to their house. And that's not what he wanted.

Few moments later, his attention had drawn back to the present when he smelled like something's burning. He snapped his head to the kitchen and realize it was his cooking.

He immediately went up to turn off the stove and check on it but, it was too late. It was all but burnt.

Just when he turn on his heel is when he saw Zeke standing on the front doors who remain looking his way for quite a while. He wonders how is he feeling now after the conversation he had with him earlier.

"How long have you been standing there?" Arkin asked with the pot holder in his hands.

"Just now." Zeke plainly replied and Arkin saw how Zeke's eyes went to the pan behind him.

"I'm sorry I've made a mess in your kitchen. I was just trying to cook something for our dinner but I guess I failed for my first time."

Zeke then walked towards the kitchen to look at what he was cooking. But then smile stretches on his lips when he caught sight of the recipe on Arkin's phone.

"Go on, you can laugh at my cooking. I know it looks terrible than it might have tasted." Arkin said, looking down on the floor.

"That's okay. We could just grab something for dinner." Zeke said, making Arkin bring his glance up and was surprised to see the timid smile on his face which made him return the gesture.

Arkin just felt a little unsure of what to do. After the conversation they had earlier, Arkin was expecting Zeke would still have the same mood he had but he doesn't looked mad or anything now.

As soon as Arkin grabbed his jacket, they had decided to eat on the nearest diner as it's getting late already.

On their way to the diner, no one was talking. It was one thing that Arkin had noticed about Zeke recently. He's not sure if it's just him or Zeke's really being silent these days.

"I'm sorry." Zeke spoke all of a sudden after he noticed Arkin's been staring at him. "I'm sorry about earlier. I know I acted strange and that might have confused you."

"I don't mind." Arkin said when in reality, he's been wanting to ask a lot of questions that he had in his head.

"That guy you'd talked to this morning is my brother." Arkin snapped his head to his way in surprise while Zeke keep the same blank face as he walks. "He's eight years older than me so he's basically my older brother."

"I didn't know you had a brother."

"I almost forgot I had too." He let out a bitter laugh at the end of his words before he continues. "No one really knows I had a brother aside from Zero and the others. We don't live together so I don't really have anything to share about that guy. It's not cause' I don't think it's still necessary but because there's really not a single thing I know about him anymore."