South Park: Senior Year

18. Band-Aid

Kyle stands with Kenny in front of the middle school once again, waiting for their siblings. It isn't too long before Karen walks out. She and Kenny share hellos. A while after, Ike appears from behind a few of the kids. Kyle notices a taller, red-headed kid gives him a shove. Kyle steps forward instinctively.
When Ike gets to them and sees Karen, his face brightens from its previously gloomy expression. Kyle notices a large bandaid on his knee that wasn't there when they left for school this morning
"Hey, Ike!" Karen smiles.
"Hi." He smiles back.
The four of them begin making their way down the road to their houses, Karen and Ike walking in front.
Kyle turns to face Kenny "Do you think Ike is getting bullied at school?" He asks, his voice lowered.
Kenny shrugs. "I mean, maybe. I could ask Karen about it if you'd like."
Kyle nods. "Yeah, if you wouldn't mind. I'm worried about him."
Kenny nods and then the two pairs part, having arrived at Kyle's home. Once inside, Ike heads straight to his room. Kyle almost follows him but decides against it. He had Marine Biology homework to do.
Kyle heads to his room and flops down at his desk, pulling his binder from his bag. He flips to his period B4 tab and takes out the homework packet that was assigned for this week. They were studying different types of sea mammals and lucky for Kyle, this packet was based around orcas, a sea creature Kyle knew a lot about. He hardly had to check the article for any of the answers, as he already knew many facts about killer whales.
A text on his phone lights up the screen. Usually, Kyle was against checking his phone while doing school work, but he had glanced over for just a moment and saw the message was from Kenny.
It read, 'I aksed karen about ike and she said that she notcied him getting picked on a lot bc hes younger than everyone'
Kyle frowns. That's such a stupid thing to get teased for. God forbid someone younger than you is smarter than you are. He thinks.
"Kyle, dinner's ready. Tell Ike, too, on your way down." His mom calls from behind his door.
Kyle stands from his desk and heads down the hallway towards his brother's room. The door is cracked open and he can hear Ike playing some videogame, talking to one of his friends on his mic. Kyle knocks but receives no response, his brother unable to hear him with his headphones on.
Kyle steps into the room anyway, and stands by Ike to tap his shoulder. Ike lifts one of the headphones from his ear.
"Dinner." Kyle says.
Ike nods, telling his friend he has to get off and then the two boys make their way to the dining room. Their mom had prepared Matzoh Ball Soup, something Kyle loved but Ike was not a fan of. Still, he sat down at his pre-served plate. Kyle sat across from him and began eating.
"So, how was school today, Kyle?" His father asked.
"Fine." Kyle replied. "I got an A on that math test from last week."
"Oh good." His mother smiled. "You were worried for nothing."
This was not true. The fact that he hadn't slept that week was plenty reason to worry. He could hardly read the text on the paper.
"What about you, Ike?" His father asks.
Ike shrugs, picking at the food on his plate.
"Well, did you do anything fun?" Their mother asks.
"No, not really."
Kyle stares at his brother. "How'd you bust your knee?"
Ike glances up at Kyle and then back down at his plate. "I fell."
"Oh bubby, are you okay?" His mom asks. "Do you want me to look at it?"
"No, I'm fine." Ike insists.
"How'd you fall?" Kyle asks.
"Um." Ike fidgets with his hair. "I tripped.
Kyle squints. "Really?"
Ike looks up, noticing Kyle's suspicious expression. "What do you mean, really?"
"It's a pretty big band-aid."
"So?"
"Did someone push you?"
Ike glares at Kyle. "No."
"Are you sure?"
"No one pushed me!" Ike snaps.
"Woah, calm down, bud." Their father steps in, noticing the tension between the two brothers.
"I saw you get shoved after school today. Was it the same kid who pushed you? Are there multiple kids picking on you?" Kyle asks.
"You're getting picked on?" Their mom chimes in, shocked.
"Sometimes, I guess." Ike shrugs, annoyed.
"How often?" Kyle furrows his brows. "How come you didn't tell us you're getting bullied?"
"I'm not! What's it matter to you, anyway? Don't you have your own shit to worry about?" Ike scowls at his brother.
"Language!" Their father snaps.
"I'm gonna have a talk with the school tomorrow. No one picks on my baby boy!" Their mom declares.
"No!" Ike shouts. "Don't do that. I don't need you prancing in there like that! It's embarrassing!"
"Ike, this is serious! If you're getting bullied at school then the teachers need to be aware so it doesn't happen anymore!" Kyle says, his expression worried.
"It doesn't matter! I'm fine!" Ike insists.
"It's not fine! I don't want my little brother being bullied."
"You're not even my real brother!" Ike shouts. The words make Kyle's heart feel heavy.
"Ike!" His mom yells. "Don't you dare talk like that!"
Ike slams his fork down and storms off to his room. Kyle stands, quietly thanks his mom for dinner, and then heads back into his own bedroom.
Not my real brother.
The words repeat in his head and it feels like his heart has been stepped on. Kyle cared about Ike more than he could ever express. More than he ever has expressed.
Did Ike really feel that way?
The two of them had never been super open or emotional with each other but did Ike really think that Kyle didn't care about him? How bad of a brother was he?