Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (English)

Chapter 07 - Far more thought than he let on

December 17, 2010

Christmas party. The students are all dressed up because it's one of the rare times they can wear civilian clothes.

This is probably the most exciting day for everyone. Gifts will be exchanged, stories will be shared, and endless fun will ensue. No classes!

Everyone feels great waking up in the morning. Everyone except Perci and Odyssey, who are arguing that morning.

"He said he had something new, but it turns out I'm the only one. Where's the new clothes you were talking about?!" Perseus complained to his older brother. The only reason he accepted the new polo and pants Odyssey gave him the night before was because Odyssey said he had bought new clothes too.

They are poor. That's one single fact that Perci can't change. In fact, even though he's rebellious at his age, he knows when he's going too far. He knows his brother is a scholar and that Odyssey works hard for his tuition fee and their daily meals through various jobs. So when he was given clothes, he immediately asked where they came from and if there were also new clothes for the Christmas Party. When Odyssey said there were, he easily accepted the new clothes.

But he didn't know why, that morning, Odyssey was still wearing the old polo he had seen. Perci can't help but feel guilty.

"Stop being difficult. We're going to be late."

"Late? It's a party and you're already late. Change your clothes. Even just the pants, put on the new ones."

"Perseus. I am not miserable. Stop being so dramatic or I might hit you."

"Wow." Perci raised an eyebrow. "Scary," he said sarcastically.

"Besides, we don't fit the same size. That's really the size of what I bought, so I gave it to you. It's loose on me." Odyssey said, even though Perci knew he was just saying this to quiet him down. His older brother is trying to be tough for both of them. Even though Perci knew he didn't have to do it.

But since Perci knew he couldn't force his brother to talk, he just kept quiet. It's hard to deal with his brother when he chooses to remain silent.

He adjusted his collar and sat down at the dining table.

Three plates were still set. Perci can't help but smile. But he quickly wiped it away when his brother sat down next to him.

Their buildings are far apart since he's only in 1st year. But he hears about what happened between his brother and Lee.

Even though he couldn't ask Odyssey personally, he heard that there was a fight between them. Perci couldn't imagine how it happened, but apparently, Odyssey lost his cool and yelled at Lee. There were even reports that his brother threw something in a tantrum. He didn't know if he should trust the rumors, but apparently, his brother was the first to walk out, leaving Lee crying on the floor.

His older brother, who never lost his cool before. Even with their parents, he never showed any weakness. Odyssey has built a great facade around him which made him appear cool and distant, like he wouldn't let his emotions affect him.

So instead of feeling sorry for Lee, Perci is even more excited to see how this girl will continue to affect his brother. Because knowing Odyssey, he is only making it seem like what he's doing is spontaneous, but only someone like Perci who has lived with him would know that Odyssey puts far more thought into things than he lets on.

Just like last night with the new clothes, pretending it was bought casually. And now with the three plates set. It's even obvious that he's kind of waiting for Lee to arrive.

"Uh, kuya, please give this to Ate Lee." Perci handed over his gift for the girl. He is so attached to this girl that he knows his brother won't notice he's just trying to open a conversation about her.

"What's this?" Odyssey asked upon seeing a paper bag with its contents slightly visible.

"I got it from the claw machine. It's a Christmas gift for Ate Lee." Perci was keenly observing his brother's microexpressions.

"It won't fit in your paper bag."

"It's okay, kuya. Just give it to her, alright?" Perci tried his best not to tease about Lee not coming back to their house for breakfast. He didn't want to make his brother uncomfortable or more upset.

"Okay." Odyssey answered briefly, much to Perseus' disappointment.

Perci would have preferred if his brother spoke up about why Lee wasn't coming over and what really happened the other day. He was also itching to ask why there were still plates set for the girl.

"Uh, what's your gift for Ate Lee?"

"H-ha?"

"Come on, if you just bought these clothes as your gift for Ate Lee, you're really something. You can't even give a proper gift to our one and only friend—"

"I have one!" Odyssey suddenly spoke up. He pulled out a necklace with an "L" on it.

Perci's eyes lit up. He didn't know his brother actually had one. All he wanted was to prod his brother to speak more.

"Nice. She'll like that."

Odyssey fell silent. And Perseus thought this was the best time to interrogate him more. He felt like his brother's walls were falling brick by brick. But he still had to be careful with his questions. He was treading on thin ice.

"What happened?"

"I don't know." Odyssey replied, still looking at the necklace.

"What do you mean 'I don't know'?" Perci was trying to keep his voice down even though he was frustrated with his brother. "Come on, kuya. You don't do that to my life benefactor. You might be forgetting, I owe her my life. So if you're going to fight with her, you'll have to deal with me."

"I didn't mean to."

"What did you do?" Perseus asked, even though he had already heard about it throughout the school.

"I yelled at her. I said she was a bother."

"W-what?!" Perci almost stood up from his seat. Not because he was disappointed to finally know the details of the argument between his brother and Lee, but because he was thrilled. He didn't expect his brother to have such a reaction! "Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe I just got heated."

"Because..."

"When she brought up money... That she would just pay for the book."

Perci had to hold back a smile. Now he knew. So it was all about his brother's pride. He knew that in their situation, his brother still had a big ego. Especially since they are poor. Maybe he felt embarrassed when money was mentioned, especially since he knew there was a big gap between him and Lee, who was obviously well-off.

"How about my gift?" Perci tried to steer the conversation safely before it became sensitive about their lives and finances.

"I don't know."

"How about 'I don't know'? Should I just give it myself?"

"Don't..."

"Okay." Perci stood up and started washing the dishes.

He couldn't help but smile but didn't show it to his brother. He knew he had succeeded.

*later*