The Jock and The Jetsetter

4

Alden was all smiles as he watched his sister, Rizza, skip and run ahead of him, her eyes wide and grinning as she took on the sights of Dei University.

"Oh, wow! Den - there's a huge lagoon in the middle of your school? What?!" she squealed before turning to the left and seeing the track. "And oh my gosh! That's a full, Olympic-sized track and field! Oh my goodness! We don't have that big of a track at my school! And shoot - is that the football stadium? Are we going there next? You have a game there tonight, right? Gosh, Den! I hope I could get in here the same as you, when the time comes!"

Alden chuckled as he caught up to his sister and ruffled her hair. "Of course, you'll be able to get in here. You're a genius! And I bet you'll be a great lawyer one day."

"And you, in turn, would be the best doctor, ever! Are you still going to be a brain doctor, Den? What do you call those again - neurosurgeons?"

"Yep," Alden replied as he placed his arm around his little sister and continued to walk towards one of the student dorms where he stays. "That's the plan."

"Mom is going to be so proud of you," Rizza gushed, her thin arms going around his waist, before adding in a quiet voice, "Dad, too."

Alden didn't reply. His heart suddenly clenching at the thought of their late dad who died due to a malignant brain tumor that they weren't able to catch in time. They weren't exactly a well-off family and so the headaches that their dad used to complain then shrug about after were something they didn't think much of. Until one day when he fainted and they rushed him to the ER, only to find out a little too late about his sickness.

From that day on, Alden vowed to become a brain doctor, a neurosurgeon - one that would save countless lives and help save families as well. So they won't have to go through the same heartaches his family had to endure at the death of his father.

"I hope so, Riz," he replied quietly, turning to look at his sister and smiling a little bit. "I hope so."

"Anyway," Rizza said in an upbeat tone, changing the topic. "So - tell me. What else is there to do today aside from your game? Can you tour me around campus? See your friends? Meet cute guys?"

"Hep! Hep! What do you mean by cute guys?! Rizza! You're only thirteen!!"

"What?" Rizza innocently asked. "I meant, other cute guys aside from you. You're a cute guy, right? My big brother! The cutest of them all cute guys!"

"Not gonna sway me, Riz. Not gonna sway me. At all," Alden deadpanned, to which Rizza pouted.

"Awww... Den. Stop raining on my parade here, will you? I was just kidding!"

"Kidding my ass," Alden muttered under his breath.

"Alden!" Rizza laughed upon hearing her brother. "Thank goodness mom's not here. Otherwise, you won't hear the end of it."

"And what about you, hmm? Asking about meeting cute guys."

Rizza continued to giggle. "I said I was just kidding! Goodness, Den. Take a joke, will you? And as much as I know you will probably be the first guy to scare away my own guy friends or even future boyfriends, I would like to remind you that I won't be thirteen forever."

"That's it! I am taking you back home!"

"ALDEN!" Rizza screamed, laughing as her older brother picked her up and carried her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"Nuh-uh," Alden replied, still walking towards his dorm. "Not until you promise to be a good little girl this weekend and do everything that I say."