Being Next to You

Chapter 36: I like her. Is that wrong, Mister?

Harrison was at the front door, and I was behind my brother. "My sister came back from Brazil, and souvenirs from her." He was carrying a box.

"She shouldn't have, give her my thanks. But leaving that aside..."

My brother smiled as he took Harri-- I meant Pan's earlobe and pinched it, "HOW MANY TIMES DID I TOLD YOU TO CALL ME 'KIKU,' HUH, HARRY?"

His tone shifted.

"YOU'RE AWARE THAT I DISLIKE THAT NAME. AND WHY CALL ME 'MISTER' ARE WE STRANGERS? SHALL YOU SAY BYE-BYE TO MR. GLASSES AGAIN?"

"YOUR MOTHER WILL GET ANGRY IF SHE HEARS ME!!" Pan ranted in pain.

"Mom's not here " Kiku continued.

"Then let go, Kiku! It's cold outside!"

"Alright." Pan made my brother pleased, "Take the box in the kitchen and rest for a while," he offered while I stood pretty.

"Good rabbits and pumpkins!" He complained as he stepped inside, "Why were you standing pretty, pal? You should stop him at least."

"Kiku likes teasing you." Giving him sympathy.

"Your brother is one of those people I fear the most! I wouldn't have been his lackey if I weren't scared of him." Pan rubbed his frustrations on me.

"Why isn't it Pan?" Sherry bid her greetings, as we both arrived in the living room. "I didn't know you're wearing glasses?"

"Hey, Sherry, Theresa." Pan lay down on the couch comfortably. "Doing your homework in literature? We've already finished ours, though." He caught up with the surroundings; amazing.

"How come?" I asked, sitting next to my neighbor.

"Mr. Peder is the Class E's homeroom advisor." Lazing back, as we continued with our work.

"You're in Class E, so you must know "Ellijah Knight?"' France questioned while writing.

"Y-Yeah..." Then Pan whispered in my ear, "Who's that? She's scary..," in a nervous tone, I whispered back, "She's my friend."

"Ahem?" France took his attention.

Clearing his throat, he apologized. "Ellijah's is my surname buddy, we are known for having weird last names. You know, Pan and Knight?"

"You don't need to be stiff around her," I felt like pinching his cheeks, "she's very nice."

"In what clothing!?!.." He whispered back, then grabbed the photo that I'm going to use for the assignment.

Pan was staring at the picture.

"How nostalgic, isn't it?" Looking at it with him. "My favorite picture when you came playing in the pool with me during the summer."

"It's just an inflatable pool in your backyard, no biggie."

"But, you are sure smaller than Rina here," Sherry commented as she also took a look.

"Boys are late bloomers. What do you expect?" He responded, then I remembered, "By the way, how's your sister and mom?" I just asked.

"Good." He replied, already in his pace, "They left me housesitting while visiting relatives since it's weekdays. So, I'm home alone."

"I pity you." Brother directly expressed after overhearing, yet concerned.

"But, how about staying for dinner? You too, girls? I'm friends with the knife." Kiku is affectionately in his own way, as he began heating the pan, where I can hear the oil sizzle.