Chapter Three

Night came, everything were unpacked and arranged. Louise had just finished with his own stuffs. He sat by the edge of his bed, looking around, appreciating his new room. A light smile curved his lips, but then disappeared as he sighed.

Seconds later, he went up to his feet and out of his room. His footsteps were soft and light. He stopped by a door, then knocked twice. Silence lingered back in the air.

Maybe he's asleep, Louise thought as no one answered the door. Even so, he twisted the knob rather gently and went to poke his head through the gap.

Joshua was lying on his side, blankly staring at out the window. The stars twinkled even though not appreciated.

"Josh..." Louise softly called.

Joshua moved and looked behind him, his expression changing. With the moonlight, Louise could trace that usual grumpy look on Joshua's face. The former let himself in, closing the door before walking towards the bed. He carefully sat down by the edge of the bed, staring at his little brother.

"Have you calmed down?" Louise asked gently.

Joshua shifted back to his earlier position. He could imagine that usual smile his brother wears. "Why do we even have to move?" He murmured.

Worry touched Louise's smile, but he's an optimist. "Dad just wanted us to have the best he could give. Don't you think this house is better? And it's bigger than the old one..."

Joshua didn't say anymore. But Louise knows his brother better than the rest. Whenever joshua says nothing, it doesn't mean he has nothing to say. Rather, it's the opposite.

Leaving one foot on the floor, Louise twisted his body to face Joshua. "Tell me what's on your mind, Josh," said the former, adding a touch of authority in his tone of voice.

Joshua withdrew his gaze from the window. For a second he shut his eyes, and then met Louise's serious gaze.

"Come on," Louise urged.

Joshua sat up, Louise helped him a bit. The former's gaze was locked on to his on hand. It took a moment for him to know how to start. With a sigh, he said, "It isn't easy for me to make friends, you know."

Louise remained silent even though Joshua paused his statement. He did so 'cause he felt like he needs to, or he might break the moment.

"It isn't easy," Joshua continued. "But I somehow did 'cause you all have been telling me the same thing over and over again. And now..." His voice was gradually rising in volume as he spoke. When his eyes searched for Louise's face, he found his brother simply, patiently listening. "And now it feels like I'm going to have to go through that struggle over again."

When Louise realized that Joshua's speech was done, he ruffled the latter's already messy hair. The former chuckled.

"Making friends can help you adjust better. And you'll have more people to talk to," said Louise.

Joshua intently breathed out through his nose, creating an audible noise from it. "But not everyone is like you," he said and then pulled his gaze away from Louise's face. "Nobody is better than you. You're the only one who understands me," he murmured but his voice was loud enough for Louise to catch his words.

Softly, Louise answered, gentleness evident, "it's because nobody is the same, Joshua. Some people are better at some things, some people are inferior to others. You're simply lucky to have someone like me as your older brother as I am grateful to have you as my little brother." He flashed a smile.

In Joshua's eyes, that smile isn't a simple one. It's a smile that tells more, like, it explains further what the owner's words really meant. He felt warmth reaching into his heart. He really is and feels lucky to have such a brother.

Finally, Joshua's mood has brightened as Louise's eyes has fully adjusted to the unilluminated bedroom. That rare smile has made its way on to Joshua's lips.

For a few seconds more, them two shared such moment.

"By the way," Louise blurted as he remembered the main thing. He tapped Joshua's shoulder before carefully stating his next words. "About someone's birthday party..."

Upon hearing the word birthday, Joshua's expression sunk. He gave Louise a disapproving look.

Louise chuckled at the changes that occurred on Joshua's face. "Mom just wants us to build a good relationship with the neighbors. And a good impression, you know..."

Joshua caught the drift of the latter part of the statement. Since they were about to move, their mother used to say that they must give a good impression and such. He looked down, not saying anything else.

Louise ruffled his hair again. "And it's not like that party's going to happen tomorrow or any sooner," he continued. "You have one week's time."

Joshua remained silent, letting his body fall flat on the bed with eyes closed. He laid on his side.

Louise internally sighed. He was short of what to say next so he decided to let it be. He just hopes that his little brother would get to adjust to this new place, the sooner the better. He tapped Joshua's shoulder before getting up. "I'll let you know when it's time for dinner," he said.

Joshua didn't bother reacting to the statement, as if he didn't hear it.

Louise noiselessly left the room. He went downstairs, straight to the kitchen. There he found his mother busy preparing ingredients. "What are you going to cook, Mom?" He asked.

Myrna looked behind her and saw who asked. She looked back at what she's doing before answering, "Corn soup and fried chicken. How's Joshua?" She asked without turning her head.

"He's fine," Louise answered as he peeked at the ingredients. "I already talked to him. It really stresses him out making friends with anybody else."

Myrna paused from her activity, bothered by his younger son's development.