ONLY 9 YEARS, IS THAT IT?

[ELLIS' POV]

Am I dreaming? Is this even real?

What just happened?

Why are we in the private restaurant right now and the worst part is, HE'S FREAKING HERE.

"Ellis," Dione called.

I looked at her and she's smiling at me.

"Is he handsome?"

What the hell? Why is she even asking me that? Wait, Dione, doesn't know about what happened to us, so I cannot blame her that she's acting like this.

"Dione, this is not the right time to-"

"Mr. Beckett." The guy with the glasses calls him.

He is Eros.

So, it means, Eros is someone who is important because the guy with the glasses is being formal.

He called him Beckett! Eros Beckett.

Also, my surname.

I looked at Dione who doesn't have any idea but as I looked at her, her eyes widen and she looks at me.

She got the late realization!

Shit.

"OH MY GOD!" She shouted.

I'm keeping her mouth shut but she's so surprised that the glass almost fell but I quickly caught it. What should I do? What should I do?

I should be careful from now on.

"D-don't tell me... you... and you, sir, um..."

She's starting to get it now.

"I think I need to go," I whisper and she suddenly pulled me down the chair.

"ARE YOU BROTHERS?!" She shouted again and I cover her big mouth.

"Can you shut your mouth?" I whisper to her.

She raises her hand to gesture that she's sorry and I uncover her mouth.

"Can I get your name?" We looked at Eros who is asking Dione's name.

"M-my name? Um..." She's smiling and said, "My name is Dione Young, Mr. Beckett. I also work at your company."

Eros smiles, "Ms. Young, you're right. He is my little brother. This is my first time seeing you, Ms. Young, we might not bump to each other at work." And Eros looks at me which I looked away immediately.

Little brother.

I didn't even know how and why am I here, in the same room with him. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF BEING APART.

FUCK.

Dione just smiled, making her shyness obvious.

And then, she realized that Eros and I are brothers, she panic, "Oh my god! Wow, I... I'm sorry about earlier, I was just shocked, not in a bad way, Mr. Beckett, I mean, in a good way, well he mentioned before having a brother which was dead-"

My eyes widen and I suddenly cover her mouth, "Which she really thought was dead since I live alone." I continued and uncover her mouth again.

"Is that so?" Eros is looking at me right now and I can't stand it. I want to go out! But my knees are trembling, shaking, my whole body is not okay.

The waitresses came inside the private restaurant and serve us some food.

It's quiet.

The sound of the utensils and the music from the restaurant is all I can hear.

Why is he not asking anything?

Why is he quiet? Why?

Is he even surprised that I'm in front of him?

"Ellis?" Dione whispers.

I didn't reply.

"9 years," I say out loud which I don't care who might hear it.

They all looked at me while they are chewing their food. But it's already my limit now. He doesn't even ask, how am I, how's everything? How is the bakery going? He doesn't care!

"9 years of being apart. It's all that, right?"

He didn't look. He just stops eating, even Dione is looking at me.

"There's nothing to ask. There's nothing to update. Because it's not important." I say to him which I'm sure that is his answer and I can feel my eyes are red right now because I'm about to burst my tears but I'm trying to stop it.

My hands are shaking, I want to go but I still want to say things to him. I want to curse him!

"It's not relevant to you, right? Right?" I say to him and I stood up.

"Ellis," Dione called out but Eros stopped her.

"You didn't even ask if it is okay to have a chat with you in this freaking private restaurant!"

I grab the collars of his suit and the guy behind him is trying to stop me but Eros stopped him.

"You didn't even ask how am I, how am I doing right now, or how do I feel seeing you... seeing you. You didn't even ask!" I shouted.

Fuck. I'm crying.

"This is bullshit," I said and I grab my bag and went out of the room.

Sorry, Dione, but I just can't take it anymore.

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[EROS' POV]

I see the girl going to follow him.

"Ms. Young, it's okay," I say to her.

She's worried.

I don't know what their relationship is but I guessed it's not his girlfriend.

"Do you want me to follow him?"

Griffin asked.

"You don't need to," I said.

I removed my tie and the vest that I'm wearing.

"M-Mr. Beckett, what are you-"

"I'm going to run after him."

"But-"

"Don't stop me now, Griffin."

I left my things and went after Ellis.

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[ELLIS' POV]

Stop.

Stop crying, you idiot.

Stop it.

It's not worth it!

I walked past the intersection line and I see the light turns red. I walk quietly...

No, I'm walking while crying at the same time.

People might stare at me but who cares? I already cursed at him! I already send him some death stare signals. I can't take it!

I did that to him! I never did that to him! Ever!

I'm trying to wipe my tears but it keeps on pouring hard. Why is it so hard to stop crying? My heart is shaking, it's beating faster.

"ELLIS!"

I suddenly stopped as I hear his voice from afar.

You've got to be kidding me! Did he follow me? Why? Why did he follow me?

"El!"

The way he calls my name is good to my ears, I've missed it so much.

But, I need to walk. Walk away from him.

"Shit," I whisper and I went to the park.

"El, wait. Please, let me talk."

He grabs my hand and he turns me closer to him.

I'm looking away.

Fuck.

I'm full of tears right now.

I can feel that my eyes are puffy now.

"Hey." He softly says and he's wiping my tears using his bare hands.

"I'm sorry." He says and I slowly looked at him.

"I don't know what to say at first. I didn't even know that I'm going to meet you there..." He's explaining.

"And at the same time, I can't stop looking at you, being matured, grown-up, you even swear at me." He's continuing.

"But I didn't mean that-" I stopped myself and he slightly chuckles.

He's about to cry too.

"You're so soft before and now, you even grab my collars and stare at me like you're going to kill me." He's smiling.

"What are you trying to say?" I say to him.

"That I'm happy, I finally get to see you."

I'm looking at him and he's smiling but a tear fell off.

"You left, I think you forgot that."

His smile disappears.

"I know. But I'm going to make it up to you, El."

"Forget it," I say as I'm about to walk away but he grabs the back of my T-shirt and pulling me to him.

What the hell?

"What are you doing?"

"I always do this to you."

"What are we? Kids?" I answered him.

"El, I-"

Ring! Ring!

His phone is ringing from his pocket.

He ignores it and looks at me, "El, I want to talk to you so badly."

Ring! Ring!

I want it too. But I'm mad at him. This is not right!

Ring! Ring!

"Just answer the damn phone," I say.

He is still grabbing my shirt and he answers his phone using one hand.

"I understand. I'm at..." He says but I'm not focusing on his words but I'm looking him up and down, the way he dresses, the way he looks, the way he stands up, is he the Eros I know before?

"Okay, I'll see you." He finished and hangs up.

"Do you have your phone?" He asked.

"Why?"

He touches my pockets and the back pockets, and once he touched my front pocket, he felt my phone. He grabs it and gave it to me.

"Password." He says.

"I don't want to."

"El."

"Don't call me that."

He puts my phone in front of my face and it unlocks it.

"Ha!" He says.

"Shit."

He's typing something.

"What are you doing?"

"Okay, done. Now, you have my number and I just send a message to my number, so I can know your number." He said and continues, "I will send you my address, we can meet there."

"Whatever you want. But it doesn't mean that I will meet you." I say to him.

"You will."

A car parked on the side of the road.

"No, I won't! I will never meet you again! Ever!"

"I'll see you later." He says and rides at the back of the car.

Shit.

Ting!

A message came.

Here's the address and map. ;)

What kind of emoji is that? He's crazy!

I will not see him again! Ever!

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