Chapter 2: Mind Blowing

My funny side wanted to extend my ear and clean it to pretend like I didn’t, but I knew there was something very strange here, so I stopped myself from playing. I looked at my mother’s face, hoping to see any indication that she was playing, but seeing the sincerity in her eyes, I didn’t know what to say.

“Um ... Okay, I’m going to apologize to him.”

I could only answer that. If I insisted that I didn’t understand, she would probably call my dad into the discussion so that he can “put some sense on my head”. God, I love my parents, but I hate the dynamics of this house.

Listening to my agreement, my mother patted me on the shoulder and headed to the back of the house to continue her gardening. I stood there, not knowing what to do. Today is April first? Did my mom and brother get together to make a joke?

No, it’s September ... If this is all a joke, this is very mean. They never made fun of my appearance, not even my grumpy brother. What was going on here?

I need to check what was going on, and I knew exactly how to do it. If my mother and brother were in some kind of collusion to deceive me, my father would certainly not be together, he hates pranks.

I went looking for him around the house and saw him watching television in the living room. In his right hand, he was holding a can of beer ... How strange. Beer in the morning? For a start, he doesn’t even drink.

Okay, this is even stranger than what my mom and brother said.

I approached and saw that he was watching a replay of some football game on premium tv. This is certainly not strange. My father is a football fanatic. If it weren’t for my mom convincing him, I would be playing football at school today.

“Sir ... Are you drinking?”

He looked a little guilty when he heard what I said, but he kept the strong front that he always kept in front of us.

“Yes, any problem?”

“But you never drink.”

He raised his eyebrows at this but responded impatiently when he realized that the game was at an important moment.

“I drink almost every day. Don’t you have a school to go to? Go have your breakfast.”

It reminded me that I have to go to school. I originally didn’t have much time, and now I have even less. It also reminded me that Max is probably in his room by now. Should I apologize to him? But then I won’t have time to go to school.

I also need to check something with my dad...

“Sir, can I ask for your advice?”

Upon hearing this, my father’s behavior changed completely. He turned off the television almost instantly and turned his full attention to me. His gaze was so intense that I was intimidated.

“Sure. What happened?”

...

I was unresponsive for a few seconds when I remembered how I acted with Max earlier. When he vented to me about his personal problem, I reacted more or less in the same way ... I think that, just as I want to be a good brother to Max, my father wants to be a good father to us...

If I had any doubt that he was my father, it disappeared at that moment.

After I calmed down, I told him what happened to Max, our entire conversation, in as much detail as possible, and my father seemed incredibly focused and interested while listening. At the end of the explanation, he put his hand on my shoulder and said.

“Just go over to your brother’s room and apologize.”

“Why?”

“Do you want to make it up to your brother?”

“You know I want.”

“Then go upstairs and apologize.”

“But sir...”

“Now!”

I didn’t even know what else to say, so I just turned and went up the stairs, wondering if I was going to be able to get to school on time. I haven’t even had my breakfast yet.

Upstairs, I went to Max’s room at the end of the hall and knocked on the door.

“Max, can I speak to you?”

He did not answer. I was silent for a moment, thinking it might be a good idea to go to school and talk to him on the way back, but remembering my father’s previous seriousness, I knew there was no escape.

“Max, are you listening to me? I want to talk to you, but if you are not going to open the door, I will talk behind the door anyway.”

I was silent and tried to hear anything from inside the room, but I couldn’t hear anything.

“I’m going to speak, okay? Listen well.”