Connection | 18+

Chapter Seven

He falls silent for a few minutes, lost in contemplation, the weight of his words lingering in the air between us.

I would say that their relationship is just like Daniel's and mine's but my brother and I don't exist in each other's lives. We're just not there.

"So, when did you and Daniel meet?" I ask instead, eager to shift the tension.

He glances at me, surprise flickering across his features, as if he didn't expect my question or maybe, he expected me to know that. "We met in high school," he responds.

I look at him in surprise.

"But isn't Daniel younger than you? How is it possible that you met him in high school? He went to school in our hometown while you lived here-"

"Stop. Talking."

The sharpness of his command makes me falter. I stop babbling, blinking at him in surprise as he gazes at me with an expression that suggests he's completely unfazed by my questions.

A strange mix of irritation and intrigue swells within me, but I can't shake the feeling that there's more to uncover. My curiosity gets the better of me, and despite my better judgment, I find myself standing, ready to follow him as he rises from the table.

"Where are you going?" I ask, unable to keep the concern out of my voice.

He stops and glares at me, "How many times do I have to tell you that mind your own business?" He scowls, his expression inscrutable.

I hesitate for a moment, torn between annoyance and an inexplicable desire to know more about him and his relationship with Daniel. Against my will, my feet move, trailing towards him as he stands at the exit.

Why can't I just let this go? But something about him pulls me in, and before I know it, I'm standing in front of him, the cool air of the air-con hitting my skin as I follow him with my eyes, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his presence.

"We still haven't talked about the reason I called you here." I reason, looking behind at the counter in embarrassment, where my co-workers stand, gawking at both of us.

"If it wasn't important enough to talk about first, then it's not important enough now," he says callously, his voice firm and dismissive.

The finality in his words stings, and for a moment, I'm left speechless.

I try to reason with him again, refusing to let the conversation end so abruptly.

"Look, I didn't bring it up earlier because I wasn't sure how to... but that doesn't mean it's not important now," I say, my voice softening as I try to break through his icy demeanor.

He pauses, eyes narrowing slightly, but his expression remains unreadable.

Frustration builds inside me, but I force myself to stay calm.

"I didn't know how you'd react," I admit, my voice, now firmer. "But I need you to understand-it matters to me."

I can see the slightest flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but he quickly shuts it down, crossing his arms as if building a wall between us. 'You're wasting my time."

My patience thins, but I refuse to back down.

"Look, I'm sorry if what I said hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm sorry."

He shoots me an annoyed glance before turning on his heel and heading back to the table. I trail behind him, my steps hesitant, but I sit down across from him without hesitation, meeting his gaze.