Chapter 4: Brothers

Warning: These events take place in an alternative universe! As such the characters will be out of character as their situation had differed. And there would be SPOILERS! It is also unbeta-ed. You have been warned. Continue reading at your own risk or leave and continue to hold your peace.

I froze when I saw him. Just what was he doing here? Walking down the halls... With acquaintances? Wow I didn't really think he was a social one. But then again his fake pleasantries was a sure benefit.

I had always disliked him the moment I saw him. Lewis Met Kresnik. The son of Bisley Bakur, the CEO of the largest corporation alive: the Vurberk Cooperation.

He was introduced to me when father beckoned me over to his office one day. And it was on that day I met Lewis. We immediately hated each other the second we laid eyes on each other but we hid it under false pleasantries and forced smiles.

So obviously I was shocked when I saw him in one of the hallways of the hospital with two of his beneficial friends (probably) following behind him. Then again they might be friends by the way his face seemed to be completely neutral while the dark brown haired teen joked with the lighter straight haired teen.

"Lewis?" I asked in complete shock when I saw him.

He turned around and zeroed onto me with a similar expression before it quickly disappeared. "Jude," he replied in a professional voice that pissed me off.

"What are you doing here?" I openly scowled. We already knew we hated each other so why hide it? Oddly enough Lewis seemed to do so.

"To visit my... friend," he said, shifting his glasses so they glinted.

Sadly before I could ask him or taunt him about his slip up that was "as clear as day," one of his friends-the overly happy looking one, interrupted.

"Oh? Who's this? A friend of yours, Lewis?" He asked, leaning towards me with a goofy smile. I twitched and crossed my arms, holding back the urge to punch him.

"No. He's just one of the nurses in this hospital," Lewis replied automatically.

My scowl turned deeper. "For your information I am not 'just one of the nurses in his hospital'," I mimicked him, intentionally in a false falsetto, "I'm this hospital's owner's son and I can kick you out of here if I want to."

"And I'm the son of the CEO of the famous Vurberk Cooperation, you won't dare," Lewis snapped back. At least his "Mr. Perfect" facade is slipping. I smirked. One point to me.

The grinning guy whistled, "Wow. Seems like there is someone who knows how to push your buttons Lewis. And here I thought there were none!" He laughed. His friend just seemed nervous as he watched us like a tennis match.

"Who are you guys anyways?" I asked, only vaguely aware of Lewis putting his metaphorical mask back on.

"Ah right! Proper etiquette. Right, right," the goofy guy was saying, "Well I'm Alfred Vint Svent and this is Balan, my cousin," Alfred introduced himself, "But please, just call me Alfred."

I gave the man called Alfred a suspicious stare. Somehow he was too damn happy that I didn't believe it. "Balan doesn't have a last name?" I asked.

"It's complicated," Balan's voice was soft but I still heard him. I gave him a considering glance.

"Anyways, it was nice meeting you again, Jude but we must be on our way. Good bye," Lewis nodded stiffly at me and started to move.

"Fine. Goodbye to you Mr. Perfect," I glared at him. He returned the glare.

Sadly it turns out that we were going the same way until he turned towards a certain room. I peeked at the room number. Room 261. I blinked in surprise. That was Joseph's room.

Lewis knocked on the door after giving me one last deathly stare. "Joseph?" He called, "It's me Lewis. I also brought Alfred and Balan with me."

"Ah! Then come right in!" I heard Joseph's voice call back.

"Actually on second thought, I'll join you," I put in as Lewis opened the door. Quickly, using my new skills from the lessons I received, I snuck in before they can say anything.

"Yo," I held out a hand. Joseph blinked once in surprise before giving me a smile.

"Hey, Jude," he replied and I instantly saw the dark circles under his eyes. That's odd. I never seen them when Joseph visited us last week. I wonder what happened.

"You know each other?" Alfred interrupted my observations.

"Well, yeah. Accidentally," I shrugged and shot him a warning glare. He nodded back and firmly closed his mouth. I fought back the urge to grin. He had amazingly understood what I meant.

"I see you of you are more than just acquainted," Lewis put in. I looked at him and flashed a grin at him much to his ire.

"Of course," I responded.

"So what are you doing here big brother?" Joseph asked. I blinked before looking back and forth between Joseph and Lewis. Big brother?

"Joseph," Lewis started in a warning voice.

"It's fine," Joseph smiled at his supposedly elder brother, "I trust Jude."

"You two are brothers?" I asked angry and curious at Joseph keeping a secret away from me.

"I don't trust him," Lewis pinned me with almost murderous glare so intense that I took a step back in surprise.

"Brother," Joseph sighed. I mustered as much strength as I could and glared back to Lewis. I was unwilling to back down. The goofy guy and his silent friend were quiet behind Lewis staring between Lewis and I like a table tennis match.

"Brother," Joseph repeated, this time stronger.

Lewis held his glare for a little more before he sighed. "Fine, I'll trust your judgement Joseph," he said and Joseph gave him a firm nod. Then he turned to me with the same intense glare but it wasn't as much muderous as before.

"If you even speak a word about this secret you would wish you had never met us," he threatened. I huffed.

"I'll keep that in mind and your little secret," I replied. I wasn't stupid when the truth is so blatantly in front of me. Clearly Joseph being related to the CEO of Vurberk Cooperation and I had a vague idea why.

"Anyways, to answer your earlier question, I got a break so that I can visit you," Lewis smiled and I was surprised at the gentleness of the smile, "These idiots just happened to know so they tagged along."

"Hey! We always wanted to visit our little Joseph when we heard that he was in the hospital for some reason," Alfred grinned before he slung an arm around Lewis, "And since your big brother knew where you were we all decided to visit!"

"Thanks Alfred, Balan," Joseph gave them a smile to which they returned. It looked a little weak to me.

"How are you Joseph?" Lewis asked concern in his voice. Maybe I shouldn't have came in. It felt like I was intruding on something. However despite everything I still stayed. So did his friends. Maybe they're already familiar with this?

"I'm fine. I feel better and I had started to exercise now," Joseph smiled. The smile was genuine but his words... not so much, especially with the eye bags he was developing. I looked at Lewis to see if he was going to buy it.

"I see," Lewis nodded. I find this unbelievable. Doesn't he understand his brother? After all their supposed to be family!

I looked down. Family. I guess not all family understand each other. I clenched my fists. Mine definitely didn't. They left each other without a care. My mom said it was him not me. My father said it was her not me. I think their wrong. They lied. It wasn't them, it was me.

"You know, your brother was actually hella worried," Alfred put in receiving a slight glare from Lewis, "His performance record had dipped below the normal so much that they had no choice but give him a break."

Lewis tried to open his mouth to say something but he was surprisingly outspoken by Balan. "It's true," he whispered but we all could hear him, "And he wasn't the only one. Alfred had been complaining to me all this time about wanting to visit. We're all worried Joseph."

"Says you," Alfred huffed, "You were agreeing with me all the way and was literally ready to sneak away if I wasn't able to get permission."

Balan blushed, taking half a step back. Joseph gave them all a big smile. In fact it was largest I had seen, practically out shining the signs of sickness on his face. His eyes were shining with gratitude and happiness.

"Thank you guys," Joseph's voice was soft with emotions, "Really. I will definitely get better."

"You better," Lewis sighed giving his brother a small smile as he strode over and put a hand on his head, "I've been missing your specially made soup."

"Specially made soup?" I think I ruined the moment but I couldn't help but ask, "You cook?"

"Yeah, ever since my mom died," Joseph nodded. I saw Lewis hold in a wince. Oh.

"Sorry," I said looking away. I felt like I had to apologize. I did interrupt on something anyways. "I didn't mean to open old wounds."

"Haha, it's fine," Joseph brought out a hand and waved it off.

"You even told him that?" Lewis asked in surprise but it he quickly replaced it with a huff.

"You trust Jude too much," Lewis sighed, "Too gullible."

"Like you and Rideaux?" Joseph shot back.

"I don't trust him at all," Lewis replied clearly scandalized but the idea, "We clearly hate each other."

"You don't have many friends do you?" I asked with a smirk.

"Neither do you," he replied, "And listen if you do anything to hurt Joseph I swear-"

"Brother!" Joseph interrupted, "You're being too overprotective again!"

"Ah, was I?" Lewis asked with a slight chuckle. Alfred and Balan meanwhile but back a laugh.

"I'm just a sure hostage for my brother to keep doing what he's doing for my father." I remembered Joseph saying. I can see the truth behind those words. Only Joseph and Joseph alone was what Lewis wanted to protect.

"Haha, it never gets old!" Alfred surrendered to his chuckles as Balan just shook with laughter.

"Hey! Cut it out you two!" Lewis ordered, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"And perhaps maybe Lewis' friends too. Maybe, just maybe Lewis wasn't as bad of a guy I thought he was.

"Ah, before I forget," Lewis pulled something out of his pocket and gave it Joseph.

"What's this?" Joseph asked peering at the gift curiously.

"It's a gift from all of us. Go ahead and open it," Lewis prompted and so he did. It turns out it was some kind of pocket watch. It fit snugly in Joseph's hands. The pocket watch was golden and had intricate designs on the front. With a click it opened and a song played from the music box. I blinked.

There was a meadow and a blonde haired girl with flowing hair in a simple sundress. She turned around and said something to me before the humming started. I couldn't make out what she said but the song... It sounded exactly like the song playing from Joseph's watch.

What was that? Was that a memory?

"Thanks big brother!" Joseph cried and he hugged his brother from the waist, "I love it!"

Started shifting backwards. After all I was intruding and needed to get back to my shift soon.

"We pooled together our money to get you this," Alfred grinned.

"And the song?"

"We pulled some strings," Balan shyly admitted.

I was almost at the door. My thoughts were only about that flash of images in my head.

"I'm just glad you like it," Lewis smiled, "After all you always wanted a pocket watch like mine after yours disappeared."

I quietly opened the door and closed it. Joseph, no matter how his family was like, at least had friends who cared. Unlike me. We were different after all.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay but here is chapter 4! Updates may start to come more slowly as I'm slowly drowning in exams. QAQ

Anyways I hope you enjoyed it!