Chapter 2 Threatened

"No papa, I don't want Zack to get hurt again. Please tell Zack not to push me every time someone will punch me. He won't listen to me papa, dada. He is so stubborn" Justin explained a little exasperated with his brother's overprotectiveness towards him.

Devon and Bienley looked at Zack who is just silently listening to Justin with his expressionless face.

Zack is a little reserved and sometimes a little scary for his young age, unlike Justin who is more quirky and very naughty. He is also very protective of his brother which always gets him into trouble.

Sighing in defeat, they both know no matter what they will tell Zack it would be pointless. Zack will always protect his brother even if it means he will hurt himself.

"What will I do with you? Will I separate you from your brother?" Bienley asked Justin who gasped in fear while Zack abruptly turn to Bienley with his worried face.

"No papa, no papa please, I will behave, I promise papa, I will behave. I will behave papa" Justin panicked and pleaded with Bienley.

The only thing that could get Justin's attention is to be threatened to be separated from Zack. They are so close that even if Justin is sometimes very mischievous, Zack is very tolerable of him.

"Then behave or I will send Zack to your uncle Philip" Bienley threatened.

"I promise papa, I will behave. Please don't send Zack away" Justin seriously promised his father. He doesn't want to be separated from him.

Zack stayed quiet the whole time and just listened to their parents and his full of mischief brother. The scene is nothing new to him and their dada but this time he felt worried about their papa's threat. He doesn't want to leave home and leave Justin behind.

"This is the last Justin, I'm giving you one last chance" Bienley seriously warned Justin.

"Yes papa, thank you" Justin exclaimed with full determination on his serious face.

Bienley and Devon stared at Justin who is looking so serious and for the first time, he seemed to take Bienley's threats at heart. He would usually just shrug off Bienley's every word or even tease all of them more, but this time they can see Justin become so serious.

During their dinner, Justin is so quiet and seemed to be in deep. Even Zack would steal a glance at his brother who is unusually quiet at the dinner table. Usually, Justin would monopolize the conversation and would brag everything from his high scores, activities, and even girls who have a crush on him but tonight he is so quiet.

Even during their study time, Justin seemed to be focused and he did his school works without so much talking and whining.

After they have done with their school works, Zack went to his bed and started to read the book he have borrowed earlier in the library. Justin is already on his bed and seemed to be sleeping with his closed eyes.

Zack glanced at his brother's bed and sighed when he saw Justin's sleeping figure but he knew he is still awake.

"Good night Justin," Zack said his good night. Putting the book on the nightstand and turned off his lampshade.

Zack stared at his brother's lying silhouette before he closed his eyes. He got no response from the other boy.

Zack is already drifting when he was startled by a shadow that hovered above him.

"Zack I can't sleep" Justin's soft voice break the silence of the room while he gaped at the shadow in dazed.

"Can I sleep here with you?" Justin asked with his troubled voice.

Zack sighed and moved to give him some space and he silently lie down.

"Zack, can you hug me?" he asked again with his back towards Zack while hugging his pillow.

He faced Justin's side and back hugged his troubled brother. Justin would always ask him to hug him to sleep whenever he is troubled or when he has been scolded by their parents.

The room become quiet again so Zack closed his eyes to sleep.

"Zack I promised to behave, I won't kiss any girls even if they asked me" Justin whispered into the silence of the night.

"Hmmm..." Zack just hummed and nodded.

"I won't give you any trouble from now on" Justin continued with his soft voice.

"Hmm..." Zack hummed again and nodded.

Justin is silent again so Zack thought he was already asleep so he pressed a kiss on Justin's hair.

"Zack?" Justin whispered again.

"Hmm?" Zack hummed his response.

"I'm so afraid" Justin anxiously mumbled.

"Hmm? Of what?" he gaped in the dark.

"Papa will send you to uncle Philip, I don't want to be separated from you" Justin continued anxiously.

"That won't happen" he assured him.

"You will bring me with you?" Justin asked feeling a little hopeful while he just discreetly smile. He was amused by his brother's line of thoughts.

"Papa will not send me to uncle Philip" Zack amended him.

"Are you sure?" Justin turned to him to gauge the truthfulness of what he said.

"Yes," Zack answered calmly.

"What if papa would do it?" Justin insisted.

"He won't if you will just behave" he responded sternly.

"I promised already" Justin whined and pouted to his brother.

"So he won't," Zack said flatly.

"Zack?" Justin called again.

"Hmm?" Zack hummed with his already closed eyes.

"You have to promise me" Justin mumbled softly.

"Hmm...what?" he asked sleepily.

"You have to promise me you won't leave me and we will always be together" Justin turned his head again to look at his brother.

"Yes, I promise, I will never leave and we will always be together, no matter what" Zack opened his eyes and stared at the black orbs of Justin's eyes.

"Thank you, Zack. I also promise I will never leave you and we will always be together. Zack, will we have a wife in the future?" Justin exclaimed and returned in hugging his pillow.

"We cannot tell what the future would bring us Justin" Zack mumbled before he pressed another kiss on Justin's hair.

"You must ask my permission if you wanted a wife, Zack" Justin exclaimed firmly.

Zack just chuckled with his brother's peculiar request or more of a demand.

"Yes, I will" Zack assured his brother.

"Thank you. I will also ask permission from you" Justin mumbled softly.

Zack smiled and shook his head in amusement at their conversation.

"Let's sleep, it's already late. Goodnight Justin" Zack tightened his hug on his brother.

"Goodnight Zack" Justin mumbled sleepily and soft snores accompanied the silent night of the two brothers.

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