Alex barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, Chris's voice echoed in his head.
Little bro.
The word crawled under his skin.
The classroom smelled of chalk and cheap perfume.Morning light spilled through the windows, but Alex felt cold.
Lina walked in a minute later.
She smiled at him—soft, careful.Not the usual smile.
"You okay?" she asked."You look… tired."
Alex nodded."Didn't sleep much."
That was a lie.Or maybe not.
Chris entered last.
Same calm face. Same stupid confidence.And that laugh again—low, familiar.
Chris's eyes met Alex's.
For half a second… just half…something changed.
Recognition?
Alex's chest tightened.
During class, Alex couldn't focus.The teacher's voice blurred into noise.
He stared at Chris's hands.
Same knuckles.Same small scar near the thumb.
No way…
His pen slipped from his fingers.
At lunch, Lina went to buy drinks.Chris sat down across from Alex without asking.
"You've been staring," Chris said."It's kinda creepy, man."
Alex clenched his jaw.
"Where did you live before coming here?"
Chris smirked."Why? Miss me already?"
"Answer me."
For the first time, Chris didn't joke.
"…Northside."
Alex froze.
Northside.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
"My mom used to say," Alex whispered,"I had an older brother."
Chris looked away.
Just for a second.
That was enough.
Lina returned, holding two juice boxes.
"What's going on?" she asked, eyes darting between them.
Chris stood up.
"Nothing," he said casually."Just catching up."
Catching up.
With who?
After school, Alex cornered Chris near the stairs.The hallway was empty.The air felt heavy.
"Say it," Alex said."Just say it."
Chris sighed.
"…You always were impatient."
Alex's vision blurred.
"Are you my brother?"
Silence.
Then—
"We'll talk," Chris said quietly."Not here. Not today."
He walked away.
Leaving Alex shaking.
Alex's phone buzzed.
Lina:
You're scaring me.What's happening?
Alex stared at the screen.
How do you explain somethingyou're not ready to accept?
That night, Alex opened an old family photo.
Two boys.
One face scratched out.
His breath caught.
"…So it's true."
And somewhere in the dark—
his phone buzzed again.
Unknown Contact:
Blood doesn't lie.