Unlike best friends, I only got one sibling. We looked almost like twins, his face is the male version of my face and vice versa. Even when we were younger, no one could tell who was who when one of us picked up the phone.
He’s only a year younger than me, born shortly before the ’98 riots. I guess that’s why he was more chaotic than I was when we were kids. He liked to fight, especially with me, that’s why I could fight with boys since I was in primary school. But, despite all the fighting, I can’t let anyone fight him, my offense mechanism system would be automatically switched on when I know someone hurt him. It almost felt like, no one fights my brother if it’s not me.
We kinda shared the same braincell back then. We communicated things that our parents didn’t understand, like there was this sort of language we invented to communicate. Oh well, maybe the communication between 90s kids’ and boomers has always been like that.
Although he’s really active and many people seem to like him, TBH, he was not the mischievous kid. I was. There was this time when we were like 7 and 8 years old and Mom took us to the market, I jokingly pushed him into the space underneath the market stalls just to freak him out with the dirt and darkness. We thought it was hilarious, but Mom definitely didn’t share the joke.
We always shared our room. I remember this sliding double bed that we had when we were like in junior high, my bed was higher than his. Before going to sleep, I often teased him in so many ways until we got tired of laughing. As we grew older, our interaction shifted from joking before sleep to having a conversation about things we were going through at school.
I don’t remember a lot of detailed conversations, but I remember that I was buried in Math and Physics, while he honed his social butterfly skills at school. Teachers liked him for being super friendly, and senior students knew him as the famous kid in his class.
He’s always been the sunshine in our family, he was liked by everyone, was so carefree about the things he did, including that time when he was being affectionate towards this unc at the temple. Mom and Dad were so embarrassed, because this unc loves my brother too and he often gave him presents. IDK what their dynamic is, because unlike my brother, I barely ever talked to that guy.
We clearly have totally different personality. He’s like a golden retriever, while I’m a black cat sitting at my desk all day typing this shit or just doing my business. He’s always got the energy to help Mom and Dad, maybe that’s why I don’t think I need to give an extra effort to be affectionate or do acts of service, because someone already does it.
Maybe sometimes I look like a villain in his perspective. But, why should I care? He just doesn’t need to see my claws when we’re home; the RBF is all he sees. Although, TBF, sometimes I’m gonna ask for his help to ask a question to a receptionist when we’re on vacation, or when we’re gonna order food. He’ll be the one to order, I’ll be the one who pays. Man, it even feels weird when we switch roles.
We still live with our parents. Although some of our peers live by themselves, we both agree that we’re grateful for this situation. This part might sound contradictory when you know I don’t seem affectionate in my family. But since I know that this ride will come to an end, I’ll try to cherish every mile by not being the black cat all the time, so that the golden retriever can feel at ease, even for a while.
