Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 49: The New Year Plan

Chapter 49: The New Year Plan
Christmas had passed in a blur of expensive gifts and family dinners that felt more like board meetings, but the real chaos began a few days before New Year’s Eve.
In the Salazar household, New Year’s wasn’t just about fireworks. It was a logistical nightmare of luxury.
Today everyone gathered in the family room after dinner, except Leo. And of course, Nathan was forced to stay there.
Alexander was standing near the sofa, checking Huan’s tablet. "Huan and I are taking the yacht to the southern strait. We depart tomorrow morning," he announced calmly.
Roger, who was sprawled on the sofa throwing grapes into his mouth, nodded. "Boring. I’m heading to that private island near Bali with the boys. Jet’s fueled up. It’s going to be wild."
Lucas grabbed the grapes from Roger’s hand and ate them too. "I’m going to a gala with my girlfriend."
Roger looked at his younger brother. "Which one?" he asked.
Lucas clicked his tongue. "How many girlfriends do you think I have?" He admitted he was naughty, but he was very loyal.
Roger frowned. "Liana, you mean?" he asked, chewing his grape.
Lucas only replied with a short "Hm," knowing what Roger wanted to say. Sure enough, his brother immediately laughed.
Even Malvin laughed.
Roger patted Lucas, shaking his head in disbelief that he was his brother. "Better to be a playboy than a slave to love. God, how many times has she dumped you?"
"Shut up!" Lucas didn’t care. He was still happy, and he didn’t care what his brother said. Liana was the love of his life.
"He’s truly hopeless," added Malvin. He was so annoyed with his younger brother. They had helped and tried everything to make him realize that the girl was not good for him, but Lucas chose to turn a blind eye.
Alexander had even given up. "Just let him experience heartbreak. I’m not going to provide the cure," he said.
Lucas clicked his tongue again. "I’m not that desperate!"
Roger was still patting Lucas, looking at him with pity, which was starting to annoy Lucas.
"And Leo?" Malvin asked, looking around.
"I don’t know," Alexander replied without looking up. "He’s probably in a bunker or halfway to Peru by now. Let him be."
Malvin sighed, looking at Nael, who was busy playing a video game on the floor. "I’ll stay with Nael. We can fire a lot of fireworks from the roof."
Then Alexander turned his gaze to Nathan, who was sitting in the corner, trying to make himself invisible while eating an apple.
"Nathan," Alexander asked for the boy’s attention. "You’re coming with me on the yacht. The sea air is good for you, and I don’t trust you alone in the city."
Nael immediately turned his head. "He can light the fireworks with me and Malvin."
Nathan stopped chewing. He swallowed hard and shook his head. "No thanks."
The room went silent. Roger sat up. Alexander frowned.
"Why?" Alexander asked.
"I have plans," Nathan said, trying to sound casual, though his grip on the apple tightened. "I’m going to Lock Hill to watch the fireworks."
"Lock Hill?" Roger burst out laughing. "The Love Hill? That cheap spot where teenagers go to make out in their parents’ cars? Seriously?"
Nathan looked offended. Roger immediately shut his mouth.
"What is that place?" Alexander asked.
Roger explained, "It’s just a hill that’s become a tourist attraction. Usually couples go up there and hang locks on the cliff fence to symbolize their hopes. Just like in a fairy tale."
Alexander’s face darkened. He looked back at Nathan. "With whom?"
"A friend from my old school," Nathan replied defensively. "Vale."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Alexander exchanged a look with Malvin and Roger.
Vale. The name hung in the air.
"Is Vale... a girl?" Malvin asked cautiously.
"No, he’s a guy," Nathan answered, confused by their intensity.
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. A boy. Going to ’Lock Hill’. On New Year’s Eve. To watch fireworks.
The brothers’ minds immediately jumped to the same conclusion. They recalled how Nathan had never mentioned a girlfriend, how secretive he was, and how he defended this ’Vale’.
"I see," Alexander said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Is this Vale... a close friend?"
"Yeah, we’re close," Nathan shrugged. "He’s the only one who really gets me from back then."
Roger covered his mouth, whispering loudly to Lucas, "Oh my god, our little brother has a secret boyfriend."
"He’s not my boyfriend!" Nathan snapped, his face turning red. "He’s just a friend!"
"Sure, sure," Lucas smirked. "Just two bros, going to Lock Hill, under the stars. Very platonic."
Alexander didn’t find it funny. He was imagining Nathan’s old environment, bad influences, delinquents, people who would take advantage of him. And now, a secret romance with someone from that rough past?
"Cancel the island, Roger," Alexander ordered, giving back the tablet to Huan.
"What? Why?!" Roger protested.
"We aren’t going anywhere. I’m canceling the yacht trip too," Alexander said firmly, crossing his arms. "We are going to Lock Hill."
"What?!" Nathan widened his eyes, horrified. "No! You can’t come! You’ll ruin everything!"
"I just want to meet this... Vale," Alexander said, his expression unreadable but dangerous. "If he is important to you, the family should meet him. We’ll make sure you get there safely."
Nathan immediately refused. "Why? Louis has met him. He’s a good kid, and you don’t need to worry about him. I don’t want you to ruin my New Year’s Eve."
Alexander called Louis, who was in the kitchen. The man immediately appeared with a curious look on his face, hoping that this time he would not be faced with a deadly choice, remembering what had happened last time.
Nathan immediately asked him a question. "Louis, you met Vale, right? Please tell them."
Louis looked at Alexander and nodded. "Yes, I met him last time."
"What did you do?" asked Alexander.
Louis scratched his head. He didn’t remember much. "We just went to his house, then ate together. And they played video games in the room, that’s all."
"In the room? The two of them?" asked Roger, adding to Alexander’s concern.
Nathan frowned, looking at his brothers. "Seriously? You don’t think I would do anything weird, right?"
Everyone was silent.
Nathan opened his mouth in disbelief. "Whatever! I’m not going to explain anything. And I don’t want you guys to interfere with my plan," he said, biting his apple in annoyance.
But Alexander was serious, he canceled his plan.