Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 82: Please Let Me Go

Chapter 82: Please Let Me Go
Nathan was frustrated with his French grade. Even though he had studied hard, he only got a 6 out of 10 on his last test. That wasn’t enough.
This made him unable to leave his seat even when it was time for break. He had to make up for his shortcomings.
Zane realized this. That afternoon, he approached Nathan when all the students had left the classroom.
"You’ll die before you pass the test," he said, handing him a lunch box.
Nathan stared at the box and sighed. "Thanks, Zane. I feel like giving up." He rested his head on the keyboard. His hand, which was holding a book, swayed at the edge of the table.
Zane pulled up a chair and stared at the monitor screen.
"... Do you want to study with me?"
Nathan looked up. "With you?"
Zane looked hesitant. "Well, I have a tutor at home. He comes three times a week. I can talk to him about this, about accepting you."
Nathan was silent, staring at Zane. "You have a tutor?"
Zane nodded. "My dad made me. You don’t have to worry. He’s the best teacher, and he’s really good at French. And math."
Nathan was stunned. No wonder the kid was so smart. He hadn’t expected Zane to study at home.
Nathan pondered. He felt bad about having to tell Alexander, because he had flatly refused when Alexander offered him a tutor. He had been so arrogant, but now, seeing his lack of progress, he was desperate.
Should he study at home or with Zane?
It seemed more fun to have a friend.
"What days?" Nathan asked. He had to ask Alexander.
"Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday."
Nathan nodded. "Let me know if he’s willing to take on a new student. I’ll ask my brother. But how much will I have to pay?"
Zane shook his head. "No, my father will love it if you come to my house. For sure, he won’t hesitate to pay for you."
Nathan frowned. "What? Why? Don’t you hate me because I’m from the Salazar family?"
Zane sighed. "Not my father."
Nathan looked confused, but Zane was reluctant to say more. He stood up and held out his phone.
Nathan stared. "What?"
"Your number. I’ll chat with you after I ask my teacher."
Nathan immediately understood, sat up straight, grabbed his phone, and gave him his number. "You’ll call me?"
Zane nodded, then walked out.
"Hey!" Nathan called.
Zane stopped.
"You don’t want to eat with me?"
Zane shook his head. "No."
Before Nathan could say anything else, the boy had already left the classroom.
Nathan clicked his tongue, still wondering where the boy would eat. But he looked at his phone, feeling a little excited at the thought of the boy calling him.
It was hard to believe that the boy who had been so arrogant and quiet had become "a little" friendly in just a few weeks.
At that moment, as usual, Eli came to bring him something. This time, he was carrying a tray full of food.
"Nathan! You have to eat!" he shouted before entering the classroom.
He stopped when he saw Nathan devouring a sandwich. "What? Where did you get that sandwich? From Zane?" he asked, placing the tray of food on the table next to him.
"Yes. But thanks, Eli. Did you eat something yet?"
Eli nodded. "Yes, a bit."
Nathan pulled the boy to sit on Miko’s chair and forced him to eat. "Eat."
"But I brought it for you."
"Eat it. I already have a sandwich."
Eli sighed. "My efforts were no match for Zane’s," he said jokingly.
But he finally ate the food while chattering away. He looked at Nathan, who was still holding his French textbook.
Nathan’s jaw dropped in disbelief when he heard Eli speak to him in French. "What? You’re still in first grade, how can you...?"
"You don’t remember I got a scholarship back in elementary school? To keep my scholarship, I have to maintain my grades. And you’ve been learning this since junior high school."
Nathan clicked his tongue. He couldn’t believe he had to compete with kids who were already experts. But wasn’t this his choice?
The door opened again, this time with a loud voice that Nathan immediately recognized.
"No more," he whispered, turning his head.
Gabriel greeted him with a booming voice. He came in carrying a chocolate bar, then placed it in front of Nathan.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"For you."
Nathan sighed. Yesterday the boy had given him candy, two days ago an apple. Today, chocolate. He liked food, but remembering that Gabriel was only doing it out of guilt made him uncomfortable.
"No, you don’t need to give me anything. You make me uncomfortable," Nathan said.
Gabriel stood there, staring silently. "You don’t like chocolate?"
"No, I like it, but—"
"Okay, bye!"
Nathan stared blankly as Gabriel walked out quickly before he could finish his sentence. Didn’t he ever listen to people when they spoke?
Eli giggled. "The rumor that Gabriel is crazy about you is already spreading in the cafeteria."
Nathan clicked his tongue. "What’s wrong with him?"
Meanwhile, in Nael’s class.
Nick and Jonas still looked normal, especially Nick, who felt lucky because Nael had been getting lower scores on several daily tests lately. The boy looked lethargic.
They knew the reason. It was because of Zimmer’s departure. They thought Nael had been dumped, which had broken his heart.
Even so, they didn’t get any information. Nael didn’t talk to them. That wasn’t like him.
Hale just watched silently, but he was watching everything. As much as possible, he invited Nael to eat, otherwise, the boy wouldn’t leave his desk.
"Do you also want me to fall and be destroyed, Hale?" Nael asked suddenly that afternoon.
Hale, who had been walking in silence, was a little surprised. "What do you mean?"
"Do you also want to compete with me?"
Hale sighed. "You realize who your enemies are."
"You already know?"
"About Nick and Jonas’s jealousy?" Hale clarified.
Nael nodded listlessly.
"Well, you know I’ve never gotten along with them. If I said bad things about them, I’m sure you wouldn’t believe me. In fact, you would leave me," Hale said, his voice getting lower.
Nael was silent.
Hale continued. "But I’m not interested in competing with anyone. I have my own pride. I’m not in that class for academic grades. You know that."
Nael nodded. "I know you’re a national tennis champion."
Hale pondered for a moment. "But I want to continue my father’s business. I will develop it into something bigger. Maybe someday, I can be on par with you."
Nael looked at Hale. "Don’t give up your dream because of money. You’ll regret it."
Hale smiled. His bright brown eyes looked beautiful.
Nael rarely saw Hale smile, but when he did, the boy was so charming.
"I’m not doing it just for the money. I have something else to chase," Hale said.
Nael nodded. "I hope it will be worth it."
Hale looked at Nael intently, longingly. "Yes. I know it will be worth it."
***
"I want to study with Zane," Nathan said, following Alexander, who had just returned at 9 p.m., to his room.
Alexander stopped on the stairs. "Who is that?" He was worried, remembering what had happened to Nael.
"Zane Leinster. He’s my classmate. He has a tutor three times a week. I want to study with him," Nathan said.
Alexander looked tired, but he looked at Nathan seriously. "Leinster?"
Nathan nodded.
Alexander nodded. "I will ask his father. I’ll tell you tomorrow."
Nathan was silent, because he hadn’t expected that answer.
"Tomorrow? Why? I’ll just study with him. I’ll pay with my own money. I just want you to know so Louis will be ready to drive me."
Alexander shook his head. "I need to make sure Zane will really take you to study and not do anything inappropriate. And first, I need to ask Leinster if they really have a son named Zane."
Nathan glared. "You don’t believe me? You think I’m a liar?"
Alexander sighed. "I’d rather anticipate everything. Trust me, it’s for your own good."
Nathan pouted. "I don’t care. Whether you let me or not, I’ll go study with him."
"Why not study here? I told you Nael has a good tutor."
Nathan shook his head. "No. I want to study with Zane."
Alexander rubbed his forehead. Stubborn teens really were the worst. Before he could say anything else, Nathan had already walked away.
At that moment, Huan walked up the stairs. "Did something happen?" he asked, having heard Nathan’s raised voice.
Alexander sighed. "Please check on Zane Leinster. And tell Adam Leinster I’ll call him tomorrow morning."
Huan nodded. "What is it about?"
"He wants to study with Zane, his classmate."
"I think that’s good. Many times he refused the teachers you offered him. After all, he needs to catch up."
Alexander walked in silence. But he wouldn’t miss anything small now. "Just check on him."
Huan nodded. "Very well. And I have something to tell you too."
Alexander stopped in front of his bedroom door and turned around. "What is it?"
Huan looked down.
Alexander sighed when he saw the man. For the past few days, Huan had insisted on sleeping in his room, but Alexander felt much better now.
"If it’s because you want to sleep in my room, forget it, Huan."
But Huan shook his head. "No. I’ve sent you an email."
Alexander frowned. "An email? What is it about? Can’t you tell me directly?"
Huan smiled bitterly. "I emailed my resignation letter. I will finish my work this month."
Alexander froze, standing still where he was upon hearing Huan’s words. Instantly, his chest felt like it had fallen from a height of thousands of kilometers.
He didn’t say anything for several seconds. His eyes were fixed on Huan.
Huan just looked down. "Please let me go."