The unexpected question stunned Alexander. Nala gazed at him with sorrowful, big eyes. In one moment, he was
the reliable 'big brother'—in the next, he couldn't even provide a meal.
Alexander winced and tried to change the subject to divert her attention. "Are you really hungry?"
"Yes!" Nala's tears teetered on the edge. She pouted and whimpered, "I was supposed to eat at the hotel with my
mom... She even said we'd order braised bass..."
"Don't cry, don't cry! It's just a fish..."
"But I'm hungry!"
Alexander felt uneasy. Engaging her in conversation was proving difficult.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFinally, he managed to calm Nala. He had an idea and extended his arm to her, sleeves rolled up. "If you're truly
starving, you can bite me first!"
Nala stared at him in disbelief.
"I come from a poor family, and we didn't always have food. When I was really hungry as a kid, I'd munch on...
things that could keep hunger at bay."
Nala looked puzzled.
Alexander smiled and explained, "For example, when there was no bread, but the container still had its smell, I'd
bite on the edge and pretend I was eating. Then I wouldn't feel hungry! And when neighbors cooked, I'd sniff the
aroma under their door and imagine I was having a warm meal. Then I wouldn't be hungry!"
Alexander couldn't help but chuckle at Nala's astonished expression.
He could now recall those times with a smile, but it wasn't funny at all when Drake nearly starved him due to
gambling and drinking at home.
Alexander noticed fresh tears in Nala's eyes a while later and inwardly winced. How did he ruin their conversation
again?
"Big brother..." Nala asked after a pause, "Is there no one in your home who cooks for you?"
"Uh... Not really," Alexander answered truthfully. He did have someone when he was much younger. When Lena
was around, she'd figure something out for food, even if it meant begging the neighbors. She had never let her
brother go hungry.
"Big brother," Nala called him again, grabbing his arm.
Alexander thought she was about to bite him and quickly shut his eyes. He was afraid of pain and worried this little
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmgirl might take a chunk of his flesh.
Nevertheless, he didn't pull away. He had offered his arm and had to keep his word. After all, how could he be a
good big brother otherwise?
"You..." After a while, he didn't feel the expected pain. Instead, a small hand was touching his arm. Sensing its tickle,
he opened his eyes in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Does it hurt?" Nala touched the scars left by Drake's previous blows.
Alexander's heart raced, and he instinctively withdrew his arm, but Nala held onto it. She gently blew on the scars.
"When I hurt my leg, my mom will blow on it, and I won't feel pain anymore. Big brother, I'll blow on it for you, and
you won't feel pain too, okay?"
Alexander didn't know what to say. His body remained rigid, and even his breath felt awkward.