Page 17 of His Untoward Hate

Jasper had thought Sky was asleep already, but judging from the distant look in his eyes, he was deep in thought too.

“What?” he responded, still staring at his raised feet pressed against the wall, black socks on.

Jasper had copied Sky’s habit, too. It was their thing whenever they were in his room, lying on the bed late at night with their feet propped up against the wall, heads resting at the foot of the bed, talking, and catching up about life. Now, it was already three in the morning.

Sky looked as though he had returned from a war. Jasper had noticed lately that something about him felt off. Though Sky had always been serious and constantly lost in thought, the past few weeks felt different. Something was clearly bothering him. Jasper wanted to help, but Sky never let him get involved in his business. He clearly told Jasper that.

“Are you okay?” Jasper finally asked. “What’s on your mind?” he hoped that, even just this once, Sky would open up to him.

Sky narrowed his eyes slightly, though Jasper knew it was only because he did not want him to brood.

“Nothing. I’m fine. What made you ask that?”

Jasper shook his head hesitantly and brought his gaze back to his feet, feeling a sliver of frustration within him. Sometimes, Jasper felt it was unfair that he could confide all his problems to Sky, yet Sky never shared any of his own.

“You…what’s on your mind?” Sky asked with a hint of concern in his voice, as he always did when it came to his brother. “You know you can always share your problems with me.”

Jasper smirked.

“Nah…Stop babying me.” he blinked, reluctant to voice what he wanted to say. “I was just thinking if I could borrow your truck in the afternoon tomorrow,” he finally blurted out his intention.

Sky frowned at him and turned back to where his face was.

“I’ve heard you ask that faggot to go out. Is it a date? I can’t believe you are asking that gaytard.” he let out a humorless, forced chuckle. “Tell you, I won’t let you drive just for that stupid date, and definitely, I won’t let you put him in my truck.”

Of course, Sky knew. Everything, when it came to Jasper and Jude, he knew it all; whether at school or elsewhere, he always had a way of knowing everything.

“You can come too if you’re jeal—”

“Shut up.” Sky abruptly cut him off. “Not a funny joke. Why would I get jealous over that faggot?” he said defensively.

“I was just joking,” Jasper said when he turned really serious.

“Stop joking around with me over an unworthy person,” he said sternly. “And why the fuck him, really?”

“And why not him?” Jasper asked immediately, but it came off more like a tease.

“There are so many boys you can ask out, Jasper. Why that ugly motherfucker faggot?” he said in annoyance.

Sky was dead serious, knowing he had already called Jasper by his first name.

Sky had already accepted Jasper for being gay back in seventh grade. Jasper thought at first that he would be so angry when he confessed his gender identity. To his surprise, Sky suddenly pulled him into a warm hug that lasted as long as they both needed, then held his face gently and looked him straight in the eyes: “Sorry if you feel like you could not tell me. You are still my little brother. Nothing will ever change that. I am always here for you…Besides, I already knew when we were still little that you wanted a dick.”

Sky showered him with words of affirmation way back. They were young and emotional; unlike now, they seemed distant. The last sentence, however, made them burst into a fit of laughter, and from that day on, Sky became more protective of him.

“Hey?” Sky nudged his side, snapping him out of his memory.

“What?”

“Were you even listening?” Sky flickered in irritation, but Jasper was used to his attitude.

Sky easily got grumpy even over small things.

“Yeah…what is it again?” Jasper asked.

Sky rolled his eyes.

“I said there are many options out there that you can ask someone out on a date. Why that stupid, ugly little faggot?” he suggested hoarsely.