Chapter 2431

"Hey, Anox, I need to talk to you."

"Hm? What's up?"

"Let's talk... alone."

Anox furrowed his brows, puzzled by Kalo's unusual demeanor. Was it seriousness or hesitation?

The two then walked to a corner near the bus stop.

"This should do," Kalo said, stopping in his tracks.

Anox was confused. "Did something happen, Kalo?"

"Anox, you like Teresa, don't you?"

"Huh?" Anox clearly did not expect such a direct question. Flustered, he stammered, "W-What's wrong with you? Why are you asking something so weird?"

"I knew it." Kalo had already anticipated his brother's reaction.

"Anox, are you still going to lie to yourself?"

Anox's expression froze. This side of Kalo felt unfamiliar to him.

"What do you mean?"

"Anox, answer me! Do you like Teresa?"

"I... I..." Anox seemed to have made some sort of decision. He lowered his head

to avoid meeting Kalo's eyes.

"I don't like her," Anox said through gritted teeth.

However, Kalo suddenly grabbed Anox by the hair, pulling his head up.

"Really?! Then why are there tears in your eyes?! What's with that look?!"

Anox looked at Kalo with a hurt expression, but he was still trying to turn away, clinging to his desire to escape.

"Kalo, it's not what you think."

"Shut up!" Kalo shouted. "You idiot big brother of mine! Do you think you're so great?!"

"Huh?"

"Anox, remember what I'm saying! I don't need your protection or your concessions anymore! I have the ability and the confidence to achieve my own dreams with my own hands. I don't need your charity! You just need to face me honestly! Face my challenge! Can you do that?"

"Kalo..." Kalo's words hit Anox hard. It dawned on him that he had never really considered what his brother truly needed. He had just been constantly stepping back.

Did Kalo really need his fool of a brother to coddle him? Was that the right thing to do?

Kalo's words made Anox realize that his little brother had truly grown up. What Kalo needed was not indulgence-it was respect.

Kalo pushed Anox against the wall.

"Answer me, Anox! Answer me..."

Anox's gaze lingered on Kalo's face. At some point, tears had started streaming down his own cheeks.

"I get it, Kalo. I understand, Kalo! I—"

Just then, Teresa called out from a distance, "You two, don't fight! Chevy, come here, quick!"

Kalo finally released Anox.

Kalo had made up his mind, and so had Anox. They understood each other without saying a word.

When Teresa reached them, both of them assured her that everything was fine. "We weren't fighting," Anox said.

Kalo nodded with a sense of resolution. "Yeah. To be precise, we're competing!"

"Well, make sure you don't lose."

"Don't underestimate me."