My Friendly Enemy Chp III

Chapter Three: Two Boys, One Shadow The service that Sunday turned out to be one of the happiest days of my childhood.Andrew sat beside me throughout the entire service. We laughed whenever the choir sang songs we knew, competed over who could recite the memory verse first, and even shared a packet of biscuits during the break after Sunday school.To us, life was simple.We were just two boys who believed nothing in the world could ever separate us.After the service ended, many members of the church couldn't help but smile whenever they saw us together."They look just like twins," one elderly woman said."No," another replied with a laugh. "They behave more like twins than real twins."Everyone admired our friendship.Everyone... except my adopted mother.She forced a smile whenever people praised how close we were, but I could tell something was bothering her. Every now and then, I caught her staring at Andrew with an expression I couldn't understand.On our way home, Andrew and I ran ahead of the adults, chasing butterflies, racing each other, and arguing over who was the fastest."I won!" Andrew shouted."You cheated!" I protested, laughing."I didn't!""You started before I said go."We continued arguing until both of us burst into laughter.When we finally reached home, my adopted mother called me into the sitting room while Andrew returned to his house."Clement.""Yes, Mum?"She looked at me for a few seconds before speaking."Do you love Andrew that much?"I smiled without hesitation."Yes.""Why?""Because he's my brother."She sighed."There are people who come into your life as friends, but not everyone who calls you brother truly wishes you well."I frowned."But Andrew has never done anything bad to me."She gently stroked my hair."I pray he never does."That answer confused me.Why couldn't she simply like him the way I did?Why did she always seem uncomfortable whenever his name was mentioned?Being a child, I didn't think much about it.To me, adults worried too much.The weeks turned into months, and our friendship only grew stronger.We attended the same school, sat on the same bench in class, ate from the same lunchbox, and walked to school together every morning. Whenever one of us was punished, the other would wait after school until the punishment was over before going home.Teachers often called us "the inseparable pair."If anyone bullied Andrew, I fought for him.If anyone bullied me, Andrew stood beside me.We promised each other that one day, when we became successful men, we would build houses next to each other so our families would never be separated.We were too young to know that not every promise survives adulthood.One afternoon after school, while we played football with other children in the compound, something happened that I completely ignored.We were choosing teams when Andrew suddenly whispered to another boy, pointing in my direction.The boy looked at me and laughed.As soon as I walked closer, Andrew immediately changed the subject and wrapped his arm around my shoulder."Come on, CEO," he said with a grin. "You're on my team."I never asked what they had been talking about.I simply smiled and joined the game.Looking back now, I realize that was the first time I noticed Andrew wearing two different faces—one for me and another for everyone else.But I was too innocent to understand.Sometimes betrayal doesn't begin with a knife.Sometimes....... It begins with secrets.

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