Stunned by his shout, I stared blankly at his angry expression, my eyes wide and unblinking, as if frozen in shock. I nodded mechanically, the movement of my head stiff and jerky, "I understand!" In that moment, a jumble of words had been on the tip of my tongue. I had wanted to tell him at the time, but he was nowhere to be found. The room seemed to spin around me, and I felt a sense of helplessness wash over me.
Innocent, I pouted, my lower lip jutting out just a bit, and secretly laughed to myself. Guardian? Really?! He's only a few years older than me, yet he acts like some old - fashioned elder. "Brother, I'm already..." an adult, do I still need a guardian? My voice trailed off, my mind filled with the absurdity of the situation.
Before I could finish, he shouted again, his voice booming through the room like a clap of thunder, "You can fall in love with anyone, but when it comes to getting married, you must first get my permission!"
