As Aiden stepped across the threshold of the apartment, he said, "Tadaima," the Japanese phrase I'm home that Haru had taught them when he was eight. At the time, Aiden had insisted to his brothers they incorporate Japanese daily expressions into their lives so that both Reo and Haru would be able to quickly settle into their new environment. After all, he wanted them to feel at home, as a part of the new family as soon as possible. Of course, it didn't take any of them long to learn all the phrases, and once they started using them, they never stopped, and as Aiden had predicted, both Reo and Haru quickly and smoothly settled into their new life with their new stepbrothers.
For Aiden, the phrase Tadaima gave him a sense of comfort because home was where he and the people he cared about most could be with one another and spend quality time together.
"Okaeri." Noah said the welcome back phrase from the kitchen's door. "Was he late for work?" he asked, with an amused smile.
Aiden shook his head. "He was right on time."
"I see," Noah said, sounding a little disappointed.
Aiden raised a brow at his brother and said, "You still haven't showered?"
"I'm about to, just need to get some things," he said. "Oh, and by the way, Reo and I will be doing some grocery shopping today. Do you want us to buy you anything in particular?"
Aiden shook his head. "No, I'm good." He was about to go into his room when he paused. "But don't forget to buy strawberries. They're Haru's favorite. We didn't get any last week. I noticed he was a bit disappointed."
Noah couldn't help himself and chuckled with amusement. He folded his arms across his chest as he cocked his head to one side. "You seriously need to pay less attention to that rascal, Aiden. He's technically an adult now and I'm sure he doesn't appreciate you smothering him with that brotherly love of yours."
Aiden sighed. "I know that, but I can't help it. He's our youngest. It's hard to let the youngest go, and he's still too damned cute for an eighteen-year-old." He chuckled lightly as he said, "I remember he was such an adorable little boy when we first met him."
Noah nodded. "He was very adorable. That was ten years ago though and what I'm trying to say is even though he's our youngest and even though he's cute, he is eighteen, an adult, and you, our eldest brother, need to give him room to grow. He's bound to leave the nest sooner or later."
Aiden felt his heart constrict at Noah's words. Yes, of course he understood that Haru was an adult now and that meant Aiden could no longer pamper Haru like he had done when Haru was younger, which, oddly enough, pained him.
Haru leaving the nest, indeed. Suddenly, the boy's words about moving came to him once again.
He eyed Noah and said, "Haru said something about moving. Did you know anything about that?"
Noah frowned. "Moving? You mean he wants to move out of the apartment"
"He didn't say that exactly...but I have the feeling that that's what he meant."
"So? What are you going to do about it? If he wants to move out, you obviously can't stop him, right?"
Aiden didn't want to admit it, but Noah was right. He couldn't stop Haru if the boy wanted to move out, but then again, why would he want to leave? Besides, the other brothers loved it here. It was their home, after all. Even Noah, who had already graduated university and was about to start his first professional job in one of the biggest gaming companies in New York still didn't want to leave.
"I'll talk to him about it," he said.
"Good luck then," Noah said as he turned on his heel. "And have fun taking your client around inspecting apartments." With that, he disappeared off to his room.
Aiden turned on his heel as well and went into his own room. After getting some files ready, he put on his suit jacket and then headed out the door again.
Some forty minutes later, he arrived at Mark Williams Realty, the real estate company he had been working for since he graduated university five years ago.
The office, which was located on the third floor of the ten-story building, was quiet. It was a Saturday, after all.
After putting his briefcase away, he settled down to start work. He spent most of the morning checking his email and replying to clients. It was about lunchtime when Peter Williams, his friend, colleague, and son of the CEO of the company, dropped in.
"You're working your ass off again, I see," the man said the moment he sat on the chair opposite Aiden.
Aiden shifted his gaze from the laptop screen to Peter's face. "Just finishing up some stuff. What about you? What are you doing here?"
Peter shrugged his broad shoulders. "Just dropping by to get some things before heading out to lunch."
"With Tina?" Aiden asked.
Peter nodded. "Yep. With the wife. Speaking of which, here she is now."
Aiden flicked his gaze to see Tina Williams, Peter's beloved wife, coming in through the door of his office.
Tina, who was the same age as both Aiden and Peter, was a beautiful woman with long dark hair and light brown eyes. There was no doubt that she had some Italian blood in her. The three—Aiden, Peter, and Tina—had met during their university years while studying for their business degrees. For Peter, it was undoubtedly love at first sight.
"Hey, Aiden," Tina said, grinning from ear to ear, her eyes twinkling as she shut the door behind her.
"Hello," Aiden replied. Ignoring that jovial look she was giving him, he returned his eyes and attention to the laptop screen.
Peter said to his wife, "I thought you were going to wait in the car."
Tina shrugged nonchalantly. "I saw Aiden's car in the parking lot and thought I'd come in and say hi."
Aiden, however, knew better, and silently groaned inside. She was undoubtedly here to pester him about his romantic life again.
"I see," Peter said. "Well then, my lovely, why don't you keep Aiden busy while I get things sorted before we go out for lunch?"
Tina nodded in agreement with enthusiasm. "Sure. Take your time, darling." She grinned pleasantly at her husband.