The next day.
Esmeralda was sitting outside on the floor. Her green eyes were staring at her brother who was being chased by their dog Snow. Snow was a white maltese with black eyes, playful and energetic. He was loved by everyone including Esmeralda his favorite master. She doesn't play with him often and dislikes some of his traits but still, the dog keeps clinging to her every now and then.
"Can you both stop running before you collaspe."
It wasn't a question but an order. The man and dog heard her and they both walked towards her. Kyle panted when he sat on the floor next to her and grabbed a bottle of water before chugging it down while snow crawled on her lap and made himself comfortable.
"You know what?"
Kyle started.
"What?"
"I still don't understand why snow likes you so much despite you pushing him away."
Kyle furrowed his eyebrow as he stared at Snow who was sleeping on his sister's lap. This dog!
"That's his problem."
After her statement, silence kicked in. But suddenly her phone rang. She picked up the phone and stared at the number. It was a video call.
"Little Panda."
She voiced out earning a look from Kyle.
She swiped the screen and the face of a cute little boy could be seen. He was smiling at her.
"Hello auntie!"
Kyle scooted closer to take a peek at the boy and what he saw amazed him. He didn't know that the little panda was this cute.
"Hello Ezekiel. How are you?"
Esmeralda asked.
"I'm fine auntie and you?"
The little boy asked while shaking the screen. It looks like he was walking.
"I'm good. Are you walking?"
"Yes auntie. I'm heading to the garden to meet daddy, uncle Mo and uncle D."
"Alright but you shouldn't do this while walking. It's dangerous."
She warned.
Kyle was shocked at his sister's words. Since when did she become like this? Was it because of the little boy?
"Okay auntie I promise. Auntie?"
"Hm."
"I called to invite you to my birthday party."
The little boy said. He had wanted to invite her in person but he knew they wouldn't let him out except when necessary so he opted to call her.
"Birthday party?"
"Yes, it's tomorrow."
"I don't think I can-"
Kyle saw that his sister was about to refuse the invitation so he quickly shook his head at her and furrowed his brows at her. He clearly mouthed the words "DO NOT SAY NO".
Esmeralda frowned at him and then turned to look at the little boy who was staring at her with pleading eyes and a pout. She didn't know why but she didn't have the heart to refuse him so she agreed.
"Okay I'll be there. What time does the party start?"
"By noon, but I want you to come by ten."
The little panda voiced out his request. He wanted her to be with him before the party starts because he likes her presence.
"Alright that's not a problem. Can I bring someone with me?"
Esmeralda asked. She knew her brother wouldn't like her going alone so she decided to bring him along. There was no harm in the almighty Kyle attending a kid's birthday party.
"Yes you can. I'll be going now auntie. I'll send the details to you okay? Bye."
Then the call ended.
Esmeralda dropped her phone on the floor and stared at her brother who was burning with questions. He looked like he was about to burst.
"What's wrong with you?"
She asked not really caring about the look on his face.
Kyle couldn't believe his sister. She was just about to turn down a kid's invitation and didn't even blink an eye about it. So heartless.
"You almost turned down the invitation."
"I didn't have any interest in attending the party. But with the look on his face, I couldn't do it."
She explained.
So she indeed have a heart. That little boy must have some kind of power that can make her succumb to his request. Why didn't he have that power? Right, it was because he wasn't a four year old boy with a cute face.
"Who are you taking with you to the party? Noah?"
"You."
She answered while running her hand through the dog's white silky fur.
"Me?! You know I can't attend a stranger's birthday party."
He tried to reason with his hard headed sister. He didn't mind attending but with his profile doesn't it seem strange.
"But you can discuss business with strangers?"
Esmeralda countered back before getting up with Snow in her arms and leaving Kyle sitted on the floor.
Kyle watched his sister enter the house without looking back at him and he sighed. When will she change?
******
"What are you going to buy for the little panda?"
Kyle asked after he took a bite from his chocolate.
Esmeralda was busy on her phone. She was reading the invitation the little panda sent to her. She realised that the party was held in the little boy's home. Stone Estate. She froze when she heard her brother's question.
"I didn't think of that. What do you think I should buy?"
She looked at her brother was a frown on her beautiful face. That thought never crossed her mind.
"Well, I don't have any suggestions yet."
Kyle answered with a shrug. Though he lived with little kids and knew what they liked but that was a long time ago. Those little kids are now grown teenagers so he was quite clueless with what little kids these days liked.
"What if I bake for him?"
"You know that's not-"
"I'll be fine. You'll be there with me so there's no need to worry papa bear."
Kyle sighed and couldn't help but agree. Her calling him his nickname killed the disagreement in his eyes. She knew his weaknesses and used it against him.
"Fine. Let's go."
They both stood up and made their way to the kitchen. Snow also tagged along with his masters.
*****
" I said water not bleach!"
"Put that in and I'll make you regret it."
"Why is the timer set to two hours? Do you want to burn the cookies? Get it out from the oven!"
"One wrong move and I'll slap away ten years of your memory, trust me."
Kyle finally kept the cookies in the cookie jar. After an hour of threats and murderous attempts he finished baking the bear shaped cookies. He was practically crying inside when he started baking. If he had known he wouldn't have volunteered to bake the cookies. Instead, he would have sat down quietly and watched his sister bake them.
"Next time, do what I tell you to do."
The voice that yelled at him for the past hour stated in a calm tone. He quietly nodded his head like a child being scolded for breaking an expensive vase.
"Help yourself. You might be hungry. Tomorrow we'll make a fresh batch so be ready. "
What?!! So these are just practice cookies?! What did he do to deserve this punishment? This was all because of his big mouth. Kyle wailed in silence as he ate the cookies.