Screeeeech!
Thud!
A gruesome sound followed by people's gasped and commotion snatched my attention. It was so ominous to saw someone died in front of our convenience store that we siblings funded. This someone only tried to save a mere cat but he paid it with his life. Mysteriously, a group of cats, obviously a stray, started to meowed for him.
People then encircled him with each smartphone in their hands, capturing the current tragedy. Surely, his death will be trend online. This type of people has recorded the scene first other than calling the ambulance, for a particularly common reason-- 'to be famous.'
"Boss."
The cashier and the sales associate that I've hired greeted me early this morning. This twin is the only employee that we have.
"Oh, hoo~, so unusual, you two are not late today."
They just awkwardly laugh brushing the back of their head.
I quickly went out of our convenience store as soon as they appeared and went home.
"I'm home."
I uttered as I opened the wooden door, a sort of norm in the family. But what surprised me was the sudden pop of the confetti and its bright colors flying down.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They unitedly exclaimed with a gleeful smile on their faces.
"What's with the party hat? How old is your celebrant?" I asked in somewhat confused and surprised. We're too old to have such a kid's party theme, where Batman, Superman, Ben10 are the designs of the colorful balloons. 'And, it's just seven in the morning, isn't this too early?'
A pleasing giggle followed by a charming voice declared, "Brother Rheymart is 10!" Ailyn our youngest mirthfully put the party hat on me while saying those, and encircled her arms around my neck as she gives me a peck on the cheek.
Her usual sweet demeanor.
"Eh? if I'm 10 then how old are you three?"
"We're seven," the twin uttered seriously pouting. This two caught on Ailyn's weirdest idea. It was clear how forceful their facial expressions were.
"Ailyn is 5!" the adorable devil excitedly asserted again.
"Pffft!" I can't hold my laugh seeing them. Particularly the band-aid on Brylle's nose which was done by Zylle, the Amazona who punched him. As well as on Zylle's flawless face which has been scratched by Brylle. Isn't this their usual behavior 20 years ago? I waved my hand, gesturing the two need to come.
"Aigoo, who won the fight?" I asked playing along with their play while patting each of their head.
"Isn't it obvious? Zylle always wins against Brylle." Ailyn cutely snorted, hugging me.
"Ohh hoo?~ Brylle, such pity your opponents is not a human but a gorilla." I clicked my tongue while shaking my head slowly, sympathizing with him.
"I agree brother...," Brylle uttered pitying himself.
However, the two of us received a crisp punch on our waist coming from the person we mentioned.
"Argh," we simultaneously let out in agony.
"Zylle truly inherits my prowess. 10 points." I've proudly expressed in pain.
The two women only laugh at our misery. Still, they hugged us warmly were the four of us embraced each other tightly. We only have our backs since 15 years ago when our parents leave us and went to each of their affairs without a warning.
"We love you brother. We thanked God you are born to this world as our brother." Zylle sincerely said resting her head on top of my shoulder.
"I'm the one who should thank Him for giving me, such lovely siblings."
"Zylle, where's my handsomely cute nephew and my adorable niece, Brylle?" I asked as I bite the toasted bread with a strawberry jam on it. This identical twin differs in gender, have the same day of the wedding and a year old baby.
A clacking sound emerges when Zylle put down her cup of black coffee on the glass table, after a sip and uttered, "Ailyn requested that the four of us should celebrate your birthday in the morning as what we usually do before we move out, and our child and spouse will come this afternoon."
"Ohh my lovely little sister who acts more boyish compared to his twin brother, I can't still believe that you found a man that sweet and pure."
Brylle chuckled seeing how my face twist when Zylle pinched my thigh. 'This brat, you dare to laugh?'
"Oya, Oya, this younger brother of mine who acts cool outside yet secretly addicted to game and anime. He has lots of waifus in his room and always nagged me years ago to marry them, ..."
Brylle tried to cover my mouth to stop babbling his youthful past but we were one seat apart and Zylle was in between us, slapping his hand that trying to reach me, so I continued with pleasure and a smile.
"... I can't believe that one day, this exact person will love a human and has a single person in his heart, his wife."
Ailyn cracked up as well as me, seeing his bashful face that he tried to cover.
"Aigoo, my silly youngest sister who only ship his bias to the other boys, daydreaming they are in a relationship and shipping two shounen anime boys who were close, rivals or has a slight interaction as long as it fits her standards of top or bottom, ahem, will marry a month from now."
I gently patted Ailyn's head who becomes quiet while staring at me. "You grow up so fast. After that day you will also move out of this house."
Brylle slightly lifts his eyeglasses indicating an idea came to mind.
"Brother, why don't you go on a blind date? Zylle and I will make a list of suited women for you."
Zylle gripped my shoulder with such pressure, "Bro, were already have spouses and Ailyn is about to marry too. Isn't it time for you to settle down and find your happiness? You've already done your part for us, so..."
Her blackish eyes suddenly fired up, "There's a woman in the next house who has a crush on you. She has also a lot of money and just a year younger than you. Why don't you try to date her?"
"Zylle, ..." I mumbled tapping her shoulder, "Why do I feel like your selling me?"
"I'm not, I'm serious. I only want to have a rich sister-in-law." Despite the sound of what she said, her face was bluntly shameless.
"Hehe, should I tr--"
"No!!!"
We're all taken aback when Ailyn slammed the table. Every time the topic went to this she always has a bad mood.
"Brother Rheymart has someone destined to him and will love him so much. That someone is near brother but you can't just see them yet."
Here we go again, Ailyn's weirdest thought. But I kinda see how sincere she was.
I just smiled, "You're love is already enough why would I need someone else?"
°°°°°°
It was such a long lucid dream of such happy memories, engraved on my soul and will never vanish. The purple bloom of wisteria's flowers was the first thing I saw when I woke up. Its small petals slowly dropping on the ground along with the pleasing wind. The melancholic sky was painted in tranquil vermillion with scattered cotton candy clouds. Birds flew back towards their nest and nocturnal animals starting their daily life for the night, which means I doze off here for more than hours.
It's been 3 days since I left Lixue's residence and 1 week living as Lahn Vanden. His life has just a simple routine, waking up early in the morning, tending his plants, eat, harvest the vegetables, and deliver the flowers if they bloom, and sleep, which I have unconsciously done too. As if it's natural.
But what I can't use in this life was the dead silent atmosphere, and the missing voice of a human. I lived in such a noisy family, bickering here and then. It was loud but warm. But here, an emotion called loneliness gradually slithers inside me.
Eirwin as an idol was always at work, he left this country with his band 2 days ago to perform for their fans, but he left me a bunch of suppressants. He always called and text but the presence of someone near you brings, differently.
Lahn has no particular hobby than planting, neither a glorious goal in life. He just wants to live peacefully.
And it's not bad. It's perfect and safe.
But human instinct always seeks for companion even if they've denied it.
In bittersweet I smiled, "I miss those brats..."
"Who did you miss?"
"Oh, son of Thor!" I speedily sit up seeing Lixue sitting near me with his back resting on the trunk, watching me intently. 'I didn't even notice his presence. Nor the black coat that covered me.'
"My father's name isn't Thor." Lixue sarcastically said while gently pick-up the petals on my pinkish hair. As always, he moved swiftly.
I jolted back distancing from him and asked, "Why are you here?"
But he comes nearer and authoritatively said, "Cause, I want to."
My brows furrowed, 'Well, I want to avoid you too.'
"How did you know this place?"
"I have my way."
'This d#mn brat who has plenty of money.'
"Isn't it time for you to go?" I asked standing up, giving him his coat. It was almost dusk and he was still here. What even his business to come here?
Lixue paused a bit before he stated, "I will sleep here."
All my hair from head to toe risen in grim and my eyes widened in shock, "That will never happen. Where's your car? You need to go. I have no other bed for you."
I want to drag him inside his car and kicked it far far away. I don't want to be connected to him, especially that 'day' will come.
Lixue just faintly smiled, standing up, "I didn't come here through a car."
"Then how?"
He pointed to the sky.
"Fly?!" I asked in quite surprised.
"Your brain runs strangely." He said while rubbing my head making my hair messed.
"I came here through my chopper. There's no vehicle to used coming down this mountain, you won't let me sleep outside on this cold night won't you, Lahn?"
Argh, this assh#le Alpha who planned it all.