Bewildered, Lucas stares at his sister and then to his brother back and forth like watching a volleyball match.
He speaks up.
"Butler Moran, am I hallucinating? Is that why I am seeing a witch?"
The smile plastered on Lily vanished and in turn, a look of disdain had shown.
Lucas heard the audible swallow of his older brother. Shit. He stepped on a landmine.
Forming a V sign slash a peace sign with his two fingers, he sheepishly smiles lest the wrath come to him.
" I was joking jie jie."
Hopefully, he can appease his sister before they eat their dinner.
Butler Moran was having a great time watching the show. The dull oppressive silent house becomes lively whenever the three masters are present. Instantly, the environment is chaotic. Moreover, the fun part is, the three are battling sarcastically with their knife-like tongues.
He could see where they inherited this talent. Living with them, his master and madam act the same way as they are. Never ending childish banter.
Lily opens her palm, one of her eyebrows raised. Lucas tilts his head, baffled why his sister is acting like that.
''Pay up Lucas. I do not accept an apology.'' Lily reminded Lucas. Smirking.
A light slap on his forehead, right. This has always been occurring whenever they are all present. Mischievously, he sweeps a quick glance over to his older brother.
The single glance coming from Lucas broke cold sweats on his back. Loid is sure of one thing.
''Didi, you-'' Loid did not have the chance to continue his words. Lucas dashes away, leaving a trail of smoke under his heels as he mutters.
''Gege! You got this.''
Lucas throws the sizzling hot demand of Lily towards him with no remorse.
''YOU BRAT!'' Loid frustratedly bellows out loud, annoyed. His palm on the back of his neck.
Once again, he was tricked by his brother. He wonders why he has always been the target every single time without fail. Why is he being overpowered by the youngest? Is there even a logic to this? Or it is because they spoiled him rotten and that's why his attitude of throwing meddlesome things are becoming frequent; he could not count on his fingers anymore.
Lily turns towards her older brother, not slightly fazed to what transpired. Her palm is still open to receive the cash she is waiting for. Since the youngest had thrown the responsibility to him, she shall seek compensation from him. Once, she had tried to chase after her brother. Alas, her effort was futile.
She did not know his brother was a runner. He ran faster whenever he caused trouble.
Never again did she ever run after him. Lily had learned her lesson.
Loid huffs, pulling out cash from the inner pockets of his coat. Lily instantly smiled at the sight of money. Loid snorts, dropping it on top of her palm.
''Thank you!''
Loid purses his lips. Clamping them shut before a complaint could be said audibly. He does not want Lily to rob him once more.
He walks towards their dining room, the two following in his footsteps.
-
Lucas halts in front of the dining table, his mother and father are present, looking at him with a gaze that Lucas cannot discern at all. Since it has been a long time he had seen them for months. Maybe, his gaze was too intense, Father Allard clears his throat.
'' Son, you're back.'' Father Allard said, awkwardness present in his tone.
It seems like not seeing his youngest son for a long time, he doesn't know how to interact with him anymore. Being busy with work, he does not have the leisure and patience to go home. Moreover, their company was far away from their house so to save time and energy, the decision of buying an apartment was the best solution he could think of. Hopefully, his son understands it.
''Come here Lucas, give your mother a hug will you?'' Mother Allard said as she spread her arms to engulf her son in a tight hug.
She frowns. After hugging the youngest, she looks up and touches Lucas' cheek.
''You lose weight?'' She inquires, worried.
Before, the clothes hugging Lucas' body perfectly fit as far as Mother Allard had remembered, but now, his son's school uniform he wears is loose.
Lucas puffs his cheeks, a whine escaping his lips.
''Mom, I did not.'' Lucas protests. Why does whenever they get home from work, his mother will always and always talk about his weight?
It's like the other elders whenever they have a family gathering.
Mother Allard pinches her son's puffed cheeks, amused. His son acts so childishly although looking so offended, his body language was honest.
''Father.'' Lucas calls out, a pout present on his face. He turns his body towards him.
''You did not miss me?''
Father Allard chuckles. His son acts spoiled with pout lips even though he is used to seeing him having an expressionless face. He hugs him to appease the child. Patting him on the back and ruffling the disarray hair in the process eliciting a quiet protest.
''Father! I am not a dog, why does almost everyone rub my hair?'' Lucas complains loudly.
''Because your hair is soft, what else?''
Hearing the voice, Lucas looks towards the owner. Snorting.
''You guys are finally here. How much money did you receive from gege?''
''Nu uh. Not sharing with you.'' Lily pokes her tongue out.
Lucas grumbles under his breath muttering it was his doing that his older brother cannot escape from. He had wanted to bicker more yet, his stomach loudly grumbled.
Bickering can be set aside. His hunger cannot wait any longer. This day was particularly interesting and tiring.
''Seems like everyone is now present.''
Without any further action, the three scramble into their seats. Only now that Lucas sees the dishes served tonight. Seeing the food, saliva almost dripped from his mouth.
His favorite!!!!
Mother and Father Allard watches as their daughter and sons begin to wolf down all the dishes served. If anyone saw this, they would think that they were starving for a month.
The two exchanges glance, still they ate elegantly with class except the speed of eating was a bit fast that there were afterimages present.
Butler Moran can only bite his inner cheeks. The dynamics of the family really is one of a kind.