Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Bonding

*Rena*

We went over to the benches and chatted for an hour to let our ice cream go down. Well, Souta, Ava, Sayuri, Sehun, and Sekin did most the talking. Kai attentively listened, while Purpura and I largely kept to ourselves.

"So, how long have you had that chair?" Purpura blurted out.

I glanced at him. He sure was blunt. Most people were afraid to even bring up the chair, unless they were doing so to make fun of me.

"I... can't recall," I mumbled. I had it as far as I could recall. While Kai was born healthy and strong, I was born weak for some reason. I wasn't sure if it was because of our birth order, or something else. It wasn't like Kai and I were identical twins either, so differences were to be expected.

He turned away and stared at the water rides. "I see."

I smiled. He sure wasn't much of a talker. Not that I minded. If he continued talking, it probably would've been awkward.

"So, where are you from?" I asked.

"A lab."

My eyes widened. "W-what? You mean like in movies?"

He glanced back at me and blinked. "Movies?"

"Uh, you do know what movies are, right?"

He scratched his head and hummed. "I think Sou mentioned watching some with his family. But I've never gotten to see one. I'm not allowed in the living room."

I gasped. "Wait, you live with Souta?"

He turned away. "Yeah. Well, I do have the option of living underground."

I blinked. Why was he telling me this so casually? Wait, he must've been pulling my leg! Right? Or, maybe not. Sehun did say something about him being dangerous. If the guy was an experiment, I assumed his creators or those who experimented on him were after him.

"Don't worry. Sekin will protect us," I said, crossing my arms.

He laughed. "No offense, but I think the cinnamon roll has done a better job."

"Cinnamon roll?"

He pointed at Souta with his right thumb. "That guy protected me when your boyfriend and cousin were outmatched."

My eyes widened. "Seriously? Wait, Sekin got into a fight?" I gasped as I remembered he was wobbly when he came to see me after my surgery. 

Purpura nodded and leaned back against a streetlamp. "Yeah. It's why I was hesitant to come here."

"You still are, aren't you? That's why you're telling me this."

He snickered and shrugged. "Maybe. Or, perhaps, I am just tired of keep secrets." His eyes shifted back to Souta.

"Say, do you like that guy?"

He coughed. "W-what? Of course not! Why would I like a childish, naive, bratty guy like him?"

I snickered. "Well, you got three out of three right."

His brows furrowed as he looked straight ahead. "Although, he does have his good points too."

"He does?"

Rosy blush lit up his otherwise pale face. "Yeah. I mean, he's good with kids. He can sew, cook, and clean."

I laughed. "Sounds like you're describing a wife."

He snickered. "I guess I am. Although, Sou is also good at tending to others, medically."

"Medically?" I glanced over at Sou. "That guy can?"

"Yeah. I think he'll make a great doctor one day, if he put his head into it."

A doctor, huh? I stared at my legs.

"Feeling bad?" Purpura asked.

I shook my head. "No. It's just hard to imagine that guy as a doctor."

He chuckled. "Can't say I can blame you. If I hadn't seen him at work, I probably wouldn't believe it myself."

I stared at what appeared to be old stitches on his abdomen. "Were you on the receiving end of his care?"

Purpura placed a hand on his abdomen and sighed. "Yeah. He stitched me back together and also cured me of a poison, all with the stuff in his personal first aid kit."

I eyed Souta as he ran from Ava who seemed mad about something. Despite being chased, he was laughing. He really was a child, but if what Purpura said was true, then Sou's comment about taking care of us if we got cramps must've meant he knew CPR and the like.

My nose wrinkled at the thought of having that guy's lips against mine. If I needed CPR, I preferred it came from Sekin.

He laughed. "Looks like it's fine for us to swim," Purpura said, watching as Sou swam away from Ava.

"Wasn't that guy going to teach us?" I asked, sighing.

Sekin snickered. "If you want, I can do it in his place."

I blushed. "Yes! I mean, I, uh wouldn't mind."

He rubbed his neck. "Although, I'm not a very good teacher."

"You don't have to worry about that," Ava said as she dragged Souta over to us.

He chuckled as he waved at us.

"Being a clown?" Purpura asked.

Ava huffed as she let go of Souta. "Yes, like usual."

Souta grinned. "I didn't think you would get that mad at me for commenting on your-"

She put a hand over his mouth. "Don't say another word! Got it?"

He nodded his head.

Ava smiled and unhanded him. "Good! Now, let's teach these two to swim!"

"You're helping too?" Purpura asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. I can't leave Sou to do all the work." She glared at him. "Also, I fear he might just goof off instead of teaching anything handy."

"I'll be watching," Sekin said, smiling at me.

I stroked my braided ponytail and blushed. Even if he wasn't teaching me, having him around was enough.

"As will I," Kai said, rushing over.

I smiled at my brother. "Thanks, Kai."

"Let's pick out a small pool," Souta said, eyeing the place. "Oh, found one!"

Purpura and I glared at him as soon as we saw it.

"That's the kiddie pool, Sou," Ava said, sighing.

"What? I learned how to swim in one. Well, not in a fancy park like this, but still!"

Sehun snickered as he and Sayuri joined us. "There is a slightly bigger one over there for bigger kids." He pointed at one that was empty. It looked like the pool at our middle school.

Sou grinned. "Perfect! Let's go!" He rushed ahead.

Ava sighed and shook her head. "That guy..." She ran after him. "Stop being so bouncy all of the time! You aren't a rabbit!"

Hopefully, this would pay off...