"Alice!"
A familiar voice reached my ears, accompanied by someone rushing at me. 'Shit', I cursed under my breath, quickly letting go of grandma's arm.
"Oh goodness!"
I could hear her helpless voice, yeah we both knew this was about to happen. I'm surely going to hit the ground, but if I was going to fall, I couldn't drag her with me.
At least just for the fact that her body may not be able to handle it much.
The person jumped at me, throwing us both to the ground. Ughh… I was ready to hit the ground, but he somehow kicked The ground. Making him The one who hit the floor and not me.
"Ouch!"
He grunted with pain, making sure to hold me by my hips so I won't be falling. Gosh, I appreciated that, but my head was spinning around.
If you knew something was going to be wrong, why did you jump at me from the start? I always found understanding him to be impossible.
"Hewwo there~"
Ignoring the pain from the fall, the boy grinned at me cheekily. God, why was he so endearing? I couldn't even get mad at him despite how clearly he hurt me- or well, almost.
There was no need to lash anyone. Firstly, the boy was so adorable and innocent. Secondly, he meant no harm.
I let out a soft breath. I didn't want to stand up and move by myself, so I smiled at him, "Hello Reno. How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great!" He cheered, then carefully picked me up, almost twirling me around, "I got a new boyfriend!"
Hmm? New one?
Carefully standing on my feet again, I cast a glance at grandma. She showed no reaction to this, maybe she had finally approved of Reno.
I spent so much time outside that I'm not sure what was even happening here.
"Ah! And sorry for jumping on you like that," He laughed, "I didn't see you in ages. I was just so excited!"
Reno supported me with his arm around my waist, and I carefully leaned to his hold. I wasn't okay, I can say it. Right…?
In my 'home', I had that right.
Or so I told myself. But saying was one thing, and doing was another. Although I tried multiple times to say it, I felt tongue-tied.
In the end, I just shook my head without a clear answer. Their sour faces said it all. It was okay, as long as they understood. I was too tired to beat myself over this.
"Can you take me to my room, Reno? We can speak there. And… Why are you actually awake? It's almost 2 in the morning now."
"Who cares about that! Mom said we were going to have you back, can I sleep? No way!"
He hugged me and took me to my room without a moment of hesitation. "W-woaahh- grandma!" I subconsciously called out, I didn't want to leave her there alone.
"It's fine! Mom will understand heheheh!"
Grandma's soft laughter after that was heard, he was right. She wouldn't be bothered about us spending our time together. Thankfully, hahaha.
Even I laughed a bit, although mine sounded a bit bitter. I had to say, I missed having a home where I can be casual and honest.
Without anyone hating me for anything, without anyone to get sad and upset with me.
I hugged Reno, whispering, "Thank you for treating me as your sister despite it all."
Reno was grandma's young son. She adopted him almost at the same time she adopted me. She was feeling lonely, so she adopted us to cheer her up.
She was one of the rare loyal people in this world and refused to give into sadness or loneliness to find another love. Thus, she could only cuddle two children who weren't even of her blood.
Yet she never made us feel like we were a burden, never made us feel undeserving of her. Something my real damned parents were unable to do.
They had three children, why couldn't they never consider us enough? Why were they so greedy for a stranger's warmth?
It made no sense. Even after all of these years.
Reno carefully helped me to lay down on the bed, and held my hand.
"Hehe, I'm glad you are here!"
His blue eyes were shining with happiness and excitement, all of his body's gestures were genuine.
Coupled with the cozy room and familiar warmth of this place, they helped me to relax. The tension of my body slowly melted away as I listened to Reno's rambling about everything that I missed.
After I left the house, many things started to change. For example, Reno's relationships were disapproved of by grandma before. She wanted him to marry a woman and to have his own children.
It was not that she hated the fact he dated a man, but she was afraid he would be living in the same loneliness she had experienced. Her husband was a unique case and they were unable to have children.
After his death, she had to survive on her own. It was painful and she needed to adopt us to cope. She simply was unwilling to let Reno experience that all.
Funnily enough, she was too harsh on him. Exposing how his boyfriend was only after his money, not him. She even recorded how she was able to bribe him with some money.
Reno was heartbroken, but understood what grandma did. If the man was truly loyal to him, maybe she would have changed her mind. Sadly, he wasn't that lucky.
But after I left the house for another romantic affair. Grandma's aggression and strictness towards this were terribly reduced.
Afraid of losing her other child.
"When I introduced my new boyfriend to her, after completely confirming his loyalty, I thought she may still argue about it. You know her, she was always so stubborn."
Reno softly continued as he laid next to me.
"But she only did the usual test and accepted it. I was worried a lot, but she then started to invite my boyfriend more here. She made a great effort to befriend him."
With slightly flushed cheeks, Reno whispered, "That was all thanks to your brave decision, Alice. I'm so happy you came back to visit."
…..
How could I tell this boy that I only came here after being brutally cheated and scammed thoroughly…?
Reno, you are making this so difficult for me.