"You're really not coming back for the holidays, Bad Brother?"
It was a bright morning, shaking off the gloom of the past few days.
Sam felt relaxed and at ease.
He looked up towards the kitchen where the sound came from. A woman in an apron, her beautiful, slightly curly long hair tied up with a simple white hair tie.
No extra adornments.
Just her nearly perfect back curve and exaggerated waist-to-hip ratio created the image of an ideal woman.
Sam held his phone, smiling as he spoke.
"I told you, it's just a short break. I don't feel like making the trip back and forth."
"Hey... it's almost a month. I think you're just avoiding me! Not even coming back for New Year's."
Sam felt a mix of emotions. "Why would I avoid you? You're not a ghost."
"Who knows? Maybe you're... really afraid of me?"
The girl's voice was soft and gentle, not like a challenge, but with a hint of playful and ambiguous affection.
