Emily leaned in close to Alex's ear, "It's okay, Uncle. Mom gets like this every time she thinks about Uncle. Dad and I always leave her alone for a while. She'll be alright. Besides, she had a bit to drink tonight. Come to my room, let's talk."
Alex glanced toward the bedroom where Director White was resting, then nodded, following Emily down the hallway to her room. As they stepped inside, Emily closed the door gently behind them.
Sitting on her bed, she grinned, rubbing her cheeks. "I think the wine got to me, Uncle. My face is burning up," she admitted with a giggle.
Alex couldn't help but smirk at her honesty. "Well, you're the one who wanted to drink it. No one forced you, so don't start blaming me now."
"I was curious! Plus, I was feeling happy. It's the New Year. But now..." She shot him a playful glare. "Why did you laugh at me earlier? I haven't dealt with you yet!"
Without warning, she lunged at Alex, playfully pushing him onto the bed and tickling his sides. Alex burst out laughing, surprised by her sudden attack. She found his weak spot—his armpit—and tickled relentlessly, her fingers moving with the precision of someone who had perfected this playful torment.
Alex squirmed, trying to stifle his laughter, but it was no use. He grabbed her wrists, trying to fend her off, but Emily was relentless. "Stop! Okay, okay, I give up!" he gasped between laughs, trying to wriggle free.
"Oh no, Uncle! You're not getting away that easily!" Emily teased, doubling her efforts and now going for his navel, which made Alex laugh even harder.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, Alex flipped Emily over and pinned her down on the bed. "Ha! Got you!" he declared, catching his breath. Emily giggled uncontrollably beneath him, her face flushed from both laughter and the remnants of the wine.
For a moment, her laughter filled the room, light and carefree. But the sound snapped Alex back to reality. He realized how loud they were being, and suddenly, the weight of the evening returned. He quickly got off the bed and sat down, his tone softening. "Don't let your mom hear us. She's sad over there, and here we are, acting like kids."
Emily, still giggling, sat up and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, Uncle. We're in the study. She won't hear us from here."
Alex shook his head, though a small smile lingered on his face. "That doesn't make it any better. Your mom's grieving, and it's not right for us to be fooling around like this. Go check on her, make sure she's okay."
"Okay, I'll go check on her. But next time, Uncle, I won't let you off so easily!" she warned with a grin, giving him a playful nudge before slipping out of the room.
Alex watched her leave, the smile fading from his face as he let out a deep breath. Left alone in Emily's room, he looked around. Her desk was cluttered with books—some textbooks, but mostly novels and magazines. Curious, Alex picked up a book from the shelf, flipping through it briefly before setting it down and picking up another. As he skimmed the titles, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
"This girl really doesn't study seriously," he muttered. "Look at all these extracurricular books."
Alex leaned back in the chair, his gaze drifting around the room. It was cozy, filled with the vibrant energy of youth. There were framed photos on the dresser—one of Emily and her parents on a trip, all smiling at the camera. A small, plush teddy bear sat on her bed, tucked against the pillows.
He felt a sense of warmth being in this room.