Chapter 14 - It’s Normal!

The next morning..

I am so hungry. My chocolate milk is empty. I really need to fill my stomach right now. I tilted my head to the digital clock. Ah, it’s 10 o’clock already. Does Ross has too much drink yesterday? I assume he was too tired to wake up.

Suddenly, I heard noises from the hallway, Ross running quickly to the kitchen and caught me drinking his strawberry milk.

“I-I-I.. can explain” I hid the milk box behind my body.

Ross exhales a harsh breath, “It’s fine. The alarm clock didn’t woke me up, so I woke up really late. Gonna cook breakfast for you. You just need to wait for a while okay? I will cook chicken soup now. Give me 20 minutes” he said as he is busy wearing mom’s apron.

“Hey, you really don’t mind me drinking your milk?”

He shook his head “Oh of course I do. I warned you right? Are you just gonna ignore my rules?”

I run and Ross began to chase me and when he got me, his fingers playfully tickling around my stomach until I could hardly breath, “Stop stop stop” still laughing. He stopped, “You are really skinny, you know that?” he hissed.

“Oh? Am I?”

Ross walks towards the kitchen, rummaging the fridge. I sit on the dining table waiting for him, pouring another glass of strawberry milk.

I try to act as normal as I could. Still, I think a hug with my step brother is normal, maybe he was just really tired yesterday. I was just overreacted about something I’ve never felt. Maybe I should get used to this.

Close your eyes..

Inhale..

Exhale..

“Ya! What are you doing?”

“Oh?” I flinched, “You-you need help?”

Ross shook his head, “No, just sit down. I can finish it in 20 minutes myself”

“Just take your time, Ross. I am not that hungry”

Ross turned his head towards me, “Then why in the world with that milk on your hand?”

“Oh…” is he going to kill me?

“It’s fine” he sniggered, “I was just teasing you”

“So.. hmmm” I mumbled, “You.. had too much drink yesterday, did you drive yourself?”

He hummed and nods his head. I don’t actually expect him to answer, but he says “I’m fine, I arrived home safely and.... I think I remember you helped me last night”

It made my heartbeat elevate, my body starts to sweat. Does he remember about yesterday? But he seems to be very normal about it. Yes, it is normal. Argh, why am I so overreacting? Shame on me!

Few minutes later, Ross clicked the stove off, delivering a pot of chicken soup and breads. Then he takes off his apron and sit across me.

“Anyway mom and dad will be home tomorrow, right?”

I lifted my head catching his eyes and nod “Yep”

“You must have missed your mom so badly”

I shrug and look down, “Honestly, yes” followed by my unintentional sigh.

Ross clears his throat “Do..” scratching the back of his head “Do you want to go somewhere today? Since..” his eyes looking at somewhere else I couldn’t say where he is looking at, he mumbled a while “I mean –I mean, today is Sunday. Maybe you are bored?” he touch his head and whimpers in silence.

Ross’ cheeks blossoms in pink, he was acutely aware of the hot blush that suddenly coloured his fair skin. I notice he has a thick eyebags under his eyes. I walk towards him and brushed his hair away from his forehead, checking his condition. Ross looks pale but he doesn’t have a fever, maybe this is how he looks after a party drink.

“Do you need me to buy you a hangover soup? I can find it near the complex”

“No, no, no” he hurried on. He bit his lower lip and then looked down, it was the first time I found him nervous talking to me. Damn, he’s so cute...

After our late breakfast, I help him cleaning the kitchen and the dining table.

Finally, I took the remote and turned the TV on as I collapsed onto the couch lazily. I push the button until I found the show I want to watch, Spongebob Squarepants The Movie is the only show I’m interested with.

I stretched my arm and took a bag of chips, torn the foil bag and frowning into them as my eyes sometimes gazing to the TV. I have a super power that could simply understand the movie by only listening to their conversations.

Ross appeared from the hallway. He has just finished taking a bath, but I haven’t. It’s weekend, so I only need to take a bath once at noon.

“Do you really don’t want to go somewhere?”

I shook my head, “No, I want to stay at home”

PING

Kendrick’s name popped up from the screen.

Kendrick: GOOD MORNING MA LADY! Oh? It’s 11.30 but I just woke up, sorry :(

I chuckled softly, Kendrick is an expert at cheering my day.

Ross take a seat next to me on the couch, “You sure? Cause..I thought you and mom hang out a lot during weekend”

“Who said that?”

I have never love it outside the house, I stay at home even it’s weekend. Except for some occasional events, or when mom was too bored to stay at home.

I tilted my head towards him, saying “Or do you want me to accompany you to somewhere?”

Ross shook his head, “No, it’s not. I was just afraid you.. need someone to hang out with”

I sniggered, “Are you that care to me?”

“Of course”

Ross leaned his head on my shoulder, “Just let me stay a bit longer here”.

I sit up stiff. Why is my heart start hammering inside my chest? But, I don’t want to turn things awkward. Well, this is how siblings work. I just need to calm down a little bit and stay cool at everything. I peep from the side of my eye. His eyelashes are so beautiful, how could a man born to be prettier than woman?

A few minutes later, his phone pinged. He sit up and stretched his hand to take his phone. Ross narrowed his eyebrows, then he start typing. Another ping and another ping, he tilted his head and finally speaks to me, “Hey, frog”

“Yes” I rolled my eyes, why in the world with that ugly nickname?

“Do you want to join us? We are planning to do hiking on Sunday. You can ask Freya to join us too”

I quirked an eyebrow then shook my head. Sorry but I think I’m not so interested to go out with them cause I usually like to stay at home during weekend. Spending my grateful life at home like a lifeless teenager but I just love it this way no matter what.

Ross exhales a harsh breath, “Kendrick will join too”

Just... this is a different story.

The second reason is mom, she’ll never let me do dangerous adventure.

“But mom will not allow me to join, she is going to say that hiking is dangerous” I sighed at the low grumble.

Ross gives a shrug, “But I can take good care of you”

“Unless.......Can you talk to mom?” I smirked.

“Ya! I told you I take good care of you, doesn’t means I will ask mom about it too”

I put on a pout, thinking I had misread Ross’ intentions for me, “Can’t you talk to mom? Please?” still, I have to persuade him.

Ross scooted away quickly and then he clicked his tongue and moaned “Yes! Okay! Okay! Arghh.. jinjja (really)”

“You’re the best!” I give him a hug and he looks shocked. I lifted my head watching him, his eyes gazing straight to the TV screen. His cheeks blossom in pink. Is he being shy? Does he feel the same as me?

Wait, this is normal.... right?

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