Dawn Of Twilight

Chapter 12 : Ordinary Nights (Part 1)

Erevin arrived home just as the clock struck 11. The soft glow of the porch light illuminated his tired face as he stepped onto the doorstep. Before he could even knock, the door swung open, revealing Zoe standing there, arms crossed with an expectant smirk.

"How did it go?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock suspense. "We totally thought you'd come back tomorrow with a crying baby."

Erevin sighed heavily, brushing past her into the house. "I'm tired. I want food. I want to sleep," he muttered, his voice flat with exhaustion.

Zoe raised an eyebrow but didn't press him further. She knew better-her father would likely spill every detail the moment he came home anyway. Erevin climbed upstairs to his room, changed into his loungewear, and returned to the dining table. His mother sat there, her eyes lighting up as he approached.

"I'm sorry I got late," Erevin said, sinking into a chair. "I was helping her with her homework... We didn't realize how late it had gotten."

For a moment, there was silence. Then his mother and Zoe exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"Homework? On your date?" his mother exclaimed, wiping a tear from her eye.

Zoe couldn't hold back, doubling over as she clutched her sides. "You're amazing, big bro. Forget romantic love stories-dating you means her grades are going to skyrocket!"

Erevin rolled his eyes. "Laugh all you want, but she asked for help. I couldn't say no."

Zoe grinned mischievously. "I'll give her this: she knows how to use her resources."

Erevin leaned back in his chair, letting their teasing wash over him. "She gave me flowers," he said after a moment, his tone softening. "She made the bouquet with her own hands. They smell good-I'll keep them in my room."

The women of the Frostell household paused, impressed despite themselves. His mother's smile deepened, her teasing replaced with genuine warmth. "She sounds like a lovely girl," she said.

Zoe, still smirking, added, "I hope she knows she's dating the most academically romantic guy in town."

Erevin ignored her and asked, "Where's Dad?"

Zoe tried-and failed-to stifle a laugh. "He said he had a late meeting with a business partner. I bet it was super important."

Erevin raised an eyebrow at her strange tone but didn't pursue it. Instead, he focused on his dinner, savoring the warm, home-cooked meal after a long, emotionally charged day. His mother and sister continued to poke fun at him, but their laughter filled the house with a comforting energy.

By the time the plates were cleared and good nights were exchanged.

After dinner, Erevin retreated to his sanctuary-his room. Though it was the largest in the house, it had an undeniable air of confinement, as if the space itself struggled to contain the weight of his restless mind.

The large window that should have bathed the room in moonlight was obscured by an imposing air purifier, leaving the space dim. The cool, artificial hum of the machine only added to the sterile atmosphere.

In one corner, a mini lab sprawled across a heavy wooden table. Glass bottles filled with chemicals stood neatly arranged beside rows of test tubes and beakers. A small centrifuge sat in a corner. Petri dishes, some streaked with unknown cultures, lay carefully stacked, while a high-powered microscope sat poised, its lenses glinting under the faint night light.

The opposite corner housed a cluttered soldering station. Scattered across the table were circuit boards, microchips, and tools, some appearing mid-use as if abandoned in a rush. Intricate gadgets in varying states of completion rested among the mess.