Why Us??

The garden date

[Morning at the Mansion ]

The mansion felt unusually still for a Sunday morning.
Only the clinking of cutlery and the low hum of the ceiling fan filled the wide, sun-lit hall.

Rain and Payu sat at the long dining table - empty chairs stretching on both sides like an unspoken agreement.

The table itself, however, was anything but empty.
Plates of waffles, toast, fruit, steaming soup, and an entire tray of omelettes lined the center, still warm from the kitchen.

Rain leaned forward, chin on his palm. "Where is everyone? The food's getting cold."

Payu, already halfway through his second bite, didn't even look up. "They're around. Just not here."

Rain pouted. "That's weird. Usually Pa Vegas sits there barking at everyone to eat properly."

Payu smirked slightly. "Exactly why he's in the kitchen now."

Rain turned to look - and sure enough, through the open doorway he could see Vegas, apron tied around his waist, stirring something in a pan with surprising focus. Pete sat nearby on the counter, legs crossed, clearly supervising with that soft smile that always made Vegas melt a little. Little Ella stood on a stool beside them, proudly sprinkling herbs with the seriousness of a master chef.

From the main hall came the faint sound of laughter - Kinn tossing little Hazel into the air while Porsche tried to keep her from grabbing his nose.

It was... oddly peaceful.

Rain sighed dramatically. "Everyone's together except us."

Payu didn't answer. He just reached for his coffee.

Rain - "Don't you think it's suspicious though? They've never left us to eat alone."

Payu - "Not suspicious. Considerate."

Rain raised a brow. "Of what?"

Payu met his eyes then, a slow, knowing look curling at the corner of his mouth. "Of the newly-weds who might not be ready to face a room full of parents after last night."

Rain blinked. Then grinned. "Ohhh... so that's what this is!"

Payu - (calmly) "Mm."

Rain - "You're telling me they're avoiding Sky and Pai so Sky doesn't die of embarrassment?"

Payu - "Smart, isn't it? If they sit here pretending not to notice the love bites on his neck, the poor thing might combust."

Rain almost choked on his juice, laughing. "I swear this family thinks of everything!"

Payu chuckled, quietly pleased at his reaction. "Eat, Rain."

Rain picked at his toast, but his attention was already darting toward the stairs. "I just wanna see Sky's face when he comes down."

Payu sighed, sipping his coffee. "You're impossible."

Rain - "Come on, I'm his brother! I have the right to tease him!"

Payu - "Maybe wait till he can walk properly."

Rain froze mid-bite, eyes going wide. "Wait... what's that supposed to mean?"

Payu only gave him a side-glance that maddeningly smug, older-brother look that said you already know.

Rain groaned dramatically, clutching his head. "Ughhhh! I can't believe I'm related to someone who actually did it before me!"

Payu nearly spit out his coffee, choking back a laugh.

Rain crossed his arms. "This is so unfair. I bet Sky's glowing right now while I'm just sitting here, hungry, betrayed, and single-"