Being Next to You

Chapter 19: Raining can sure make people look different.

The rain is pouring down the evening.

"I heard the news, the storm will last until next week," said Ki--... I mean, Chrysanthemum, my brother. He's taking a short break from his paper files (since his vacation already ended and started working again last week).

"Mmm... Too bad, I was looking forward to hanging out with Theresa and France this weekend..." I sighed as I stared at the window while drinking hot---!

*coughs*

"Ki.... What is this drink...? It taste... UNIQUE..." I forced myself to smile.

"It's oatmeal with sweeten banana and peanut butter. And just to inform you, I made it and it would be nice for you to finish your drink without anything left." He smiled as he took another sip of his masterpiece...

"I got it..." I obediently answered, chugging the drink in one go...!

My brother has always had unique kind of taste buds... And he often creates something that will take your soul away...

And it is very unpleasant if you know what I mean...

BUT...!

I LOVE MY OLDER BROTHER!

EVEN I DON'T LIKE HIS EDIBLE INVENTIONS...!

"By the way... We're going to dad next weekend. Do you have some plans next week?" he asked.

"I don't, but I have some for tomorrow after class. With my friends."

"Hmm..." Chrysanthemum sips his cup.
"Where to...?" he asked with a curious tone.

"The usual," I replied while doubting his smiling face... As the thunder came rolling down the stormy night.

"Jack and Jill?" (fast food restaurant)

"No."

"Mall?"

"No.."

"Library?"

"No..."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kiku smiled at me and patted my head and remained smiling...

"Rina..." He gently called my name, "If you're going to WHITE MOUSE... I would not allow it, okay?" he smiled. "Why?" I oddly asked, and he answered, "No reason, but recently you often go there, to White Mouse I mean. Why is that, Rina?"

"I don't particularly know," I answered, my eyes are looking at the other way not to my brother's eyes.

"Is it because there is a certain person you personally like? You are in a certain age where people finds an attachment to an opposite sex." He logically pointed out.

But does he need to put it that way?

"Am I not allowed?" I asked. My brother looked at me with the uncertain look on his face. "I didn't say anything like that, didn't I? But don't expect too much in love, I mean."

The rain starts to weaken from the outside. And he turned back to his room and didn't go out until the next following day.

I woke up early and eventually went to school. Chrysanthemum is still in his room; doing his job. And mom is an architect, and she works more like twenty-four hours a day. She often stays at work or goes home late. She rarely comes home, but she makes sure to come home when she has free time. It's been like this since I was little, mom will go to work while dad and he will stay at home and take care of me. (And I am free to call my brother "Kiku"). But now, I am a high school student and soon to be in college next coming year, and Chrysanthemum became an adult and has a job. He's now helping with the expenses and my tuition for college as well. My brother is still new and young among his colleges in his work and sometimes stress out from his superiors (that's what mom tells me). And yet, he keeps his posture like nothing happens and continues to go home and finds time, even though he's already busy.