The Second Hand of Time

CHAPTER NINETEEN

JANUSLOVES CATS

Thecar stopped in front of a house. The house doesn't look thatexpensive, just your typical concrete house with very little design.However, the garden is beautiful. It's already evening but I canappreciate the arrangement of the plants in the garden. There'salso a little bridge over the plants, so you could water them just bystanding on the bridge.

Janusopened the car doors. He got out of the car and opened the door forus. However, Laelia is still asleep, leaning on my shoulder. Janusshook her awake.

"Hey."Janus told her, shaking her awake.

Laeliaopened her eyes slowly and wiped them with the back of her hands."Huh?"

"We'rehere." Janus told her.

Thenshe saw me. Her face turned red in embarrassment. She quickly pulledaway and eyed me sternly.

"What?"I said.

"Nothing."She grumbled.

"Bythe way, you are heavy."

Shelooked angry. "—You idiot!" She raised her fists.

"Justkidding." I told her, raising my hand in surrender. "Still, myshoulders are sore.You should try losing weight—"

Shekicked my shin.

"Ow!"I complained. "I was just joking!"

"Hmmph."She turned away and went out of the car.

Janussmiled. "You should never joke around to a person who just woke."

"Yeah."

Igot out of the car. Janus closed the door behind me.

Janusmarched inside the house. Laelia followed.

Ayoung girl greeted us. "Hi brother Janus! Hi cousin Laelia!" Thenshe turned her eyes on me. "Hi—um..."

Sheturned to Janus. "Who's the loser?"

"Whatdid you say?" I demanded.

"Don'tcall him a loser, Jamie. He's the one who saved me before." Janustold her. "That's LeKradz."

"Eh?"The girl reacted. "That's LeKradz?"

"Huh?Why? What do you expect?" I asked.

"Janustold me you were cool and awesome, like a superstar, but you'renot!"

"Jamie!"Janus chided. "Don't be rude to our guest. Plus, you should beasleep by now. It's already 9:34 in the evening."

"Hmmph.Whatever." She walked away.

"Sorryabout my sister." Janus told me. "She isn't used to visitors."

"Jamie,huh?"

"Yes.She is my sister. She's in high school now." Janus told me. "But,as you can see, she acts like a child."

"Oh,that's not a problem." I told him. "I have a stepsister withmuch worse attitude. Plus, I always fight with my stepmother when I'mat our house."

"Okaythen, please come on inside."

Itook my shoes off and placed it inside their shoe rack.

Theinside is spacious. A TV was located in the north side of the livingroom, facing a glass table and a very large sofa. Lying at the sofawere... you name it. Cats.