3 days later:
The sun was glowing in the sky, making everything look shiny and peaceful. Char sat curled up on the couch, munching chips and half-watching the TV when little Alena came running toward her.
Char grinned, put the bowl aside, and scooped the girl into her arms. Alena giggled, reaching her tiny hand toward the chips. Char frowned dramatically, pulling the bowl away with a pout and frown,
"That's Aunt's snack," she warned playfully.
Alena tilted her head and wriggled onto Char's lap. "Aunt Chal, gimme some?" she asked in her sweet voice, patting Char's hand gently.
Char's heart melted right away. With a sigh, she picked up a chip and fed it to her. "You little troublemaker," she said, smiling. "You're too cute for your own good."
Char poked Alena's tiny nose, making her squeal with laughter and almost lose her balance off her lap. Char caught her quickly and stood up. "Let's go see what Grandma's doing, okay?"
Alena nodded eagerly, still licking her lips for the lingering taste of salt. When they reached the kitchen, Char sat her on the counter.
Liana's mother turned and smiled warmly at them. She reached out to ruffle Alena's soft hair, earning a wide grin that showed all her little teeth.
"She's so cute, Aunty," Char said with a laugh. "I literally love her."
Liana's mother chuckled and shook her head as she saw Char playing with Alena's small hands. "She's cute, yes...but also a handful. Though I'll admit, she's very well-behaved."
Char nodded, still smiling, but suddenly felt a tug on her hair. Alena had fisted a handful of her dyed strands. "Hey..." Char gasped, gently covering the little fist with her hand. "Maybe not that much."
Liana's mother laughed, leaning against the refrigerator as she pulled out a bottle of milk. "She's probably just curious about your hair color," she said, pouring milk into glasses but keeping an amused eye on them.
"Leave Aunt's hair, baby," Char said, narrowing her eyes in mock warning.
But Alena only giggled harder. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she grabbed another handful of hair and leaned closer, examining it like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Char's lips twitched into a smile despite herself. She reached out and lightly wrapped her fingers around Alena's hair, but was careful not to pull or hurt the kid.
Alena's laughter stopped. Her wide eyes blinked up at Char in confusion. Then, suddenly, her lower lip trembled and her eyes welled up.
Liana's mother had just finished pouring the milk and arranging the snacks when she froze at the sound of crying. Her eyes widened, and she turned back only to be stunned. She stopped mid-step.
There stood Char and Alena, both clutching each other's hair like it was a battle of wills.
For a second, the older woman didn't know whether to scold or laugh. But a chuckle slipped out without her permission. She sighed, walking over to them.
"Char, leave her hair! Look, her face is all red!" she said, prying them apart before lifting Alena into her arms. "Leave that white hair, Alena. That's Char Aunt's hair."
Alena sniffled, her teary lashes fluttering as she buried her face in the woman's shoulder. "Angel," she mumbled weakly. "I wanna go to Angel."
Char rolled her eyes but smiled softly, reaching out to pat Alena's back, making the girl burrow into Liana's mother more.
"Fine, fine, little boss," Char said under her breath, making Liana's mother shoot her a mock glare.
"Stop teasing her," she said sternly. She is just 3 years old, and you're also behaving like a two."
Char grinned shamelessly, "Let me help you, Aunty." She picked up the tray, "The theater room, right? We're watching a movie?"
Liana's mother nodded, shifting Alena in her arms, and walked toward the stairs, "I'm going to get Liana and Ethilia. You go prepare the food."
Char had started walking toward the theater room when the older woman called out again. She turned, tilting her head. "Yes, Aunty?"
"Make sure you choose something decent, alright? Because Alena will definitely sneak in if her mom, Angel, and Chal Aunty are all in the theater room." Her voice softened as she gently rocked the now-drowsy child.
Char raised a brow and pointed at Alena, who was already dozing off. "She's been running all over the house and garden all day. See? She might not even make it upstairs before falling asleep."
Liana's mother chuckled quietly and looked down at the sleeping girl, her heart warming at the sight. Alena's tiny fingers were curled around her shoulder, trusting and safe.
Char walked toward the theater room while Liana's mother headed upstairs to Liana's room, where Liana and Ethilia were talking.
She knocked softly and entered after hearing Liana's voice, "Come in!"
A warm smile touched her lips as she saw the two sitting on the bed, watching something on Liana's phone. She stepped closer before speaking gently,
"Maybe Alena's already asleep. I'll take her to her room and stay with her. You guys go, Chal..."
She stopped mid-word and chuckled at her slip of the tongue, making both Liana and Ethilia burst out laughing.
"I mean… Char is waiting for you two," she corrected, shaking her head with a low laugh, not to wake Alena.
Liana climbed down from the bed, brushing her hand over Alena's cheek affectionately. "You're learning her language just by spending too much time with her," she teased.
Ethilia smiled, moving to stand beside Liana.. Liana's mother shrugged lightly, still smiling. "Can't help it. And you know what? Char's turning into a baby herself."
Ethilia chuckled and gently placed a hand on her daughter's head. Liana rolled her eyes playfully and cleared her throat."She was never an adult, Mom... Okay, okay, let's go now."
Liana's mother nodded with a small smile. "I'll get Alena to bed. And don't expect me to be around to serve dinner, alright?"
Liana smirked. "That's why you have a husband, Mom." She winked, earning a playful smack on the hand.
"You're too much, Liana," her mother said with mock sternness. "And don't make your dad serve either." She left the room, shaking her head with a smile.
As soon as the door closed, Liana looked at Ethilia and reached for her hand. "Let's go."
Ethilia glanced down at their intertwined fingers, her lips curving into a faint smile as she followed her. "Honestly, Liana," she said, "you live alone in town and manage everything yourself. But here, you won't even pour water?"
Liana gave her a sideways look with a smirk, "Why would I, when I have house staff and my parents around?"
Ethilia frowned slightly but couldn't hide her smile. "Still… you could help your mom a little."
Liana opened the door to the theater room and walked in, where the dim lights cast a soft, cozy glow. She flopped onto the couch in front of the huge screen, motioning for Ethilia to sit beside her.
"See, Ethilia… I don't help my mom because that's not really my job. That's my dad's area. She's his wife, not mine. I didn't marry her, he did," Liana said, her tone light but carrying a hint of seriousness beneath the joke.
She leaned back lazily,, "Besides, we have plenty of chefs. Mom does what she does because she enjoys it."
Ethilia joined her, sitting a little stiffly as Liana continued, "And I usually don't get too involved in my parents' stuff. We're close, too much, but I don't like interfering."
Ethilia nodded slowly, looking around the cozy room. "Where's Char? Your mom said she's waiting."
Liana stretched, resting her arm along the back of the couch. "Maybe she went to grab more food."
Then a mischievous grin spread on her face as she turned toward Ethilia. She leaned in just a little, her voice low.
"Why? Scared to be alone with me?" Her eyes flicked down to Ethilia's lips before she spoke again. "Or… are you feeling something else?"
Ethilia felt the warmth of Liana's breath brushing against her neck, sending a small shiver down her spine. She turned toward Liana, but seeing those eyes, her throat went dry.
Her cheeks turned pink as she turned her face away, trying to steady her voice.
"Don't tease me…" she muttered, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of her sleeve.
Liana laughed softly, leaning back, clearly enjoying her reaction. Ethilia, flustered but smiling, swatted her lightly on the arm. "I mean it," she said, though her tone was far from angry.
At that exact moment, Char walked in holding a tray of snacks. She paused, raising an eyebrow. "Did I miss something?"