"Ohhh… my… Sky, you really have grown up and had taken good care of her. I am really impressed by you." Sky's mother beamed with satisfaction, her eyes sweeping over her children, happy to see them healthy, safe, and sound.
"Thanks, Mom," Sky replied calmly, a neutral expression on his face.
"Hmm… you know, I insisted your father bring you both here, but unfortunately, he had to work a little off-duty."
"DON'T worry, Mom. It's okay, we understand!" Sillia chirped, her face alight with happiness as she moved to embrace her mother. Sky watched their joyful reunion, a quiet observer to the scene.
His father wasn't there yet, expected later. The house, a cozy wooden structure, held four rooms: one for guests, one for his grandparents, one for his parents, and finally, the room where both Sillia and Sky would reside. A kitchen and two bathrooms completed the space.
Many things have changed over time. My parents seem happier than usual. This house has changed a bit; many more houses in the neighborhood have emerged. Their house was in an alley of the streets.
Huh… anyway, I'm really feeling tired. Sky's thoughts drifted as time slipped away. He was sitting in the room his mother had given them. Sillia was currently in the shower.
I really need sleep. He lay on the floor, contemplating his surroundings. An idea, a spark of curiosity, ignited in his mind. He wanted to explore, to see how much this familiar place had truly transformed.
I guess I should explore the forest nearby, maybe I can find a variety of mushrooms in the mountains. A faint smile touched his lips. He rose from the floor, ready to leave. Just as he reached the door, Sillia entered, a towel wrapped around her wet hair. She had changed into something comfortable, though far less revealing than her usual attire at his apartment—her parents were quite strict here.
"Oh… are you done showering?" Sky asked, noting her long pants and full shirt.
"Hmm…" Sillia hummed, moving towards her suitcase to find her hair dryer.
"You've washed your clothes, right?" Sky asked directly, knowing her habit of leaving her laundry for him.
"Yeah…" She glanced at him, her eyes seeming to say, I am smart.
"Good," Sky said, moving towards the door. But Sillia's voice stopped him.
"Are you going outside?"
"Hmm." Sky nodded, stepping out before she could reply, anticipating her request to join him.
Outside, the air was cool, the setting sun casting long shadows as a majestic mountain view emerged in the deepening twilight.
I guess it's already quite dark, so I'll go for mushrooms tomorrow. Tonight, let's just explore every way. Sky continued his walk, time slipping by unnoticed.
My father might have returned from work as well, but I don't want to meet anyone. I like to live alone. I've already dealt with enough people today. He recalled helping an old man and that lady in trouble earlier.
Even as his mind wandered, his senses were sharply attuned, observing every minute detail, from the delicate flowers to the rugged texture of the earth.
After hours of walking, he decided to return home, eat dinner with his family, and finally sleep. While he had met his family, he felt no profound delight. He had smiled for them, maintained a neutral facade. He was neither happy nor sad, unlike his sister, who was utterly ecstatic to be reunited with her family. Tomorrow, she even planned to meet her old friends from when she lived here.
Back in their room, Sky lay on a mattress on the floor. It wasn't bad; he was tired enough that comfort was secondary. As he drifted, Sillia, still engrossed in her phone, used it non-stop for hours. Suddenly, she appeared before him.
"Brother… my legs are hurting." Her voice was a soft complaint. Sky opened his eyes, weariness etched on his face.
"Just sleep, you'll be fine," Sky said nonchalantly, closing his eyes. He knew what she was hinting at.
"No… massage my legs a bit, it's hurting too much…" Sillia's voice carried an undeniable command, an order. Sky opened his eyes again, fixing her with a deadpan stare.
"DON'T disturb me," Sky said coldly, closing his eyes once more. But in the next second, they fluttered open as Sillia roughly snatched the blanket he was using.
"I told you to massage! I'm tired. Plus, I washed my clothes by myself today because of you, so help me relax!" Sillia grinned, clutching his blanket behind her back. Sky knew he had spoiled her too much. If he refused further, chaos would ensue. He decided to try one more tactic.
"Ahh… girl, stop playing around. I'm tired myself, you know. You took a nap on the train, but I haven't. Plus, I carried the suitcase all along, and that's not all—I've roamed around the neighborhood. I'm exhausted and just want to sleep. So please, don't disturb me." Sky explained, reaching for his blanket, but Sillia immediately hid it further.
"I don't care." She sat on the mattress, then casually placed her legs on top of his chest. "You can sleep after massaging me," Sillia said, her expression neutral, unwavering.
"Massage them. I'm really tired," Sillia pressed.
"Seriously, you have no empathy left for your brother?" Sky asked, a hint of genuine distress in his voice.
"Yes, of course, I have! That's why I'm not asking you for a full body massage that would take hours. It's just my legs, which will only take a few minutes. And furthermore, I wanted to ask you to massage me when I came out of the shower, but you were leaving for something, so I didn't disturb you. Am I not kind enough?" Sillia explained, her expression thoughtful, as if she were the picture of benevolence.
Sky looked at her with dead eyes. He didn't want to massage her, not just because he was tired, but because he wanted to gradually wean her off her dependence on him. Yet, he knew a sudden withdrawal would only lead to more chaos. He decided on a compromise.
"Oh, okay… listen to me, how about this…" Sky said, placing his palms on her legs, which rested on his chest, and began to lightly massage them.
"I will massage you tomorrow. Tonight, I will sleep. I'm pretty sure you'll be tired tomorrow as well, as you're going to your friends' house, the ones who used to live here, right…?" Sky offered. Sillia pondered this for a moment.
"Hmm, that's true, but it doesn't matter. I can get a massage tomorrow as well, so no problem. But it feels amazing… your hands really have magic in it."