Luca and I had officially given up on understanding the movie. At first, we really tried. For about... Seven minutes. Really that was a long terrible seven minutes.
After that? Not a chance. Apparently the main character had died. Then somehow he came back. Then there was a car chase. Then somebody exploded. Then the supposedly dead guy was suddenly driving the car.
I didn't know anymore.
Luca sat cross-legged on my bed, staring at the television with the most serious expression I'd ever seen. "...Ayana."
"Hm?"
"I think they're confusing themselves."
I looked at the screen. "...I think so too."
"So..." He pointed at the television. "Who's that?"
"I don't know. He was dead."
"I know."
"So why is he alive?"
"...Maybe friendship."
Luca nodded thoughtfully. "Friendship is powerful."
I nodded back. "It really is."
We both continued watching like we understood absolutely everything. We understood absolutely nothing.
About two hours later... My bedroom door opened. Jake walked inside. Correction. He dragged himself inside. He looked like someone who had just survived a five-hour lecture on patience.
His shoulders slumped. His hair was slightly messy. He held my phone between two fingers like it had personally betrayed him.
Without saying anything, he walked over to my bed.
Then Plop.
He dropped my phone beside me before dramatically falling backward onto my beanbag.
He let out the biggest sigh known to mankind.
"...The mission..." Another sigh. "...is complete."
Luca immediately muted the television.
He turned toward Jake with genuine concern. "So... How was it?"
Jake slowly looked up at the ceiling. "The monster has finally been satisfied."
I slowly picked up my phone. "...Jake."
"Hm?"
"I'm telling Nena you called her a monster."
His head snapped toward me so fast I genuinely worried for his neck. "...Ayana."
"Yes?"
"You love your brother..."
"I do."
"...Don't."
"I absolutely will."
"I apologized."
"I know."
"I begged."
"I know."
"I admitted I was wrong."
"I know."
"I almost cried."
"I know."
He stared at me. "...You're enjoying this."
"A little."
Luca raised his hand. "I enjoyed it too."
Jake pointed at both of us dramatically.
"I live with villains."
"No."
I smiled. "You live with consequences."
Before Jake could continue defending his very questionable life choices...
The bedroom door slowly opened again.
Dad walked in. Hands behind his back. Looking around my room like he was inspecting a museum.
He nodded once. "...Very nice."
Then he smiled. "My daughter's room."
Jake frowned. "...Yes."
Dad nodded again. "So..."
He casually climbed onto my bed. Not sat. Climbed.
He pushed one pillow behind his back.
Pulled another under his arm.
Stretched his legs comfortably. Then sighed happily.
"...Exactly where I belong."
I blinked twice. "Dad."
"Hm?"
"You have your own bedroom."
"I do."
"So... What are you doing here?"
He looked genuinely confused.
"This..." He tapped my blanket proudly. "...is my daughter's room."
"...Yes."
"I like my daughter."
"...Okay?"
"So I'm visiting."
I stared at him for a solid five seconds.
"...That..." I looked at Luca. "...Somehow makes sense."
Luca nodded. "I wasn't expecting it to."
"But it does."
Jake sighed. "I stopped questioning him years ago."
I narrowed my eyes. "Dad."
"Hm?"
"What did you do?"
He blinked innocently. "...Nothing."
I pointed immediately. "There."
Jake nodded. "That's the face."
"What face?"
"The guilty face."
"I don't have a guilty face."
"You absolutely do."
Before Dad could continue pretending he was the most innocent man alive...
The bedroom door opened again.
Mom walked in.
She held a glass bowl in both hands.
Inside was fresh vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate syrup.
The smell alone made my stomach growl.
She smiled warmly. "I made more dessert."
Dad froze.
Actually froze. Mom looked at him. He looked at her. Nobody spoke.
Then Mom smiled a little wider.
"So." She tilted her head. "Did you enjoy the cake?"
Dad coughed. "...Very much."
"I know."
"It was delicious."
"I know."
He slowly smiled. "It really was."
Mom placed the bowl on my study table before folding her arms. "I made this one because someone finished the last dessert."
Dad looked at the ceiling. "...Tragic."
"It is."
"I wonder who did it."
"I know exactly who did it."
Dad immediately looked at me. "Ayana."
"Hm?"
"It's your mother's fault."
I blinked. "...What?"
He sat up straighter. "She makes desserts that are illegally delicious."
I nodded slowly. "...Honestly..."
Mom looked at me. "You too?"
I walked over beside Dad and folded my arms exactly like him. "You can't expect normal people to ignore desserts that smell like heaven."
Dad slapped his knee. "EXACTLY!"
He pointed at Mom triumphantly. "See? My daughter understands me."
He looked back at Mom. "I didn't sneak into the kitchen..."
He paused. "...For nothing."
Mom raised one eyebrow. "You just admitted you sneaked."
Dad blinked. "I meant. Walked."
"You tiptoed."
"I walked quietly."
"You opened the fridge like you were stealing national treasure."
Jake laughed so hard he bent over.
Dad ignored him.
"The point is..." He pointed dramatically toward the ice cream. "It's your fault."
Mom couldn't help smiling. "Oh really?"
"Yes."
"If you cooked badly..." He shrugged. "I wouldn't have eaten anything."
I nodded. "Very logical."
"Thank you."
Mom looked at me. "I raised you."
"I learned from the best."
She laughed. "You two are impossible."
Then she looked toward Luca. "You know how I knew it wasn't you?"
Luca blinked. "...How?"
She smiled softly. "Chocolate cake is your favorite."
He nodded proudly. "It is."
"But... You were asleep at that time taking you afternoon nap. So I knew..." She turned slowly toward Dad. "...Someone else ate it."
Dad sighed dramatically. "I've been investigated."
"I've been married to you long enough."
Luca suddenly placed one hand over his chest. "I would never steal Mom's dessert."
Dad smiled proudly. "See? My son."
Luca continued innocently, "...I'd just ask her to make another one."
Silence.
Dad slowly turned. "...What did you say?"
Luca smiled. "I'd ask nicely."
Jake burst into another fit of laughter.
I was already laughing too hard to breathe.
Dad slowly stood up. "Luca."
"Yes?"
"...Come here."
Luca immediately shook his head. "No."
"I just want to talk."
"No."
"I promise."
"No."
"You don't trust me?"
"You started the sentence with 'come here.'"
Dad took one step.
Luca screamed dramatically. "HE'S LYING!"
Then He jumped off the bed. Barefoot.
Nearly slipped on my rug. Caught himself.
Then bolted out of my room laughing.
Dad chased after him immediately. "COME BACK HERE!"
"I'M TOO CUTE TO DIE!"
"I'M NOT GOING TO KILL YOU!"
"THAT'S WHAT EVERY DAD SAYS!"
The hallway echoed with laughter.
I leaned against the doorway watching them.
Dad almost caught him near the stairs.
Luca ducked behind Jake. "Dad! Save me!"
Jake immediately stepped aside. "No."
"Jake!"
"I'm not getting involved."
"Traitor!"
Luca darted toward Mom instead.
Without thinking He wrapped both arms around her waist and hid behind her. "Mom! Protect me!"
Mom laughed so hard she almost dropped the bowl.
Dad stopped in front of them. "Oh? So you're using your mother as a shield?"
Luca nodded confidently. "Yes."
"Smart."
Jake walked over too.
Then, without saying anything... He hugged Mom from the other side. "I'm protecting her too."
Mom blinked. "...From who?"
Jake pointed at Dad. "The dessert thief."
Dad gasped dramatically. "I made one mistake!"
"You made several spoonfuls of mistakes."
Luca looked up at Mom with the saddest puppy eyes imaginable. "We're comforting you."
Mom smiled and gently rubbed both boys' heads. "My poor children."
Dad pointed at himself. "What about me?"
I walked over and stood beside him. "I'll comfort you."
His face brightened. "Really?"
I nodded. "It's definitely Mom's fault."
Dad grinned. "See!"
I continued, "...For making desserts too good."
He nodded proudly. "Exactly!"
Then I added, "...But it's still your fault because you ate all of it."
His smile slowly disappeared. "...I was tricked."
Mom laughed. "You tricked yourself."
Eventually everyone wandered back into my room.
Dad flopped dramatically onto the bed again.
Mom looked at him. "So... You're still sleeping on the couch tonight."
Dad froze. "...What?"
"The couch."
I couldn't stop laughing.
Dad immediately pointed toward Jake. "I'll sleep with Jake."
Jake didn't even look up. "No."
"...Why?"
"I like sleeping."
Dad turned hopefully toward Luca. "My little Luca?"
Luca looked genuinely guilty. "I would..."
Dad smiled. "...But..."
"Mr. Fluffington already sleeps beside me."
Dad blinked. "...Your plushie?"
"He gets nervous around strangers."
Jake nodded seriously. "Very territorial."
Dad stared. "I've been rejected by a stuffed animal."
I patted his shoulder. "You can sleep here."
His eyes lit up. "Really?"
"No." I smiled sweetly. "I just wanted to see you happy for two seconds."
Jake laughed so hard he nearly fell off the beanbag.
Dad pointed at me. "You're cruel."
I shrugged. "You committed dessert crimes."
"There are consequences."
Dad sighed dramatically and lay flat across my bed. "I live in a house full of bullies."
Luca climbed onto the bed beside him and patted his arm. "...Don't worry."
Dad looked over hopefully. "Really?"
"I'll visit you on the couch."
Dad smiled. "...Thank you.
"To borrow the TV remote."
The room exploded into laughter again.
The movie was still playing.
None of us had the slightest idea what it was about anymore.
And honestly... I don't think any of us cared.
Because somehow...
The noisy arguments, Dad blaming Mom's cooking, Luca hiding behind her like a five-year-old, Jake pretending he wasn't part of the chaos...
It all felt perfect.
It felt like us.