I slept surprisingly well.
Well... Mostly.
There were a few moments where I'd wake up, stare at the ceiling, think about Ethan being in another country, sigh dramatically into my pillow, then convince myself to go back to sleep.
It was... intoxicating. Missing someone is weird. You don't even have to do anything.
Your brain just decides, "Hey. Remember that person? Let's think about them for the next twenty minutes."
How thoughtful. Thankfully, I put on some soft music before sleeping. Nothing too loud.
Just gentle melodies drifting through my room until my thoughts slowly became quieter than the music.
It helped. A lot.
Now... It was morning. Golden sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting warm streaks across my bedroom floor. I stretched beneath the blanket before sitting up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"...Morning."
I don't know why I greeted my room. It wasn't going to answer.
Although... At this point, I wouldn't even be surprised if it did. I climbed out of bed, grabbed my towel, and headed toward the bathroom.
The warm water helped wake me up completely. After my shower, I brushed my teeth while staring blankly into the mirror.
Fixed my messy blonde hair.
Adjusted the glasses that had somehow become part of my face.
Honestly... Without them I could see.
Just... Not very well.
I changed into something comfortable for the day. Nothing fancy. Just a light oversized sweater tucked into blue jeans Simple. Comfortable. Very me.
And before anyone starts assuming things... Yes.
I might look sixteen. I know.
I've heard it enough times.
But for the record... I'm nineteen. Nineteen.
A legal adult. Who still gets asked if she's old enough to watch certain movies.
Life is unfair.
And before you ask... No. I still wasn't in university.
Yet. I was waiting for my admission letter like every other student who had recently graduated.
The waiting part was honestly worse than the exams.
At least during exams, I knew what I was supposed to do.
Now? I just... Waited. And tried not to overthink every possible outcome.
Spoiler.
I failed. I overthought all of them. After making sure everything looked decent enough, I left my room and stepped into the hallway.
The mansion was already awake. Housemaids walked past carrying fresh towels. A gardener outside could be seen trimming the hedges through the enormous windows.
One of the servants smiled politely. "Good morning, Miss Ayana." "Morning."
Another maid bowed her head slightly. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did .Mostly."
She smiled knowingly. "I hope today is peaceful."
"...Me too."
I made my way downstairs. I already knew exactly where I was going.
My destination? Breakfast. Always breakfast. Food solved at least seventy percent of my problems. The remaining thirty percent usually involved people.
As soon as I entered the dining room, the familiar smell of pancakes, eggs, and freshly brewed tea wrapped around me like a blanket.
"...Good morning, Mom."
Mrs. May stood in the kitchen wearing a light apron over her clothes.
She turned and smiled immediately. "Morning, darling."
She was already busy. One hand stirred something in a pan while the other carefully packed two lunch boxes.
I leaned over the kitchen island. "...Who's getting spoiled today?"
She smiled. "Your father and Jake."
I looked at the lunch boxes.
Neatly packed. Balanced meals. Fruit. Rice. Vegetables. Everything.
I sighed dramatically. "Wow."
"Dad didn't even finished university... But He had already had a company."
She laughed. "And Jake?"
"He hasn't entered university either. He already has a job."
I folded my arms. "...How rude."
Mom laughed even harder. "I know."
Meanwhile... My favourite sibling Yes.
Favourite. Don't tell Jake Was already sitting at the table happily eating his breakfast.
Luca looked up the moment he saw me. "Morning."
"Morning, Baby."
He immediately frowned. "I'm not a baby."
"You absolutely are."
"I am seventeen."
"You say that every day."
"Because you keep forgetting."
"I don't."
"I just enjoy reminding you."
He huffed before taking another bite of his pancakes.
Mom walked over carrying... Another helmet.
She placed it gently in front of Luca.
He blinked. "...Mom."
"Hm?"
"...Why do I need two helmets?"
She smiled warmly. "In case the first one breaks."
Luca slowly lowered his fork. "...Mom."
"Yes?"
"I'm learning how to drive. Not ride a bicycle."
Mom gasped softly. "Driving is even more dangerous."
She walked over and fixed the collar of his shirt. "You have to be careful. No speeding. No showing off. No looking at your phone. No eating while driving."
"No—"
Luca smiled patiently. "I know. I'll be careful. You don't have to worry."
She looked at him for another few seconds before gently patting his cheek. "I'll always worry."
I smiled. "Honestly, Mom... If there's one person I'd trust teaching him... It's Mark. He's probably the most careful person I know."
Mom nodded in agreement. "That's true."
She looked at me. "He's definitely the most responsible among all of you."
I pretended to be offended. "...Wow. That hurt. I'm responsible too."
Mom smiled.
"You once put instant noodles in the microwave without water."
"...That happened once."
"It almost caught fire."
"I said I was sorry."
Before I could continue defending my very questionable cooking history—
The front door opened.
A familiar voice echoed through the mansion. "Hello, people!"
Mark walked inside casually, lazily spinning his car keys around one finger.
His soft black curls rested neatly over his forehead, and as always, his glasses sat perfectly in place.
He looked far too awake for this hour.
He stopped near the kitchen island. "Ooh... Pancakes."
He didn't even ask.
He simply reached over... Took one straight off my plate... And ate it.
I watched him chew. "...Mark."
"Hm?"
"...You stole my pancake."
"I did. It tasted good."
"...That's all?"
He nodded. "Mhm."
I sighed. "...Fine."
If that had been Luca...
Oh... He would've received a five-page lecture.
Minimum. Probably with diagrams.
Maybe a PowerPoint presentation.
The title would've been:
'Why Stealing Food Is A Crime Against Humanity.'
Instead... I just watched Mark steal my breakfast.
Because... Well... He's Mark.
Luca looked between us. "...You're not angry?"
I shrugged. "Nah."
"...You're lucky."
"I know."
Mark grinned before walking over to Luca and gently ruffling his already soft curls. "So. Ready to learn how to drive?"
Luca's eyes practically sparkled. "YES. I'm more than ready. I'm extremely ready. I've been ready since yesterday."
Mark laughed. "I can tell."
Just then Footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Dad and Jake walked downstairs together.
Both already dressed professionally.
Dad adjusted his watch while Jake fixed the sleeves of his shirt.
Honestly... Seeing Jake dressed like an actual businessman still felt strange.
He looked... Responsible. It was unsettling.
Mom immediately walked over with the lunch boxes. "Here."
She handed one to Dad.
Another to Jake.
Then... Like every mother ever... She started fixing them.
Straightening Jake's collar. Smoothing Dad's tie.
Brushing invisible dust off their shoulders.
"Drive carefully. Don't skip lunch. Don't argue too much. Call me if you're staying late."
Dad nodded obediently. "Yes, dear."
Jake nodded too. "Got it."
Then Jake turned toward Mark. "How do I look?"
Mark looked him up and down.
For a long moment.
Then nodded once. "...Good."
Jake waited. "...That's it?"
Mark nodded again. "...Yes.
Jake blinked. "...Was that a compliment?"
"It was."
"It sounded like an insult."
"I wasn't insulting you."
"...You sounded disappointed."
"I wasn't."
"...You have the emotional range of a textbook."
Mark adjusted his glasses. "...Thank you?"
Jake sighed. "I don't even know if I won that conversation."
Dad laughed. "Come on, son. We're getting late."
Jake grabbed his lunch.
"Right." He looked back at us. "See you later."
Then the two of them left together.
The front door closed.
For a moment... The mansion became quiet again.
Mark clapped his hands once.
"Alright." He looked at Luca with a smile. "Little boy."
Luca frowned immediately. "I'm not little."
"You are today."
"Unfair."
Mark laughed. "Come on. Let's go."
I stood up, grabbing the last piece of pancake from my plate. "I'm coming too."
Mark nodded without hesitation.
"The more witnesses..." He looked at Luca. "...The better."
Luca blinked. "...Why do you need witnesses?"
Mark smiled innocently. "So everyone knows .I tried my best."
I laughed. Something told me... Today was going to be very entertaining.