"Hey, it's been ten minutes already. Are we done yet?"
Lily, who had been acting perfectly fine up until that point, suddenly started wincing and let out a series of pained groans.
"Ack. I don't know… I think it still hurts. Maybeeee five more minutes?"
I sighed. "You said that three minutes ago—twice! I know you're lying."
Lily frantically shook her head. "Noooooo. It really does hurt."
As if to prove her point, she tried pushing herself off the ground—only to collapse back down pathetically. She slowly lifted her head and stared at me with wide, teary eyes.
"See? I told you I'm not lying," she whimpered. "But… if you're really that against it, I guess I have no choice…"
That line sealed my fate. It was a lose-lose. If I kept going, she'd just get a free massage and waste my time. If I stopped, she'd hold it over my head forever.
I didn't give her a direct answer. I just silently continued rubbing her foot. A victorious smirk flickered across her face before she quickly returned to her vulnerable expression. Somehow, those five minutes passed by in the blink of an eye.
Almost on cue, she suddenly snapped her foot back and stretched dramatically. "Ahhhh. That feels much better. Thanks, my useful Older Brother!"
"You're not going to do that thing where you keep stalling for time?" I asked, my voice dull, hiding my surprise.
Lily blinked blankly. "What? Did you actually like our bonding time? Well, if you insistttt–"
My hand shot forward and gripped the part of her foot that had begun to bruise. She let out a loud yelp of anguish, then glared at me.
"Don't be stupid," I said flatly, ignoring her rage. "I just thought you'd stretch it out as long as I didn't bring it up."
Lily's face instantly returned to normal as she shrugged. "Well, don't get me wrong—I'd love to do just that. But I'm bored, and I don't want to take too much of your time."
"I actually believed you… until that last part."
She sighed, theatrically raising her hands while hanging her head. "Okay, you got me. I'm actually just bored—and hungry. I also promised Yuka that I'd call her later in a couple of minutes."
"Now that makes more sense."
Lily scrambled up. She staggered just for a moment before regaining her footing, then ran to the door and swung it open. "Well, thank you for listening to my rant! Toodles~"
She left my room and slammed the door shut behind her. Her departure took the warmth with it, leaving me with nothing but a hollow chill.
The silence that she had disrupted returned. It should have felt peaceful—but it didn't carry the same comfort as before.
My room wasn't big by any means, but just this once—it felt too large.
Left alone again, I didn't know what to do. Getting back into bed crossed my mind, but my earlier fatigue had vanished. I definitely wasn't going to study, so I didn't even consider that.
I guess… a breath of fresh air doesn't sound so bad.
It was kind of hypocritical. Earlier, I'd just told Yu about how I hated walking alone because it was boring—which I still do.
But when the alternative is staring at the ceiling mind-numbingly, a walk doesn't sound so bad.
I pushed myself off the ground and opened my closet, quickly scanning through the curtains of sweaters, pants, and shirts. Just because I was going on a solitary walk didn't mean I couldn't look good while doing it.
Since it was a spring evening, with the sun just beginning to set, the air should be warm with a gentle breeze. I grabbed a pair of black baggy jeans along with a large short-sleeve shirt—the sleeves hanging to my elbows—that Lily had spray-painted herself.
It's one of the fits that I don't like wearing that much, but it would be fine for a simple walk. I grabbed my phone, wallet, and earphones, then left my room.
I took a glance behind me, staring at the closed door that led to Lily's room, then shouted, "Lily, I'm going to the convenience store. Do you want anything?"
"Get me some candy!"
"K."
I turned back and leisurely made my way towards the stairs and descended them. When I reached the bottom, I saw Dad standing in the middle of the living room, doing his usual after-work stretches.
The floorboards creaked as I stepped onto them, catching Dad's attention. He stopped what he was doing and greeted me with his obnoxious, childish grin. "Oh! Hello, Son. I didn't see you there. Where are you going?"
To anyone else, it would have sounded like he was yelling. To me, this was just how he normally talked.
"Welcome home, Dad," I said, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor. "I'm going on a walk and will probably visit the convenience store while I'm at it. Do you want anything?"
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No, it's okay. If I need something, I can get it myself. You should use your money for yourself… and your Sister."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I'll be home by dinner probably, so you don't have to worry."
It wasn't supposed to be funny, but he laughed with such vigour that it shook the walls. "Hahaha! I don't worry about you. I know you will be fine. Unlike your Mom."
He gave Mom a teasing glance. She was in the middle of cooking dinner, but the second he did—as if she felt it—she swung around instantly.
Her angelic smile was pitch-perfect—but I could feel the pressure rising in the room. Dad forced an anxious swallow as a bead of sweat ran down his face.
"What was that, honey?" Mom asked sweetly. "I'm sorry, I was so focused on cooking our dinner that I couldn't hear you. Would you mind repeating it for me again?"
Her voice was graceful, soothing—and laced with a sheer, unmistakable threat.
Well, good luck, Old Man. This is all on you.
I spared him a look of condolences before I turned on my heel and dashed to the front door. From his eyes alone, I could tell he was silently pleading for me to stay. But this was not my fight.
Sorry!
As I slipped on my shoes, I heard Dad scrambling to apologize while Mom responded with short, sharp "Mhms."
A pang of guilt nipped deep inside my chest just as I was about to leave the house. Maybe… I can throw him a bone just this once…
Before I left the house, I took a quick breath and called out, "Goodbye, Mom. I'll be home soon."
She immediately stopped addressing Dad and replied, "Bye, Son! Be safe!"
The tone of her voice lightened. She sounded… pleased, but I couldn't be sure. Hopefully, that gave Dad enough of a fighting chance—but I did everything I could, so there's no point in thinking about this anymore.
I twisted the door open and stepped out of the house. The evening spring breeze washed over me immediately.
Wow! I already regret this!
But it was too late to turn back. I had already told my parents I was leaving, so I have to now. I sighed as I took my first steps into the twilight.