After that, I made my way to the convenience store, bought Lily two packs of her candy, got a couple of snacks for myself, and headed home.
Before I knew it, I was already opening the front door. As usual, I didn't announce my arrival. I just quietly slid off my shoes and walked into the living room.
"Ah! You scared me! How long have you been there?"
Dad, who was sitting at the dinner table with Mom and Lily, was the first to notice me. He greeted me with a wide, welcoming smile.
Maybe in another world, I would've been touched, but he seemed so focused on me that his grip on his chopsticks loosened, causing a piece of fish to fall onto the table. Mom sighed, and Dad flinched, his smile fading as he hurried to clean up his mess.
"Just now," I said. "I'm going to get changed. I'll be back soon."
I turned and began climbing the stairs. From behind me, I heard Mom clear her throat, but I kept moving.
"Hey," Mom said, her soft voice containing a subtle weight to it. "I don't remember saying you were allowed to have snacks in your room."
"K."
That's all I said as I continued up the stairs.
Normally, that wouldn't even count as a response, but Mom understood. This "K" meant I heard her, but I was going to do my own thing anyway.
She didn't say anything else after that.
Once I arrived in my room, I changed into my home clothes—the sleeveless shirt and basketball shorts—and returned to the table.
Whenever we eat dinner, everyone always sits at the same spot. There is one seat at the head of the table, two seats on each side, and one at the back. Mom sits at the head, while Dad and Lily sit at the seats closest to her on the sides—across from each other.
I sit beside Dad, tucked into the far end of the table—almost like a hidden corner. It's always cluttered with cereal boxes and my parents' work papers. It's not exactly ideal, but it's where I always end up.
Dad handed me my bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks. I responded to his gesture with a small nod. Dinner proceeded in the usual silence, with only the occasional clang of the bowls or Dad's subtle chewing filling the space.
I pulled out my phone and mindlessly consumed whatever videos I could find as I ate. When I was younger, my parents hated it whenever my Sister or I used our phones at the dinner table. Now, they don't even grumble.
Despite being the last one to join, I was the first to finish. I put my phone back in my pocket and got up from my seat, my chair scraping against the floorboards.
"What?! Finished already? Did you even chew properly?" Dad exclaimed, bits of food flying out of his mouth.
My eyes narrowed as I instinctively leaned back, distancing myself from his area of contamination.
"I'm not even a quick eater," I said as I carried my bowl to the sink. "My friends eat more quickly than I do. You guys are just slow."
Lily let out an obnoxious, probing sigh. "Andddd there he goes again. He always comes down, eats quickly, and runs back upstairs to hide in his room!"
Dad laughed loudly. "Hah! I know, right?! I barely even see him nowadays!"
Even as they talked about me—loudly—my legs continued to carry me up the stairs without hesitation. I've heard these same jabs for three years now. At this point, it'd be weirder if they didn't say anything.
I entered my room and closed my door, the voices growing silent with the sound of the door hitting its frame.
Finally, some peace and quiet…
I trudged over to my bed and collapsed face-first onto it. I didn't move for a while, enjoying the cool pressure of the mattress against my skin. My eyes drifted shut as my thoughts slowly unravelled.
I guess… I'll go to sleep then.
It was only ten, which was earlier than when I usually fell asleep. But if sleep is calling my name, I wasn't going to fight it today. I sank further into my bed as my consciousness slipped away.
Wait, I need to turn off the lights…
Those were the last thoughts I had before my world faded to black.