I threw myself onto a soft and fluffy black couch as I cursed at someone.
Someone who always created headaches that wouldn't go away for days, sometimes even weeks.
"That BASTARD! Who does he think he is?" I cursed. "Always creating messes for us."
"Why don't you teach him a lesson?"
My gaze followed the sound...
And landed on her.
Clera.
Dressed in maroon, she patiently peeled apples while sitting at the table.
Her tone was simple and casual, yet...
It carried hints of an unknown danger that was coming for us.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I ran my hand over the soft fur of the couch.
"If I did... and he found out I was responsible, wouldn't he fuck me up and toss me into a dustbin?"
Sooner or later, he would find out.
"True. But if we don't do anything, he'll create an even bigger mess for us in the future," she said, her gaze slowly meeting mine.
Her purple-
Almost black-
eyes locked onto mine for a split second.
I let out a quiet sigh.
I knew she was right...
But still...
"Kevin, catch!" she said and tossed something towards me.
A freshly peeled apple.
Nice and round.
"When would they return?" she asked as she took a bite of the apple.
Damn! They look so nice and juicy...
I mean the apple.
"No idea, but they should've returned by now," I responded and took a bite of the apple.
Juicy, fresh, and sweet.
Delicious.
It tastes better than the last apple I ate.
"What about Xey's painting? Did he make any new ones?" she asked.
The moment she said that, our surroundings changed.
It went dead silent.
As if...
Our surroundings themselves wanted to know the answer.
Odd.
"...Not yet." I responded.
"He must be having a nice sleep then," she commented.
Most probably.
"At least we can rest and relax till then," I said.
If he started having those dreams once again, then we had to fix it up and make sure no one could get their hands on them.
I let out a quiet sigh, puffed my cheeks, and wiggled my head from side to side.
Xeyyyy... You too are creating headaches for us.
Everyone's creating messes for us.
Soooo... annoyingggg...
I took another bite of the apple to escape my thoughts.
And I took a big bite...
So big that most of the apple was already gone.
"His paintings are getting more detailed by the day," she said.
I hummed in response because I wasn't in any condition to speak.
I had stuffed my mouth way too much.
So, I slowly chewed and swallowed it down.
Bit by bit.
Finally-
After a few minutes, I swallowed the last piece.
Afterwards...
I simply stared at the main door of the house for a few minutes.
Because right now, I had nothing to do.
"Where are you two idiots?" I muttered under my breath.
Why were they taking so much time just to buy some playthings and food?
I wanted to be patient, yet...
The excitement was slowly making me wild.
I was too excited for the evening's battle with the neighbours.
The battle between...
Two countries.
Me-Kevin, Xeyer, Clera, and that Chinese cat-Li... Xifeng.
It's gonna be so fun.
I can't wait for evening.
"Clera! Are you ex... cited... for the evening?" I struggled to form a sentence.
"Pfft-!"
"HAHAHAHAHA-!" I laughed out loud.
The moment I turned towards her, I saw the most unbelievable thing.
Clera had stuffed her mouth with an apple.
She hadn't taken a bite. She had just shoved the apple inside her mouth, and now-
She was struggling to chew it down.
Her cheeks went round like a hamster's.
She looked just like a hamster eating peanuts with its mouth filled with them.
How adorable and unbelievable.
I had never seen her like that before.
In my entire life...
Nah! Many years ago, I had seen her like that once.
Just once.
"HAHAHAHAHA-!" I laughed, pointing towards her.
The second she heard me laughing my lungs out, her cute, round cheeks went bright red.
She tried to cover her mouth with her arms. Yet-
It didn't fully cover it.
Quickly, I stood up and dashed towards her.
I couldn't miss it.
No matter what.
"Clera! Clera, show me your face. Show me! HAHAHA-!"
She quickly turned her face in the opposite direction, avoiding eye contact.
She didn't want to show me her face, but—
How was I supposed to miss it?
I hugged my stomach with my arms.
I was laughing so hard that my stomach started to hurt.
Tears streamed down my eyes.
I couldn't even tell how long I had been laughing.
For a few minutes, I guess.
"Kevin... Oh, my dear friend, Kevin!"
I stopped laughing the moment I heard her.
The lively atmosphere was now gone...
Now-
The danger for me arose.
Shit!
My eyes widened in terror. I didn't dare to look up.
"Kevin. Look up!" she warned.
Instantly, my body shivered.
Cold sweat slowly slid down my spine.
I couldn't look up.
If I did, swear to God, I wouldn't be well.
"Kevin! Look! Up!"
Every inch of my body could sense the danger. I wanted to run, but my legs didn't listen to me.
"Clera... I'm sorry," I apologized.
God, save me, please.
"Look at me, Kevin."
She said it softly, as if she wouldn't do anything to me.
Her final warning.
Dammit!
I shouldn't have lost control.
Why did I trigger her?
You are the biggest idiot, Kevin.
Now apologize to her, or else—
She would eat you alive.
"Clera, I'm sorry..." I repeated. "I... lost it."
A sensation seized my body.
She... She grabbed a handful of my hair and forced me to look up...
Towards her.
Anger was clearly visible in her eyes.
What was I supposed to do now?
I tried to force a smile but failed.
"Clera..."
She gripped my hair tighter than before.
Help me.
Someone.
She held a pan in her other hand.
Ready to use it...
On me.
Noooo!
A sly grin stretched across her face.
Big.
Dangerous.
Evil.
"My coffin must be beautiful," I muttered.
"Of course, my dear friend." Her final judgment.
I shut my eyes tightly as she lifted the pan into the air.
And-
BANG-!
"AH!"
The pan hit me right on the head.
It hurt so badly.
My vision blurred.
My head spun from the hit.
At least it was lighter than the other one I had gotten years ago.
She had mercy on me this time.
"You should thank me," she said and headed towards the kitchen to put the pan back in its place.
I ran my hand across my hair, making sure I wasn't bleeding.
I was safe and alive.
"It hurt..."
HONK!
HONK!
Before she could say another word, we heard the honking.
"They're back!"
A grin appeared on my face.
I dashed towards the main door, ignoring the pain in my head.