***
Opening the door to our house after staying out with my friends was always draining. The reason behind that... was right about to appear as I gave a step inside.
"Layna~! Is that you, honey dear~~?!"
"Hah… Yeees, I'm back mom!"
The sound of mom's joyous steps would immediately rush to welcome me and the first thing after she popped her head behind the kitchen's wall would be:
"Did you get a lot of free drinks last night? How was this new pub you went to?"
"Well, it's not actually new… It's one I go to often."
"So you've been there before! Come here! Have breakfast with Daddy and me and tell me eeeeeverything about it! You always come back with good stories to hear, fufu~ My looove~ quickly! Make space for our sweet girl~!"
"Yes, darling~!"
Hoping merrily, Mom dragged me to the kitchen so I could tell her "everything". It's not that I want to keep it for myself but... given the circumstances, I feel like I'm always at a loss.
"Mm~ my looove~ Don't be silly and serve our Layna some coffee~"
"Hmm~ Yes, but seat next to me~ I don't want you away from me."
"My~ stop it~"
"Dun wanna~"
… After all, having parents who love each other a little too much is a pain sometimes for someone like me.
"Can't you just leave that for later— Hey! You guys have a room upstairs, you know!? I'm your daughter not your friend!!!"
"Oh~ Layna, you will understand once you find your other half~" Mom said, sitting on Dad's lap while he kissed her nape. Smiling so widely and indifferent to my disgusted expression.
"That won't ever—"
"Don't say it won't happen!" To the usual reply I would give, she yelled upset as expected.
Sigh… Why do I keep saying it when I know she becomes like this!?
"The love is in the air, honey dear! You will find the one! It will be a wonderful, passionate love! Just like ours!... Trust your mother."
"And Father," Dad added.
"Yes, trust your mother and father. If there isn't love what is life for~? Isn't that right, my love~?"
"Yes, darling~"
"Yes, yes, I got it..." I answered tired of it. Taking a glance at them even if it made me uncomfortable. Mom and dad… They are truly mad for each other… I guess I can understand it, thinking that both fell in love as hippies.
But even so…
"Mwah, mwah! Oh, stop~ Layna will get mad~"
I'm truly going mad every time they can't restrain their "love" in front of us.
"You know what? I'll go leave my stuff upstairs… Do get it together in the meantime, pair of horny hippies."
"Layna! Don't call us horny!"
"Oh, let her be… You know we're at fault, darling."
"Sigh… I know… It's just, it pains me to see her being so cold to the thought of love."
I heard them whisper as I went upstairs. Although it's annoying to see them act like this, I'm actually glad they keep feeling so much for each other after so many years. It's uncomfortable, yes, but at least I know my parents won't get divorced any time soon.
Even those little whispers they always think I don't hear… They make me happy, somehow. After all, I can tell they try to be supportive of a daughter who is too different to them in nature.
... But I still think it won't happen to me. Love seems bothersome the more I think about it.
Being aromantic and all… Makes it quite difficult for it to happen as well. I'm not sure if I'm actually that but it feels like a good excuse to blame it on for now.
"Oh, did you just get home?"
"Yeah… Don't go downstairs yet."
"Ugh. Are they at it?"
"Full on. Mom's on dad's lap, that means…"
"Endless pecks."
"Yup. I'm your saviour today."
"Right… d*mn… I wanted to eat breakfast. I'm starving." My little brother was as done as I was with mom and dad's affection. At times I feel it's our exhaustion at our parents' lovey-doveyness that has made us so close as siblings. "Heh. So?" he asked, following me to my room since he had nothing better to do.
"So, what?"
"How many invited you to drinks last night? D*mn~ I wish I could do that but it's dangerous since I'm actually a guy and don't swing that way at all."
"Oh, shut up John. It's 'cause you're a lightweight, not because you're straight. Besides... you're not gay men's type at all."
"What are you talking about?! Look at me! I'm every gay man's dream, hmph!"
"Pff… Yeah, sure. Remember that one time I took you with me? Do I need to remind you how—"
"Aaaaah~ blah, blah, blah, I'm not listening."
"I had to pay for your drinks since no one was—! Hey! You still owe me those three shots!!"
"I have things to do! See ya!"
"Tsk! This idiot… You owe me ten shots now!!"
Turning his back on me, John escaped to his room not wanting to listen to his disgrace again. It annoyed me, but... I'm already aware that he'll never pay those back.
That's fine. I'll remind him later and hold the fact against him, hehe.
I went into my bedroom, leaving my bag on my bed as I also fell flat on it, so tired after an unusually long night that didn't feel over yet.
"I can't believe I kept this up for so long..." amused at my secret routine at Glass of Prism… I surely need to thank that conversation I had back in my last year of college for all of this unexpected development.
I gotta say that I thought I would get caught right away but… Until now no one has ever noticed that I'm actually a woman. With a sense of resigned defeat, I thought. "I don't know if I should feel happy or depressed about it..." I frowned as I mumbled, since it's kind of conflicting the more I get away with it.