"Ahem—!"
People say, the first song you hear in the morning will be your very own opening theme...but I guess mine is a Funeral March.
I slowly opened my eyes, I realized something was in my blanket sprawled across me…
My cat? — no, the size is unmatched.
I looked at the side, while Cindy was standing next to me staring at me like looking at trash on the floor.
Suddenly — something in my blanket moved with a soft and gentle voice coming out…
Wait…💀
I slightly flip the blanket off...and same as I expected, it's Yumeko. 💀
WHAT'S SHE DOING HERE!!! 😭😭😭
I quickly raised my hands and put them in the air.
Cindy: You gonna let go or what?
Me: I…I…I….
What's wrong with me right now!!!
I can't feel my legs!!! 😭😭😭
Yumeko: おはよう..... (Good morning...)
Me: お....おはよう..... (G…Good morning...)
...…
Just get up!!!!
WHY YOU CONTINUED TO SLEEP!!! 😭😭😭
AI: Oh, come on. It's not the first time, just calm down. 😌
Last time was reasonable, what about this time, huh???!!! 😭
AI: I assume…
???
AI: She's making sure you're alive. 😏
...
WHAT KIND OF ASSUMPTION IS THAT???😭😭😭
Next thing happened, Cindy got herself lower and spoke to Yumeko.
Cindy: Yumeko, get up. Girls can't sleep with boys, especially this disgusting junk.
Me: Yeah, Yumeko. Get up, girls don't sleep with junk…eh, what???
Yumeko: いやだ,暖かい〜 (No way, it's warn.)
Me: 暖かいじゃねえよ,熱い!(It's not warm, it's hot!)
After saying that, Yumeko got up sitting on my stomach and rubbed her eyes before going to the washroom.
Yeah, in case you have no idea — after my project is done, I took a carpet and spent my nights on the floor.
That's the only choice. 🥲
It's just...what's wrong with Yumeko!!! 😭😭😭
AI: Come on, you treated her like a baby last night, of course she's seeking security.
...…
That's definitely a wrong interpretation. 🙄
Cindy: Now, explain.
Explain what!!!???
Me: I wish I knew.
I got up from the floor clutching my head just to calm myself down…
Cindy glared at me with a humph and sat back on the sofa to continue scrolling on her phone.
I need somebody to prove me innocent…anyone? 🥲
AI: Right now, prepare a decent breakfast.
Of course.
AI: No, I mean something different. You need to distract the attention from what happened just now.
...
Got it.
Minutes later, Yumeko came out from the washroom and slowly came to the dining table.
I can see her trying to hide her blushing face.
AI: I bet she just realized what she did just now, just play along.
Got it.
Cindy was already at the table enjoying the Char Shew Pao and the chicken porridge while she stared at Yumeko who came to the table.
She better don't…
Cindy: What were you doing?
Yumeko: —!!!
She dropped the spoon after hearing what Cindy suddenly spoke to her.
Yumeko: I…I…I…The…Um….
Yeah, she's lagging right now.
AI: Press the ctrl + Shift + Window + B. 😏
I reset you later, shut up.
Cindy: You like Rin, don't you?
Yumeko: え—?あの...わ...私...ち...違う...違うよ!!!(Eh—? Well...I…..I…..N…No…Th….Tha…That's not true!!!)
Cindy: Are you lying?
Yumeko: No! I hate Rin! Of course I hate him! I...I don't like…him.
She looked at me after saying that while I pretended like nothing happened — just to keep me safe from the cage fight. 😌
And suddenly Yumeko rushed back to her room.
Cindy: Hmmph—!
Me: Happy now?
Cindy: What?
Me: I don't know why you're mentioning it.
Cindy: I just wanna make sure I'm not the only one…
...
Yoohoo! Complete the sentence please???
Cindy: …only one who thinks….that ... .was….suspicious, that's all.
...
She's hiding something right? 😒
AI: For sure. 😌
Cindy: Ju…just eat! St….Stop asking!!!
Excuse me, I hope you remember you're the one started it. 🙄
....
After breakfast, I came to the balcony to dry the clothes.
For no reason, Cindy came along to the balcony.
And in case you have no idea, my apartment was actually renovated years ago, but the balcony is still a tight space.
I put the basket of the laundry onto the chair and started to hang them up to the hangers while Cindy is at the other side drinking the unfinished soy milk.
Me: You know this space is cramped here, right?
Cindy: You can just ignore me, I'm here to enjoy the views.
I bet she's here to enjoy the tiny little human down the building.
There's nothing else but blue skies to enjoy...and maybe some birds?
Cindy: What're you doing!
Shut—Up—!
Don't scream the hell out in the morning — especially in an open area. 🙄
Me: What?
Cindy: You're holding…you're…
She covered her face with her hands but leaving some gap between fingers looking at me with her blushing face.
I'm actually holding Yumeko's cami — yes, the one we bought days ago.
In case you're thinking something inappropriate, just to clarify — I'm just doing the laundry.
Me: Oh, this? Don't overthink.
Cindy: You're holding it like…nothing happened? Are you a pervert???
Me: What???
What's wrong with her this morning???
I swear I didn't put anything else in the soy milk.
Cindy: You…you're…
Me: Come on, it's just doing the laundry.
Cindy: Why don't you ask Yumeko to handle it herself???
Me: What you did just now, you think she'll come out?
Cindy: I...I…
Come on, come on, what else do you wanna debate???
Me: If I don't, who else would? These are the consequences of living together with a girl.
I hung the cami up to the rack and continued the others.
Cindy: She didn't help out doing the chores?
Me: She did. Sweeping, mopping and cleaning toilets, she is in charge of those.
Cindy: You two lived along very well.
Me: Maybe, I guess.
She remained silent after I said that.
Cindy: What if...another one...moved it.
...
Me: What?
Cindy: N…Nothing!
After saying that, she ran away from the balcony — finally, at peace. 😌
*CACHA—!*
What???
Uncle: Aww…Too late!
I took a look to the left side of the balcony, Uncle Chang was looking at the phone as he seemed to have taken a picture of me.
Me: What're you doing???
Uncle: Where are your manners? Not even a Good Morning to the elderly?
Me: A normal elderly wouldn't take a picture of the neighbour in the early morning.
Uncle: Uh—Um…so, how's Cindy?
Me: What?
Uncle: She didn't come home last night, I bet you two must have a great time.
Me: She hijacked my bed, which made me spend my nights on the floor.
Uncle: Aww…what did you do? Something wrong during the warm-up?
I rolled my eyes at him while continuing on my chores. 🙄
Oh don't be surprised, he's always like that.
AI: I can search you some new houses just to get rid of this creepy old man. 😌
I think you should hire a sniper instead.
Uncle: If you have problems buying diapers, please let me know.
Me: You bumped your head this morning, Uncle???
Uncle: Oh, come on, not uncle. Call me dad.
Me: Get well soon.
Uncle: Haha, enjoy your sweet time, buddy. See ya.
No, please take her back. 😭😭😭
It took me half an hour to complete the chores…it was supposed to be quick if it wasn't Cindy and her dad. 😭😭😭
Then, I went back to my studio...wait, how's Yumeko?
AI: I think you need to talk to her.
I don't know how.
Besides, what should I tell?
AI: Do you think it's appropriate to sleep with her like that?
Of course not! I mean….
AI: Then do you have any feelings just now?
...no.
AI: Alright then talk to her.
...
AI: I trust you, buddy.
I don't.
AI: Come on, you should be the first to break the ice…
...
Fine. 😒
I came to the dining table as there was still some food left.
I grabbed some of it, put it on a tray and brought it to the door.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Me: 入っていい?(May I come in?)
Yumeko: どぞ.(Come in.)
She was covering herself in a blanket sitting on the floor leaning on the edge of the bed…
I came to her side and sat down, gently stirred at the porridge.
Yumeko: ごめん,嫌なこと言っちゃった.(I'm sorry, for saying something bad.)
Me: 誤解だけは,別にいいよ.(It's just a misunderstanding, it's okay.)
To be honest I didn't really care if she liked me or hated me.
We both were forced to live together, it's reasonable if she did.
Because until now, I still think it's inappropriate for both of us to live under the same roof.
Yumeko: 実は嫌いじゃない,でもあの感じは.... (Actually I don't hate you, it's just how it feels…)
Me: それでいいよ.(It's fine.)
She looked at me after I said that.
Me: 君の事は,僕も嫌いじゃないよ,それでいいから.(I don't hate you either, so it's okay.)
Yumeko: でも... (But...)
Me: あー (Ahh—)
Before she can finish her word, I put a scoop of porridge next to her mouth waiting for her to taste it.
She looked at me and was stunned.
I can see her blushing face in the dim and gloomy room under the weak light reflection from the wall.
Me: 言わなくていい,嫌いも,好きも,大丈夫って,約束だよ.(Don't need to say it, whether you hate or like me or not, it's fine, I promise.)
After saying that, I felt something pressed onto my shoulder.
Yumeko: あー (Ahh–)
...and here comes another scoop.
Yumeko: ねえ,リン.あの...も...嫌い?(Hey, Rin. About that….do you…hate it?)
Me: 何?(What?)
Yumeko: あの...そんな事...嫌い?(Um...that…you dislike it?)
Ah I bet she's talking about the chores of handling the laundry.
Well you see, I'm actually taking it as a piece of clothes, it's not a big deal.
AI: Wait wait wait wait! Don't!!!
Me: あ,恥ずかしいけど,嫌いじゃないぞ.(Ah, it's just a little embarrassing, but I don't really hate it.)
...
What?
Why's she looking at me like that?
AI: I tried my best. 😒
After feeding her up...wait, why am I doing this??? 😭😭😭
AI: Welp, at least the ice was broken… 😌
Wait, you predicted this???
Why didn't you stop me???
AI: Dude, I was expecting you to use fire to melt the ice, but can't believe you use magma instead.
You should've told me. 😭😭😭
AI: You better not explain anything, it only makes things worse. 😌
...
...okay. 🥲
After we came out from the room, Cindy was waiting outside.
I quickly take the dishes to the kitchen and leave them some space…
AI: You wanna hear what they said? 😏
No thanks I'm…
*MICROPHONE SYNCING > > > *
Come on! 😭😭😭
Cindy: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
Yumeko: It's okay.
Cindy: We…we good?
She immediately embraced Cindy with the warmest hug.
Yumeko: It's okay, we're sisters, remember?
...since when?
Cindy: Did Rin do anything to you back there?
Come on, you wanna start again??? 😭😭😭
Yumeko: Nope, nothing.
She replied calmly while holding Cindy tightly…
Cindy: Hmmm, that's strange…
Yumeko: Not at all.
...
I guess it's a happy ending, haha ~
Yumeko: I just have his permission.
Huh? 💀
Cindy: Um? Of what?
Yumeko: Something great.
...
Did I say anything just now???
What was that???
AI: I bet she misunderstood it again. 😌
Of what??? 😭😭😭
AI: Something great. 😌
TELL ME!!! 😭😭😭