"Huff, stupid big brother, why couldn't I reach you?"
Risa closed her phone. It was still midday and she wanted to go home immediately to check on her older brother, Kai.
She never expected Kai could get sick. Even since she was little, Risa had never seen her brother sick. And one thing that bothered her was that she had never seen her brother's face look so empty.
Something must have happened, Risa was sure of it. Because there's no way the person who was very perfect and very cool (in her eyes), someone like her dearest big brother, Kai Clove, could look so dazed. That just wasn't like him.
Ughh, I want to go home. Maybe I'll just leave school, skipping afternoon classes is fine, right?
Risa tapped her desk in class. She couldn't take it anymore, she really wanted to leave and go home. During the entire lesson, she didn't listen to a single word the teacher said. It went in one ear and out the other. Her brain was completely on autopilot until the lesson finally ended.
The bell rang. She immediately stood up and dashed out of that prison called school that was separating her precious time from her beloved dearest brother.
Risa ran. She didn't wait for the bus because it took too long. She jogged even though it was only a short distance before she decided to just walk, breathing heavily.
Okay, okay Risa, you'll go home and cook porridge for dearest big brother... even though I can't cook, but I know love is the best ingredient for someone with a fever.
Risa turned into a minimarket to buy instant porridge because she couldn't cook. Honestly, she could cook, she believed in her abilities (maybe), but this wasn't the right time to run an experiment because there would be a 78% chance her brother's illness would last longer if she gave him her homemade food.
But, it wasn't because she wasn't good at cooking. It's just that, maybe, she wasn't used to it. That's what Risa said when she always spat out a little of the food she made herself.
"Porridge... milk... maybe some snacks for me?"
Risa looked through the aisles of the cozy little store. She grabbed two brands of instant porridge. Risa didn't know the difference. "Umm... which one, huh? Judging from the picture, this one looks good."
Risa picked the brand that was a few cents more expensive before walking again to grab milk and some snacks. She walked to the cashier to ring that stuff out.
Risa exited the store with a small shopping bag, turned right, and continued her journey home. Her mind was still busy worrying about her brother until she didn't realize the light had turned red.
"Hey girlie— hold still."
A hand grabbed Risa's arm, stopping her. Risa was surprised and looked to her left. A teenager around her brother's age, maybe a few inches shorter, black hair.
"Ahh! I'm sorry, I didn't realize the light was red."
The boy let go of his grip, with a charming smile and slightly closed eyes. The boy stared straight back at the road while Risa shifted a little to put some distance between them.
...What is this feeling.
Risa stole a glance at the teenager beside her. She couldn't explain what was happening. But one thing made her heart beat fast when she saw this boy.
He... is like big brother?
It might sound strange. But as someone who knew and knew best about her brother, Risa couldn't lie that this person really had the same "vibe" as Kai.
"The light's green. Is there something wrong with me?"
"No! I mean, nothing's wrong." Risa smiled awkwardly and turned her gaze away as she started walking again at the same pace, which the boy also followed.
Ehh... what's wrong with you, Risa. You don't even know this guy. Why are you acting so flustered?
Risa walked slowly, whether unconsciously or not, her footsteps and the boy's seemed to resonate, flowing together. She stayed quiet, occasionally stealing glances and would look away if the boy flashed his smile at her.
"Hmm~ a pretty flower brooch you have." The boy said as he looked at the object that resembled an insignia.
Brooch? Risa's eyes immediately went to the pin attached to her backpack. This was something she got from... who? She forgot the name. What she remembered was that this was given as a pair by a young woman who flirted with her brother a few times ago. One was given to her brother, the other to her. Risa attached this thing here because she thought the brooch was pretty, even though she didn't know what flower it was.
"I also have one like that." The boy took out his necklace from inside his jacket to show Risa. "Mine is a Hydrangea flower. Looks like yours is a Chrysanthemum."
"I don't really understand what you're talking about. But your brooch is very nice." say Risa.
"Mmm... yeah, it's a beautiful flower."
Risa fell silent again throughout the journey. The uneasy yet comforting feeling radiating from this boy was just too much. She felt like a magnet pole being attracted to the opposite pole.
"Alright, I'll go first."
"Umm." Risa nodded and watched the boy walk away quickly. This strange feeling arose and intensified. Risa placed her palm on her left chest. Her heart was beating fast and her face was flushed red, visible from the store window.
Calming her mind, Risa looked at her brooch before remembering that her brother was sick and she ran at the speed of a goose in a park.
Arriving home, she shouted for her brother. No answer. She kicked off her shoes and went straight to the second floor, opening her brother's room without knocking. Risa felt relieved to see her brother relaxing, reading a novel on his bed.
"Big bro! When I call you, answer!"
"Sorry, I didn't hear you."
Risa huffed and padded over to him. She leaned down to press her forehead against Kai's. It had gone down a fair bit but was still warm.
"Are you hungry, big bro? I bought instant porridge." Risa pulled her head back and took the book from Kai's hand. "Rest. Don't do anything weird even if you're bored."
"Ughh... okay, okay. You know, you're not mom."
Kai lay back down and pulled up his blanket. Seeing her brother obeying like a good kid, Risa smiled. It seemed like her brother's mood had recovered quickly.
Honestly, Risa preferred seeing her brother like this compared to a few days ago when he seemed dazed.
"Wait here then, I'll cook."
Risa turned around and when she was about to head to the door, her eyes focused on something on his study desk. There was an envelope and Risa also saw three brooches on his desk. One was the brooch that was the pair to hers, but the other two... she didn't know.
"What?" asked Kai, seeing his sister staring at his study desk.
"Nothing. What are you writing that needs an envelope like that?"
"Just unimportant scribbles."
Risa didn't press it further because her brother was sick. She just sighed and left his room. She stopped at the closed door.
Strange. That's what she felt. Risa placed her palm on her chest. There was no fast heartbeat like a while ago when she was close to him again. As if nothing had changed.
I'm not feeling flustered heartbeat anymore... toward my dearest big brother? Am I sick...