19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBQBVquMmO
"Hey Zen, as usual to Grandma Mei's house."
I handed a paper bag containing warm bread to Zen who had just returned from Grandpa Tam's house.
Zen reached out, grabbed the paper bag. Peeked at the contents then grinned.
"As usual, milk bread filled with red beans and milk bread filled with walnuts."
I smiled hearing Zen's joke. "Yes, that's Grandma Mei. I like her taste." I replied.
"Yes, I'm going." Zen smiled too.
I sat back down and was about to continue my pending work. I thought Zen had left, but suddenly I heard his shout.
"Don't push yourself too hard, Lisa!"
I immediately looked up and met his gaze as he stood in front of the glass window waving his free left hand.
"Yes, Zen! Be careful!" I shouted back.
Not long after, the man had pedaled his bicycle and disappeared around the bend.
"Hey, Lisa."
A very familiar voice stopped my work on the tablet. I looked up and found Ren standing behind me. His apron was covered in flour, his sweaty face was wiped with a small towel draped around his neck.
"Oh hey, Ren."
That was the first sentence Ren said to me this morning. He and I only met a few times when helping him move bread and cakes from the kitchen to the display case. I also had time to help make the dough and shape the cakes, but Ken said it was better for me to stand guard at the cashier and continue my work.
They were very busy. Ren could just take a break from the kitchen routine that had started since dawn.
"Here, drink."
I handed him a glass of water from the jug as Ren pulled up a chair and sat down.
"You must be tired." I looked at him guiltily for not being of much help.
Ren who finished drinking the glass of water in a few gulps handed me the glass and gave me a look that meant he wanted more.
I immediately filled it and handed it back.
Finished. The glass was placed on the table. Ren wiped his lips with the back of his hand. After that, his coral eyes stared right into my sapphire eyes.
"Look at your eye bags, they look like panda eyes. You've been staying up late lately, haven't you?"
The cold and piercing question made me swallow hard. Lately I've gotten a lot of orders for repairs. As a result, my sleep time has been cut short. The time to help with kitchen work has also been cut short. I even continued my work at the cashier's desk.
With this extra work, I can help them more. But on the other hand, I'm bothering them. Of course there was guilt.
"Get some rest. Take care of yourself."
I was speechless again. I'm sorry, that's what I wanted to say, but Ren didn't like hearing that word.
"Hey, what's going on? Why is the atmosphere so gloomy?"
A voice was heard from the doorway. There was Ken who was wiping his sweat with a small towel slung around his neck.
"You must have said something to Lisa, right, Ren?"
Ken walked closer and stopped near me.
"I just want her to pay more attention to herself." Ren said coldly.
I lowered my head even further. Ren's sentence was so right that it sounded painful.
"Hey, don't say it so coldly. Our little Lisa is getting more scared of you."
I flinched. Suddenly Ken stroked my jet black hair. I looked up and found his warm smile. My tense face relaxed because of his caress.
"You spoil her too much."
Ken chuckled, "Because I love her." While hugging my shoulders, making me slightly pulled back.
Ren snorted. "Stop acting like a good brother."
"I am the best, right, Lisa?" Ken blinked.
I felt awkward because this was leading to an argument between the two of them. Not wanting the situation to heat up, I had to take action.
"For me, you guys are the best." I said honestly and honestly.
Ren seemed to smile faintly. Ken snickered. Did Ken not like me saying that? But it was true for me that Ken, Ren, and Zen were the best. I couldn't choose.
"You are always... Ah forget it."
Ken's sentence stopped because I looked at him in confusion.
"Lisa is always like that, isn't she?"
Ren also said something that made me even more confused.
"Hey, it's half past 8. We should have breakfast."
Just as Ken said that, the bell sounded indicating the shop door opened. Zen returned from delivering orders.
"I'm back. Wow, everyone is gathered."
Zen approached with a bright face, even though he had been going around delivering to customers' houses since early morning.
"What a coincidence. Let's have breakfast." Ken commanded us to the kitchen.
I immediately got up. Zen was already walking enthusiastically into the kitchen. Ken was behind him, smiling as usual. I stopped walking because I saw Ren still standing where he was.
"Ren?"
Ren immediately stood up and what surprised me was that his hand landed on the top of my head.
Our eyes met, Ren smiled softly.
The moment was short. Ren immediately stepped ahead of me.
I stood still, Ren's touch on the top of my head was still felt.
The corners of my lips pulled into a smile. I shouldn't have shown a gloomy face, Ren did pay attention in a different way.
***
"Lisa, can we talk?"
I, who had just finished struggling with work, turned towards the bedroom door when I saw a blond man standing there. Because I was too focused, I didn't realize the bedroom door was open.
"Oh, hey Ken. What's up?"
I wiped my sweat. I felt so tired.
Ken approached and placed a glass of steaming brown liquid on the table.
"Drink. You have to take care of your health." He said softly.
I smiled, Ken's actions touched me. "Thank you." I said.
"Oh yeah..."
Ken sat down on my bed. I grabbed a glass of hot chocolate then turned the chair to face him.
"Yes, Ken?" I asked then blew on the still hot liquid.
"About your registration, are you sure you don't want to go to Frostelain?"
That question stopped me from taking a sip of hot chocolate. I moved the glass away from my face then looked at my reflection in the chocolate liquid.
Tomorrow registration will be opened simultaneously for all schools in this country. I have prepared the data needed for registration. I am also ready to face the test. Soon I will be a high school student.
I am ready to enter the school of my choice. But hearing Ken's question made me think again about my choice.
"Wow, why ask that again? I already said I want to go to Seiren." I said calmly.
Actually I was trying to be calm. So please Ken, don't bring it up again.
"You know, you are not good at lying."
Ken looked straight at my face. As if he could see everything I was hiding.
"I'm not lying. I've decided." I kept denying it calmly.
Ken took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. It seemed like he was at a loss for words. I thought our conversation would stop here. But it didn't.
"We've been together for a while. I know you very well. Your stubbornness, your determination, your ambition. I know all of that."
It was true that he knew me very well. He knew me so well that I was afraid to continue listening to his words.
Please Ken, let's not talk about this anymore.
Please, don't try to make me waver.
"I've decided, Ken." I said firmly, but I didn't dare look straight at those coral eyes.
"Haahh, you're stubborn." Ken snorted roughly.
"Yes, so let's not talk about it anymore." I decided firmly.
Ken stood up and walked towards me. He touched my right shoulder and said,
"A good older brother doesn't hold back his younger sister."
I gasped. It felt like my chest had been hit by an invisible object.
"Only you know what's best for you. Think about it carefully. I will always support you."
My eyes burned. Ken never pressured me in deciding something. He kept suggesting but not forcing. Even at the last moment he said he would always support my decision.
"Yes, thank you."
Ken briefly ruffled my jet black hair. Then he said goodbye and closed the bedroom door.
I stared blankly at the brown liquid that was starting to warm up. For some reason I had no appetite to drink it.
I put the glass on the table and walked towards the bed. I immediately lay down there.
The back of my right hand covered my face.
Tomorrow is the first day of registration. And registration only lasts for three days.
Each school has a different selection method. At Seiren Academy only a knowledge test is applied. The selection is not very strict, the passing percentage is only 60%. Quite famous but not the best in my city.
I once went with Ken to scan the school. The school is big and the facilities are quite complete. There are dozens of clubs but only a handful can contribute to achievements. There is no club that I want there, but that's okay, I can make one when I enter later.
Ken is an alumni of Seiren Academy, while Ren is already in his second year at the school. And Zen plans to enter it with me.
Frostelain Academy, it is the best school in this country. The largest school with the most complete facilities. A school that is highly desired. Always creating achievements. Always producing alumni who make great contributions to the country.
The school is located in the heart of the Capital City. It is very far from the small town where I am. That's why I don't plan to go there.
I don't want to leave them. I want to be by their side, repaying their services.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnaQ9FgLwR
Ken is agile, good at housework, especially cooking and bakery. Ren is quite good at helping Ken. While Zen is bad at housework, but has great energy so he can be relied on as a courier.
And me? I help make many things easier.
In what way? Creating more efficient tools.
A toaster that bakes in large quantities in a short time. Automatic washing machines and irons. Small and thin communication devices that are easy to use for the elderly to communicate to our bakery. Hidden CCTV. And many more.
With my ability to tinker with technology, I can open an electronic repair service and upgrade it to be better.
Wherever I am, I'm sure I'll be fine.
I'm sure.
I'm sure but why do I keep thinking about it?
Ah, never mind.
The glass of chocolate on the table is cold, it can't be called hot chocolate anymore. I can feel it.
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