I thought I could rest after a long and very exciting hot session. Two hours, three hours, who knows how long I slept afterward. Only Ben's shaking of my shoulder woke me up in the early hours of the morning, when the sun had yet to make an appearance despite several blinks."I'm leaving. Do you still want to sleep here or come back?" The smell of soap combined with the freshness of toothpaste hit my nostrils when I heard that sentence."Where to?" I asked nasally. I rolled over, onto my stomach as I stretched my body, which was crumbling. My muscles seemed to be slipping out of their support."Exercise," Ben said.Ah? Where was he going?I saw Ben wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts that people usually wear when they're going to exercise. What did Ben do for exercise? I wondered what made his body so athletic and well-proportioned with a slice of bread."Wait." I forced myself to stand up, but the top of my head hit the ceiling of the room. "Ben, I'm changing my clothes first."I

I let out a long sigh after entering the elevator to my apartment. After half a day in Ben's family, there were many surprising things about him. Being a widower at a young age is surprising. Being the only one with different beliefs from the family was also surprising. Even more surprising was that he still had time to steal a peek at me every time he had a break. Either in the stock room or even the bathroom.I think it was wrong of me to break down Ben's defenses. Ah, just thinking about it makes my cheeks burn. It's a shame Ben only took me to the basement. His excuse was that he still needed to go out.The elevator doors slide open, right on the floor of my existence. The steps of Ben's shoes are already moving toward the barrier, but a push from the front forces me back inside. The next sound I heard showed the elevator doors closing again and moving up."Where have you been, Rei?" Satya? His sclera were so red as they glared at me. His grip on my shoulder was strong and painful

My parents' house is still the same as the last time I stayed with Dera. The Scandinavian design that Papa likes tends to prioritize natural lighting from outside the house.The dominance of glass walls that can be shifted if you need air circulation from outside because honestly, glass-dominant houses tend to be hot.It's not big, but the design always prioritizes function. Like the kitchen table that is just taken out of the folds in the wall when you have to receive guests.I'm always in charge of washing dishes whenever Mama has to cook a lot. Like this time too.Finished, I took a backless chair and propped my arms on the pantry table while listening to the parents interrogate Rena.Every now and then I'd open my phone's display screen, playing with this new thing that seemed to be so much fun that I couldn't help but laugh."Where do you know this Mama's boy?" asked Mama Kea as she pushed more meat onto Rena's plate. The smile on Mama's face always seemed friendly. Maybe that was

I hugged Mama before saying, "Ben's going home, Ma," along with a long compliment about her cooking in today's meal."So fast? Didn't stay overnight?" It's Papa's turn to give me a hug after I let go of Mama."Next time you come here again, yes?" Mama shook Rena's hand and kissed her cheek like most women do when saying goodbye."Ya—yes, Mam." It must have been really awkward. Rena looked down more when she smiled.We can't stay here too long if the family is all together. They might misunderstand Rena's presence.I mean, it's not certain what kind of relationship we're in. Friends no. Girlfriends aren't. Not even sex in the contract like I had with Maureen-my coworker who often stopped by the unit-was."Ben!" Karin seemed to half run over, then she pulled me into the courtyard outside the kitchen. She pointed an index finger at me as she said, "Later tonight! Watch out! I'll report you-""Report what?" I was the one who was confused. This kid has a habit of making threats.She seemed

"Interested?" I opened the door wide, letting my sister into the... messy room, then closed the door again.My sister is the woman a few years above me with a youthful look. She took a tissue from the cabinet and cleaned her face using the liquid from the bag she had left behind. "Where is she?" she asking."The balcony." I pointed at the open door that displayed a panoramic view of the cloudless sky outside."Are you crazy, Sat?" She shook her head and frowned at me simultaneously. She should have blamed the personality disorder gene passed down from our parents and the way we were raised."She's an exhibitionist." I braced myself against the doorframe as the woman watched Rena on her back without any body covering. "Just look.""Wh-who is there?" Rena stammered. She almost rolled over, held back as I sat on her groin and pulled on both tops of her breasts which produced a loud sigh."My sister. Windy." I pointed at the figure who was still transfixed by my and Rena's interaction."Y