7
I woke up a little late the next day, feeling
dizzy.
I had been too anxious yesterday, running
back in just a thin school uniform and
catching a cold.
Sneezing, I went downstairs, where the
housekeeper, Mary, was already cleaning up
the table.
Seeing me, she paused and smiled
apologetically:
“I’m sorry, dear. I forgot to make breakfast
for you. I’m just so used to only making food
く
for you. I’m just so used to only making food
for four. It didn’t occur to me with you here.”
I smiled: “Six years and still haven’t gotten
used to having another person in the house,
huh?”
Mary was taken aback.
“Pay no attention to her. It’s her fault she
wakes up late. She can go hungry if she
wants to.”
Mom glanced at me coldly, then looked at
Brittany, and her face immediately showed
the tenderness of a mother:
“Where do you want to go with your friends,
Brittany?”
Brittany’s face was full of brightness and
hope:
“I want to go to the Maldives! And… Bali! The
Aegean Sea! Can I?”
Dad beamed. “Of course.
“This is the first time our Brittany is traveling
without Mom and Dad after becoming an
adult. It’s a sign of growth. Go wherever you
want and have fun with your friends!”
“Thank you, Dad!”
Brittany snuggled into Dad’s arms, but her
eyes subtly looked at me, revealing a mocking
smile.
Г
As if to say, “See, so what if you’re back?
You still can’t beat me.”
I ignored her. The cold made my nose itch,
and my eyes began to tear up. I needed cold
medicine.
Mom frowned impatiently: “What are you
crying about?”
I turned to find medicine: “I’m not crying.”
~
“Mom Is [Main character’s name] angry at
me?” Brittany nestled into Mom’s arms, her
eyebrows furrowed:
“I thought she looked unhappy yesterday.
After all… [Main character’s name] is Mom
and Dad’s daughter. If [Main character’s
く
name] is mad at me, then I can…”
“What are you saying?”
Mom hugged her. “You’re the one we’ve
raised since you were little. It’s only right to
spoil you.”
“But Brittany saw that [Main character’s
name] was crying, so Brittany feels bad too.”
Mom sighed, her tone even more loving:
“You’re so kind that it hurts my heart.”
I made a cup of tea in the kitchen, and
scoffed when I heard this.
Brittany was always like this.
<
After I was wronged, she jumped out and said
a few words for me.
Mom and Dad wouldn’t be any nicer to me
because of it, maybe they’d throw me
something to make up for it afterward, but
she would be even more spoiled.
