The Grumpy Breakfast

There was a knock on the door. I glanced at the wooden frame. 'Should I answer that?' Another knock, followed by a muffled voice.

I remained quiet, waiting for another knock.

But the door clicked open. Light from the hallway spread across the floor. I squinted as the gleam reached my eyes.

"I thought you were asleep," Grandma said, standing in the doorway. I noticed how small her silhouette was.

With small, slow steps she reached my bed and settled herself on the edge. The mattress pressed under her weight. I blinked. She doesn't do this. Ever.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

She moved towards me and pressed her hand on my forehead. Her hand was warm. Much warmer than Ai-chan's hands.

They say kind people have warm hands. The warm hand theory is wrong.

"You need something?" I asked, but my voice felt wrong. Like I hadn't heard it for a while. 

She was still looking at me. My eyes caught the folds on her skin. I stared. After a while I understood: wrinkles. She had them because she was old.

"Breakfast?" She stood up.

"I will be there."

Ai-chan sat down on the floor. She pointed at the apron my grandma wore. 'Doesn't she wear this when she is cooking for guests?'

Grandma walked out of the room.

I lay back down. Stared at the ceiling which kept getting smaller and smaller.

I blinked.

I was at the table. I sat across from the precious newspaper. It floated between me and Grandpa. Without even looking at me, he flipped a page. 

He was still obsessed with this sheet of paper. Come to think of it, he wears glasses to read it. If I hide the glasses, he won't read. The idea was too funny. I couldn't hold back. I chuckled aloud. And it reached my grandpa's broken ears. 

"You should greet your elders." His eyes followed the words to some juicy gossip in that sheet. Maybe I should try reading it too, and then maybe I could turn into a grumpy old man like him.

He lowered the paper and looked at me. The eye contact felt off. But I did my best to maintain it.

"Good morning?" he grumbled, as he always did. 

And I noticed for the first time he was funnier-looking than Grandma. His wrinkles were more. I blinked; he was still looking at me. "Umm... G-good morning."

He seemed disappointed.

Grandma placed a plate in front of me. An omelette and toast with butter. She sat down at her usual spot, next to her husband. 

I realised the old man hadn't replied to my greeting. How could he? I will hide his glasses and newspaper.

I took a bite of the omelette. The clock ticked. I took another bite. Another tick.

There was some noise. Talking. My grandparents seemed to be talking with each other. That's rare. I heard my name twice in their conversation. Should I listen, or should I not? Does it count as eavesdropping, or does it not?

They are saying you will be moving out, Ai-chan whispered close to my ear. Her breath was cold. But she was too close and too cute. My face felt too warm.

"Sora, what do you think?"

Huh?

I looked at them. Ohh. Apparently, I was supposed to listen to that conversation. What do I do?

I heard the paper rustle. It made me look at Grandpa. The sound was weird in a bad way. Grandpa was looking at me again. He exhaled and turned to the paper. "He is better off living with his father."

Father?

The room felt off. I hadn't heard that word in a while... Last I heard it was... I don't know. My hands didn't seem to appreciate the word. I saw my fingers vibrate. 

"I told you about his arrival." My grandma was looking at me. "Why do you look surprised?"

The mark pulsed; the heat erupted at my side. 

It's burning.

I glanced at Ai-chan. 'What should I do?'

She shrugged.

I looked at the spot; luckily, the light was still hidden under my shirt. I hope they can't smell it.

"Sora?"

I think they can smell it too.

I looked at them. I smiled. I had to pretend there was no smell.

"I don't smell it," I mumbled.

They looked at me and then at each other. Grandpa shook his head.

"Your father is coming home from Europe," Grandpa said. He added something else, but Europe?

What is Europe?

What made them call it Europe?

What is the meaning of Europe?

What ... Europe?

Europe?

The mark kept stinging. I couldn't answer my questions. I don't know if I even know the answers.

"Are you listening?"

I nodded.

"What did I just say?" He removed his glasses, wiped the lenses, and placed them back on.

I opened my mouth to answer. But the words seemed stuck. 

What if you say the wrong answer?

I closed my mouth. If I answered wrong, he would be mad. My breath seemed stuck.

"Speak."

I remained silent.

Grandpa's jaw tightened. His fingers tapped the table. Once. Twice. "Sora."

I looked at him.

He pressed his fingers on the bridge of his nose. "What is wrong with you?"

The words fell out of his mouth. Some settled on the table, while a few floated around me. Ai-chan poked the word 'wrong' and giggled.

I lowered my head. "Why is he not reading the paper?"

"What?" My grandfather stared at me with wide eyes; he turned to his wife. 

She grabbed his arm, forcing him to sit down. "After everything... he needs time."

Time?

I looked at them. He was burning, burning like the mark. I took a bite. It was cold.

I stood up and walked away. My grandparents remained silent and didn't call after me.

But Ai-chan followed me. He is scary, isn't he?

'I wonder how my grandparents would react if you were to unleash your abilities on them.'

I didn't know how or when, but I stood outside my house. The street was grey. The vending machine hummed.

Let's go to Kaito's house. 

She smiled.