Sister and Book

When I got home, I sneaked in again, as I always do when I come home late. It's 6pm, my mom would be furious with me by now. When I opened the door, I could hear the sound of my mother's cooking.

However, I was caught in the act before I could reach the stairs. Probably because she heard the sound of me opening the door, but she spotted me as soon as I got in.

"Valdo, why are you coming home so late? Have you been working on your club project again? Please come here," Mom calls from the kitchen.

Without thinking for a second time, I walked over to my mother and prepared my heart for whatever punishment I was about to receive. Surprisingly, she wasn't holding a slipper, which she usually does when she's angry, she was also pretty busy cooking dinner now. So I took the initiative to ask why she was calling me.

“Mom, you are not angry right?” I say, looking at her with puppy eyes.

"No, I am not, I know you are busy nowadays, your sister told me that your club is in an urgent situation, so try to do your best then."

I feel relieved after hearing my mother's words.

“Thank mom for your support and understanding.”

"Okay, that's enough, the food is ready now, come and eat." My mom says as she puts the pot on the table.

“I ate outside with my friend, Mom.”

"Oh, I hope you didn't eat any junk food, you know that's not healthy," Mom says in a worried tone.

"Yes, mom, I ate in a small restaurant near the bookstore, it is around the corner when mom goes home. Follow the big road, there is a small road and the restaurant is on the side of the small road."

"I didn't know there was a restaurant there, but don't eat there again, because the small street is a dangerous place, people often get pickpocketed there".

“Yes mom, won’t do that again. I'm going to my bedroom now.”

"Wait. Valdo, come here!" Mom says, waving her hand at him to come closer.

I came closer to mom and she sniffed at my shirt, which was full of sweat.

"Before you go to the bedroom, go to the bathroom and clean yourself."

“Yes mom, I’m going now.”

I go upstairs, straight into the bathroom to take a shower. I take off my clothes and sniff. Damn, it smells awful. I could smell sweat and other odours mixed into an unfamiliar scent.

I put my backpack near the washing machine and put my dirty clothes in the basket before taking a shower.

A few moments later, after I had finished my bath and changed into my nightclothes, I noticed that my backpack was wide open. I quickly looked inside to find that the manga book I had bought earlier was missing.

I closed my backpack and put it in my room. Then I knocked on Alda's room door and asked where my manga book was.

"Alda, Alda! Are you there? Open the door!" I call as I knock harder on the door.

There was no answer from the bedroom and I was annoyed at Alda for ignoring me. In my experience, my naughty sister used to steal my books from my bookshelf when I was away, and I suspected that she would steal my books again when I was at home having a bath.

"Alda! Open the door now! I will force it open!" I shouted, knocking on the door harder than before.

I lost patience and forced the door open. I entered the room and saw my little sister's room, only to find her lying comfortably on the bed, reading a book.

As I looked at her, my head filled with rage. How could I not? She was lying on the bed with her headset on, her legs kicking up and down, leisurely reading my book. She had the nerve to ignore her big brother knocking on her door, not to mention the fact that she was also.

I pat her on the shoulder and tell her I am here, as she ignores me for a while.

"What brother? can you please knock on the door before you burst into my room?"

"I literally knocked on your door first, but no answer, what are you doing?"

"You have eyes, can't you see what I'm doing?"

"Huh, whatever, where is my book?"

"Your book? Er, I haven't seen it." She says, hiding the book under her pillow and whistling.

"What book are you reading?"

"That's my book, what do you care?"

"Come on, give it to me, I want to see it."

"Brother, stop bothering me!"

I try to take the book out of her hand, but she keeps struggling and won't let go of the book. But I manage to take the book and look at the cover.

"Hey, this is my book I bought earlier, why are you taking it?"

"Because I want to read something," she says, looking away from me.

"Huh whatever, I know you read the books from my bookshelves but don't take it from my backpack."

"That's your fault for leaving your backpack on the floor in the bathroom."

"Fine, fine, I can't win an argument with you. Whatever, I'll get my book back."

"Wait, don't take it from me!"

"Tell me the reason why I should not take this book from you... Wait, wait! Don't talk, this is my book, not yours, so I'm taking it back now, bye."

"Wait, I haven't finished reading it yet! Brother!"

I come out of Alda's bedroom and think about what she's doing with my book, she never touches my book normally. She has changed so much from what she was before. I really hope in a good way.

Anyway, I can finally get back to what I was planning to do today, read a book until midnight and enjoy every single word of it. I hope it turns out well, I also need to continue writing the story project before I go to bed. I wonder what others are doing today, especially Ayame.