Love Me, Mikayla

XXIII

Sunaina.

It was like she was standing by the door to answer the guests.

"Barak!" She chirps, unable to hide the shine in her eyes. "Welcome." She holds her weight on her toes and spreads her arms to hug him.

He receives it, happily. He bends a little and puts his hand on her back, his arm around her shoulders. She breathes softly, putting her chin on his shoulder and grinning wide.

I silently watch them, fisting the fabric of my dress. I feel something hot inside my chest as if a fire was lit.

She pushes herself back and gives her attention to me. "Hey, Mikayla!" She gives me her hand which I accept, shaking lightly. "Nice to meet you again."

"Likewise," I mutter, though I'm not.

Just then her parents arrive. A teen follows after, looking so like Uncle Peter. I realize it's her younger brother and I haven't met him. He didn't come to the function.

They call us inside and do the hospitality along with chatting with us.

Uncle and Aunt sit with us while Sunaina serves everyone.

They introduce Sunaina's younger brother to us. Ezra was his name. Just after waving his hand at me, he ran back upstairs.

His mother chuckles softly, giving me an apologetic look. "We're sorry, dear. Ezra is a shy boy. He's very reserved so he's like that every time he meets someone new."

That's why he didn't come with his parents. Aren't siblings so like each other?

Sunaina comes, holding a tray. She hands us the cups of tea and sits on the armrest of the couch on Barak's side.

But she's not being shy anymore. Is it because she owns the house? Of course, everybody is a lion under their territory.

Her parents don't say anything to her and even if I know she has no wrong intentions, I can't help but feel something that leaves me restless even when I'm so close to him.

I am unable to tolerate this girl around him!

The conversation lasts long by the time our cups are empty. Aunt Naina shows us our room and leaves us alone. Once we're alone, I can't help but ask him, "How old is Sunaina?"

"A year younger than me," he answers quietly, going to remove his jacket and hang it on the wall. "Why do you ask?"

I run my gaze down his plain white shirt in which he looks so attractive. He unbuckles his belt, rolling it out of the pants.

"I was wondering when she was getting married," I roll my eyes, unable to hide the bitterness in my tone. "Can't I? Is there a restriction on that, too? Will you threaten me on this question, too?"

He looks at me, confused. The smile on his face is gone like a switch was turned off. "I didn't mean that," he shrugs, innocently. "And I'm sorry about threatening you, Mikayla."

It is then I realize what I said in a fit of anger. I didn't mean to mention it but I couldn't control my tongue. Why couldn't I?

I look at his face, twisted in guilt. "I'm sorry," he says and walks out of the room.

I didn't mean to.

｡ﾉ⁠♡

I don't know where he went after that. I come out of the room in search of him after a few minutes, but on the way, I find Ezra on the floor, collecting sheets.

The desire to see the sheets hit me hard since I saw the magic of a pencil over the white surface.

I walk over to him, looking at the drawings on the sheets. They were amazing.