Chapter 31: 🌶️🌶️ Brotherly bond

We end up in the kitchen like nothing happened.

No words at first. Just the hum of the microwave spinning, the soft crackle of the food heating up.

I’m leaning against the counter, arms crossed, eyes somewhere in the void, when I hear her softly humming. She opens the microwave, stirs the food with a fork, then puts it back in.

And she keeps humming. Just a melody. Absent-minded.

And I can’t help but smile. She doesn’t even notice.

Me: “You planning on studying this afternoon?”

No innuendo. No games. Just a normal question.

For once.

She hesitates, still turned away. Then she replies, almost under her breath:

Emma: “ ... No.”

I grab two plates and start setting the table. Two sets of cutlery, two glasses. No words.

Then I pause, look at her.

Me: “Doesn’t it scare you?”

She turns her head, not getting it.

Me: “I mean ... feels like you’re letting go of your studies.”

She laughs. Dry. Sarcastic. A little defensive.

Emma: “You’re really the one giving me a lecture? After paying me for months?”

I smile, a little awkward. Run a hand over the back of my neck.

Me: “I don’t care, Emma. Really. I’m just thinking about Dad.”

She stops moving.

Then calmly walks to the table and sits down. Her eyes drift off, more serious now.

Emma: “I made fifteen grand last month.”

I freeze. Say nothing. Just stare at her.

She lowers her gaze, a hint of red on her cheeks.

Emma: “It’s been going well for a while ... I’ve already started investing. I haven’t told anyone...”

She pauses, then glances up at me.

Emma: “You’re actually the first person I’ve told.”

Then she lets out a nervous laugh. A little too loud. Like she needs to break the weight of what she just said.

I just stare, stunned for a second, my brain catching up.

Then I blurt out, dumb and breathless:

Me: “Damn ... holy shit.”

A short laugh escapes me. Sharp, a little anxious.

Me: “Hah—Emma, that’s ... that’s fucking great, seriously.”

I look her dead in the eyes, and this time, it’s 100% real.

Me: “Not gonna lie, it feels kinda weird ... but I’m proud of you, sis. You’re taking control of your life.”

She looks at me—and her whole face softens.

A real smile. Not forced. Not shy. Just ... relieved.

Emma: “Thanks ... it’s not easy every day, though ... but you already know that. I mean ... we used to talk about it ... like ... when we texted...”

She cuts herself off.

And I see it hit her. Her cheeks go red, her eyes dart away.

Too late.

I don’t look away.

Me: “Yeah...”

I take a second. My voice drops a bit.

Me: “I kinda miss that. Us talking.”

Her head lifts right away. Like she’d been waiting for me to say it.

Emma: “Me too.”

And then, silence.

A thicker silence. Not heavy. Just ... present.

We both look away. At the same time. Like two kids who don’t know where the hell to put their eyes.

And then...

Emma: “Pffff—”

She bursts out laughing. A teasing, mock-serious laugh.

Emma: “Wait ... are we actually getting awkward right now? After you literally came in my mouth like thirty minutes ago?”

I crack.

Me: “HAH—!”

A real laugh. Brutal. Catches me off guard.

Me: “You’re fucking ridiculous!”

She hides her face, choking on her own laughter.

Emma: “Hahaha—stop, I’m dying—”

My head’s tilted back, I can’t breathe.

Me: “We’re insane! HAH—fucking insane!”

Emma: “Hahah—totally! We’re idiots!”

We’re laughing like total dumbasses, bent over, unable to stop.

A real laugh. One of those that brings tears to your eyes and leaves you exhausted—but light.

Fuck, it feels good.

A few moments later, when the laughter finally fades and the air becomes breathable again, I look at her.

And it just slips out, unfiltered:

Me: “Feels good having you back.”

She lifts her head, a little surprised by the tone. I smile, softer this time:

Me: “That laugh we just had ... it reminded me of how we used to talk. You know what I mean.”

She looks at me. And there’s something in her eyes. A calm. A soft kind of intensity—almost fragile.

Then she says:

Emma: “Would you wanna start again?”

My brain stalls for half a second.

Me: “Start what?”

She tilts her head slightly, a playful grin slowly curling on her lips.

Emma: “You know ... we’re still brother and sister. We can talk, right? Like before ... I mean, nothing weird. Just chat. Like we used to.”

I stare at her. I start to get it.

And then a shiver runs through me.

My heart picks up. A smile creeps in before I can stop it, and I try to hide it—badly.