Chapter 4 The Advantage
1189 Words
Clara was quite satisfied with the meal.
Once Jack had finished eating, she began clearing the tableware.
"Clara, I'll take care of it," Jack offered.
Clara hesitated, avoiding his outstretched hand. "I didn't help much when you cooked. Let me wash the dishes."
Jack withdrew his hand without saying more.
But as Clara headed to the kitchen, he followed her.
She wasn't skilled at cooking, so the kitchen was built quite small, making it cramped with both of them there.
"Clara, let's wash together," Jack suggested, coming up close behind her, seeming like he was about to embrace her from behind.
Feeling the heat, Clara felt a bit awkward.
Politely declining, she said, "No need, it's just two plates."
"Okay, Clara," Jack replied. He rested his chin naturally on her shoulder, his soft hair tickling her neck.
"I'll keep you company," Jack murmured, his breath sending shivers through her.
Typically independent and not accustomed to such intimacy, Clara instinctively felt the urge to step away.
But she suddenly remembered she had resolved to treat him well. It was just a small gesture, perhaps akin to the camaraderie between siblings.
Realizing Jack's yearning for affection, she didn't resist his touch.
Noticing it, emboldened, Jack began to act more freely.
He nuzzled Clara's shoulder a few times and then moved to her delicate neck, delicately sniffing her pleasant scent.
He intentionally brushed his lips against her skin and took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist.
She flinched suddenly.
"Jack, you..." Clara's body felt hot under his touch. Even if she didn't entertain those improper thoughts, this situation was hard to misinterpret.
Jack, however, didn't seem to mind, leaning closer to her ear, his voice intentionally low. "What's wrong, Clara?"
That was too ambiguous!
Clara was completely flustered, almost dropping the plate in her hand.
"You... you shouldn't stand so close to me."
She shifted slightly, but Jack showed no intention of letting go.
"Clara, do you dislike me doing this?" His voice sounded a bit hurt.
Just as Clara was about to respond, Jack suddenly released her, looking deeply upset.
"Everyone has always disliked me since I was little. Even you don't like me."
Seeing his expression, Clara felt even more guilty.
"I don't dislike you." Clara grabbed his hand, giving up directly. "If you like it, so be it."
"Really?" Jack's eyes lit up instantly. In an instant, he was back, nuzzling her shoulder. "I like you too, Clara."
He meant the kind men felt for women.
Fortunately, there wasn't much left to clean up. Clara finished quickly and hurriedly left the ambiguous atmosphere behind.
When everything was done, it was already late. Clara planned to take a shower and then go to sleep. She had to get up early tomorrow to take Jack to school.
After her shower, as she finished blow-drying her hair, a bright flash tore through the night, illuminating half the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder.
It was thundering.
Clara's legs felt weak.
She was most afraid of thunderstorms.
Since she was a child, she had heard that lightning could strike people dead, and she was always afraid of being struck.
Every time it happened, Clara would hide under her covers, wrapping herself tightly.
That was the only way to alleviate her fear, even just a little bit.
She hastily put down the blow dryer and was about to run to her bedroom.
But as she reached the living room, another flash of light streaked across, accompanied by a roaring sound, plunging the room into darkness.
Power outage!
What bad luck!
Without a better choice, Clara fumbled in the darkness for something stable to hold onto, moving slowly.
With a loud thud, she felt a sharp pain in her knee.
"Hiss." Clara sucked in a breath of cold air.
First thunder, then a power outage, and now she had banged her knee.
Clara felt on the verge of tears.
Jack heard the noise and rushed out of his room.
He turned on the flashlight on his phone and saw Clara bent over in pain. His voice was filled with concern. "What happened, Clara?"
"I banged my knee." Clara held back her tears, not wishing to expose her vulnerable side.
Jack crouched down, reaching out to gently massage the injured area. "Does it hurt?"
"If it hurts, I'll be gentler," he added softly.
Clara shook her head.
She didn't feel any pain, but even comfort instead.
Under the light from Jack's phone, she could finally see the red swelling around her wound. It was quite serious.
"Clara, it's not convenient here. Shall we go back to the room?" Jack suggested.
Clara tried to stand, realizing her other foot was almost numb. She nodded in agreement.
As she started to move, Jack suddenly scooped her up around the waist.
"Hey, Jack, put me down..." Clara tried to protest.
But Jack anticipated her reaction and spoke first, "Clara, your leg is injured. Moving could worsen it."
She just banged her knee, not broke her leg.
But Jack looked serious, and Clara couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Jack carried her back to the room and gently placed her on the bed.
"The power's out at home, Clara. Don't move around. I'll go find the first aid kit and apply some medicine for you," Jack instructed.
Clara felt a bit awkward and whispered to comfort her, "I'm not a child anymore."
Jack smiled and reached up to wipe away a tear from the corner of Clara's eye with his fingertip, his gaze tender. "Then why did you cry?"
He teased her gently, and Clara blushed shyly.
She stuttered to explain, "Uh... it's just water from my shower earlier."
Jack indulged her with a smile. "Alright, if you say so."
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit strange.
Clara sat on the bed with her legs hanging down while Jack half-squatted, hands bracing her legs on both sides.
Clara met his gaze and felt inexplicably nervous.
She shifted her gaze uncomfortably and glanced away. "Uh... the first aid kit is in the cabinet in the living room..."
"I got it," Jack assured her and left the room.
Clara took a deep breath only after he was gone.
Why had her heart been racing so frequently lately?
Was it because she had been staying up late all the time, not resting properly, and her heart was on the verge of failing?
But she soon denied the thought, believing she was still young and healthy.
As her thoughts were still running wild, Jack returned with the first aid kit.
Finding the proper medicine, Jack knelt down and opened it. He poured some into his palm and rubbed it between his hands. "Clara, it might sting a bit. Bear with it."
Clara, always being strong-willed, replied casually, "It's okay."
With his hands warmed from the friction, Jack carefully applied the medicine to her wound, blowing gently on it to ease any discomfort.
Clara, in the meantime, lowered her head, watching him attentively applying the medicine, feeling warmth spreading in her heart.
Now she realized the advantage of having a younger brother.
- Writer
