Game 5: Great Minds Dream Alike II
660 Words
Naika taps on the "Dial" button on their home telephone, and hears ringing before the other side was picked up.
"Yo! What's up?", Kairon asked.
"What do you mean, what's up!? It's Neiko's Sweet 4th! It only arrives once and you've missed it!", She yells.
A moment of silence passes.
"...Doesn't that mean it's your birthday too?", Kairon asked.
"You've missed the point!", she grunted. "Leave it up to Nii-san to see through everything!", she sighed after the sarcastic remark, and another moment of silence takes over.
"...So?" He asks, "That wasn't the only reason you called, right?"
"So you're taking the first reason lightly? Now you're calling for war..." She looks down, "but... Yes", she said.
"Let me guess, you've got a boyfriend now?", Kairon jests.
"Hoho. And what if I do?" Naika asks.
"Oi, you must be joking, right?" he asks, voice obviously concerned.
"Hehe. Payback", she said. "Anyway, I---"
"GOT INVITED TO QUERENCIA!?" she heard a man shout from inside their house. Kairon rushes from the hallway behind her, puts a box on the dining table and goes to Naika.
"You came home? When? And how did you know?" she asked.
Neiko who was scratching behind his head and smiling, appeared seconds after Kairon, and her latest question was answered.
"Oh", she said.
"We wanted to surprise you, but you had a bigger surprise for me!" Kairon said, taking the golden-cased letter from her and reading it.
"It's authentic..." Kairon said, marveling at the object.
"Aaaand we got ourselves W.B. accounts!" Neiko said showing his card.
"Really, now?" Kairon asked. "Then I guess we have more than your birthdays to celebrate. Happy birthday to you two!"
She put her hands on her waists. "Do you think flattery will make it up for taking our birthday lightly, nii-san?", Naika asked, snatching the scholar invitation from him and into her pocket.
"Nope", Kairon said, carefully untying the ribbon on the box he brought. "But I'm hoping this will".
He presented them with a large cake with alternating violet and blue themed slices.
Kairon looked at Naika, saying, "I bought this grape-blueberry combo cake. Both your favorites, am I right?"
"There's no birthday greeting written on it but... Pass. This'll let you off the hook for today", she exclaimed.
"Nee-san's really enjoying herself, huh", Neiko remarked.
They all laughed and sat on the table as Kairon gathers small plates. He handed one to Naika who sat on the left of the table and another to Neiko on the right.
He sliced the cake and Gave himself a blueberry slice, then a grape for Neiko, and another blueberry for Naika.
Neiko looked on his plate and looks at Naika, who was apparently looking at him as well.
"Nii-san, I think you might have forgotten, it was Sis who liked grapes" Neiko complained.
"Oh my", Kairon said. "But this way, Naika would eat less. You don't want to get fat, do you?", he winked his left eye at her.
The twins looked at each other and had the same "tilt head and shrug" gesture to show that they're not really satisfied with the excuse, but it would do.
They all started eating and for a few minutes, only clanking of forks against white ceramic could be heard.
"I just don't get it though, why do you like grapes even though you basically have no tolerance to alcohol. I remember you got drunk just from whiffing champagne", Kairon said.
"You wouldn't understand", Naika said, swallowing her last bite. "Plus, I don't think grapes would contain that much alcohol, right?"
"I guess so", Kairon said. "Another slice, Neiko?", he said after he notices Neiko's empty plate.
Neiko, who appeared to stare into the unkown, shakes his head. "No, thanks. I think I... I think I need some rest", he said, pushing his plate forward to duck on his arm as if to sleep.
"Neiko, we're on the tabl--"
"Shhhh" Kairon hushed her, with the matching gesture of putting a finger on his lips.
Naika furrowed her eyebrows and her mouth formed "wha...?" but devoid of sound.
Kairon collected their empty plates and put a blanket on Neiko who was fast asleep.
[I see] she thought.
- Writer
