Chapter 08s: Acting Out

As of late, I have felt the need to tell myself.

They are fake-mom, real name Clara. And Chris, the fake-dad.

That is who they are to me.

During the past half year, I have settled into life here.

Is it treacherous to think that I enjoy living here?

Is it treacherous to have started to really get along with Jelly?

On occasion, I wonder why she of all people tries so hard. She's always here, not giving me the time or space to think about the past. About Nii-san and the promise.

Right now, we're playing dress-up. Or at least, that is the kiddy view of it. She's was quite frank with me earlier.

"Play dress up with my younger sister? Ew. I'd hate to. Everyone would think I was a little kid for enabling you, no offense. Setty."

She laughed at the statement, and I laughed back. I was sitting on her bed then, just as I am right now. I'm not even running from that stupid nickname anymore, am I? Wow.

"I just want to bond with you. I've always wanted a cute younger sibling. And since we don't share much except our home, I want to make sure to make the most out of it before life takes you away from me again."

At this, she stuck out her tongue, her fist playfully punching against my shoulder. I blush a little - she is always so forward with what she wants, and I'm not the best with compliments like those.

After that, she got some of her old clothes out, and she had me try them on, eventually having me settle on some cute jeans and a flower-patterned top that don't fit her anymore. There was a dress or two as well, but she vetoed those moments after I tried them on.

"No. Don't wear those. They aren't you."

She was a bit vague about it, but eh, we were having fun playing dress-up. Or I was, at least. Whatever. Frankly, I could tell that her fun was more in dressing the doll, since she didn't change into anything else after the second dress I picked out for her.

It's Jenny's thing - if she does it first, I have to follow.

And once I follow, she stops leading.

Eventually, I walk alone.

Actually, you might call it our thing now.

She challenges, I bite.

At first she had to goad me, but now.. why deny myself the fun?

"Do you know the most important part about dressing up?"

Jelly inquired this as she dug around in her drawer for something. Her red braid catches the light and provides an interesting contrast with the green dress she is wearing.

Fake-mom clearly dotes on her - it doesn't look very cheap at all.

She'd dote on me too, if I only let her. I admire her persistence... but she is still fake.

I realize I didn't answer as she glances back at me, pushing her drawer closed with her bum after having found what she was looking for.

"No. But you are about to tell me, so why guess?"

My response is a bit lazy, perhaps a bit spoiled. But it seems to be something that is effective with older siblings; Nii-san couldn't get angry at me for it, and Jenny just gives one of those 'you rascal' smiles.

It is by far the better option than letting on I was lost in my thoughts again. It just fires her up; she's not very good at being ignored by people.

"It's details. Details!"

She plops onto the bed besides me, and pulls up her feet to the edge of the bed whilst showing me the prize she found.

Nail polish.

Ah. Fair enough.

First time for everything.

"You know I'll make a mess out of your feet, right?"

I challenge her with a mischievous grin: while I will take to the bait, I refuse to give her an easy time reeling me in with her little-sister fantasies.

"As long as you know I'll respond in kind. Set. Su. Ka."

We burst into laughter at the same time as I start to follow her directions, my resistance shattered. I don't even want to mess it up anymore - I'd be a super-lame little kid if I still sabotaged her when she appeases me like this by properly calling me by my own name, right?

So now I'm becoming acquainted with the art of painting nails that nobody ever looks at anyways.

Except Nii-san, perhaps. He'd notice. Right?