14. Peace Of Mind I.
Kim Teho
End of the last school year
Teho sat down and eyed the freshly cooked rice in a small, dark ceramic bowl. The freshly awake boy was hypnotized by the meal from behind his long black hair that lazily flowed down to his shoulders. A light green cotton shirt with a white elephant complemented his gray trousers which were decorated with more childish cartoony designs. All and all, it could very well have been the attire of a four-year-old.
The steam rose as he poked at the rice. Throwing stray hairs away from his eyes, he whined, unsatisfied with a scorching hot meal.
Wishing to start his second year of uni with a bang, the young artist had a tablet next to his breakfast and was checking inspiration galleries of his favorite photographers, searching for something different to spark his muse. The yearly assignments were almost done, but something felt off about them. There was still plenty of time to refine before the end of a year's exhibition and the mandatory public speech.
Teho spent most of his year in the streets. As a self-proclaimed city boy, he knew the center through and through. It had been the main source of his inspiration as portrait photography wasn't his cup of tea. He found silent satisfaction in the concrete structures hidden beneath the surface of the buzzing metropolis.
When you really go in and dig deeper you can always find new perspectives to see life through. He would argue in front of the exam committee.
Yet, Teho knew, this time he was missing something, the final touch.
...
Nearby, a gorgeous black-haired woman was busy preparing eggs and other small dishes to make her family the perfect Saturday breakfast. All the kids were at home this weekend – what a precious and rare occasion for everyone to enjoy. She hummed happily and danced around the spacious kitchen. The caramel shade of the wooden interior made their home seem more open and inviting and it turned out that light colors had a calming effect on the kids, associating it with freedom and safety.
Her long hair was tied in a lazy ponytail and a cotton headband prevented loose hair from going into her eyes or the meals for that matter. A simple dress was hidden behind a white apron. It was almost a shame having such a beauty "locked" up at home. Dark eyes covered with dense lashes had a spark even with so much work to be done. Another small heart was beating under hers as she moved around the kitchen.
...
Teho blew onto the rice in a hopeless attempt to cool it down. His stomach protested with hunger.
Suddenly, his face crashed towards the bowl as a firm hand gave him a morning smack on the back of his head. He narrowly missed plunging into the steaming meal.
"Rupi-ah!" her laughter rang behind him.
"Watch it, else your food will devour you," she said mockingly, her voice set in a lower register like her brothers'.
Teho's older sister loved to tease him a little too much, her coal hair was cut short around her jaw and her sense of humor was even sharper.
Rupi hoped that teaching him his place once in a while would improve his overall behavior. Always hating to hear the neverending story of how he toyed so shamelessly with girls. Tale as old as time, he never missed to tell, even though Rupi thought it wasn't something to brag about.
It rang too close to home. That's my problem, but still, he should do so much better.
His older sister knew Teho's mannerisms bothered their mother, yet the gorgeous woman couldn't let herself correct the beloved child. That's why Rupi made it her agenda to take him down a notch and teach him some sisterly lessons. Though her methods could be seen as more of a brotherly type of teasing. Rupi also subconsciously accentuated that boyish behavior with her choice of clothing—black, sporty, and comfortable.
Rupi sat next to him, enjoying his disgust for a minute. Teho clumsily picked rice from his long hair—he'd cut it for the new semester to a more flattering length, but for now, he lived his summer fantasy feeling like a flower prince.
It's a curse to be that handsome. I can't let him become a monster, not on my watch. He won't end up like HIM. Thoughts of their father made her shiver.
"Why do you have to be such a bitch this early in the morning?" he angrily whispered to her, trying to avoid disturbing their mum.
"Why can't you be a decent brother for once?" she shot back.
"If you knew yourself like I know myself, you wouldn't be this jealous of my freedom," he said cockily.
"I dunno if it's freedom to run away every time, when the shit starts to get serious. If you wanna act like a kid, I'm gonna treat you like one," her uncared-for fingers pinched him to forehead.
"Muuum!" he whined.
"Pathetic baby," Rupi laughed at him, but switched quickly, "Let's go for a hike, don't be such a pussy." She poked the boys ribs, digging in painfully.
...
Rupi was home this weekend solely to persuade Teho to go for a hike in the next few days. He had expressed his wish to join her before, but would had always backed out at the last minute with a stupid excuse.
"Ah nuna, I wanna feel as free as you do," Teho exclaimed every year when his sister got back from her long-distance hiking in Corsica, Madeira, Mallorca, or on some other high mountain trail.
Rupi was free and unbound by social pressures, disappearing for months only to materialize just before his birthday. Young wannabe artists melted while viewing her photographs of rugged mountain peaks clouded by mist; fresh, green grass dotted with colorful flowers and distant lakes with water from azure blue to pitch black.
"Please, nuna, take me with you. I'll listen," he pleaded sweetly each time.
...
She knew damn well he was afraid of the bugs and the discomfort he would have to endure. Yet Rupi held a hope that such a trip could make him see life from a different perspective.
You live only from what you have brought in your bag. No mum to cater to your every whim.
The tricky part was that if she gave him a time, a specific date, he would back out beforehand. So, this time everything was already secretly set up. The temperamental boy just had to take days off the uni, which wasn't a big deal anyway as he had all his semestral work almost finished.
You are not backing out this time. I'm not letting you.
...
Their mum brewed a scented tea in the meantime. Its flowery smell and semi-roasted taste were ideal for the morning mind. Teho smiled at her.
"Can you pour me some juice, mum, please?" He made a cute face at her and she caressed his hair lovingly.
"Of course, darling," his mum sang into his hair and Rupi's face went red.
"Nah mum, don't do it. He's not four anymore," Rupi reminded sharply.
Teho shot a winning look at his fuming sister, showing his perfectly white teeth, and giving a wink.
Guess who's the favorite child? Me, the sweet only boy in the household or you, the oldest and still unsettled girl, huh? He smiled.
A soft hand poured the fresh juice into a glass and handed it to her beloved boy.
"You're such a shithead," Rupi whispered as their mum walked away from the table.
The third place at the table was empty.
"Teho, dear, could you be so kind and get Kyuri?" mum asked kindly.
"YAAA, Kyuri-ah!" he shouted.
"That wasn't what I had in mind," their mum said calmly as she poured him the tea.
"You have to use your legs, you know?" Rupi remarked and poked his ribs lightly with her red and gold chopsticks.
"Rupi, stop!" he was agitated.
"Behave then," the older sister ended the argument with another poke and Teho got up, going to get their youngest.
...
Light knocking on Kyuri's door didn't bring any response so Teho knocked again and shouted, "Ya, Kyuri-ah!"
Nothing.
"I'm coming in," he proclaimed. He shifted uneasily as he opened the door, not wanting to go into her room.
Kyuri lay peacefully in her gray cotton nightgown that was dotted with small pink hearts. Long, recently-dyed brown hair was scattered on the pillow creating a fairytale picture. The only thing missing was a small rose in her folded hands—it would be the final touch to their Sleeping Beauty
He gently shook his sibling's shoulders, "Kyuri-ah, wake up."
Teho had to shake her a few more times until she opened her eyes.
"My meal is getting cold because your gamer ass stayed up all night again," he knew she had, she always did.
Teho would know even without seeing her with his own eyes at 3 AM when he got to the kitchen for a glass of cold water. He had given her this bad habit himself when his gaming period was at its peak, before quitting because the stress of high school was at an all-time high. It had been nice to have a gaming buddy, but, now, he couldn't help but feel a bit remorseful that she'd inherited his little addiction.
His sister sat upward and yawned.
"Don't tell mum, please," the youngest pleaded, half asleep, and smiled sweetly, batting her long eyelashes at him.
Teho's heart thawed. He cherished that girl so damn much. His feelings of protectiveness had never waned as they had grown.
I'm gonna personally murder everybody who dares to come as close as I'm now. I'll fucking rip him to shreds if the asshole would be even as half corrupt as me. Fucking immature high school boys.
Kyuri was only fifteen, finishing her first year of high school without any drama, and managing to be less of a showoff than her brother. Still, her beauty made her stand out, despite the shy persona. Her introversion wouldn't protect her much longer as it was so easy to succumb to love's temptation. Teho was sure, soon enough someone would persist in his efforts to date this smart girl.
It'll be his death.
He can try to get past me. I'll make it a challenge.
...
Both siblings came back together fifteen minutes later.
The fifth chair stayed cold and empty. Their dad was always gone on business trips, seeing his family very sporadically. That's why Teho felt responsible for his sisters, although Rupi didn't need the care that much. She still appreciated it when he tried, giving him a rare pat on the back or even a hug.
Their mum was a stay-at-home mum, looking after whoever was at home and most importantly expecting another child this late in her life. As she said, "We are in God's favor, be grateful."
Teho saw it as proof his parents were still very much in love, even though the relationship was a long-distance one, clouded in toxic behavior he chose to forget.
It always has been toxic.
Everybody was doing their best.
I'll be a famous artist. Mum will have a beautiful strong baby. Kyuri will excel at school as much as she can, scoring the best results to become a doctor, lawyer, or businesswoman like dad. And Rupi? She'll be crazy for now, with her traveling to the mountains, hiking to distant places, and then she will settle down, of course, to be a psychologist. That's what she studied for and that's what she excelled in.
Teho was sure of it.
He felt a deep sense of satisfaction and thankfulness.
I love my family.
I love my life.
I love when things are simple.
They all sat down and after a quick 'thank you' they started to eat.
...
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😎 Have you been the spoiled sibling in your family? 😎
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🎨Illustrations of each chapter are available on my Wattpad acc, AO3 acc -klubickoArt🎨
