The Stepbrother
Miku did not hate nor fear evenings since she had them every day. Though there was a particular aspect in this time of the day she was not so into. Usually it would happen when the night seemed dead.
Once again, it was nighttime so she lit up her lamp with a match and looked for her way back to the attic. Her household works were all done for today; everything on her list was accomplished, including the part where she would put her stepsister to bed. Though her step-siblings were of same age like her, eighteen, their mother was rather specific about Miku's duty as a...maid. Albeit her children were grownups, she wanted Miku to look after them as though they were toddlers – and Miku detested that part of her duty.
Her boots squeaked at her every step, irritating her to utmost since even the most unnoticeable noise was a big fuss to her stepmother. So instead of complaining, she made sure to get through the hallway, passing by her stepmother's room as quiet as possible. Countless times she stumbled here and there, losing her balance over a head of a nail poking out from the wooden floor. Miku almost knocked down the vase when she tripped on her stepmother's cat sleeping on the corridor, and she could only bite her tongue to avoid screaming in disgust. If there was something she hated about this house aside from her, er, step-family, it was their cat–the meanest cat in the history–Rei.
"Get out o' the way, kitty!" she yelled in a whisper, shooing the fat black cat away. When the cat lazily yawned and moved aside, snuggling next to wall, Miku continued to walk stealthily.
The grandfather clock had echoed its cried then, signaling the midnight. Sure, it was tiring to stay up late like this, but she could not afford leaving the dishes and kitched untidy, or else her stepsister and stepmother would double her hardship for tomorrow's work.
Miku went inside her room, the dusty attic filled with the old furniture and things. She knew this place enough, it was where her late parents kept the things they were not using anymore. Her father often warned her about the spiders and rats and mice just to keep her out, but when she moved here, age fifteen, the spiders and rats and mice were her only friends...or so she thought.
She quickly put down her lamp on her old bedside table, and waltzed to rest her aching body on her wobbly couch. It was all that she got, no bed and no pillows. Her stepmother was generous enough to give her a mat where she could sleep on, but on cold weather, she would drag the mat next to the tiny fireplace since she had no blankets too. The morning she woke up, she was covered with cinder.
A sigh parted Miku's lips as soon as she rested her back on the soft couch. Though the furniture was a bit unstable, she was thankful for it. It was more relaxing to sit on this than to kneel on the ground and scrub the floor. She let out another sigh when she reminded herself of the tremendous work she just finished. Her life before her stepmother came into picture was totally different. She was the princess of the house, not exactly the spoilt brat, but she was not in charge of all house chores. They had maids and gardeners to do that, but when her father joined her mother in the heaven, her stepmother made her life miserable. Mostly.
Miku felt a pair of gentle hands lifting up her feet, slowly removing the filthy boots from them. She gasped, hurriedly rising from lying, and faced the person who did that for a mere servant like her. The lamp illuminated him well enough, his soft golden hair was tied in its usual single pigtail at the nape of his neck. He was dressed for bed, it was the exact dress shirt she gave him an hour ago. Miku quickly stopped him from removing her boots, her eyes wide and questioning.
"Len! What are you doing? If stepmother finds out what you are doing, I will be dead meat!" whispered Miku, removing her boots herself. "Hurry and go back to your room!"
He only smiled at her and remained kneeling in one knee. His blue eyes were glistening with joy and benevolence against the candlelight. Though she knew she must hate him since he was her stepbrother, she could not bring herself to. Len was different from his mother and sister. Unlike them, he never mistreated and humiliated her. Whenever his mother or sister was not looking, he would try and help her in everything.
Len flashed her an amused smile when she got rid of her boots. Miku moved aside to share a seat with him, knowing that he would not do as what she said. He always stayed whenever he had the opportunity to, and he also mentioned it once how much he enjoyed Miku's company.
"You should go to bed now. Stepmother knew that you were asleep, or at least you were supposed to be asleep by now." Miku looked sideways to meet his gentle eyes, only to see them lighting up with, what, joy?
"How can I sleep in peace when I know that my dear stepsister is overworking herself to tidy up the kitchen?" he asked back, gracefully taking the seat she offered him. The couch slightly shook as it cushioned him, and Miku caught how wary he looked as he sat down. "This is a dangerous couch, Miku. You need to get rid of this."
"Not when it is only the thing that relaxes me from my every day's work," she yawned, closing the gap between the two of them. She rested her head on his broad shoulder, the contact made him stiff. "I'm sorry if I dirtied your shirt," she quickly moved her head away from him, only to felt him pull her back.
"No, it is fine." He combed her hair with his fingers while he untied the handkerchief on her head. Miku's appearance, tidy or not, never bothered him. It just surprised him to see her comfortable with him like this, when usually she repulsed physical contacts. "I am deeply sorry if you have to go through all these hardship because of my sister and mother," he whispered, feeling genuinely sorry for her hard work.
She only hummed, eyes closed. Perhaps she was too worn out to respond, or maybe too tired from hearing his apologies. It was always him who would apologize for his mother and sister's wickedness. At some point, Miku wondered how Rin, Len's twin sister, get a brother like Len. He was too kind, too...pure, to join the evil mother-child tandem. Len was so different. He was her only human friend in this house; he was the only person who showed her kindness from day to day.
"Miku," he whispered to her ear, his warm breath tickling her. "Are you tired?" Oh, it was the time of the night now. Len chucked her chin and turned her face towards him, and he ducked to peck her lips. His lips were soft and sweet, and she had gotten used to them. She forgot how many times they have shared a kiss – in secrecy, of course – but it was always Len who would demand for one. She was not fond of it, however, whenever Len would kiss her, the butterflies would just flutter in her stomach every now and then.
Miku fluttered her eyes open, fighting the slumber that was slowly succumbing her into. Her muscles were so tired of all the cleaning she had done today, but this man needed some scolding. "Len, go back to your room. You've gotten your goodnight kiss."
"I have not," he cooed, ducking once more to capture her lips. The Len with her tonight was different, he was quite aggressive. The usual sweet chaste kisses he would give her was replaced with a mischievous kiss–a kiss that was quite passionate, and yet sly. It was new to her. "This is," he said breathlessly before nipping on her lower lip. "This will not make me sleep at all."
The couch was wobbly. Len kept on pushing her to the edge until her back pressed against the armrest. He was hovering on her, his hands held her face as he continued kissing her. If they would continue kissing this way on the couch, it would be all over for her–er, for the couch.
"Stop," she mumbled fisting his shirt. "Enough, I'm getting dizzy."
"Why!? Are you sick? Why didn't you tell me?" he quickly pulled away and placed a hand on her forehead. "You're red. Tell me, how are you feeling? I thought so! I already told mother to stop giving you a heap of chores–"
Len was a worrywart. But maybe that was the good thing about him. After all, he was the only person who would treat her like a human in this house. Though basically he was her stepbrother, their relationship was anything but siblings. Miku was sure that she harbored romantic feelings for him, just that she did not sort it out entirely. Her stepmother would go berserk if she would learn that her handsome son was being enticed by a...filthy house maid, er, stepdaughter.
"I'm fine, Len," she laughed, trapping his face in between her palms. Miku liked his face so much, those cheekbones, and aristocratic nose, and his intellectual blue eyes...he was an open book. His emotions were always transparent. She pulled him down to kiss the tip of his nose. They exchanged a giggle as soon as she let his face go. "I'm extremely tired and I think I need to retire for tonight."
"I always think of you and I never get tired," he nuzzled into her neck, blowing breaths on its crook. He felt Miku shiver, her hands began clawing against his chest. "But I respect your decision tonight. Tomorrow, Mother and Rin will leave to attend the gathering in the palace. The Prince's birthday. I hope you aren't interested to be the prince's spouse?"
Miku watched him with eyes half-closes. She could see the worry-lines on his forehead, his brows almost knitted. "The prince will not pick a maid like me to be his wife. I won't be attending. You know Rin won't want me to."
Len ducked down again, his fingers started to twirl hair. His lips met hers, and he continued showering her jawline with butterfly kisses. "That's right," he mumbled seductively. "Because the prince must know you are mine."
She only chuckled and pushed his face away. She was his? This guy was getting carried away. Miku did not know what exactly their relationship was, but it was beyond being step-siblings for sure. "I need to rest. You too. You have a grand ball to attend tomorrow."
"Miku, I will come back for you." Len leaned down again to kiss the side of her eyes. He flashed her a departing smile before leaving the attic.
When the door closed quietly after him, Miku clutched her chest and rested her head on her folded knees, mind pondering about this matter. Len would always shower her with affection she longed for, ever since her father passed away. Every night, Len would visit her quarters to check on her. Everything began with a simple chitchat, until it was replaced with physical advances. They never went beyond kissing, though. And all these acts were confusing the hell out of her.
It was the particular time of the night she was not so into. Len never once mentioned about what he really felt for her, no open declaration of love whatsoever, so she did not know how to handle her throbbing heart whenever Len would come this time of the night. Nevertheless, he was her stepbrother and her stepmother would not be glad to know what was going on between them.