The house was just how she remembered it.8964 copyright protection581PENANAbNkDLKsP7H 維尼
A single story house that was wide enough to occupy four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the entire perimeter was complemented with a neat landscape of flowers and a large tree with thick branches shadowing the driveway. Unlike other secluded and private residences, it looked pretty quaint and homely to live in, which it was.8964 copyright protection581PENANApVxKcOdeUE 維尼
December paid the cab fare and stood in front of the house – one she hadn't exactly step foot into since her parents left for overseas.8964 copyright protection581PENANA8ZeawT81qy 維尼
Except for the times when she came back to retrieve her things, her new home had been the dormitory and as she looked at it now, December almost felt a sense of longing, as though she was familiar with it yet foreign from the place.8964 copyright protection581PENANAaTuqziAtU1 維尼
Still, she was extremely eager to see her parents after so long.8964 copyright protection581PENANA2GSdbQctTh 維尼
She started for the house and when she rang the bell, December suddenly felt awkward.8964 copyright protection581PENANA5xy4J5Kyy9 維尼
I feel like a salesman, she thought foolishly with a hint of giddy.8964 copyright protection581PENANArIqZW2Ixop 維尼
The door opened and she saw her mother's beaming face before she was engulfed into a tight hug. The smell of her mother's signature perfume made her overwhelmed with joy and familiarity.8964 copyright protection581PENANAxs7ITJiHQF 維尼
"Sweetheart, it is so good to see you!" she heard her mother's muffled voice.8964 copyright protection581PENANAYKb6b0Xuj0 維尼
"Flo, can't you wait till the girl is inside?" came her father's booming voice as he laughed.8964 copyright protection581PENANAlH5jmY7Nud 維尼
December gasped, but hugged her mother tightly. "Can't breathe!"8964 copyright protection581PENANATPj7cTsKN5 維尼
Instantly, her mother let go.8964 copyright protection581PENANAv2U5N216Yh 維尼
"Let me take a look at you." Florence Reed held her at an arm's length as she took in the sight of her teenage daughter, inspecting everything. "You look well. Though maybe you could have put more meat on that body of yours. What have you been eating?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAYWUnSg0BIc 維尼
Mostly everything you wouldn't approve, December thought as she grinned sheepishly when her mother reprimanded her. It wasn't that she didn't eat proper food, she just preferred instant convenience resource – which would no doubt sound ridiculous if she admit this to them.8964 copyright protection581PENANA0niB3sgsmt 維尼
Everything was convenient these days, even good food, she imagined her parents would say.8964 copyright protection581PENANA2ViuLsyRf4 維尼
Knowing she'd hear a lecture about healthy and crappy foods, she opted to change the topic, one which was nonetheless true. She chuckled. "I'm happy to see you too, Mum. Dad."8964 copyright protection581PENANA5YjFzPxO2x 維尼
December hugged her dad just as tight as she did her mother.8964 copyright protection581PENANA1k13AICGUz 維尼
"I reminded your mother to do this inside." He sighed. "Our neighbours will see." Theodore Scarborough said the last bit to his wife.8964 copyright protection581PENANAcqmWs7xs9n 維尼
Florence scoffed at her grumbling husband. "Around here? They hardly come out of their house, Theodore. Now that's one of the things I'm glad for, actually. No nosy people unlike your relatives." She muttered the last.8964 copyright protection581PENANA8ved8oGhFp 維尼
December raised eyebrows at her mother then father, puzzled. She saw her dad raised his hands up in defeat when he saw the look on her mother's face. "I'll go finish setting up dinner."8964 copyright protection581PENANAdVfNfn5pdQ 維尼
When he left, she turned to her mother. "What was that all about?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAVkoj5p1F98 維尼
Waving offhandedly, Florence sighed. "Just your father's distant relatives. You know the ones in Bristol? I almost forgot how dreadful they can be."8964 copyright protection581PENANAB1wSf6AypY 維尼
December looked at her mother in surprise. "Bristol? But I thought you were in Hungary."8964 copyright protection581PENANAnyLC2u3rUu 維尼
Her mother nodded. "We were but there was a gala for the company's event and we bumped into some relatives there."8964 copyright protection581PENANAKZ6Vybn3j9 維尼
December grinned. "If you hated them so much mum, then why did we move there in the first place?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAd6l9OFD9KA 維尼
Her mother gave her a long suffering sigh. "Had I known how awful one of his great aunt is, I would have ask your father that we stayed in London. Still, we're in San Francisco now so that's a great relief. I hope we won't be going to any events there soon." December's mother muttered the last.8964 copyright protection581PENANAIcVCSdmOmV 維尼
December mulled over that. She hadn't met these distant relatives that her mother mentioned before, but seeing how worked up her mum was, she hoped not to anyway. December took great consideration if there was anyone who'd easily ticked her mother off – whom rarely get the negative emotions the best of her.8964 copyright protection581PENANAoLnsHHlTZH 維尼
Her mother then patted her shoulder and said, "Come on now, we'll have dinner soon." before leading them further inside.8964 copyright protection581PENANAAa1McOnS9v 維尼
She smiled as they walked through the living room, and tried to focus while her mother spoke of their business trips. Her eyes were drawn to the things around her – wanting to take in as much as she could in a place that was familiar yet so foreign. She took note of the way things were left as it was then and etching it all in her memory; the framed photographs on the white drawer cabinet, the blue couch and sofa, TV, and bookshelves. Everything looked as if it was newly bought; and her mind brought her back briefly to the first day they moved here years ago. Curious, she put a finger on the shelf and swept at it, only to see no dust.8964 copyright protection581PENANAe1NMpMnWhE 維尼
Every position was just as she remembered it.8964 copyright protection581PENANAvzaM0tCwSB 維尼
Florence stopped talking when she saw December taking in her surroundings. "Amazing, isn't it? I knew I made the right decision when I hired Ursula."8964 copyright protection581PENANApp57bicYoX 維尼
"Is she home, too?" December asked, eager. How could she have forgotten her? Ursula was the only housekeeper whom she felt close to. Despite working on certain days with the Scarborough family, she thought the woman was caring and gentle, and if it weren't for her, she didn't know how she'd survive for the first few months whenever her parents went out of town.8964 copyright protection581PENANAPkoSBqHt3E 維尼
"No," her mother shook her head. "Left just an hour before you arrived. Hmm, I'll need to double her pay too for all of…"8964 copyright protection581PENANADhkp9hAMnc 維尼
She smiled.8964 copyright protection581PENANABBLpjAQmA0 維尼
She liked this; the comfortability and familiarity of the place. December missed the warmth of her parents and she was glad to be home. She didn't think she'd want to be anywhere else.8964 copyright protection581PENANAIwWItbTNdG 維尼
December almost wanted to take that last bit back when she saw who was leaning by the kitchen counter.8964 copyright protection581PENANAgenzWMOFy5 維尼
She froze when they stopped in the kitchen, the colour slowly draining from her face.8964 copyright protection581PENANAA8Eq1qVBgK 維尼
Her mother went to her father, helping him just as he was putting the last dish on the table when she saw the tall figure staring at her with his arms folded.8964 copyright protection581PENANAQXSfppwzNM 維尼
He was a few years older than her, and inherited the hereditary trademark of square jaws for the males in the Scarborough family. The only thing she truly shared with him was the dark brown hair, which would make a profound evidence if she hadn't dyed her hair a platinum silver. In fact, if it weren't for their blood relations and some similarity in the features, she'd think he's a stranger in the house – although technically he sort of was to her.8964 copyright protection581PENANAsPwW5z3JM8 維尼
Between them, he was the smarter one. But also crueler, which made her want to hightail out of the house when a sudden rush of unpleasant memories played through her mind.8964 copyright protection581PENANA28X3nnlhTA 維尼
In fact, she would have done that if it weren't for her parents, both of whom looked happily oblivious to the change of atmosphere as they chatted and joked in the kitchen.8964 copyright protection581PENANACfJPblDkxz 維尼
His cold grey eyes stared at her, judging her even.8964 copyright protection581PENANAGFpa8hNWdO 維尼
"December." He gave a small nod, one she wouldn't have noticed if her every nerve wasn't screaming at her to be alert.8964 copyright protection581PENANAq9uz5mqp7q 維尼
She willed herself to act casual, like he hadn't just chilled her bones to Antarctica.8964 copyright protection581PENANAhOyCDVFfjh 維尼
"Hello, brother." She said stiffly, her electric blue eyes went hard.8964 copyright protection581PENANAau2EtjfAve 維尼
Of all times, why did he have to come back now? December wanted to scream.8964 copyright protection581PENANABmeUznmPxn 維尼
Dinner felt suffocating, to her at least.8964 copyright protection581PENANAcwCEqeu3df 維尼
Around the square shaped table, she sat beside her mother, whereas her father sat beside her brother. Unfortunately, that meant that she had to eat her dinner facing him.8964 copyright protection581PENANAhCQ8C3NpgD 維尼
December was grateful when her mother interjected her stiff greeting with a 'Surprise!' and while she hadn't understood why, she did seconds after.8964 copyright protection581PENANAd7cpfBAAFb 維尼
Her brother coming home was a surprise, alright.8964 copyright protection581PENANAGeNyPxiMiz 維尼
A terrible one for her.8964 copyright protection581PENANAdb6AhqqEA7 維尼
"So, Michael. How's everything at the Uni?" Her father asked him as he cut his chicken in precision, before saying, "I can't believe we met you at the airport. And without calling first!"8964 copyright protection581PENANAhAdW5wewxO 維尼
Michael grinned at them but December saw nothing but a cold smirk. "Surprise?"8964 copyright protection581PENANArNkN1dIduZ 維尼
Her parents laughed.8964 copyright protection581PENANAjvBLbw8g0C 維尼
She wanted to stab him.8964 copyright protection581PENANA5v7GLmHaJ9 維尼
December couldn't remember the last time she felt so much animosity towards someone. If she had thought dealing with Karen Joyce was terrible, seeing her brother now certainly changed that presumption and it made her remember all the things she had gone through because of him. Karen was…practically an angel.8964 copyright protection581PENANA2ZtVBhoPSJ 維尼
'Okay, no. She's still a devil, December thought grimly, 'even though he's the king of it all.'8964 copyright protection581PENANA2j9S84ErS9 維尼
"Other than prepping up for my thesis, I'm afraid there's nothing eventful for me to brag about." Michael laughed, a controlled and polite sound rolling effortlessly. Nothing eventful, a thesis? Sounds pretty eventful to her. Still, she hadn't him heard laugh like that in a while - even though the laugh sounded fake to her. She wasn't even sure if that was how he usually was, and found herself struggling with that bit. He was both a brother and a stranger, which bothered her at how different they are.8964 copyright protection581PENANAuwgNN3DuKH 維尼
Being four years apart, she could barely remember if she had played with him like normal siblings did when they were younger. Back when her parents spent more time and worked from home, before their promotions and impassable opportunities breached her wonderful world.8964 copyright protection581PENANAptICPRMs69 維尼
Maybe they did, because he couldn't possibly become someone who was as cold and disregarding as he was now. Despite the treatment she received from him, she wanted to at least hold on to that.8964 copyright protection581PENANAI840PUO6e0 維尼
It was her weakness, but one she couldn't bring herself to change.8964 copyright protection581PENANAhWrsn8Hih6 維尼
December ate quietly as she listened to their conversations and though she was partially accustomed to being ignored sometimes, she never liked it when it was her parents who did this. It seemed that whenever her brother was around, she was immediately one with the wall, and it hurt more because the person who hogged their parent's attention was her estranged brother. The one who hated her for reasons she couldn't comprehend.8964 copyright protection581PENANAe6E1sdZOTS 維尼
Not liking this feeling, she was about to cut in when her mother turned to her and asked, "How about you, dear? Made any new friends?"8964 copyright protection581PENANA5O6yc7kErZ 維尼
Startled with both her mother's attention and the question, she stuttered, "Y-yes."8964 copyright protection581PENANATEJI8C7VaI 維尼
It sunk in and she realized with a warm feeling that yes, she did made some new friends. The slow smile on her face was telling enough to her parents who nodded with a satisfied smile.8964 copyright protection581PENANAA6YPTLFIrE 維尼
She noticed that Mike had a grin on his face, but he didn't seem to share their parents' elation.8964 copyright protection581PENANAvTkGTkJ0WL 維尼
His spelt trouble, like it always did in the past.8964 copyright protection581PENANAQJKW24UD0t 維尼
And for the first time since he left for London years ago, December felt that familiar but unpleasant feeling snaking around her again.8964 copyright protection581PENANAfq5wk2gYML 維尼
Dinner went on for longer than their usual one. Both she and Michael answered and chatted with their parents who miraculously just seemed oblivious to their children's ominous and wary vibes with each other. If she could just cast that bad vibes aside, she would have been able to enjoyed dinner in her parents' presence; she had waited long enough to be with them.8964 copyright protection581PENANANuw74nAKiB 維尼
Again, she wondered of all days why her brother had to return home from his university the same day she did.8964 copyright protection581PENANAYxSOh1gCRr 維尼
December supposed her parents wouldn't notice the uneasy feeling between them anyway, they had always been like that, believing that they're both angel siblings…and considering how both of them were like angels when they were little, it made sense. Yet, how long can a person stay unaware toward their surroundings? Part of her hoped they would notice the changes between Michael and her – that he wasn't always the perfect son with the perfect score and manners, and that they'd see through his false façade.8964 copyright protection581PENANAfctUssFl7s 維尼
Maybe her memory got distorted, replaced by a pleasant one because of what she had gone through or desperately believed. Or maybe she's just making excuses – she barely remembered him, and there were little to no pictures of her even playing with him.8964 copyright protection581PENANAyNzm5IwCnW 維尼
She wanted to believe that he had changed but that steely gaze of his made her take a step back.8964 copyright protection581PENANA787q80gPMS 維尼
Because he hadn't.8964 copyright protection581PENANAvNPd1oW4cH 維尼
While doing the dishes, she heard her parents talking to Michael before her mother walked into the kitchen, picking up a dish and drying it with a cloth.8964 copyright protection581PENANABAWt5EC4Zd 維尼
They worked together silently before her mum spoke, "It's nice, isn't it?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAmfp05ZjFHx 維尼
"Huh?" December said in non-committal, partially distracted.8964 copyright protection581PENANAxBI8nC7F3Q 維尼
Her mother let out a soft chuckle. "I'm glad that we're all back here together. Of course, this is the first time your brother has actually been here since we moved from Bristol years ago. But it feels like we're a family again."8964 copyright protection581PENANADx4qr1KKtP 維尼
December's brows furrowed as she tried to think of a reply. They were a family, regardless if they were an ocean apart but she agreed with her mother nonetheless. It had been the longest any one of them stayed away from each other.8964 copyright protection581PENANAwCv0DzTCKz 維尼
"I'm glad I came back home, mum," She said quietly. This part was true but she almost hesitate when she continued, "I'm sure M-Michael feels the same too."8964 copyright protection581PENANAFKVWVWfqdE 維尼
Yeah, she was sure he was glad to be home to torture her, was what she thought.8964 copyright protection581PENANAXBl3Qm8UhP 維尼
December didn't know whether her mother caught her slight stutter but they worked in silence for a while.8964 copyright protection581PENANA8dx2XT8wGX 維尼
After drying the last plate, Florence put her hands on December's shoulder and kissed her head before saying, "You know I love you both so much, right?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAq8VTbLvFxb 維尼
December stared at her mother, who had a soft and gentle expression on her face. A smile broke out before it became wide. "Of course, mum. I know that."8964 copyright protection581PENANA9riPRkyhS2 維尼
Her mother nodded before patting on December's shoulder. "Good. Now, I think your father and I are going to retire to the study. You should go and freshen up now, darling."8964 copyright protection581PENANA5NIFO3ugb5 維尼
She hugged her mother and said goodnight, knowing she'll just crash the night there. After all, it had been three years since she'd seen them; two and a half years, actually and there was no way she'd return to the empty dorm room. Not tonight, at least.8964 copyright protection581PENANAOArWJU19Aq 維尼
Michael was nowhere to be seen and she was relieved that she didn't have to face him again. She took a turn towards the hallway and was just about to turn on the lights when she spotted a shadowy figure against the wall.8964 copyright protection581PENANAz8HHFLv5ws 維尼
December blanched inwardly, though she was certain her outward expression mirrored that.8964 copyright protection581PENANAZns3LS1XZa 維尼
"What do you want, Michael?" She asked cautiously.8964 copyright protection581PENANAovsDMbWSGt 維尼
She could hear the smirk in his voice when he answered, "Just want to talk, that's all."8964 copyright protection581PENANAsAKuKWoKS7 維尼
Yeah, right, she wanted to roll her eyes and scoff at him.8964 copyright protection581PENANAZGLFrLBEk8 維尼
As he moved out from the shadow, December unwittingly took a step backwards though she kept her face neutral. She gave a short but nervous laugh. "Do you have to be a creep about this?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAbPdQ4YbyGS 維尼
His cool composure almost faltered before he laughed. It sounded cold, just like him. "Come on now, I haven't seen my little sister in years and this is how she greets me?" He raised an eyebrow condescendingly and spat, "Won't you greet your big brother, December?"8964 copyright protection581PENANAdUVqbuPUGU 維尼
"I said hello already, didn't I?" She clipped as she tried to think of how to maneuver her way to her room, which was stopped by a big, annoying yet dangerous obstacle. Her retort was mindlessly quick, just like the frantic beating of her heart. Damn it. I should have been careful with my words.8964 copyright protection581PENANAmpVB921rR3 維尼
Michael's taunting face became a dark look as he closed the gap and stood before her.8964 copyright protection581PENANAj7hhwJNMjE 維尼
Too stunned to react, she stood still, her eyes wide.8964 copyright protection581PENANAk3L81hOkLi 維尼
"Just because I have been away for a long while doesn't mean I'm not going to make your life hell again. I hope you've had enough fun so far because you won't be having any from now."He spoke in a deep yet calm voice. It was too calm and eerie that she knew it wasn't just an empty threat.8964 copyright protection581PENANAO4C9zCeHP3 維尼
With a self-satisfied grin that looked feral to her, he stepped away and walked past her, leaving December ashen and breaking into beads of sweat.8964 copyright protection581PENANAguEeIPz0V7 維尼
"Creepy asshole." She whispered hoarsely to herself, wondering for the thousandth time what she did to him to deserve being taunted like this and hating him all the more for it.8964 copyright protection581PENANAHsAfkxkxYV 維尼
She quickly turned towards her room and barged in, shutting the door in the process and slid down against it as her head hung low.8964 copyright protection581PENANARXQfFLYZlj 維尼
Then, the tears came.8964 copyright protection581PENANA7PWrPmlNNc 維尼
Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it!8964 copyright protection581PENANAYbr9NbIhnW 維尼
What the hell did he mean by that anyway? Was he going to be here for good?8964 copyright protection581PENANAL5U8yQAawz 維尼
A chill crept up her spine and December could hear her heart thumping loudly as she tuned out everything else. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she realized everything would be a repeat of the past if he was going to stay.8964 copyright protection581PENANAZaFcXdwyvu 維尼
Will I always be weak?8964 copyright protection581PENANACqRs58wLsG 維尼
"Auggie!"8964 copyright protection581PENANAI4mQan4wxT 維尼
A four-year old December with cherubic face panted as she chased after her eight- year old brother in the garden, her deep blue eyes lighting up in excitement as she laughed delightedly.8964 copyright protection581PENANAzejIHjMLXG 維尼
"I got chu!" The four year old child giggled as she got a hold of his shirt in her small fist.8964 copyright protection581PENANAGk6axdPilV 維尼
It was a warm and sunny day and they were in the garden, chasing each other in circles. Their mother watched in amusement as she poured tea for her husband, who was reading the newspaper but occasionally watched them with a smile on his face.8964 copyright protection581PENANAfhr5Bs5lPq 維尼
August Michael shook his head, "No, Cece…" and grinned mischievously at her. "Not if I run again!" With that, he took off and ran away from her, laughing in carefree.8964 copyright protection581PENANARllJiHR7PK 維尼
December squealed in surprise and chased him again, laughing girlishly. "No fair! You shuppose to chase me bwother!"8964 copyright protection581PENANA9xEkdtNA55 維尼
Michael only said, "Says the one who is chasing me now! Haha!" before he sang in a chant. "You cannot catch me~ you cannot catch me~"8964 copyright protection581PENANAryvDX3qEbo 維尼
The boy tripped over his feet and fell to the ground, though he was laughing. The little girl giggled and took that as her opportunity to hop onto his back. "Got chu!"8964 copyright protection581PENANArNtGgcFt3n 維尼
Their parents laughed and watched in amusement before their mother called them to have tea…8964 copyright protection581PENANAHTZynSPtuW 維尼
….and the lovely, picture perfect family scene suddenly fade away in the background like soft but blurry acrylic paintings…8964 copyright protection581PENANAv8x8S0Kbtn 維尼
December was now twelve years old.8964 copyright protection581PENANAADubLh6bbi 維尼
They were taunting her at the school's prep compound. Both boys and girls were pushing her around, and they were mocking her and getting in her face with insults.8964 copyright protection581PENANAL3AKR14jb8 維尼
But as she cried and were now weakly begging them to stop hurting her, all she could focused on through her blurry eyes was her sixteen year old brother standing at one corner with his laughing friends as they and everyone else pointed at her, the expression he had that day became a haunting trigger that would bring back unwanted memories of her being defenseless.8964 copyright protection581PENANAm95bRGhv90 維尼
And she thought without no doubt that for the rest of her life, she would remember that the only brother who should have protected her, stood at the sidelines with a smug look full of hatred, uttering the words that had damned her.8964 copyright protection581PENANALSS3A3lu03 維尼
"You deserve it."8964 copyright protection581PENANAvsEEiT2XRl 維尼
It had haunt her and it will continue to be…because for the life of her, December Scarborough didn't know what she had done to receive such cold and heartless remark, didn't know what changed him – the only brother figure she ever had and looked up to.8964 copyright protection581PENANAvSm7jilGx7 維尼
It had been the start of a bleak life full of confusion and insecurities, but essentially it had been the end of anything pleasant about August Michael that she knew of.8964 copyright protection581PENANA8qWJYzNWQs 維尼
She woke up and sat with a start.8964 copyright protection581PENANAM1X1OfKt9h 維尼
Her heart raced fast in the cool room, and her gaze locked on to the open window where the curtains were billowing freely. She didn't remember opening it. December then took in her surroundings; in her groggy state, the still foreign yet familiar room was beginning to settle on her and she slowly laid back on the sheets. What time is it? She wondered. Then she figured it didn't matter after all.8964 copyright protection581PENANAtOR3IHmNEO 維尼
A bittersweet smile stretched across her face as she remembered those memories.8964 copyright protection581PENANAifh2uj5FPH 維尼
That was a weird dream.8964 copyright protection581PENANASgW1ZUN3Ro 維尼
And that laugh.8964 copyright protection581PENANAGpB11X6Ock 維尼
Did he actually laughed and played with her when they were children? It felt so real that it couldn't possibly be fabricated.8964 copyright protection581PENANA6JMpYkC9A4 維尼
She shook her head, not wanting to dwell on that any longer. She hadn't dreamt of any of it since the actual event happened to her a few years ago. December put an arm on her eyes, and that was when she realized something wet on her cheeks.8964 copyright protection581PENANArtpdcGoNgt 維尼
Tears.8964 copyright protection581PENANAIY2an3ZiUW 維尼
She actually cried in her sleep.8964 copyright protection581PENANARGzoxpOWQ2 維尼
Pathetic.8964 copyright protection581PENANAj9avH3KCoJ 維尼
December let out a choked laugh and covered her mouth with her arm to stop it. She had both a pleasant dream and a nightmare about her brother, and it had only been a day since she came home.8964 copyright protection581PENANAj7IMvvyVjH 維尼
Despite all the brave talks she had mustered to herself before and even the ones her friends had encouraged her for, December felt unsure and alone.8964 copyright protection581PENANAaoTmHerk1b 維尼
Hell, she really need to get a grip of herself.8964 copyright protection581PENANAtK1YGCWtuK 維尼
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