28 Days of Living under the Same Roof

My brother tasked me with getting the WhatsApp number of a guy he looked up to. After three drinks, the man was drunk, but I wasn't.

When I woke up, I found him lying next to me, with my underwear covering his face.

I was dumbfounded. "Please, let me explain..."

The day after my brother asked me to get this man's number was also the day a huge misunderstanding began.

"Did you get the number?" my brother had called multiple times.

"Yes... I got it,"

I replied, my voice muffled under the blanket, sounding like an old witch's.

"Then why aren't you back yet? Do you know how long I've been waiting?"

He sounded impatient.

I peeked through the blanket at the man lying next to me.

"Um... Can you find someone else to do that?"

I asked my brother hesitantly.

"Why?"

"I think... he might be a bit too old," I stammered, struggling to find the right words.

"Old is good. What do you know, kiddo?"

Huh? Old is good? My heart sank.

Is my brother out of his mind?

"Please, get a grip!"

This is unbelievable. My brother, single for decades, actually sent me to get a guy's phone number.

Was my brother acting strange?

He was definitely acting strange.

Oh no! I just wanted to get that man's number, but now he seemed to want me.

"Stop talking nonsense. Do you want that latest iPhone or not? Give me the number!"

My brother yelled.

I gritted my teeth and squeezed out a word. "Fine."

Maybe I was too loud because a large hand suddenly pulled me out from under the blanket. A sleepy face stared lazily at me.

"Your voice is so hoarse," he said in a low voice.

"No..." I was so scared I hung up on my brother. "I'm not!"

"Alright." He smiled at me, sighed, and whispered in my ear, "You shouldn't be so stubborn, little girl."

"What's your name?"

he asked, my face pale with fear.

He looked at me with affectionate eyes, paused for a second, and then chuckled. "Didn't remember from last night?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I was about to cry. "Please don't be like this... please.

Cayson, can you just... stay away from me?"

I realized my voice was trembling.

He lowered his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, "Are you shy?"

I was petrified. Quickly, I pushed him away, rolled off the bed, grabbed my clothes, and dashed to the bathroom. In the bathroom, I hurriedly put on my clothes. My brother called again.

I quickly hung up and started looking for Cayson's Whatsapp number. When I saw the dark profile picture with the note "Corrine No. 1957", my heart skipped a beat.

Had I flirted with so many men already?

The next second, the profile picture popped up, startling me. "You didn't take your panties. They're stained. Do you want me to buy you a new pair?"

It was Cayson! I replied, "No! I mean... none of your business!" My scalp tingled, and I wasn't sure what I was saying. Then I added a "please" emoji.

And, surprisingly, he really didn't bother me after that.

I calmed down in the bathroom for a few minutes, then went out wearing a dress. It wasn't much, just a bit breezy.

I took small steps towards him, holding down my dress, and sat beside him. "About last night, you're 99% responsible."

He looked exhausted, barely opening his eyes. "Hmm." I pressed my hand against my racing heart.

He continued, "1% is my fault for not supervising properly." He chuckled, still looking like he was letting me perform.

"Hmm," I replied and mentally screamed. Why couldn't I say anything but "hmm"?

I was a bit annoyed.

"So, we're both adults. Let's pretend nothing happened. You can't... tell anyone, including my brother!" I took a deep breath and calmed down. He didn't respond, just glanced at me. His gaze slowly moved down to my lips and stopped. "Are you eighteen?"

"Of course! I'm 20!" I wanted to punch him. Where was he looking? The look in his eyes made me uncomfortable!

"20?" He sighed, took out a cigarette from the bedside table, lit it, and rubbed his temples. "Just 20?"

"You're not much older, just a few years ahead..." I blurted out, my face turning red halfway through.

He was stunned for a moment, then bit his cigarette and laughed. "You're quite fierce."

I was speechless and felt like he was underestimating me. "I'm not just fierce; I can also hit people."

I raised my fist, and a gust of wind blew my dress up again. I quickly pushed it down, holding it tightly as I continued to threaten, "Be careful, or I'll get you!"

He laughed instead of getting angry, which only made me feel more guilty. "Don't hit me. I'm old and scared." He sat up, holding his cigarette. The blanket slipped off, and I was momentarily shocked again.

Old?

Was he that old?

Why did my brother like him?

As I closed my eyes, he had already put on a pair of sweatpanties. I remembered him without his panties on.

Just one look, and the image automatically appeared.

"You!" I glared at him. "Someone added you on Whatsapp. Can you accept it?" He paused, his side profile looking at me through the smoke, so handsome I was dazed. He asked, "Who?"

I stared, swallowed, and cursed my unchanging lust. "My brother." He frowned slightly. "Your brother?"

"Yes!" He was silent for two seconds, then said, "Alright," and went to the bathroom.

He didn't even ask why, just added my brother. He really was a bit strange.

I covered my mouth and swallowed everything that had happened last night.

The sound of water came from the bathroom, and my heartbeat was louder than the water.

I stood up quickly.

I should leave (run away).

But, I was not wearing... How could I go out like this?

I wanted to bang my head against the wall.

In desperation, I started rummaging through his room. After a few minutes, I was stunned.

How could a man's wardrobe have women's panties?

Obviously not.

So, when he came out dressed, he saw me holding his panties, comparing sizes.

"You... what are you doing with my panties?" He stood behind me, and when I turned around, I saw his 6'2" frame. The oppressive feeling made me a bit breathless.

I quickly tossed the panties aside and slumped to the floor, admitting honestly, "I didn't... I just borrowed them..."

The air suddenly felt terrifyingly quiet. I could feel his gaze, like it was boring into my forehead.

Without saying a word, he picked up the panties from the floor and deliberately bent down to look at me. "You can't wear these anyway-your waist is too thin."

Too thin?

I quickly covered my waist. What was wrong with him?

What a pervert! And why did my brother like this creepy guy?

Before I could say anything, the doorbell rang.

We both looked toward the door.

Oh no... Could it be my brother?

I was doomed.

He leisurely put his panties back on, pointed to the sofa next to him, and said, "Why do you like sitting on the floor? Are you a pet?"

"I... I'm not!" I snapped, irritated.

As I looked up, he actually laughed, heading for the door while chuckling.

How embarrassing.

"Hello, we're the community workers," a voice said from the door.

I crouched by his bed, secretly eavesdropping. The conversation was hard to make out, but I caught the phrase, "We hope you cooperate with a 28-day home quarantine."

Twenty-eight days? In Cayson's home?

I was completely panicked.

"What's going on? What do we do?"

I asked him in a frenzy after the community workers left, I looked at him anxiously, hoping he'd tell me I'd misheard.

"Last night, a family in our building tested positive. We can't leave for now," he said, his tone more serious.

"You should call your family and explain."

"I..." I lowered my head in panic and suddenly remembered something. "Did you get the exposure notification?"

"You didn't think of this when we kissed last night... but now you remember?"

He smiled, sitting on the bed. "I did get it."

"Huh?" I was stunned. The first rule of dating during a pandemic was to check the exposure notification before getting close. How did I forget that?

"Yours should be coming in soon, too. We can't leave this building for 28 days-bear with it,"

he said, trying to comfort me.

But I wasn't having it.

"I want to go home."

I got up too quickly, and my head spun.

Before I knew it, I had fallen sideways-right on top of him.

He lay flat on the bed, hands raised in surrender. "The door's over there."

"I know." The situation was beyond embarrassing, but I needed a second to clear my head. "Ow."

Just as I was about to get up, I heard him groan. Panicked, I jumped to my feet, only to find his face twisted in pain.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He ignored me, closed his eyes for a few seconds, then said bitterly, "Don't you know how heavy you are?"

"Sorry..." I was mortified. "I've got low blood sugar."

He sighed. "Stop messing around. We can't leave. Make a list of what you need, and I'll have them buy it."

"How am I supposed to explain this to my brother?"

I muttered, my voice shaking as real tears began to fall.

"Do you care about your brother that much?" He sat up slowly, thought for a moment, and then picked up his phone. "Want me to explain it to him?" he offered.

"No!" I reflexively grabbed his hand, snatched his phone, and tossed it aside. "Don't talk to him. Don't contact him."

"Are you that scared of him?" he asked, teasing me with a sly grin.

"I'm not scared of him. I just... don't want any misunderstandings between you two."

I clutched my phone and slowly moved toward the balcony.

"Alright."

He raised an eyebrow, looking indifferent.

On the balcony, I glanced back to make sure he wasn't following me and then called my brother.

"Hey, I'm quarantined... I have to stay at someone else's place for 28 days,"

I explained and frowned deeply.

I tried to keep it vague, hoping my brother wouldn't get suspicious.

"Whose place?"

His perceptiveness was terrifying.

"Just... him," I stammered, feeling like the truth was about to spill out.

"Holy shit..." My brother was probably fuming by now. "You got his number and ended up at his place?"

Wow, what a sharp mind.

"Yeah." I couldn't hide it any longer.

"You... Corrine, you... Fine, do more housework while you're there. Don't be lazy like you are at home. Leave a good impression.

I still needs you..."

What???

"You don't mind me living with him?" I tested the waters cautiously.

"Of course not. You're my sister."

Alright, my brother was really heartless to me.

He'd go crazy if he knew his baby sister had sex with a man he looked up to last night.

"Then... will you still buy me the iPhone 13?" I asked shamelessly, even at a time like this.

"Of course! I'll get it for you when you come out,"

he promised, sounding unusually excited.

"But while you're there, be diligent, behave, and don't cause trouble. Best if you could..." He hesitated, his tone shy. "Take care of him for me.

You always boss me around at home, so think of it as a favor."

I was speechless. All this just for that? My brother was actually asking me to look after another man!

After hanging up, I cautiously walked back inside.

The moment I stepped in, I saw Cayson coming out of the kitchen with a glass of milk, talking on the phone.

"Yes, for a girl, size..." He scrutinized me from head to toe as he spoke.

What a creep... I quickly hugged myself.

"B?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, his handsome eyes making it hard to stay composed.

"What nonsense! How do you even know my..." I looked down at myself, feeling indignant.

"More than that," he chuckled, then added, "Get a looser fit."

He added, "Pink? Is that okay?"

He was about to walk into his room but turned back and asked softly, "Little girl?"

I was speechless.

I grew up and stopped wearing pink! "Black. Lace. No underwire. Thank you."

I clenched my fists and glared at him.

He stared at me for a moment, then chuckling, his voice softening as he said, "Alright."

He continued listing items on the phone as he approached me, "Two sets of pajamas, Size M. Five sets of loungewear and sportswear..."

I raised my hands defensively, backing away step by step.

I was stunned.

What was he up to?

"Be rational," I warned, fear creeping into my voice as he leaned in. "Oh?" He stopped, smiling. "You learn quickly."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"The advice I gave last night. You applied it well."

He handed me the glass of milk, giving me a knowing look. "Drink it. Didn't you say you had low blood sugar?"

He might not be the most tender person, but he was thoughtful.

I took the glass and drank it all in one go.

He acted as if nothing had happened, stepping back seriously.

"I'll be in the study working for a while. Feel free to do whatever you like."

He waved and disappeared into his room.

The moment he was gone, I let out a sigh of relief.

Looking down, I noticed my hand holding the glass was trembling, and my legs felt weak.