28 Days of Living under the Same Roof

pp number of a guy he looked up to. After th

lying next to me, with my

ed. "Please, le

o get this man's number was also th

er?" my brother had c

. I go

ed under the blanket, sou

ck yet? Do you know how

ded imp

e blanket at the ma

find someone el

brother h

hy

too old," I stammered, strug

What do you

s good? My

her out of

, get a

single for decades, actually sen

ther actin

nitely acti

et that man's number, but

you want that latest iPhone

ther y

h and squeezed ou

suddenly pulled me out from under the bl

o hoarse," he sa

ared I hung up on m

and whispered in my ear, "You shou

s your

y face pale

, paused for a second, and then chuckl

I was about to cry. "Please

u just... stay

my voice wa

ook a deep breath, and

ed, grabbed my clothes, and dashed to the bathroom. In the ba

tsapp number. When I saw the dark profile picture with

with so many

tartling me. "You didn't take your panties. They'

our business!" My scalp tingled, and I wasn't sure

he really didn't bo

w minutes, then went out wearing a dre

down my dress, and sat beside him. "Ab

ning his eyes. "Hmm." I pressed

upervising properly." He chuckled, stil

lly screamed. Why couldn't

a bit

cluding my brother!" I took a deep breath and calmed down. He didn't respond, just g

ch him. Where was he looking? The lo

tte from the bedside table, lit it

years ahead..." I blurted out, my

then bit his cigarette and la

was underestimating me. "I'm not j

again. I quickly pushed it down, holding it tightly as

ilty. "Don't hit me. I'm old and scared." He sat up, holding his cig

l

e tha

y brother

put on a pair of sweatpanties. I r

d the image autom

you accept it?" He paused, his side profile looking at me

unchanging lust. "My brother." He

seconds, then said, "Alrigh

ust added my brother. He

wallowed everything that

the bathroom, and my heartb

d up q

leave (

ring... How could

ng my head aga

maging through his room. Afte

s wardrobe have

ousl

sed, he saw me holding hi

behind me, and when I turned around, I saw his 6'2"

slumped to the floor, admitting honestl

y quiet. I could feel his gaze, l

the floor and deliberately bent down to look at me.

th

my waist. What w

why did my brother l

say anything, t

oked towar

ould it be

s do

to the sofa next to him, and said, "Why do y

t!" I snappe

lly laughed, heading for

mbarr

munity workers," a vo

ersation was hard to make out, but I caught the phrase,

days? In Ca

mpletely

ng on? What

nity workers left, I looked at him anxi

tested positive. We can't leave for

ll your family

d suddenly remembered something. "Di

when we kissed last nigh

ing on the bed.

ring a pandemic was to check the exposure notific

, too. We can't leave this buil

rying to c

asn't h

t to g

quickly, and

had fallen sideways-

ands raised in surrender.

ond embarrassing, but I needed

him groan. Panicked, I jumped to my fee

wrong?"

a few seconds, then said bitterly,

ortified. "I've go

can't leave. Make a list of what y

ed to explain th

e shaking as real t

p slowly, thought for a moment, and then picked up h

natched his phone, and tossed it aside.

f him?" he asked, teas

st... don't want any misunde

e and slowly moved

rig

yebrow, lookin

to make sure he wasn't followin

I have to stay at someone

d and frow

ue, hoping my brother

se p

iveness was

ed, feeling like the tru

bably fuming by now. "You got his

at a sh

uldn't hide

ework while you're there. Don't be lazy li

needs

at

ing with him?" I teste

not. You're

ther was really

baby sister had sex with a ma

the iPhone 13?" I asked shamele

get it for you wh

sounding unus

d don't cause trouble. Best if you could..." He

round at home, so th

r that? My brother was actually as

, I cautiously w

on coming out of the kitchen with a

." He scrutinized me fro

.. I quickly

ebrow, his handsome eyes mak

en know my..." I looked down

chuckled, then adde

"Pink? Is

is room but turned back and

spee

ring pink! "Black. Lace.

y fists and

then chuckling, his voice so

e approached me, "Two sets of pajamas, Size

efensively, backing

s st

as he

into my voice as he leaned in. "Oh?" He

I asked,

e last night. You

ng me a knowing look. "Drink it. Did

most tender person,

ss and drank i

ng had happened, ste

ing for a while. Feel free

disappeared i

gone, I let out

nd holding the glass was trem