53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF70O4dqmj
I wake up to the sound of Felix’s loud music blaring from his room. Rolling my eyes, I kick off the worn-out blanket and drag myself out of bed.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC2EmLmJp4
Another day, another dollar, as they say.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4AKtpwMoJ
Our apartment is nothing fancy—just a cramped space filled with mismatched furniture and the constant smell of instant noodles.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fvooi9Bhq
But it’s home, and it’s where Felix and I have been holding it together since Mom and Dad left us in that stupid car accident.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDlkXB0cOq
I shuffle into the kitchen, the linoleum floor cold beneath my feet.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xCWccbyB6
Felix is already there, his eyes glued to his phone as he slurps his cereal like it’s the last meal on earth.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU5NQ5FayN
“Morning, Junebug,” he grins, his mouth full of soggy flakes.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaRNKR2TLl
I grunt in response, too tired to muster up a fake smile.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KZlXsZnan
“What’s with the long face?” he asks, finally tearing his eyes away from his phone long enough to shoot me a curious glance.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGqk11jbo8
I roll my eyes, resisting the urge to snap at him. “Nothing, Felix. Just tired, that’s all.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbKKaIQoMa
He raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh, sure. You know, maybe if you actually got out once in a while and did something other than work and read those cringe novels of yours, you wouldn’t be such a buzzkill.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27wHgaSGoa
I feel my blood boiling at his words, the familiar sting of resentment bubbling up inside me. Why does he always have to be such a jerk?
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPbwULjtep
“Excuse me? It’s too early for this, please.” I snap, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Last time I checked, it’s none of your business what I do in my free time.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK7l4Zjmji
Felix shrugs, unfazed by my outburst. “I’m just saying, maybe if you put yourself out there once in a while, you might actually meet someone who’s not a total loser.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz0it8Ja8t
I clench my fists, trying to suppress the urge to punch him in the face. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI88z0Hv9lU
He smirks, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me. “Oh, come on, June. You’re getting old and you’ve never had a boyfriend since… What's his name? Tom? It’s been ages since you two broke up? Don’t you think it’s time to have another man?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ivM6WI5Nv
I feel my cheeks burning with humiliation, the weight of his words crushing me like a ton of bricks. He knows exactly how to push my buttons, and he’s not afraid to use that knowledge against me.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnFORx73lA
“Shut up, Felix,” I retort, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “And for your information, those ‘cringe novels’ are my escape route from this crappy reality.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF4bSg1ZTc
We’ve been at each other’s throats more often than not lately, and I can feel another argument brewing beneath the surface.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnUFwx2gdc
But despite our constant bickering, there’s a bond between us that runs deeper than words.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxvPuMejAj
Felix, at 16, is all I have left of our family, and I’ll be damned if I let anything tear us apart.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LlMTmVDkb
As I pour myself a cup of lukewarm coffee, I steal a glance at Felix.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhQyAiJz0s
Despite his annoying habits and his tendency to drive me up the wall, I can’t help but feel grateful for his presence.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPH9qV3eeS
He’s growing up so fast, and sometimes I forget that he’s still just a kid trying to figure out this messed-up world.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpkSAxZxNG
I settle into my chair, bracing myself for another day of whatever life decides to throw our way.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi15M310PBu
I grab a slice of bread and plop it into the toaster, trying to ignore Felix’s annoying humming as he slurps his cereal. Seriously, does he have to be so loud this early in the morning?
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbs7fzK4xU
“Hey, June, you mind picking up some more milk on your way home from work today?” Felix asks, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJGDmvRLul
I shoot him a glare, my patience wearing thin. “And what, you’re just gonna sit there all day, playing video games and stuffing your face?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTQKbH2Amg
Felix rolls his eyes, unfazed by my irritation. “Hey, someone’s gotta keep this place from falling apart. It’s not my fault you’re too busy working your butt off to notice.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4xKWUFB3P
I bristle at his comment, that familiar sting of resentment bubbling up inside me, again. He knows I’d do anything for him, but sometimes it feels like he’s just taking advantage of me.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67csAVrkBv
“Yeah, well, maybe if you pitched in once in a while, we wouldn’t be living paycheck to paycheck,” I snap, my frustration boiling over.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV49wMnhL5U
Felix scoffs, his tone mocking. “Oh, please. Like you’re some kind of saint, working yourself to the bone while I sit around doing nothing.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZb1nLVQ20
I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, the toaster pops, startling us both. With a huff, I grab the burnt toast and toss it onto a plate, my appetite long gone.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci6FsUuzMX
We stand there in silence, the tension thick between us like a fog. I can feel Felix’s eyes on me, waiting for me to apologize, but I refuse to back down this time.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwYDuCluuw
We’ve had this argument a thousand times before, and I’m tired of pretending like everything’s okay when it’s not.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXjNc4xyh9
Finally, Felix sighs, breaking the silence. “Look, June, I didn’t mean it like that. I know you’re doing your best, okay?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7dFircCsc
I sigh, too exhausted to keep up the fight. “Yeah, well, it’s not good enough, is it?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRFcPRKD3T
Felix reaches out to touch my arm, his expression softening. “Hey, don’t say that. We’re in this together, remember?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKC7exIXy0
I nod, feeling a pang of guilt for snapping at him. He may drive me crazy sometimes, but he’s still my little brother, and I’d do anything to protect him.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvckd4EeCnA
With a resigned sigh, I force a smile and ruffle his hair. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll figure it out, somehow.”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtUmFwH4DA
Felix grins back at me, the tension between us dissipating like smoke in the wind. “That’s the spirit. Now, are you gonna eat that burnt toast, or can I have it?”
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iKzudMV6u
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but laugh. Maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQIRSeaz5M
I flop onto my bed, feeling like a sack of potatoes. Felix’s nagging replays in my head like a broken record. Am I really pulling my weight? Or am I just kidding myself?
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN0cVKaSLf
I grab the dusty photo album from my nightstand, hoping for a distraction.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22rgIS6bYR
Flipping through the pages, I see Mom and Dad’s smiling faces staring back at me.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawoGcDo9uW
A lump forms in my throat, and before I know it, tears start streaming down my face.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hXsF2OrIX
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, feeling like a total mess. Mom and Dad are gone, and no amount of wishing will bring them back.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxzp6aX5S4
It’s just me and Felix against the world now, and sometimes, it feels like we’re losing.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwgdeI8xJj
I shove the album back into its hiding spot, burying my sadness along with it.
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2KpfNqqw1
