33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcHNG90jHU
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnDc68chZx
Another day, another dollar, as they say.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfKlCdfO3u
Our apartment is nothing fancy—just a cramped space filled with mismatched furniture and the constant smell of instant noodles.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnLxJBGt6F
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uo7x6tbJl
I shuffle into the kitchen, the linoleum floor cold beneath my feet.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dIdAtyIVd
Felix is already there, his eyes glued to his phone as he slurps his cereal like it’s the last meal on earth.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayWzpNQLFr
“Morning, Junebug,” he grins, his mouth full of soggy flakes.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHs6Lt9HMq
I grunt in response, too tired to muster up a fake smile.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5vbVAtIKX
“What’s with the long face?” he asks, finally tearing his eyes away from his phone long enough to shoot me a curious glance.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNhVjsMWwL
I roll my eyes, resisting the urge to snap at him. “Nothing, Felix. Just tired, that’s all.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4PulroEif
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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l12fPgrL0
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?
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPk61QxeoJ
“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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9GLug3iKK
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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WAunj1zbz
I clench my fists, trying to suppress the urge to punch him in the face. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfw8LMDuKM
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?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeijE2MzBO
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3O43UojoL
“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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhOAJpTdSj
We’ve been at each other’s throats more often than not lately, and I can feel another argument brewing beneath the surface.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r9lhCs34Q
But despite our constant bickering, there’s a bond between us that runs deeper than words.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykmlSMGMRM
Felix, at 16, is all I have left of our family, and I’ll be damned if I let anything tear us apart.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cyjfn89jD
As I pour myself a cup of lukewarm coffee, I steal a glance at Felix.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGzbF39RFb
Despite his annoying habits and his tendency to drive me up the wall, I can’t help but feel grateful for his presence.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tNsEywhLM
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGQPeyvvn7
I settle into my chair, bracing myself for another day of whatever life decides to throw our way.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZYZ8joX4O
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?
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIoRd9vEMX
“Hey, June, you mind picking up some more milk on your way home from work today?” Felix asks, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UqasJ7bCn
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?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd5ff3ef6g
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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpqseSCkY8
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOVwbatbOT
“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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSNvvCs8l0
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.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbnNwrtmYr
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz4OZa5cc6
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK0ENOKlcO
We’ve had this argument a thousand times before, and I’m tired of pretending like everything’s okay when it’s not.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5COYs6FV4
Finally, Felix sighs, breaking the silence. “Look, June, I didn’t mean it like that. I know you’re doing your best, okay?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhM3moEzZg
I sigh, too exhausted to keep up the fight. “Yeah, well, it’s not good enough, is it?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOAQvCPLAV
Felix reaches out to touch my arm, his expression softening. “Hey, don’t say that. We’re in this together, remember?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDcetFHlRS
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6at1BooPNr
With a resigned sigh, I force a smile and ruffle his hair. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll figure it out, somehow.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XpL0TLIqL
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?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt1JTFBBuD
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but laugh. Maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm80nKIT49
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?
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8FLt8wJ4C
I grab the dusty photo album from my nightstand, hoping for a distraction.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSDMxouaYx
Flipping through the pages, I see Mom and Dad’s smiling faces staring back at me.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWQ3d3DKYb
A lump forms in my throat, and before I know it, tears start streaming down my face.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7glvCSMHQC
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.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdV7tcwtN4
It’s just me and Felix against the world now, and sometimes, it feels like we’re losing.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFTDBQtxGo
I shove the album back into its hiding spot, burying my sadness along with it.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4G5h39Pgs
