Chapter 6 Kayden's Return

As the morning light seeped into her room, Claire stirred from her slumber. With a languid stretch, she yawned, feeling the day's freshness enveloping her. Slipping out of bed, she made her way to the diminutive dining area, where a jug of water sat patiently on the table, offering the promise of refreshment.

Taking the jug with her, she sauntered into the kitchen, her footsteps echoing the tranquility of the morning. With a glass cup in hand, she indulged in a sip of water, relishing the simple pleasure it provided. As she headed back to her room, a sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"It's so early. Who could that be?" she murmured to herself, her curiosity piqued.

Hastening to answer the door, she swung it open, only to be greeted by the smiling face of her brother, Kayden. "Brother!" she exclaimed, her laughter bubbling up as she enveloped him in a tight hug.

"How are you, Claire?" Kayden asked, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection.

"I'm perfectly fine, brother. You know, I'm doing very much okay right now, compared to the last time we talked," Claire replied.

"I can see that," Kayden said, his smile widening. "But wait, aren't you even going to invite your brother in?" he teased.

"Of course, come on in. You know you are always welcome here. You shouldn't act formal with us," Claire said, stepping aside to make way for him. "You know, your visit really took me by surprise," she continued as they entered the dining area, settling into a chair.

"But why? Didn't I tell you I would always show up during the weekend?" Kayden said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"That's not what I mean, Kayden. It's as if you didn't get to sleep well. Just look at the time. It's so early," she remarked, her concern knitting her brows together.

"Well, like they always say, 'If you really love someone, you will do anything just to see them.' You know I love you and mother very much, don't you? You are the only family I've got," Kayden said, his words laced with affection and sincerity, causing Claire to blush in response.

The conversation took a sudden turn as he mentioned Isabella.

"Speaking of mother, where is she? Isn't she awake yet?" he inquired, scanning the room.

"Oh yeah, she's still in bed. You know, she slept pretty late last night," Claire replied, her voice tinged with concern.

"But why?" Kayden pressed on.

"Believe me, brother, I tried persuading her last night, but she didn't listen to me. She insisted on fanning me till I slept," Claire explained, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Hmm... You enjoyed it, didn't you?" Kayden teased mischievously.

"Of course not," Claire protested, her smile betraying her attempt at seriousness.

Abruptly, their conversation got interrupted by a familiar voice from behind.

"Kayden, Is that you?" Isabella's voice, tinged with surprise and joy, floated from the bedroom.

Kayden turned to see his mother emerging from her room, her eyes widening with delight.

"Yes, mother," he said, standing up and enveloping her in a warm embrace.

"Son," Isabella whispered, her voice thick with happiness. "I miss you so much, son."

"I miss you too, Mother," Kayden replied, his own voice reflecting his affection.

"Wait, have you eaten? I'll go get you some food," Isabella said.

Kayden gently grabbed her hand, a smile playing on his lips. "Hold on, mother. Come on. I've only been gone for a week. Don't treat me like a guest here. If I get hungry, I'll go to the kitchen myself. So you don't need to worry about me. Just sit down. We have a lot of things to talk about," Kayden said.

"Oh, okay, if you insist," Isabella acquiesced, settling down at the dining table.

Claire, too, took her seat, her curiosity piqued, ready to engage in their family conversation.

"So how have you been in school, son? And how about your course mates? Are they warming up to you already? I hope you're not being bullied because if that happens, I won't think twice about coming to that school to fight whoever it is that is bullying my son," Isabella said, her protective instincts surfacing.

"What made you say that?" he chuckled.

"Because I know you well, son. You allow yourself to be intimidated by other people just for the sake of 'World Peace.' But I'm telling you, if I ever find out that's how you are being treated in school, I won't hesitate to fight back," Isabella declared, her eyes flashing with determination.

"Come on, mother, I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself. Besides, they are all starting to like me, so you don't need to worry. And please, mother, try smiling all the time. Your beauty might just go away if you stay this way. I'm telling you; you might develop a wrinkle on your face," Kayden said, his words infused with a mix of playfulness and concern.

Isabella's face softened, a smile gracing her lips once more.

"That reminds me, brother. About the girl you mentioned to us on the phone the other time. Is she the one?" Claire asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"The one? Wait, I don't get what you are saying," said Kayden, looking genuinely puzzled.

"I mean, is she your girlfriend now?" Claire clarified, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Claire! You know you shouldn't be talking about these kinds of things. You are still a teenager," Isabella scolded gently.

"But mother," Claire protested, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"Don't 'but' me, Claire. That's my final decision. You should concentrate on your studies for now," she replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Let it go, mother. It's fine," Kayden interjected, his voice calm and soothing. He turned to Claire, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, the answer to your question, dear sister... That was Anna. She was the girl that helped me when I needed it the most... And no, Anna is not my girlfriend. She's just a friend, okay?" Kayden said, his words dispelling any tension in the air, making Claire smile again.

"Okay, brother. But if ever you find a girlfriend, don't hesitate to tell me, alright?" Claire said, her playful behavior returning.

"Alright, Madam," Kayden replied, raising his right hand to his head level in a mock salute. Then they both shared a smile.

However, Claire couldn't ignore the subtle tension in Isabella's expression. Sensing her mother's disapproval, Claire's smile faded, and she turned her face away. Kayden couldn't suppress his laughter as he observed the amusing exchange between his mother and sister.