To Want You

48

Elka's Pov

Think. 

Think fast. 

Who else is with Clever right now? 

Nathan.

I know for a fact Nathan's listening to this conversation too. 

After a moment of silence, I huff out a heavy breath. "Clever, baby, I'll be there in fifteen minutes. And Nathan?" 

Silence. 

I roll my eyes and pipe up the speed of my car. "Nathan, I know you're listening." 

"What?" 

"Make sure Clever doesn't break anything. It's all you if he gets himself hurt, you got that?" 

"Fifteen minutes right?"

"Yeah. I'll try to be there as fast as I can." 

Hanging up, I then twist the wheel to the side and enter a different lane. 

Now that I've assured Clever I'll be home soon, I can now have the peaceful silence I've been craving all day long. Even if it's just a temporary one. 

Personally, I think there's no better time to enjoy the outdoors than when it's night time. 

Sometimes the key to unlocking the thrills to the soul comes out when the stars shine the brightest amongst the blanket of a dark sky. 

Night times are the best time. 

When the scorching heat finally surrenders to the onshore breeze and we can be outside without the need to cover every inch of our skin. 

The stars would come as if to welcome us back to these hours of comfort and relaxation. 

At night, we can gaze upwards and observe the constellations and the patina of the moon. 

My car eventually enters a familiar street, seconds before the massive gate that holds the pathway to my parent's house rattles open upon my entrance.

I spot Clever sitting on the front of the porch of our door, sulking like a candy deprived child. 

After bringing the car to a stop and step out of my seat, Clever jumps up and runs over to me. His short arms find their way around my figure and I am left no choice but to hoist him up when he refuses to let go. 

It's a funny scene. A woman in her early twenties carrying an eleven year old boy. He's as tall as my waist and still demands to be carried around. How embarrassing. But it's something that can't be helped. If I don't take the initiative of carrying him and bring him inside, we're staying outside the whole night. Then again, he is quite tiny for his age. I’m guessing his growth spurt still hasn’t kicked in. 

Also, I wonder where he's got his stubbornness from honestly. It's not a healthy attribute to have. If anything, it's annoying. 

I run my fingers across his brown hair only to see it stubbornly hover the front of his eyes again. Believe me, it's not an easy task to do since it meant taking my hand momentarily away from supporting him. My lips fall into a frown. "Did you wait for, Noona?" 

With a pout so present as the moon, he ignores my question and buries his face in his customary spot between my neck and shoulder. 

Clever's already eleven years old but still acts like a five year old sometimes. 

He's getting way too big - and not to mention too heavy - to fit in my arms anymore. It’s not like I haven’t tried making it clear to him that I can’t carry him anymore. Because I have. For three years now. 

I've been purposely making it obvious ever since he turned nine - ignoring him now and then whenever he raises his hands - but doesn't seem to notice the flashing signals. 

Sooner or later, I'll have to spill the tea about how I can no longer carry him the same way I did when he was a toddler. 

"Give noona five minutes to change and we'll go right away okay?" Just as I step into the hallway, Nathan pops up from the living room. The teen's already clad in a black hoodie over his white shirt matching it with black ripped jeans that hug his legs just way too tight for my taste. 

But who am I to butt in on his choice of style? 

This way he'll get himself a girlfriend quick and stop blessing me with his childish and unnecessary pranks on me. 

Luckily when I pull Clever away and transfer him to Nathan's arms, they both comply without complaint. 

I raise my hands up, almost as If I'm carefully ordering a dog to stay. Nathan rolls his eyes and sets Clever down the same time I take a step back, ready to run upstairs. 

"I'll be right back." 

It took me three minutes to strip off from my work attire, replacing them with an oversized t-shirt and a pair of white glowing pants I bought last week. After dabbing powder on my face, I snatch my favorite black sling bag that always stuck close to its loop and immediately bolt myself downstairs once again. Mom's already beside the door giving Clever and Nathan a hug. 

"You guys ready?" 

"They sure are." Mother responds on behalf of the two boys as she returns the side hug I give her. Then she turns to look at Nathan with a stern stare. "Be sure to watch over your brother and sister, Nat."

The statement causes me to gift my mother the look of disbelief. Basically, it takes every will power in me not to scoff out loud. I don't want to get lectured in front of these boys. If that happens, make fun of me for a whole week. I know this for a fact since it's happened countless times in the past. 

Mother's really funny, isn't she? Note the sarcasm. When she glances my way, I offer her the most fakest smile to ever exist in this world. It's fake because it disappears completely when she's no longer looking at me. She's telling Nathan to keep an eye on us when I'm obviously the eldest one here. 

The boy nods his head nonetheless and is the first to reach for the doorknob, dragging it down and sliding it open. The breeze from outside sends a slither down my skin like a snake the second it manages to seep in. 

Thankfully, I have my hoodie wrapped around my waist in case the air becomes too unbearable for me. 

Clever wraps his hand around mine and begins tugging me outside.

"We'll be back before midnight." I manage to say before I'm yanked even harder outside the door by my younger brother. 

"Bye, mommy!" Clever squeals. 

"Have fun, babies."