Gray walked up the narrow staircase of their apartment building, his heart was still racing with excitement. He reached the small apartment door and opened it.
"Lily? Are you there?!"
Their apartment was cramped, barely enough for him and his sister. The walls were pale white, and the furniture was old and worn out.
As soon as he opened the door, the small living room greeted him. It had a couch that sagged in the middle, a worn-out coffee table with a chipped surface, and a small kitchen just after it.
The air always smelled a bit musty, and the only window they had in the place was covered by thick curtains.
Gray stood in the doorway for a moment, feeling a strange sense of warmth despite the coldness that his body was feeling.
"Brother?" a sweet and small voice from the inside echoed.
Gray moved his eyes, and there she was. His little sister, Lily, appeared from around the corner.
Lily was only ten years old. She was small and a little bit chubby. She had big bright eyes. Her hair was messy from playing alone and she wore a pink dress that was a little too big for her.
She was cute, with a round face and a wide smile that could melt anyone's heart.
Lily blinked when she saw Gray holding several bags of food. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly rushed over to him.
"What's all this, brother?" she asked, looking up at him with confusion.
"Did you win something? Why did you buy so much food? Did you forget that we're poor?"
Gray's heart softened when he heard her scolding. He laughed and placed the bags on the table with a grin.
"It's alright, Lily. Don't worry about it. Just trust your brother, okay?"
Lily stood still for a moment, clearly puzzled by his words.
"But... but we're poor, brother. How did you… oh no! Did you rob someone?"
"Hey! What do you think of me?" Gray lightly smacked Lily's head, just enough for it to make a small sound.
Lily rubbed her head dramatically before pouting.
"Ouch! You really do have a strong hand, brother!" She exclaimed out loud before showing a mischievous smile.
"But tell me honestly, brother. Did you rob someone? Oh no!"
Gray laughed in disbelief.
"We're already poor, Lily. I can't be a criminal. I might be crazy, but not that crazy." He paused for a moment, looking at the bags of food on the table.
Lily tilted her head, still looking puzzled.
"But we never get this much food, brother. It's really a lot. Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Don't ask any more questions," Gray interrupted gently, giving her a playful wink. "Just eat, or else I'll return all of this." He couldn't help but smile, knowing that she'd take it seriously.
Lily giggled, her earlier confusion melting away.
"Joke, brother! You're so funny!" She plopped down on the small chair, eagerly reaching for the food.
"Okay, okay. Let's eat then! This is the best meal ever!" Gray chuckled.
Gray started unpacking the food he had bought, laying it out in front of them. There were all sorts of dishes, steamed rice, fried chicken, vegetables, and even a sweet dessert.
It was all the things Lily loved to eat, and at the same time, things they could rarely afford.
Lily's eyes sparkled as she saw the food.
"Wow, it looks amazing!" She looked up at Gray with a shy smile. She was really lucky to have such a brother.
"Thank you so much, brother."
Gray smiled back at her, feeling a warmth spread through him. He sat down at the small table, not even caring if his body was still slightly wet and cold.
Gray and Lily dug into the food immediately. They haven't eaten such a feast for years. Gray couldn't help but laugh as Lily made exaggerated sounds of delight with every bite.
"Mmm! Yummy! This fried chicken is so crispy! Brother, you're really the best!" she said between mouthfuls, her cheeks puffing up as she chewed.
Gray grinned and shook his head as he watched her enjoy the meal.
"Of course, I am. Who else would feed you like this?" he teased, poking her playfully.
Lily stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're definitely the best! But don't get too full of yourself, brother. It's bad, okay?"
Gray raised an eyebrow. "Just keep on eating, Lily. You're hurting me."
Lily giggled, covering her mouth.
"Okay, okay." She grabbed another piece of chicken and wiggled it in the air.
"When I grow up, brother, I'll also buy some food for you. I'll also buy you a chicken like this one!"
Gray chuckled, shaking his head.
"I'm looking forward to that day, then. But for now, just enjoy the food. It's for you."
"Yes, Sir, Yes!"
The two continued to joke around as they ate. Their laughter filled their small and cozy apartment. The warmth from the food and the joy of being together made everything feel just a little bit better.
For a moment, it felt like they weren't living in poverty at all.
However, as the laughter died down, Lily's gaze also softened.
"Why? What's the problem?" Gray noticed the shift in her mood.
Lily paused, her fork hovering in mid-air as she looked at him.
"Brother..." she looked at Gray cautiously, "Are you sure everything's okay? You've been acting a little... different lately. You looked tired in the past weeks, but now you're suddenly happy." her voice was small
Gray froze for a moment with what Lily said. His heart sank. He didn't know that Lily noticed his tiredness these past few days.
"Of course, I am." He quickly forced a smile, brushing it off.
"You're brother is strong.." He reached across the table and ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Don't worry about me, alright? I'm your big brother. I'm always going to make sure you're okay. You just focus on eating and having fun."
Lily seemed to hesitate, her lips pressing into a thin line as she studied his face. After a few seconds, she let out a small sigh.
"I trust you, brother. But if anything happens, promise me you'll tell me, okay?"
"I promise, Lily. I'll always tell you." Gray smiled warmly.
But enough of that for now. You should get some rest tonight, okay? It's been a long day."
Lily blinked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Why? It's not even that late yet."
"Shush..." Gray raised a finger and gave her a teasing grin.
"Because tomorrow, we're going to shop. And we'll shop until we drop."