Arad opened his eyes on the living room couch. The last thing he remembers is sleeping on Lyla’s lap. He stood and stared around, “Are you awake?” Lyla called him from the kitchen.

“Yeah, you woke up early.” Arad smiled, standing up and stretching his arms.

“I have to go back to the shop. I can’t keep it closed forever.” She smiled, “I will get breakfast ready, so go wash your face.”

Arad walked to the bathroom to wash his face, and Lyla looked at his back with a smug smile.

Arad grabbed the bathroom’s handle, and he could feel something strange. Someone is inside. He took a deep breath, “Who’s inside?”

“It’s me. You can come in,” It was Mira.

^I knew it. She sent me right to her.^ He glared back as he opened the door. Mira stood beside the mirror, brushing her hair. “Good morning,” He started washing his face.

“Good morning. How did you sleep last night?” Mira asked.

“I feel well rested.” Arad smiled, “How about you?”

“Nice, but we almost fought yesterday.” Mira giggled.

“For what?”

“We decided to switch days between us.” Mira looked at Arad.

“And then went with rock, paper, scissors to decide who go first. I won three times in a row. Aella thought I was cheating.”

Arad giggled, “I hope she wasn’t that angry.”

“She was just frustrated.” Mira finished doing her hair and walked to the door. “She will wake up soon. We can talk about it after breakfast.”

Arad washed his face and headed back to the living room. Aella was waking up and going to the bathroom.

After breakfast, Lyla picked up her bag and looked at Arad. “I will be heading to the store now. You enjoy your time with the girls.”

“I will take you there.” Arad walked toward her.

“No need, no need.” Lyla smiled, waving her hand with a grin.

“Then at least take Mc with you. He will save you the walk.” Arad pointed outside. The moose stood right beside the gate.

“I will help myself to that then.” Lyla smiled, leaving the house.

Arad looked back at Aella and Mira, “So, what have you two decided?”

Aella smiled, looking at Arad, “We decided to cut the house chores in half. Mira will take the heavy stuff while I take care of the delicate ones.”

“Of course, Aella is one in charge.” Mira looked at Arad, “After you, of course. I don’t intend to go against her judgment.”

“So it’s me, Aella, and then you.” Arad looked at them.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a say.” Aella smiled, looking at Mira.

“I heard you almost fought yesterday.” Arad looked at them.

“She cheated,” Aella growled.

“I didn’t.” Mira looked at her, “I will go first tonight.”

Arad smiled, “Fine, let’s do a test round.” He lifted his fist, pulling a rock from his stomach. “So, how do you do this?”

“Wait, what! Let me explain the rules!” Mira gasped, teaching him how to play rock, paper, scissors.

Everyone faced each other. “Rock, paper, scissors.”

Arad: Paper

Mira: Paper

Aella: Stone

“I lost again!” Aella cried, grabbing her head, “Why!”

Arad and Mira stared at each other.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

Arad: paper

Mira: Scissors

“I won,” Mira smiled, and Arad stared at his hand.

Aella stared at Arad, “See? She’s cheating.”

Arad looked at Mira, “I see what you’re doing. Let’s try another round.”

Mira smiled.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”

Arad lowed his first rapidly, extending his upper fingers as if going for Scissors. He could see Mira smiled a bit with her hand resting at first.

At the last second, he extended all his fingers into the paper and grabbed her fist.

“I won,” Arad looked at her, smiling, “You were slower than me this time. You see what we’re playing and change your hand at the last second.” He pulled her toward him, “Trick strikes. Gerald has taught me a thing or two. Who taught you?”

“No one. I used to hit my fingers with the hammer a lot. So I learned to observe and avoid the hammer at the last moment.” Mira smiled.

Arad looked outside and then at Aella, “What do we have to do today?”

Aella scratched her head, “Nothing important. I was thinking of taking care of the garden a bit.”

Arad nodded, “Then nothing important.” He pulled Mira toward him and lifted her, “We’re going,”

“Heh!” Aella gasped.

“Heh!” Mira gasped.

“Wait till nighttime!” Aella stared at Arad. He looked back at her, “Better use the time we have. I need to be equal between you two.”

Aella sighed, “I’m going to the shed to get the tools and work on the garden. Do your best, Mira.” Aella walked out the door.

“Wait! Don’t leave me alone!” Mira cried as Arad carried her toward his room.

“Calm down. It won’t hurt.” Arad smiled, kissing her forehead.

“No, it will.” Mira glared at him, “Aella warned me,” She pushed him with her hand and rushed to her room. After a second, she came out with the massage oil bottle. “We will use this.” She looked at Arad with a stern face.

“Do what you like.” Arad lifted her again and dragged her to his room. “Why do you keep carrying me?”

“I don’t know.” Arad smiled, “You just look like you will move more than Aella,” 𝗼𝐯𝐥.𝗻𝐭

“Put me down,” Mira said as they entered Arad’s room. He let her go, and she took a deep breath, feeling her heart pounding.

Arad didn’t wait to pull his shirt off, and Mira gasped, jumping away. “Don’t take your clothes so suddenly.”

Tip! A small paper fell from Arad’s shirt, and the two looked at it. From Lyla was written on it.

“Did mother Leave this?” Mira picked it up, opening it to read the content. Her face quickly flashed red, and she attempted to rip the paper apart.

SWOSH! Arad snatched the paper before she could rip it.

Arad, Mira has been going about you for the past few days. I can hear her at night. She seems to like your muscles and overall build, so give her a big old hug. And take the lead. She doesn’t just like the muscular look for aesthetic. She wants someone strong that can take the lead.