24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Telke

It takes a while, but not long enough before I'm at the door of my parent's house.

There are already lights inside that seep out of the blinds. I stare at the box of chocolate in my hand. I hope this is good enough and won't be the same thing my brothers brought.

Okay... It's going to be fine. I can press the doorbell and nothing bad will happen. Well... Nothing too bad will happen, probably...

The doorbell buzzes and I almost jump, even though I'm the one pressing it. Father's voice comes from the inside. "Come in. It's not locked."

I turn the doorknob and open the door. The tasty smell of spaghetti comes at me and slaps my tired face from a long day of work. Mother knows how to make the best food.

Inside, all of my brothers, the four of them, are already around.

I put on a smile as I take off my shoes.

Father is inside the kitchen with Mother, leaving Efaze and Vatok playing card games together and Kazin scrolling his phone on the other side of the couch. Grihul is staring at the window from the other side of the house, seemingly thinking about something.

I wonder where I should put myself.

There is a bag of fruit on the table, which I think Efaze brought from his store. I put my box of chocolate next to that.

Father looks at me from the kitchen. "You're finally here, my boy. How are you doing?" He waves for me to go to the kitchen as he helps Mother with whatever that's in the oven. A pan of spaghetti is already out and tempting for me to steal the cheese on top.

"I'm doing great. Thank you for visiting me when I was in the hospital. I wish I wasn't occupied somehow when you were there."

"It's okay, son. We just wish you are fine, which you look to be."

I put up a smile even though my palms are sweating. "I'm good as new."

"You sure think you're a hero and, ouch—!"

Mother sneers at him and slaps his hand.

Father clears his throat. "I mean, it's brave for you to do that, but be careful next time. You can't always—" He clears his throat again and pulls out the tray inside the oven. "I mean, yeah, something like that. Stay safe."

I nod and get out of the kitchen as Father hoists the roasted amoda to the dining table with the heat-proof mat and big knife.

Mother winks at me, so I go over. She says, "Don't mind him. You know we all care about you and wish you all the best."

"Thank you, Mom." I give her a hug.

She hugs me back and pats my back. "Here, take the utensils, everything's here now."

"Sure." I pull open the drawers and gather everything.

Mother heads out with a large bowl of stir-fried vegetables with the perfect cheese sauce. "Boys! Get ready at the table!"

I follow her outside with plates, forks, knives, and napkins in my hands. Mother is always nice to me.

It doesn't take long before everyone is seated.

I stare at the amoda thigh. Will today be the day I get it? I don't remember who got it last time, but this time...

Father cuts the amoda into slices and puts them onto the plates that are put in front of us.

My stomach rumbles and my hands are twitching to get started. I can only hope no one finds out about that. Food is always amazing when I'm done exercising.

Father tears off one of the amoda thighs and puts it on my plate. "Here, you will have it to make sure you're healing up."

"Thank you!"

Amoda thigh is the best part of the bird, the juiciest, and... Oh fuck... Can I eat already?

"Ah, nice for you." Kazin eyes my plate and I glare at him. He sits by my side and looks like he is going to steal my food from me, which won't happen.

Father put the other thigh on Mother's plate. No one complains. Father always gives Mother the best, then it's between us; the kids. One time, he murmured about how it was hard to make sure every food was equal between the five of us. I used to care, but now that we are all adults, not as much.

After Father is done putting the first round of meat on everyone's plate, Mother stands to arrange the vegetables on our plates.

I wonder whether we're the only family who does this, or whether it is a kot'oll thing. I can serve myself, but somehow...

Maybe I'm just hungry and impatient.

As soon as Mother takes her seat, I grab my plate and take the thigh.

The skin of the amoda is crispy and salty from the sauce, but it is the perfect kind of saltiness. The flesh almost explodes in my mouth with how good it is. I try to take my time and enjoy it, but it is tempting to munch down harder.

Food is the best in my parent's place.

Everyone's busy with the first round of food. There is still almost half of the amoda left on the tray for a second round. Usually, whoever finishes their plate first will get more. I want more, but I want to take my time to enjoy this too.

Father swallows his food and says, "Telke, are you still teaching silly little—" He winces. "Kids?"

My heart skips a beat when everyone's eyes are on me. I know this is going to happen... which is why... I'm never big on being here if I could choose.

I put up a smile. "Yeah, those kids are pretty crazy at times."

Maybe Mother stepped on Father's foot. Who knows?

Father has never liked floatball.

Well... To be accurate, he has never liked that I like floatball.

Mother said Father is just being practical and wants to make sure I'd be able to support myself. I'm not sure whether that's what's in Father's mind, or that's just what Mother thinks.

Anyway... I don't dream of being a master floatball player anymore. Even though it hurts to admit it. I don't have what it takes to represent the planet.

Neither Father nor Mother are good at sports, so I guess I can blame it on them. But... It's what it is. Most beings practicing floatball can't represent the planet anyway. I'm not alone.

If I can, I don't talk about my work. Somehow, it always feels like everyone's doing better than me, even Kazin.

Kazin stretches his arms. "Kids are kids anyway. At least you can make them perform kind of well."

I sneer at him. "We won the floatball tournament for four years in a row up till now."

Father muses, seemingly finally finding something he doesn't completely despise.

Mother says, "It's amazing. I bet the students can use their skills and hard work on other aspects too."

There's a twitch in my stomach. Practically, I know it is almost impossible to be training someone who can represent the planet in my team, but... I don't like how Mother doesn't seem to think one of the students can do well in floatball and at least do better than me.

But Mother isn't wrong, working hard and grinding it out can be used in studies and a lot of other things too, which... will be what most of the players end up with.

Just like me... Grinding through some of the day-to-day I don't like.

I take another bite at the flesh. Maybe I should focus on what's good right in front of me. Nice food will make the trip worthwhile.

Father moves on to talk to Efaze about the grocery store, which I'm not interested in at all. But I sure am happy that I don't have to say anything and can focus on food.

I pour the perfect spicy cheese on the vegetables and munch them down. The thick cheese fills my mouth, reminding me of all the good times with Mother.

I wish I could achieve more to make her proud. She said she is happy that I can still work with beings who love floatball, but somehow... I doubt that's what she thinks deep down.

But there's nothing I can do about that. For now, being a coach is the best thing I've done for myself.

I take a big forkful of spaghetti to my plate. I munch on the food, filling my stomach with the thick meat sauce. Mother added beans too, making the spaghetti even juicier.

Sometimes, it is good to just focus on food and pretend nothing else matters.

When I was a kid, we didn't even use utensils. It would be a match of how quickly we could eat with all four hands.

At least it would be fair when all of us have four hands.

If Winnie were here, she wouldn't be competitive at all.

I silently snort a laugh at the thought. She won't be here. She probably is still mad at me.

When dinner is finally over, I'm so stuffed that I almost can't even move. I don't mind tasty food, except I may have eaten too much.

I pat my stomach with a grin. My abs won't be showing anytime soon after this, but this feels familiar. There's a warmth in my stomach like a warm hug from Mother. She always gives us the best.

Mother and Father refuse to let us help with the dishes, so all of us are on the couch. The television is on, but I doubt any of us are watching.

I close my eyes when my limbs get heavier. The long day has finally caught up with me after the nice time with food.

Efaze nudges my side. "So, you're fine now."

I flex my arm, stifling a yawn. "Yes, perfectly fine."

He watches me for another moment, seemingly not believing me.

I say, "The doctors made me go through a lot of rounds of healing rays."

"I know. But still... It's a spaceship crash."

"Well, the auto system was already halting the spaceship."

He muses, seemingly finally accepting my answer. "How about that female?"

"What female? Who?"

"The one who visited you and was there when you were sent to the hospital."

I blink, not certain what to say. "A human female?"

"Yes. Winnie, I think. I didn't pay attention."

"Oh, Winnie, yes. She's a coworker who witnessed the accident."

Efaze is still staring at me.

A stream of heat reaches my cheek. I hope I didn't do something wrong, but apparently something's off, at least according to Efaze.

Now that I take a moment...

So, my brothers are all staring at me.

I blink. "What's the looks for?"

Efaze shrugs and looks away. Vatok says, "We always saw her in the hospital."

Um... Maybe? I saw her a few times, but I was tired most of the time and the passage of time was a weird thing in my head when I was focusing on healing and sentenced to bed rest. "I don't remember."

Vatok narrows his eyes on me for another second before he looks away.

I guess.... Are they trying to hint at something?

I...

Maybe they want to ask why or whether Winnie would be here. Just because she visited me a few times doesn't have to mean a ton.

Since she doesn't like me now, or probably has never liked me, I guess there's no point. I still wish she'd feel better and talk to me, but who knows? Maybe she thinks I'm dumb too. Not to mention the principal's dumb floatball match makes it worse.

Maybe she doesn't like floatball and thinks that beings who like that are dumb.

I guess I'd remain the dumb one wherever I go...