Chapter 188 - Official Sibling Reunion

In the plaza, Teren saw Seres waiting inside one of the few gazebos. His walking speed slowed down for a bit, a bit hesitant to meet her as he was nervous but that soon died down as he continued without thoughts of turning his back.

"Seres-"

"Teren, you're late."

Seres cut him off with a sharp reply.

"Huh? Aren't I twenty-five minutes early-"

"A man should arrive thirty minutes earlier than the appointed time. Therefore, you're late."

"I-is that right? I will arrive one hour next time."

Even though Seres was being unreasonable, Teren didn't find it troubling nor annoying. Right now, all he was thinking is how to get their relationship back.

First: Show your intentions clearly.

Teren remembered Iesa's tips inside his head. She had clearly explained it all to him. However, since Teren was basically a baby in that field, he found it hard to understand her other advice. He didn't even know how to do the first tip.

However, he kept it in his mind. Not just because Iesa told him to but also because he really wanted to have a better relationship with Seres, his sister.

Second: Be super kind to her

"Did you wait long here, Seres?"

Teren asked, opening up a considerate question. Although he wouldn't be able to do anything, he asked to show that he cares. It was not an act though, he truly want to know.

"Wait long? Why would I arrive early for you? I wanted to thirty minutes early to see if you would too."'

"Ah, then you were here for five minutes already?"

"No, I arrived here an hour earlier because I thought that you would but you didn't."

Seres then glared at him, making Teren intensely confused.

"And... you smell like a girl..." she squinted her eyes while she sniffed. Only after a while did she realize something, "D-did you...?"

"..."

Teren couldn't keep up with her so he couldn't answer.

"You took a bath in a girl's place. That girl is none other than Iesa, am I wrong?"

"Yeah..?"

Seres genuinely gasped.

"Seres?"

"But... you just became a couple... so fast?"

"Huh?" Teren began sweating as he realized Seres was on about something.

"You're already visiting her apartment. But she lives alone. Eh?"

As if Seres forgot Teren was right in front of her, her train of thoughts leading up to one after another. She and Iesa have already talked a lot so Seres knew Iesa's circumstance quite well.

Like a detective piecing up clues, Seres silently pondered before her eyes landed on Teren again, her face ghastly.

"It's morning but you showered in her apartment? Did you... sleep in her apartment?"

Teren blinked a few times. He only kept silent. Actually, what can he answer? He didn't even know why Seres was acting like this in the first place.

However, he did see that her mood was getting worse as the moment passes. Therefore, he had to step into her thoughts.

"That's not important... how about we go to the amusement park now?"

"..."

Seres just nodded as if she wanted to forget what she realized too. However, she kept a considerable amount of distance.

"Um... Seres!"

Teren had to shout for her to hear him.

"What!?"

Seres replied snappily again. It seemed that she was back to her usual self. 

Teren wanted to say that it's embarrassing conversing by shouting from either side of the road with so many people around. However, BECAUSE it is embarrassing, he couldn't shout it.

Third: Don't force yourself to her and at the same time, don't create too much distance.

Iesa said it with the thought that there will be a distance between the siblings metaphorically. However, in this case, Teren recalled this tip when there's actually quite a physical distance between them.

Teren thought for a while before coming up with an idea. He raised his hand and soon, a taxi came up.

Seres watched him do this and was momentarily shocked.

"Wait... is he actually leaving me?"

However, the taxi crossed the road and parked beside her. The door opened and Seres saw Teren inside, patting the seat beside him.

Teren: 'The amusement park is still a bit far away so getting a taxi is better than walking.'

Seres: 'Tsk...'

The taxi driver: 'Wait, is this guy trying to pick up this girl? What happened to the youth's decency... this is blatant harassment!'

The sibling communicated when they made eye contact. Seres hesitated for a while but she knew she had no reason to enter.

As for the taxi driver, he didn't know that Teren and Seres actually knows each other because if they did, why are they separated while walking earlier? Furthermore, Teren and Seres's facial features didn't actually align for the taxi driver to think they're siblings.

He thought that if the girl declined and the guy continued to 'harrass', he will step in. But-

"Fine..."

Seres sighed and stepped in.

'It worked!?'

The taxi driver's eyes widened.

'Is there a loose screw in this girl's head? Why would you accept such an invitation from a stranger!?'

"Sir, take us to the amusement park."

Teren then said to the taxi driver, further baffling him.

'Wait, you just picked her up and you're going to an amusement park already? That's not smooth, that's falling off a cliff!'

The taxi driver looked at Seres from the mirror and asked her in a polite tone.

"Is that right, Miss?"

He had to make sure he's not too intrusive while trying to tell the girl that it's a bad idea.

"I don't care."

But Seres nonchalantly replied, making the taxi driver shout-

'You should care!'

Soon, the taxi went on as he sighed.

'It's her choice, I can't do anything about it.'

There was just silence for a couple of minutes that almost made the taxi driver have a mental breakdown.

'Please talk! Man, I thought you're more charismatic than this! Why are you letting the situation be so awkward!? At least, try to talk to her, man! This is so awkward!!! Aren't you two feeling awkward in this situation!?'

As if Teren heard that thought, he suddenly spoke up. He had been quiet for minutes since he was trying to figure out what to say. After some thought, he decided to play it carefully.

"So, Seres... how's life been going?"

Teren could only squeezed out that question since he's walking on a thin line between not being too personal and not too casual.

'Did the girl introduce herself?... Ah, so maybe they know each other.'

The taxi driver sighed in relief. Although there are still some questions lingering, he no longer cared when he learned that the two actually know each other.

"Life after you killed mother and father or life when I learned mother and father?"

'... hm?' the taxi driver's brain stopped functioning for a moment after hearing Seres' reply, 'Is this a joke?'

"Let's say... after I killed them."

Teren no longer said sorry as he knew it would just be repetitive and useless.

'HMMMM!????'