Arcade

8: Arcade

Garrett burst into my room a week after the party. It's already their spring break.

"Sister, we're back!"

"Get lost," I grumble and covered my head with a pillow.

I swear, as Garrett age up his childishness continues to grow. He was already 10 years old, two years older than me.

"The sun is out, Eirlys. Come and greet your, big brother." He said, laying across on top of my stomach.

"Welcome back," I said through the pillow.

"Eirlys~ don't you miss your brothers? Especially me?"

I spoke some unintelligent words and went back to sleep for some miracle Garrett fall asleep while pestering me.

Pancakes in the morning are the best but it wasn't enough to satisfy my mood. I'm not a morning type of girl, you see.

I stab the pancake with a fork aggressively.

"Are you listening, Eirlys. Oy, Eirlys. Did you hear what I just say?"

I glared at Garrett across the table. "No, I'm busy thinking of different ways of murdering you."

"Eirlys, if mother and father hear you say that in front of the food, you'll be in trouble," Rowan said patting my head which somehow it made me feel better. "Garrett was saying that we should go to an arcade downtown."

Rowan was already 13 years old. I bet a lot of girls were head over heels at him now that he looked more handsomely mature and taller.

"Arcade?" I have never been to an arcade before. After my parents died, I was busy juggling school, business and taking care of my brother.

I had become a student who needs to excel in her studies, a sister and at the same time a parent for my younger brother so he wouldn't feel parentless, and gain the company's trust by making them see that I was the rightful heir of my family's business in order to provide Vinny the things he will need in the future. I had done all of it at a young age, that's why there's no space for enjoying my youth.

So, when I heard that we're going to visit an arcade I felt happy, excited, worry, and scared at the same time. "Am I allow to have fun?" I mumbled to myself.

"What are you talking about? Of course, you do!" Garrett said with a grin on his face. "Let's go! Before mother and father come back!"

Eh?

"Do you mean we're sneaking out?" I said in a whisper.

Rowan smiled and followed Garrett at the back of the house. We entered the lanai that has a built-in wooden swing that can occupy three-person with a view of the elevated swimming pool, which you could see the water inside the pool through the glass. A large patio on the right side of the pool with a barbecue and dining area with pieces of furniture made of rattan.

While on the left side of the pool were tall bushes. And behind the wall of bush was the entrance leading to the garden. Garrett opened the wooden gate that was painted in white.

I could already smell the sweet scent of the flowers.

It was like a sanctuary. A safe haven in this chaotic world. If you want solitude, this was the best place. The apple tree was the center jewel of the garden. Red roses planted in the curve beds surrounding the large tree.

We crossed the garden walking on the wide flat stones.

"What if we get caught?" I asked.

Stopping at the end of the garden where the wall that separated the inside and outside of the house, it has small rectangular bricks of the color white, gray and black. Garrett gave me a cheeky smile. He easily climbed the wall like he had been doing in ages.

Seated on the wall he looked down at us. "Don't worry, sister. We have never been caught." He then jumped to the other side. "Hurry up, if we want to have more time playing!"

"Don't mind him. Just do your best. I'll catch you if you fall," Rowan said with an encouraging smile.

I looked at the wall. With my current height, it looks gigantic, looming down at my short length.

For the sake of arcade, here goes nothing.

I gripped the stone and started to climb, choosing the stones where I wouldn't slip as Rowan cheered on me. Back in my world I once wall climbed with my co-workers, it was hard but I had fun. I never tried after.

Moments later I was already on the top.

"Whoa! That was fast." Garrett looked up at me with excitement on his eyes. "You really are my sister."

What's that supposed to mean?

My legs gripped each side of the wall. "What now?" My voice quivered. Distressed in my current location.

"Jump," Rowan said who had finally arrived on the top with me, he then jumped landing gracefully like a cat. "Jump, Eirlys. We'll catch you."

Not wasting a second I swallowed before jumping because if I stayed there I'll hesitate and will be stuck there forever until someone would get me. Rowan caught me while Garrett supported Rowan on the back so he won't fall.

"Next time warn us before jumping," Rowan said worriedly as he put me down. I nodded and apologized.

We walked hand in hand towards the waiting shed with me in the middle and took the bus. 20 minutes later we arrived at our destination and wander around the stores before we went to the arcade. Rowan bought me a pastel blue cap that matches my shirt.

The sound of loud blast, gunfire, tires squealing, children cheering and shouting greeted us as we enter the game house. Rows after rows of gaming machines with screen full of different colors.

"Elli! Zee!" Someone shouted over the noise of the video games. A child was waving at the counter area. And he was waving at us. "Welcome back!"

"Paul!" Garrett shouted back and went to the counter.

"Elli? Zee?" What's with the nicknames?

Rowan leaned over to my ears and whisper, "We still have to hide our identity." He gave me a light push and walked to the counter.

"It must be tough being a student at Ace Academy, huh? I heard that your school requires a student who knows more than two languages before being admitted."

"I didn't know that," Garrett said thoughtfully.

"Because there's no such thing." Rowan pulled out 1000 Seraph.

That's quite a lot for the tokens. The money used here is Seraph. 1000 Seraph is equivalent to 20 dollars. Just how much does a single token in this arcade cost?

"How can your parents give you such a large amount of money just to play here?" Paul said as he takes the money and in exchange was two bags full of tokens. He looked at them suspiciously. "You guys are no ordinary rich kids that you say, aren't you."

Rowan just laughs it off while Garrett ignored it and pulled me. "Hey, Paul. I want you to meet our little sister. Paul this is. . ." He paused thinking for a fake name.

"Ruby," I said before Paul get more suspicious. I extended my hand up at him. "It's nice meeting you." We shook hands.