16

Doing math during vacation has a huge impact on your mood. A negative one, of course. I feel all life force leave me as I solve one problem after the other. I hand in my paper.

"You've got all of them wrong," he tells me, sounding as uncaring as ever. I look at him in disbelief. It must be a joke. "No, really. You used the wrong technique to solve the problems, so you made lots of mistakes." He hands back my paper. So much for giving it my all.

At the same time my soul leaves my body, a growl does too. It is two o'clock. It hasn't been that long since I've eaten breakfast, but my stomach seems unsatisfied still. I look down, hoping Jerah hasn't noticed and that we can continue the lessons. However, an even louder growl fills the room.

My tutor gets up. "Your stomach is a perfect timer for lunch. I was getting hungry anyways," he says as he walks towards the hallway. "Aki. Get the kids down and come eat some lunch," he half-yells, probably because he is too lazy to raise his voice any more.

Before long, many footsteps can be heard running down the stairs. Five small children enter the room and the silence I enjoyed before ends. None of them pay any attention to me this time. They're screaming, laughing, pushing each other, playing.

Just a few seconds after the kids come in, Jerah's brother walks in as well. As soon as he notices me, he sits down next to me. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Aki," he smiles. It's soft, way different than his brother's.

"Nuriel," I return his smile with one of my own. He seems like a nice person. Someone I could get along with. Maybe he writes songs?

Right when I am about to ask him who the kids are, Jerah puts plates in front of me. He places them a bit too hard, scaring the children, making the whole room silent. He too keeps silent as he walks back into the kitchen.

Not much later the noise returns as the kids join us on the couch. It's way too cramped, but they don't seem to mind it. I do however, so I place myself on the ground. The moody blond returns with a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and jelly, and I can finally silence my stomach.

Again, the kids ignore me as the TV turns on. So, he has a lot of siblings, huh? Is that why he's so busy? I haven't seen any of their parents. Does he have to watch the little ones all day?

With the sound of chatter and laughter in the background, I find my mind drifting away. For just one second, I find comfort in this, feeling like I'm a part of a normal big family. I hope I can have one like this too some day. Not a busy one, where employees are almost as close to you as your own parents, with more money than I can spend. I mean, of course I love everyone back home, but it's so much. What I want is just a cheap, small life.