"Kai, slow down. Don't trip over the stairs!"

I know no matter how much I yell this child won't listen, I took my jacket and other things to hurriedly rush behind him out of my room's door. As I reached near, and just like what I predicted and warned him against, I saw him swiftly leaping through stairs without a single care. I was going to once again shout but his feet already touched the floor and turned around to face me with a huge-cheeky smile.

"Come on Allea, we will be late!"

Seeing me giving him narrowed eyes, he excitedly shouted with a wide grin and rushed toward the main door. Only this stupid-fool can be this enthusiastic at four in the morning. While on the other hand, I felt like falling asleep even on the cold floor if I could.

These past days suddenly get excessively busy, although I predicted it, with all the abroad projects reports coming in to review and the problems they are facing to having quite long meetings making about the next big scale project to score —in addition to settling everything regarding the prior Carlocles project, which fully finalized after the board meeting, to start the work. Yesterday night, I came home at probably twelve, because of not having dinner with Kai, so, he was also not there to remind me and I entirely forgot that: Thursday, meaning today, was Jackson's flight. Half an hour ago, this fool of a brother, barged in my room, fully dressed, and pushed me to wake up, so we could go and pick Jackson up.

That's when the cold water was splashed on my much-awaited sleep.

With a helpless and dejected sigh, I followed him, walking down the stairs and out of the main door. As I don't trust myself to drive in my sleep-deprived state, we are going with a driver and as usual, guards following behind us. When I sat in the car, Kai has already made himself comfortable with a quite sparkling look on his face.

"You should have set the alarm knowing how easily you forget everything. I did it the moment Jackson informed me."

Seeing me closing my eyes and leaning against the seat, I heard Kai softly advising me or more like subtly mocking me.

Having no strength to bicker with him, I meekly mumbled, "So sleepy, I have to fulfill my sleep before that old-man makes my life hell."

Although my words were stated blankly yet sarcasm was full in them, then I fully closed my eyes and heard Kai laughing, but he didn't say anything further and let me get a moment of sleep. I know why he's too happy because he knows now that Jackson will stay with us, he never let me scold or put even the harmless restrictions on Kai at his mistakes. Saying a single thing to Kai becomes unattainable, as like a knight Jackson's always there to put his sword on my neck. He doesn't even care to hide that Kai's his favorite, that old-man.

Tomorrow's Kai's birthday and Jackson, who usually comes about a few days before it, reaching here just a day prior. Because, at my request, he has undergown such long journeys, so I will not say a single thing to him as I'm his grateful. But come to think of it, I'm probably more worn-out than him as whenever Jackson has to fly above five-plus hours, he uses a private plane. And from Windhoek to here, the flight is around fifteen-plus hours long, and I don't doubt he has spent it comfortably. I hope that's the matter, I don't want him to be severely jet-lagged. I haven't talked to Jackson about how he handled matters in Namibia Sancturny, but I was informed regarding it probably on Tuesday evening that the matter has been resolved and that same day he confirmed his arrival. Ah, yes, it took me a day to even forgot about it.

[Disclaimer: This work is only published on watt/pad under profile: itsrujihere. The complete rights of the work: Allea belongs under this profile and Ruji. If you're reading [Allea] on some platform other than watt/pad(Unless I, Ruji, say so) then, I'm pretty sure they are stealing my work (i.e, a site that's name start with novel), please don't support the thief.]

And when I thought, I would have a peaceful nap whilst lost in my thoughts, but Kai's hand started jabbing its annoying finger in my arm.

I didn't bother to open my eyes and couldn't help the irritated-whine that left my lips, "What do you want?"

"Where's your phone?"

"Jacket's left-inside pocket."

"I'm setting the alarm so you don't be late tomorrow morning for the cemetery."

I heard him say, as his hands after some hasty movements took a hold of my phone, all I could muster up was a, "Hm."

I once again tried to shut my mind and sleep, but somehow the thought of going to the cemetery continued to swirl around my mind along with the images of myself waiting outside the gates year-after-year and I lost all my sleep. Despite that I kept my eyes closed and waited for the ride to end.

After about forty minutes of the ride, we reached the airport and opening my eyes, I somewhat felt refreshed. A smile appeared on my face when along with Kai, we left the car behind and advanced toward Jackson's arriving private terminal. Passing through a bit of security check, we reached there and waited for him. As I look around, I could see a suitable amount of crowd scattered around even at this hour, but where we were standing I hardly could see anyone near us.

Nearly ten minutes passed but Jackson was nowhere in sight, so tapping Kai's shoulder to get his attention, whose eyes were also eagerly looking around, I inquired, "Did Jackson texted you the exact time?"

"He said, around five."

Raising my brow, my voice came out a little dubious, "In the morning, right?"

Kai's eyes wavered and his hands started searching for his phone and getting a hold of it, with an edgy panicked face, he checked and then heaved a sigh. Looking at me, regaining his confident smile, he confirmed, "Of course!"

Giving him a half-shrug, I nodded, "Well, then he'll be here soon."

After about another five minutes, I could see a vague figure walking in our direction, and in the same instant Kai jumped happily as a testimony and ran toward him, "Jackson!"

Involuntarily, my smile widened slightly as I saw the familiar face of old-man, well, he definitely isn't one. Seeing him in a video call and physically sure is a huge difference, although I saw him last year, he seems to age backward every year he visits us. After the treatment he considerably lost a lot of weight and got weaker, resulting in his sturdy built shrinking to a thin one. The time he stayed with us, he stuffed himself with all the healthiest things and made himself fit in no time. His hair grew back fine with a hint of white here and there which only enhance the glow on his maturely face. If not for knowing his age, instead of forty-one-something-years old I would have undoubtedly considered him in his mid-thirties. Also adding the fact that he has stopped wearing suits and opted for cotton paints or trousers with tee-shirts and simple jackets, resulting in his features and body losing most of its strictness and tough posture —he now appears more approachable and good-tempered, which I believe surely's a false alarm.

A smile spread on my lips as I saw Kai hugging Jackson, who returned his embrace with the same vigor. I also advanced toward them, as they started exchanging a word or two, Jackson gave a hearty laugh while Kai's wide smile was constant.

"Welcome, old-man."

At my voice, his eyes raised from Kai and met mine, instead of saying anything his lips curved in a smile, and opened his arm a little, I stepped forward and hugged him. I reach his shoulders, while Kai's a little below it, recognizing his familiar warmth an insignificant sigh escaped my lips and I closed my eyes momentarily to enjoy it —this is making me realize how much I missed him.

And when I took a step back, his smile faded as I noticed him narrowing his eyes and throwing the bag over his shoulder toward me, accompanied by pretended-bitterness in his uttered words, "What welcome, because of you I couldn't come on time on my favorite nephew's birthday."

Suddenly catching his heavy bag, I tried to balance it. Jackson hates luggage, so wherever he visits, he buys new things there and during departure also leaves them behind. Whatever he wants to send us, never has to wait for his arrival, that way the whole year things keep coming for Kai and me. Now I'm thankful for his habit as instead of a single bag, I know he would have dumped everything over me.

I rolled my eyes at his deliberately-exaggerated words, "You're still a day early."

Jackson was ready to rebuke, "And all the aching this journey caused, how would I spend time with him tomorrow?"

My eyes moved toward Kia, who was holding his smile after looking at my face when I gave him a see-that's-what-I-was-talking-about look.

"If you're tired then we should go home so you could rest."

Hearing my obedient words and edgy coaxing tone, a momentary doubt passed through his face but it soon regained its scowl and with a nod started walking, telling Kai to let's go. I noticed Kai lingered behind for a second, seeing the chance, I threw the bag in my hands over his head and hurriedly walked away.

I didn't hear any grievance from Kai, he followed me till we reached the car and handed the bag to the driver before Jackson could notice. Well, if he complained, I don't doubt that Jackson would have me hold the bad in my hands during the entire ride along with a lot of additional taunting.

These things aside, just like Kai I too am much happy that Jackson's back. Aside from missing him from time to time, Kai and I don't mind his absence. But nothing can deny that with Jackson's presence here, our tiny family becomes complete, and nothing is more comforting than this.

...

[Ruji: I apologize to all the readers for the inconvenience and annoyance of the disclaimer note, I'm sorry once again.]