Of course, Ethan couldn't resist. Leaning closer, he whispered to her with a wicked grin, "Not just sleep over, they, "
"Drugg!" Felicia's elbow shot straight into Ethan's stomach before he could finish the sentence.
Ethan doubled over, gasping, but it still wasn't enough. Thivi jumped onto his back and clamped her hand over his mouth. "Don't say it, Ethan!" she cried, her face bright red.
Ethan groaned helplessly against her palm, while the others burst into laughter. The tension dissolved completely, replaced with warmth and playful chaos. Deep down, they all knew, this night would be unforgettable.
By the time they reached Kaivan's house, the sky had darkened. The night air was cool, carrying a sense of ease after a long day at the workshop. Ten friends stood before a modern-minimalist home, exposed brick walls and wide glass windows glowing softly from within.
Kaivan unlocked the door with a bright smile, but a cheerful voice cut in before he could say anything.
"Nah, it's crowded tonight!" his older sister, Kira, exclaimed from behind the door. Her eyes scanned the group with amused familiarity. "Raphael, Ethan, usual guests. But Felicia and Thivi...? Planning to sleep with Kaivan, huh? Hahaha!"
"Teteh!" Felicia yelped. Her face turned crimson in an instant as she hugged her own arms, shrinking into embarrassed silence.
Nearby, Kira, who had been watching quietly, leaned closer to Kaivan. With a teasing glint, she tugged lightly at the collar of his shirt. "Oi, Kaivan," she whispered, half-joking, half-intrigued, "are you seriously sleeping with all of them?"
Kaivan breathed out slowly, steadying himself amid the rising chaos. "No," he answered firmly. "I already explained everything earlier." But he knew very well, Kira's laughter wasn't stopping anytime soon.
Before the teasing grew awkward, Livia, who clearly hadn't followed any of it, spoke up innocently, "Why is that a problem? Sleeping together is just sleeping. Livi sometimes sleeps with my older brother too."
Thivi, standing close enough to hear, immediately wrapped Livia into a half-hug and whispered frantically, "Livia... when they say 'sleep together,' they mean... making love."
Livia blinked, confusion clouding her gentle features. "But… isn't making love just cuddling and hugging?" she asked sincerely, her voice pure and unaware of the world she had just shaken.
Thivi let out a laugh, light, bright, and completely unrestrained. "Hahaha, no, no, that's not what I meant, Livi... Goodness, you're way too innocent," she said, patting the girl's head with gentle affection.
Laughter burst around them, washing away the last traces of tension. One by one, they stepped into the house. The night air carried faint hints of home-cooked meals lingering in the hallway. In the living room, warm lamplight reflected softly against wooden walls, soothing and welcoming. A cushy sofa waited for the tired bodies who had spent their evening wrapped in jokes and the unspoken secrets each of them still carried.
As they entered the room, Kaivan's mother appeared from the kitchen. Her smile was warm, like a thin blanket on a quiet night. Her face glowed softly, pride shining through the moment she realized her son had brought home new friends.
"Oh my, so many new faces. Who do we have here?" she greeted, her voice gentle and calm, like music that didn't disturb the silence.
Frans stepped forward first, polite and composed. "My name is Frans, Ma'am," he said quietly but firmly. Isabel followed with graceful steps. "I'm Isabel. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am," she said with a tender smile. Livia, bright as always, bounced slightly. "Hi! I'm Livia. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kaivan!" she chimed. Lastly, Zinnia approached with calm steps. She bowed her head slightly and spoke with seriousness, "My name is Zinnia, Ma'am. It's an honor to meet you."
Kaivan's mother nodded in satisfaction and invited them to sit. The smell of chicken soup drifted from the kitchen. The dining table, simple yet full of heart, was set with warm rice, homemade dishes, and a gentle laughter beginning to bloom among them.
At the table, Felicia and Thivi sat on either side of Kaivan. They took turns trying to feed him, laughing whenever he resisted half-heartedly. From across the table, Zinnia simply watched, her expression torn between amusement and disbelief as she sipped her soda.
Frans and Livia sat at one end, giggling over the silly events of the day. In the living room, Raphael, Ethan, Radit, and Isabel were absorbed in a card game, bursting into laughter whenever someone lost.
The night flowed softly, as if the world carried no burdens. But suddenly, Kaivan stood up. His expression shifted. "I'm going to the bathroom for a bit," he muttered briefly. His steps were quick, almost uneasy. Some of his friends looked his way for a moment, but their attention soon drifted back to their conversations.
While laughter continued to echo, filling the house with warmth and soft light, Kaivan walked alone to the bathroom. Behind the closed door, he hunched over slightly, pressing a hand to his stomach. Not just from overeating, but from something else. Something that wasn't laughing with them.
Meanwhile, outside the bathroom, the cheerful atmosphere began to soften, replaced by a quiet warmth. Kaivan's mother stood in the center of the room. Her voice, gentle, full of love, flowed like water moving between stones. She looked at Kaivan's friends, and for a moment, time seemed to slow.
"Thank you," she said softly, yet clearly, "for wanting to be friends with Kaivan."
The simple words rippled through the silence, touching something deep within them. Behind her voice lay the quiet yearning of a mother, a mother who had watched her son spend years alone, closing himself off from the world.
The atmosphere shifted. Their earlier laughter softened into a silence filled with meaning. Their eyes met one another's, realizing this was more than just an ordinary gathering.
Something had grown in the warmth of that night, gratitude, acceptance, and a quiet, unspoken affection.
Radit spoke first. His usually bright face had softened. "I should be the one thanking you, Ma'am. Kaivan once helped me," he said, his voice honest. A shadow of old memories flickered in his eyes, moments when Kaivan pulled him out of trouble he would never forget.
Zinnia followed with a quiet nod. Her tone was gentle, yet firm. "If I hadn't met Kaivan that day, my wallet would've fallen off the bridge by now." She smiled lightly. A small incident, yet one that stayed with her, the moment their paths began to cross.
Then Thivi, who had been silent, spoke up. Her gaze was steady, but her voice trembled. "Yes, Ma'am… if Kaivan hadn't helped me on the motorcycle that night, I don't think I'd still be here." Her words drifted through the room like a soft night breeze, calm, yet heavy. Everyone knew that story. And everyone knew how close she had come to vanishing before Kaivan intervened.
Felicia, quiet until now, lifted her eyes. "If anything, I should be the one thanking him. Kaivan helped me when I was… almost ready to give up." Her words were simple, but they carried the weight of a struggle she once hid, until Kaivan reached out silently.
Even Ethan, usually playful, grew serious. "If it weren't for Kaivan, I'd probably still be stuck with that stupid biker gang." His voice was low, carrying the truth of how deeply Kaivan had pulled him away from darkness.
Raphael spoke next, his tone steady. "If Kaivan hadn't stopped me that night… I might've done something I could never undo." There was quiet gratitude woven into his voice.
Isabel offered a small smile. "And if Kaivan didn't show up back then, my phone would've been long gone." Lighthearted, yet sincere.
Livia giggled softly, ever the cheerful one. "Heeh, you all really have your own special stories with Big Bro Kaivan, huh?" Her laughter eased the lingering tension, a gentle warmth spreading as a few eyes began to glisten.