It is now December 14th, a Saturday. Good riddance, has winter break started and I can do whatever I want for three weeks. I started off the day by waking up and starting to cook breakfast. Nothing special really, just chopped up some green onions and put then in an egg mix. Then made scrambled eggs, putting in a lot more than a dash of salt. As I was eating, my degenerate brother came out of his room.

"Hey, Allan." He yawned.

"What?" I ask while chewing.

"You doing anything today?" He asked.

"Nothing in particular."

"Great, I need you to come with me to work."

"What? Why?"

"Because I need you to record me working so mom and dad believe I was being productive."

"Yeah right, make a co-worker do it."

He put his hands on the table and looked at me. "You don't understand the situation."

"Fine, what's the situation?"

"I don't trust those degenerate co-workers to touch my phone."

You're one to talk.

I rolled my eyes. "Why?"

"You'll know why when you see them."

"Isn't your girlfriend coming into town? Why can't you have her do it?"

"Because she'll be jetlagged as hell! Please just do it for me! I only work on weekends!"

"Fine, but you'll owe me something."

"That's my brother, you understand."

Sure I do.

"Okay, anyway I have to leave at 1:00. So be ready."

"It's 12:30 and you're still in your boxers and slippers."

"I can get ready pretty quickly, so don't worry about it."

Thirty minutes elapsed. I was already wearing my coat and scarf. He busted out of his room combing his hair that was still dripping wet by the way.

"Did you really have to take a thirty minute shower?" I asked.

"Yes I did! It eases the mind before I go do something stressful."

He quickly put on his coat and boots and grabbed the key to the house.

"Don't you have to wear a uniform?" I asked.

"No, I just put an apron on after I get there."

"Apron? Where do you work?"

"At a coffee place."

Don't tell me...

We walked down the stairs into the lobby.

"Huh? Where's Aoki? Is he not on duty today?" Ken asked.

"What? He's leaving for Japan today."

"Oh is that right? Huh, didn't know."

"Of course you didn't, you haven't left the condo since last week, I even had to do the grocery shopping because you were being lazy. We don't even have a car because Mom and Dad left it at the airport, and had to walk home in below freezing temperatures."

"Well it's not my fault, I've been working on something for the past month."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"You'll see in due time."

We opened the door to the outside street and the wind blew hard.

"Cold as ever today, this would be another reason I never wanted to leave the condo." He said.

"Pathetic, it's been this cold for a while. Just not this windy." I got a chill down my spine.

We walked down the street for a little while. The homeless men were still chiming their bells. we each give them a 20 and take our leave.

"You know what?" I asked.

"What?"

"Why do you even work? Mom and Dad fill our credit cards every week anyway."

"Well, I like to have myself some hard earned money. Also, when I spend all of my credit card money, I have another source to fall back on until they refill the card. I turn all of my paychecks into cash, even though I don't earn much."

"Waste of time."

"Last time I checked, you clearly don't like having this privileged life. Where everything is given to you. Why ask such an obvious question?"

"Well, I don't want to work. And having a lot of money means I don't have to worry. I don't see the difference between hard earned money and the money we get from mom and dad. To me it's just all money."

"Well if you think about it like that of course you won't see the difference. Sigh, you need a better outlook on how our life is. We're very lucky to be the way we are, the fact that we don't have to worry about money."

"Like I'll listen to what you have to say."

"You know, when you sit around all day, you have a lot of time to think. Because of that I'm always pondering."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm no philosopher but, I do really think of interesting ways to see our lives."

"I'm being brainwashed right now aren't I?"

"No, forget about it."

We continued walking for a little while longer. Until we reached our destination, Angel Coffee. How'd I know? Now I know why he didn't want his co-workers do touch his phone.

We pushed the pull door and entered inside. The bell chimed.

"Ken, you're late." Claire said.

"By five minutes, chill out." Ken said.

"Oh you brought that Allan guy with you?" Claire asked.

"Yes, he's my brother."

"Brother? That's interesting. So, Allan, you here for a job?" Claire asked me.

"No, I'm only here because Ken owes me something now." I said.

"Hmm, interesting. Because, Nia and her friends are coming in for volunteer work later." She said

"Is that so?"

I heard the bell chime behind me.

"A-Allan?! Why're you here?!" Nia confronted me. She was wearing a maid looking outfit, that's why she must be so flustered.

"Ah, I was here supporting my brother." I reply bluntly.

"Oh hi Allan." Bridget said.

"What's up?" Trevor said.

"Tch, why do you have to be here of all times!" She threw her coat at Trevor and stomped into the kitchen.

"Yeah, she already was embarrassed to be wearing one." Trevor said.

"Well, why're you guys here?" I asked.

"Volunteer work." Bridget said.

So these are the "friends" Claire was talking about.

"Allan you should volunteer too." Trevor said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it'll look good for when we graduate." Bridget said.

"Yeah no, not gonna wear that kind of outfit today." I said.

"Huh? Who said you need to wear one?" Bridget asked.

"Still not going to volunteer, you guys do your best though." I turned my spinning stool back toward the TV "Claire, give me a 'Mocha Suprême'." I asked.

"Uh, yeah right. Have your brother do it." She said.

"Yeah, that's right." I made a smug smile. "Ken, make me a 'Mocha Suprême'."

"Okay, better record me got it?" He went into the kitchen and I pulled out my phone and started filming through the window. It humors me to see my brother do some work, especially for me.

Nia came out of the kitchen and finally faced me. "What is wrong with you today? You're smiling, you should probably go home and get some rest."

My smile faded.

"I don't understand, what's wrong with my smile?" I asked in a mono-toned voice.

"It's just so unnatural. Get your act together Allan."

"How about getting your together, why're you even wearing a maid outfit for this job?"

"I was forced to! Claire dared me to do it, so I have to. Plus Gabriel wears one, so I don't see the problem!"

"Yeah well I don't see Gabriel here today, so your excuse is invalid now."

"I forgot that Gabriel doesn't work on Saturdays!"

"You know you didn't have to wear it. It's not like Claire physically forced you to wear it."

"She personally called me and essentially black mailed me, even though I was going to do it anyway."

I looked at Claire, she nodded.

"Oh well, whatever I suppose."

Nia walked back into the kitchen, and I hit the end record button.

"Alright Allan, here's your 'Mocha Suprême'." Ken put the cup in front of me.

I took a sip. "I'd give you a higher score, but this ice is too large. Doesn't having it over ice require you to make the ice more blended? Someone will choke if you feed this to them."

"Very critical, you should lighten up, I made it for you after all."

"I won't lighten up if I choke to death now will I?"

"Hmm, point taken. Alright, I'm going to go prepare the strawberries like Master asked me!" He walked back into the kitchen.

"Master?" I asked.

"In case you haven't noticed, they call my dad master." Claire pointed out.

"Why's that?"

"Because he made them. You see, we have a very special trait that will forever be intertwined in the Ivoire bloodline. And it's being pushy, you heard how Nia described our friendly little bet."

"Friendly? Doesn't seem like it was friendly."

"It was very friendly, this is the friendliest I've been with with a friend."

If that's her being the friendliest, I don't wanna know what she's like when she's normal.

The phone on the wall (which still exists for some reason) rang loud and Claire picked it up.

She slammed the phone back onto the receiver. "Well, one of my stupid co-workers is taking a sick day."

"That's too bad." I take a sip from my drink.

"Well, since you're here, wanna help us out? You're friends are already working, so I don't see anything wrong with it."

"Uh, no thanks."

"Oh? Did I ask too friendly? If you don't do it you'll listen to my dad talk about his love for coffee instead."

I slammed my cup back onto the counter. "Fine, I'll work!"

"That's what I like to hear."

I took of my winter clothing and went into the break room. They had more aprons hanging around in the closet. The door behind me opened.

"Oh Allan? You're going to work after all?" Trevor asked.

"Its not like I want to or anything, Claire blackmailed me into this!" I shouted.

"Hmm, there's just something about you and Nia that's so similar. I just can't put my finger on it."

I tied the string on the apron. "Oh and what's that similarity?"

"Hmm, I don't know... Oh! Nia said the exact same thing when Claire forced you to work!"

"Wow, forget what I said earlier."

Ken walked into the break room also. "Ah hey Allan, can I see the video you recorded."

"So this is your brother?" Trevor asked.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry I haven't fully introduced myself yet. The name's Ken, nice to meet you." He put out his hand and shook Trevor's hand furiously.

This seems kind of familiar...

"Uh yeah, my name's Trevor, nice to meet you also."

"Anyway Allan, let me see the video!" He grabbed my phone as soon as it left my pocket.

He immediately started tapping away on the screen. "Uh, how do you know my passcode?"

"Doesn't matter, okay here's the video." He played the video. I could hear the compressed sound of a blender running. "Oh no, this won't do."

"What? Why not?" I asked.

"All I did was put ice in a blender, and stood there. That doesn't look like I'm doing work. Rather it looks more like I'm just sitting there."

"But that's your job!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, we'll have to try again."

"Are you kidding me right now.."

"No, I'm not."

In the end, we got the same result everytime.