Christian rang the bell. He had arrived earlier than he had expected. When the door opened he saw a tall man with red hair. He looked at him from head to toe as he did the same. 

"I assume you're Crystal's brother?" he asked him, stepping aside to let him pass and keep observing him.

Killian brushed past him and headed for the living room. The visitor was equally tall and thin. His black hair fell forward on his forehead and his face was charming and unexpectedly familiar. 

"Christian." He introduced himself. "You are Killian, I presume. Nice to meet you." 

Killian took their guest's small suitcase and led him to Crystal's room. He followed him and looked at the stranger and wondered what kind of man he was. So far his sister hadn't had any problems from her roommate but he never ceased to be concerned that she was rooming with a man. Their mother on the other hand didn't seem to be worried at all. He looked at him more closely. He was a year younger than him, his mother had informed him, and that he had an older brother and sister with whom he was not particularly close and rarely saw. He looked familiar but he couldn't identify where he had met him before.

"Crystal went shopping. She should be back in a little while. Do you want me to make you a coffee?" She pulled him out of his thoughts and led him into the kitchen, putting the coffee maker on.

"Is your grandmother Mrs. Evans?" Ηe asked him in surprise realizing who he was and wondered why their mother hadn't revealed it to them herself? So he could understand the trust she was showing him. 

"And I was wondering when you'd figure it out!" Ηe teased him and they hugged. 

"Now that explains why my mother is so relaxed about this cohabitation. How long has it been since I've seen you?" 

"It must be around seven years?" 

At that moment the door opened and Crystal walked in, laden with bags. She dropped them on the floor as soon as she saw him and ran into his arms. She hadn't seen him since they had left with Aaron in China. 

"Christian! How good it is to see you." She exclaimed in their native language. "How was it? Mama told me you went to Lou first." 

Killian was leaning against the counter listening to their conversation. He couldn't understand what they were saying but it was strange and interesting to listen to them.

"I'll let you know when you've put away the groceries." Christian answered her and picked up the bags to place them on the counter. He watched her take out the products one by one and write her name with a marker on them. 

"How's cohabitation?" She asked casually knowing that Killian didn't speak Korean.

"I have no complaints. We don't see each other often and when he's here he's usually stuck in his room. We even decorated the tree yesterday. And while at first he said he wouldn't participate, he ended up paying half of the expenses and decorating with me." 

"Do you know who he is? He's Mrs. Evans' grandson."

Crystal looked at him, dumbfounded.

The two siblings turned and looked at him and he held out the coffee cup to them.

"You can continue talking, it’s okay with me. I'm drinking my coffee and enjoying you." He teased them and served two cups of coffee for them as well. 

"Sorry Killian. It's not right to talk in front of you and not understand. But it's also not right for you to go this long without revealing that we know each other!" Crystal told him while handing him things to put in the kitchen cupboards and continued their conversation in English. 

"I didn't think you were the twins' sister." He commented.

"Even Iris didn't give me that honor when she told me about the room." 

Iris, the family friend and neighbor of her parents who was friends with Eliza, who was the personal assistant to Mrs. Evans, also a neighbor of their parents! She looked at him still not believing that he was one of the neighborhood kids they played with.

For a long time, and while Christian cooked for them, they chatted animatedly about everything and nothing, realizing with joy that they continued to fit together as a group despite the years that had passed since they had last met. Before he continued in boarding school. That day they all three ate together at the table and eventually parted when it was already very late at night. They had a lot to talk about.

Christian lay wide open on his sister's bed and put his hands behind his head. 

"Did you tell her?" His sister asked him sharply, sitting beside him on the bed and hugging her knees. 

"What do you mean?" He asked her nonchalantly without opening his eyes. He heard her sigh. 

"I know you love her, Christian. I think everyone has figured that out except her." 

He sighed.

"Is it that obvious?" She didn't deny it. It didn't make sense. 

"So did you finally tell her?"

"I kissed her." He chuckled and she jumped up, bringing her legs under her torso, eager to hear the rest. 

"And?" 

"Nothing. We both pretended nothing had happened. And then I decided to leave because it was uncomfortable enough." 

"I see. Lydia didn't tell me anything."

How had these two managed it like that? To be high on each other and still be apart. They may have had, a small in her opinion, age difference but no one in either family would have been against their relationship. She wondered if she should act but maybe it would be better to leave them alone to work it out. And that's what her mother would say if she asked her opinion. 

In the water, Christian felt liberated. As the liquid element embraced him, it made him feel peaceful and safe. He could empty his mind of his problems or think more clearly and make important decisions. When he swam a weight would lift off him. With his sister by his side he enjoyed the peace. He wanted to stop thinking about Lydia for a while. It had haunted him that after the kiss they had shared she had somehow drifted away. She had closed herself off. He would have preferred to have been rejected, to have been yelled at, to have been able to understand her feelings. Crystal sat on the edge of the pool with her feet still in the water waiting for him to stop the marathon swim he had been indulging in. The world around them was beginning to thin out. She saw him stop and take off his cap before he got out of the water. 

"You want to get overtired so you can stop thinking about her?" she teased him.

Without replying he walked past her, grabbed his towel and went into the locker room. She shrugged and followed his lead. 

A short time later they were walking side by side in the park in silence, both lost in thought. It was starting to snow and they didn't want to go home just yet. A thin white layer made the park look like it had been dusted with powder. They followed the path through the bare trees. Periodically they would come across a runner or a couple who were making their walk despite the cold. It was nice to have her brother there with her and she wanted to be with him as much as possible as the time when he would have to leave was approaching. He had decided to go back to the town they grew up in, find a small apartment so he wouldn't have to live with their parents and work with their father at the company. 

"She loves you, I'm sure of it." His sister commented suddenly. 

"Danae told me the same thing and that she needs time to realize it. I don't know how much time I can give her though. I've already waited too long. Now let her make the next move." He said sadly.

She held his hand in hers. He knew he would wait for her for life if he had to. Just as she knew her best friend would hardly make the next move since she was afraid that revealing her true feelings would lose him. In the love matters her friend didn’t have a clue.

He looked at the house in front of him with nostalgia. He had missed his parents. He hadn't seen them in person in five months. He picked up his suitcase and went inside. He found his mother, as he expected, sitting in the backyard despite the cold. She was wearing jeans, thick fur boots and a thick jacket. Around her neck was wrapped a gray woolen scarf and her long hair was covered by a cap the same color as the scarf. She hadn't seen him as she was engrossed in the book she was reading. He approached her and stood in front of her, blocking out the dim light of day. She lifted her head and when she saw him she jumped up to her feet to burrow into his arms. He squeezed her and closing his eyes he let her scent wash over him.

"Why do you like to sit in the cold and read when we have such a nice living room? I'll never understand it."

She chose not to answer, just stroked his cheek tenderly and led him into the house happy to have one of her children close by. His father was sitting in his favorite armchair, in front of the large French door to the living room, reading his newspaper. Less diffusive as he was when he saw his son he folded his newspaper over his lap and gave him a nod of greeting. 

"Here, let me make you a cup of tea." 

He followed her into the modern kitchen. For his mother all times and occasions of the day needed a glass of tea. He watched her prepare two cast iron small teapots into which she placed tea leaves with dried fruit and spices and poured hot water over them. She placed a cup in front of him and a plate of fresh cake and sat down opposite him, taking his hand tenderly. 

 "I'm glad you're back." She told him and a tear rolled from her eyes. 

He wiped it away and filled their glasses with the hot drink that had turned a beautiful bright red color. The room was filled with its sweet aroma. 

"Are you sure you want to get your own place?" she asked him.

"Straight to the point, Mom." He teased her. "Yes. I hope somewhere near here anyway." He stalled her and got up, taking his mug with him to go up to his room.

He closed the door behind him and looked around the room. A semi-double bed was propped up against the wall that was covered with posters of video games and a few of their own drafts. On the opposite wall were pictures of buildings from various cities he had visited with his brother just above his desk. He lay on his bed and brought his hands under his head. He closed his eyes and sighed. He needed a new plan in his life and he was going to start with work. From the next day onwards he would accept the position his father had offered him in their architectural firm.