Mamella could not answer the call and could only look alternately at the door and Aryl not answering the voice she heard from the outside.
“Mamella, can I come in?”
This voice sounded just like Mamella’s family.
Aryl looked at Mamella, who had hardened while holding her sullenly, her face turned pale.
‘If I get caught, Mamella will be in trouble.’
I slapped Mamella’s arm with my front paws to get a grip, but Mamella only rolled her eyes looking at the surroundings.
‘No! Just let me hide under the bed.’ Aryl screamed inwardly.
Struggling to escape Mamella’s hold of her, Mamella held Aryl tighter and refused to let go.
As Aryl glanced at her, she could hear Mamella swallowing with a strained look.
“Mamella?”
Once again, I heard the voice calling over the door.
I’d be lying if I tell you I didn’t want to see Mamella’s family right over the door. It’s been a few days since I sat by the window, drowsily watching Mamella’s family.
However, if Mamella doesn’t like it, I can’t respond to my heart either. I exchanged glances with Mamella for a moment and then slammed Mamella’s hand, which was holding me, with my front paw once again.
My sudden action drained the strength from Mamella’s arm. She let out a gasp of embarrassment. I escaped from her grasp and dug into the blanket.
As the light pink blanket covered my vision, I leaned on her leg to reassure Mamella.
“I- I didn’t go anywhere… Don’t worry, I’m here brother.” Mamella answered.
After a while, a trembling voice continued, “Oh, brother, I… I’m not feeling well right now, so I want to be alone.”
It took a while for Mamella’s words to come out, and she came back to her senses for a moment. Her voice sounded muffled.
“Are you seriously sick? I’ll call a doctor. Before that…”
“It’s not like that! I just want to be alone…” Mamella exclaimed.
As I lifted the blanket slightly with my front paw, I could see Mamella panicking.
I listened to the voice coming from beyond the door. For some reason, he didn’t answer.
After a long silence, Mamella rubbed her palm on her clothes as if her hands were sweating.
Then I came out through the gap in the blanket and met her gaze.
Mamella whispered, “Aryl… If my brother comes in, you must never cry, okay?”
For Mamella, who was anxious, I stuck my front paw out of the blanket and patted her on the back of her hand.
At that moment, a sighing voice was heard from beyond the door.
“…Then I’ll come back next time, so you can get some rest. If you’re sick, be sure to tell me…”
I heard footsteps turning away and getting farther. After a while, Mamella let out a long sigh as she burst out of breath she had held back.
“I’ve been through this for ten years…”
The light pink blanket covering my sight suddenly lifted. I could still see Mamella, whose complexion was pale.
Maybe not, but I think she looked a little better than before.