Ep 3

The last customer quietly left the café.

The young woman wiped the final table clean before taking off her apron.

Another long day had finally come to an end.

"Good night!" her best friend called with a smile.

"Good night. See you tomorrow."

She stepped outside.

The cool night breeze gently brushed against her face, washing away the warmth of the busy café.

The streets were quieter now.

Streetlights stretched across the sidewalks, casting soft golden light onto the empty road.

She let out a slow sigh.

"My feet are going to hate me tomorrow..."

A small laugh escaped her lips as she continued walking home.

No matter how exhausting the day had been...

One thought always made her smile.

"I'm almost home."

A few minutes later...

She stopped in front of a small apartment building.

She unlocked the door as gently as she could, hoping her little brother had already fallen asleep.

The moment the door opened...

Tiny footsteps rushed across the room.

"Sis!"

Before she could even react, a little boy threw his arms around her.

She almost lost her balance before laughing softly and hugging him back.

"I'm home."

"I missed you..."

His small voice was muffled against her shoulder.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, gently stroking his hair.

"I missed you too."

He finally looked up at her.

"Sis... you look tired again."

She smiled as if nothing was wrong.

"I'm okay."

"You always say that."

For a second...

She couldn't find the right words.

Instead, she gently pinched his cheek.

"You're becoming too smart."

He giggled.

Then his smile slowly disappeared.

"Sis..."

"Hmm?"

"Our school is having a parents' meeting next week..."

He lowered his head and nervously played with the edge of his shirt.

"...Will you come?"

The room became silent.

She looked into his hopeful eyes.

For a brief moment...

She remembered every parents' meeting she had attended alone.

Every time the teachers looked around...

Looking for a mother.

Looking for a father.

But only finding...

An older sister.

Her heart quietly ached.

She slowly knelt until they were at the same height and gently held his little hands.

"Look at me."

He slowly raised his head.

"I'll be there."

His eyes widened.

"Really...?"

She smiled, her eyes filled with warmth.

"I promise."

"No matter how busy I become..."

"No matter how tired I am..."

"I will always be there for you."

His lips trembled before a bright smile spread across his face.

He hugged her as tightly as his little arms could.

"You're the best sister in the whole world!"

She hugged him back even tighter.

A tiny tear gathered in the corner of her eye.

Not because she was sad...

But because she wished their parents could have seen how much he had grown.

She quickly wiped the tear away before he could notice.

"As long as you're smiling..."

"...I'm already the happiest sister in the world."

The little boy smiled brightly.

"Then I'll study hard!"

She laughed softly through her tears.

"And I'll work hard."

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