"Ah, Dwayne, it's you..." Ciara enounced with a wide smile on her face. "You are here today again."
"Yeah, I can't help it." He replied with a slight shoulder shrug. "What else can I do when you have an unwanted..."
She cuts him off abruptly, interrupting his words. "Don't say, Dwayne. Don't!" She told him, earning a smug grin from him. Ciara sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Come in..."
"Eh -thanks." He said, closing the door behind him. "I thought you were still angry at me and might deny me entrance, but it seems I'm wrong."
"It's not too late, I can still oust you out of my house now within a blink of an eye." She threatened, herfacial expression far from friendly. "-you arejust a guest here, you should watch how you talk to the house owner."
Dwayne laughed at her. "You can't do that to your only." He was forced to press his lips into a thin line due to the hard glare he earned from Ciara. "Alright... alright, I promise to be on my best behavior."
Ciara raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by his promise. "I'll believe that when I see it." She said, hertone dripping with skepticism. "Just don't think I won't throw you out if you start causing trouble."
Dwayne put his hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "You wound me, Ciara, you just hurt me beyond thinking." He said, a pout on his face. "I'm not the troublemaker you think I am, I'm your good big brother. Did you forget that in a hurry?"
"Hahaha!" Ciara's lips curved into a smirk. "You're funny, Dwayne." She said, shaking her head.
Dwayne only chuckled and collapsed comfortably on the couch next to him. "Ah
-how nice..." He vocalized, heaving out a sigh of relief. "Were you planning to oust me out just to miss this comfortable moment, Ciara?"
Ciara scoffs at him. "Tsk, tsk! I suppose the couches in your house aren't as comfortable as this, then?" She mused, clicking her tongue against her teeth.
Dwayne ignored her banter with a smug grin on his face. "You don't want us to start this tonight again, do you?" He asked, but Ciara did say no word in reply, just a hard glare at him. "Where is Herzl?"
"It's late already and past his bedtime, he's in bed." She responded to him, with her arms folded across her chest. "Why are you here?"
"Relax, I mean no harm." He assured her. "I'm not here and won't even say anything about what you think I have in mind, I just want..." "I did say nothing about you having anything on mind, Dwayne. I only asked a simple question; why are you here?" She enunciated, her voice stern. "With the way you are seated, you don't look like someone who's leaving anytime soon."
"Yes, because I'm spending the night here." He cited simply. "I'm attending an international conference meeting tomorrow."
"...and?"
"Unlike mine, your house is just a few minutes drive to the airport, that's why I'm here." He uttered in a plain tone. "You don't have to worry, I won't cause any scene with her."
"I want to believe you won't." She told him. "Even though a couple of days have passed since the funeral, aunt Elsie is still grieving her husband's death -you can save your strength for another day."
"I'm not that daft, Ciara." He said to her. "I told you earlier; I won't make any fuse with her and would be on my best behavior, I'm not here because of Elsie."
"Good..."She stated, convinced by her brother's assurance. "Since you are spending the night here, let me prepare your room. It's a little messy, but I'll be done in ajiffy."
"You see why you need a permanent maid around?" Dwayne taunts her, a grin on his face. "I don't know, if you just don't want to spend those printed papers -maybe because you think getting a maid will cost you a fortune?"
"I have domestic workers who I pay handsomely fortheir hard work, I don't need a permanent maid around because of yoursilly assumption." She fired at him. "-and if not for your impromptu arrival, I won't be doing this late at night."
"I'm sorry, it was just a harmless joke." He laughed at his sister's reaction, his expression turning serious again. "Why take it too far? You weren't even this way before, when did you start acting aggressively over little things?"
Ciara's expression softened as she heard his words. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." She said, lowering her gaze. "It's just...things have been tough lately. I'm just... on edge." She let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry for taking it out on you."
"It's okay, I understand." Dwayne reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?
"I know, right? I don't understand why I'm being like this lately." She said with a soft sigh. "But you shouldn't worry much about me, I guess I'll be fine soon."
Dwayne smiled warmly at him. "It's just a phase you will overcome soon." He told her in assurance. "Maybe you are facing this because you are working overtime, it's not an easy task to watch over two companies at a time."
Ciara nodded, heaving another sigh. "That's part of it, I guess." She admitted, leaning back in her chair. "But it's not just that. I feel like I'm losing a part of myself, like I'm not the same person I used to be."
Dwayne's eyes widened in concern as he listened to her. "What do you mean?" He asked gently, not wanting to sound pushy. "Why do you feel like you are losing yourself?"
"I don't know, but as you've assured, I'll be fine soon." She told him. "Maybe I just need a little break from work -but I can't! Who will look over the companies if I decide to lazy around due to some personal feeling?"
"Just because you need a break doesn't mean you are lazy, Ciara." Dwayne said, his tone firm but gentle. "And the companies won't crumble without you there for a few days. Your presence is important, but they can survive a week without you, just fine."
Ciara thought about his words for a moment, then slowly nodded. "You are right." She conceded, her shoulders relaxing. "I think I need to take a few days off, to recharge and come back with a fresh perspective."
"Oh, Ciara, come here." Dwayne beckoned, his arms spread out. "Come here, little sister."
"What are you doing, Dwayne." She took a step backward, a frown on her face. "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing, I just want to give my little sister a hug for being a superwoman." He replied, his both arms still spread out. "You can't decline my generous offer."
Ciara's cheeks flushed at his words. "This is embarrassing, stop treating me like a baby, I'm not a kid anymore." She said and turned away. "I think you are feeling sleepy already, let me quickly prepare your room."
"Oh, come on, Ciara." Dwayne said, his voice taking on a playful tone. "Don't be such a stick in the mud. I just want to show you some love."
He stood up from his chair and approached her, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. "It's not embarrassing, it's just brotherly love."
Ciara tried to wriggle out of his embrace, but he held her tight. She finally relented, relaxing in his arms. "Okay, I surrender." She laughed softly. "But don't let it get to your head."
Dwayne smiled at how relaxing it felt to have his sister in his embrace -it seems like ages since he's done this to her. He couldn't help but commend how strong she is after going through a lot of ordeals and he couldn't be any more prouder...