With the smell of breakfast lingering in the house, Ciara was sitting lazily on the sofa going through her social media. The sun shone through the blind, casting a warm glow around the living room. Dwayne, her older brother, peered over her shoulder with an amused grin at the seemingly ended parade of pictures of cats and others that passed by the small screen.
"Hey, Ciara." Dwayne called suddenly -almost at the verge of jolting her off her seat, his voice holding a hint of mischief. "How about we go out for a treat today?"
Ciara glanced up from her phone, her eyebrows were raised with surprised. "Really?" She asked, excitement creeping into her voice as she instinctively pocketed her phone.
Dwayne nods his head. "Yep, I have been thinking, we haven't spent any proper time together in ages. Remember when we were kids, we used to go out on every adventure together and do almost everything together?" He cited with a daydreaming look on his face.
Ciara beamed at the memory, a warm and fuzzy feeling swelling within her, temporarily replacing the endless scroll of social media in her thought. "I do! I always loved our adventure, it was the best part about growing up." She replied, her voice warm and nostalgic.
"Yeah, you are right." He nodded in agreement, the manly smile on his face was still radiating softly.
"Ahh -" She breathed out slowly, beaming with smiles. "How I so much miss those good old days."
Her brother ruffled her head playfully before heading to the kitchen. "Well, get ready. I've got just the thing." He called out. "We are going out simple today, consider this as a disguise.
You know -something like that."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it..."She nodded in reply as she instantly stood up from her seat and raced in the opposite direction to the staircase, her spirit suddenly elevating at the thought of going out with her brother.
******
Hours later, the siblings found themselves standing outside a luxury eatery that the locals gushed about with starry eyed excitement. The building itself, exceed an air of elegance, crisp with the white tablecloth gleaming chandeliers, and an array of paintings gracing its opulent walls.
The eatery was bustling with people, all indulging themselves with mouthwatering delicacies bought forth by smiling waiters in impeccable dress. The aroma of spices and freshly cooked food filled the air, accompanied by the sound of laughter and soft music.
Feeling a bit improper, Ciara glanced nervously at his brother-it's been months since she finds herself in the midst of people, she always prefers restaurants with fewer people.
Dwayne, accustomed to that serene, gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance and then urged her to take her seat.
They perused the menu, both engrossed in the delectable choices available to them. After almost ten minutes of debate and consulting each other on their preference, they place their order and await theirtreat.
As they sat opposite each other, the conversation begins to flow seamlessly as they reminisce over the good old days. They spoke fondly of shared memories, late night pillow fights and scrapped knees on bicycle, and the impenetrable bond they had formed during these cherished years.
"I can still lucidly remember the other night when you got tricked by that artificial scorpion I placed in your room." Dwayne enunciated, snickering at his words. "Why would I ever forget such night of all night? The look on your face was inevitable."
Ciara laughed heartily as she recalled the night and at other particular amusing childhood tale, her eyes brimming with mirth. She had missed these moments of carefree joy and siblings bonding, and a feeling of deep contentment washed over her as they continued to delve deeper into their stories.
They did not even pause in their stories and tales as the waitress served them their meals. Instinctively, their cutlers were picked as they started to eat, still indulging in their talks.
However, midway through their laughter, Ciara abruptly felt silent. She felt an all encompassing of dizziness wash over her, followed by a nauseating urge to vomit. Clasping her hand to her mouth, she excused herself from the table into a breathless gasp. Panic flow through her as the dizziness intensified, the entire restaurant blurring before her eyes.
Her brother's face pale with worry, his brow furrowing with concern as he observed Ciara hastily making her way towards the restroom. Thejovial atmosphere that has surrounded them seems to evaporate instantly, replaced instead by an unsettling sense of unease.
He was tempted to go with her with the thought that she had suddenly grown an allergy, but with a second thought and realizing it used to be her favorite since her childhood, he holds himself and waited on her arrival.
As soon as she emerged from the restroom, he quickly blurted out. "Are you okay?" He trailed off abruptly as he stared at her in agape. Her complexion ashed and drained, Dwayne knew that they needed to get her help. He swiftly paid the bills, helped her into the car, and they drove to the nearest hospital.
In the sterile environment of the hospital waiting room, surrounded by hushed murmur and the faint scent of disinfectant, Dwayne sat beside Ciara, fearfully comforting his sister and fondling her palm as he awaits the doctor's assessment.
A million questions plagued his mind, each one darker and more troubling than the last. Has she suddenly developed a food allergy? Was it something more sinister? Those were his unsettled thoughts as he held Ciara's trembling hand, during his best to ease her worry while his head pounded with dread.
Soon enough, a kindly doctor emerged from an examination room, a small professional smile on his face -wide enough to ease the siblings at the moment. "It looks like a simple case of pregnancy, Mr. Fellers." He announced, relieving much of the anxiety that had gripped Dwayne.
Well, his relieved anxiety only lasted a few seconds as he rethinks the doctor's simple words. "What pregnancy...？" His eyes widened at the thought of his sister being pregnant.