Chapter Ten: He's Really Spoiled

After so much ruckus, Keith finally found himself some time to be alone in his room.

He leaned against the door and screamed in silent mode at the top of his lungs. Keith wanted to proudly tell everyone that he was dating the hottest guy in their class. But he can only be like this when he is alone. Nevertheless, despite the secrecy of their newfound relationship, he's still very thrilled.

His bliss temporarily stopped when he remembered the plots of many romance novels he read. In some instances, the main characters have already expressed their affections in bed for some whopping detailed chapters, but they are still at a stalemate in defining their relationship.

Hence, Keith stole his phone from grandma and fished it out of his pocket to chat with Drake.

Keith: Hey Drake!

Keith: We're dating, right? Like for real?!

Keith further typed, "I'm warning you, Drake Ran. Don't bullshit a bullshitter! I don't want our story to be censored from something I dreamt of being romantic and steamy into your brotherhood bullshit drama… It's not easy to hope for something so ambiguous! You better not 'cause if you do, even if you kiss my ass…."

Keith felt that he might scare his boyfriend away by reading it back, so he deleted it. Relationships often start sweet and beautiful. Then, people would show their ugly sides years later or even after marriage. Therefore, he must not show his controlling side right after they made out for the first time or after they started dating!

He giggled to himself as he sat on his bed where Kookie was lying. He carried it into his arms and embraced him like a baby. "Kookie, I'm not his younger brother anymore!" He whispered.

Kookie whimpered… "What… aren't you happy for me?" He looked at the weak pup. He was whining sharply as if he was in pain. Formosan Mountain Dogs are usually very lively like the other five dogs in their house, Kimmie, Konnie, Koorie, Kissie, and Alien. But Kookie looked like he was suffering so much that Keith's heart was only a step away from another heartbreak.

He ran back down and called out to his mother and father to take him to the vet. He observed Kookie and noticed his eyes reddening. It can be that it's just an allergy to pollen or dust but what if it's more serious? His mother was exhausted, so only his father went to the vet with him. The pet clinic was about to close when they arrived, and they made it on time. Keith is their number 1 regular customer, and as a fellow dog lover, Dr. Julia took them in to look at the little wild pup crying.

After observations and a series of questions, she gave the pup drops for the eyes. Kookie sounded so bullied, but he needed it.

"He has conjunctivitis. You have many dogs. It's better if he stays here for now until we find out if this is because of allergy, bacterial infection, or viral. Make sure your other dogs don't have it too. Clean up their cabin. Sanitize it." She instructed.

"Then, is he going to be okay, Dr. Julia? He looked so weak. Kiara just took him here a week ago, but-"

"I didn't see her. She did not come here with this pup."

"…"

While on their way home, Keith's father felt the eerie atmosphere with Keith's silence. He looked so calm on the surface, but he could guess that he could kill his sister if the wrong buttons were pressed impulsively.

"Keith, it'll be fine. Kookie will be fine. It's just conjunctivitis. Dr. Julia can handle it." He sweetly cooed him, but it was so useless.

"Conjunctivitis can lead to eyesight impairment, pa," he mumbled.

When he got off from the car, Keith ran towards Kiara's room and barged in aggressively. Kiara immediately turned off her phone, and her temper activated defense mode on her system.

"Are you lost, baby boy? Why are you here? This is not your room!" She defensively hid her phone under her pillows.

"You!!!" Keith was about to unleash the accumulated hatred he felt for his sister throughout the years, but he saw a bunch of bouquets… Roses of different colors, if appropriately arranged, can be a good prop for a pride parade… White lilies and baby's breath were lined up around her bed enough for Kiara's funeral… And a pot of pink carnation flowers on top of her vanity is not Kiara's color. Her room was like a flower shop.

"No wonder Kookie's eyes are inflamed. Even I would have a bloodshot with this view."

"Go away!" Kiara felt annoyed, she wanted to push him away, but she couldn't.

"Kiara, the truth was, you didn't get a job. That's why you're doing sidelines, and coincidentally the flowers you sell online were the kind that can kill Kookie!!! RIGHT?!!!" He asked like detective Conan who has seen all the clues needed and connected the strings. "Confess it now, Kiara!!!"

The door was barged open because of the drama. Everyone in the family entered the room except the sleeping Theo.

Rio gasped when he saw the rainbow roses. "Auntie!!! Can I have this! They look like my crayon!"

Kylie smirked and inspected the bouquets until she found a card. She read it aloud while grandma and their mother loomed over Kiara. Then, they asked about the gentleman who's rich enough to send the display in the flower shop. "Ahem!!! TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SISTER KIARA! I'M SERIOUS ABOUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOU. PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE."

"A younger guy? He seems polite!" Aaron commented as he read the card too.

"Mommy! I want all the roses! They looked so pretty! Pleeeaaaasssseeeee…" Rio tugged the hem of her nightgown, but he was ignored.

They were busy looking at the card. Even their grandmother looked at the card. She used her eyeglasses, but she couldn't read the handwriting.

"Where's his name?!" Grandma demanded.

"There's nothing written, grandma," Kylie replied.

"Kiara, this younger guy… how young is he?" her father looked concerned. He was worried about Keith's anger at first, but now he's more concerned that a young, immature prick might snatch her daughter away.

Kiara was about to cry… but she still replied, "Tt-twenty-two."

Her mother laughed. "So, he's just one year younger, but he seems to be more financially stable than you… that doesn't sound so bad!"

It got awkward suddenly because she voiced out what was supposed to be kept in her thought bubbles.

Keith wanted to complain about how all these made Kookie sick, but he lost his chance. He went outside and checked if the dogs had red eyes too. They looked as healthy and active as usual. It hinted that Kookie's conjunctivitis is not a viral infection. So, for now, he calmed down for a while.

Then his phone vibrated. He looked at it and saw Drake's replies.

Drake: We're dating. Lol.

Drake: You're not dreaming at all, even though being with you feels like a dream for me <3

Keith's cheek warmed up. As expected of the flirty guy in the class, Drake is quite good at making pick-up lines.

Keith wanted to video call Drake, but the dogs are loud and naughty. He clicked the voice call icon, and Drake immediately picked up his call. It was awkward at first after what they just did. They had small talk full of sweet nothings. After the call, Keith really can't remember most of the content of their conversation. But he cheered up because of it.

He then had a shower and went upstairs. Kiara opened her door and snuck her head out when she heard Keith's footsteps. "Hey, asshole. Next time you come in here without permission, I'll fry your dogs."

"I'll fry your head first, you irresponsible dumbass who thinks she's a heroine in a budget idol drama. You fucking lied and did not take Kookie to the vet earlier. Then your flowers made him sick. And now, you have the nerve to threaten me with my dogs like that?!" Keith clenched his fist.

Perhaps he was angry because Kiara had it so easy. She can display the flowers she got from her suitor, and her whole family happily shows how they love the idea that Kiara finally has a suitor.

"I took care of your dumb dogs when you were sick, you ungrateful brat!" Kiara retorted since she couldn't deny what Keith said.

"I'm ungrateful? Okay! Thank you!!!" Keith's tone was beyond sarcastic. Then he added, "Now, explain why you fucking lied and treated Kookie like that?" If they were both girls, they probably brawled and pulled out each other's hair. But regardless of gender, they still fought by slapping each other while competing by speaking profanities. If not for their parents who broke them apart, things would have turned uglier.

"Pa, he's treating that Kookie better than me!!! I've had enough of it!!!" Kiara complained.

"Pa, she lied, and her fucking flowers from that younger fucker made Kookie sick!!!"

"You two should stop arguing like this. You're not kids anymore!" Their father's worry finally came true. Hearing them bicker as if they were in the wild gave him a headache at 11 PM.

"But pa! She's supposed to be an adult, but she's so irresponsible!" Keith reasoned out.

"And you think adopting too many dogs makes you responsible? Do you use your own frigging money to raise them? Are you the only one doing the chores for your dogs?! Even mom had to take anti-allergies at first because you keep luring stray dogs to our house!" Kiara glared at him, unable to back down.

Then, their mother brought out the clothes wire hanger. It was the thickest and strongest hanger in their house. "You two won't shut your mouth?!!!"

Kiara received ten beatings, while Keith received five light ones considering he hasn't fully recovered yet and is the favorite child.

The following days, Keith cleaned up the cabin and sanitized it. He also bathed the dogs and ensured they were the cleanest in the neighborhood. Afterward, Keith went to the vet clinic and checked on Kookie. It was confirmed it wasn't viral, so he took him home with his prescribed medicines.

Drake had something to do during the weekend, and he didn't contact Keith. So the left-behind boyfriend spent it taking care of his beloved dogs, ignoring Kiara, and daydreaming about Drake.

A heavy atmosphere dominated the house, and grandma reluctantly left. Keith got his phone back, and the PC was also brought back to his room. At last, he's connected to the internet.

He checked updates on the novels he subscribed to and read while checking his phone for Drake's text or call. However, he had already read a completed book, but there wasn't any movement from Drake.