Jacob turned to look at Bright, giving him a 'what the hell' face. Bright immediately gave him a look that said 'what? I'm not wrong!' Bright let out a toothy grin and immediately started to laugh.
"Aiiii! You're so annoying you know that?!? Always pointing out the obvious!" Jacob spoke in Mandarin.
"You're a dumbass." Bright retorted back in Mandarin. The two started to horse around, grappling each other as they rolled around the living room. Philip sighed and looked at Keng.
"Sorry. They're always like this. Jacob and Bright like to play like this all the time." Philip apologized for his two older brothers' behavior. Keng shook his head and smiled. It was interesting to experience.
"N-No, it's fine." Keng replied. "Lee Seng and his older brother… Well, I guess they aren't technically brothers, but his older brother and him do this all the time." He let out a giggle and Philip seemed to observe closer because of it.
'His demeanor switched. He isn't so tense anymore.' Philip observed.
"His older brother? Your Vessel, er, Lee Seng has a brother who does this all the time?"
"Mmmhm. Always trying to tackle each other like that and before Lee Seng can even win, his brother poofs out."
"Ah, do humans really have something like that? Mom told us she doesn't know much of the human world. She left in the chaos of it all. What's it like now?" Philip asked intrigued. His question must've pulled Jacob and Bright out of their tussle because they both released each other and scooted back over to the coffee table.
"You two finally stopped horsing around?" Mother Wang set down some fruits on the table. "Don't give our guest a bad impression of my hard workers, alright? Don't need him thinking you two are always like this." The boys groaned and nodded as they grabbed some fruit.
"Have some, Keng." Philip motioned, grabbing the apple-looking fruit. Keng grabbed it and sniffed it. It smelled like an orange yet it looked like an apple.
"Are you not familiar with the fruits here?" Mother Wang asked. Keng looked up at her and shook his head.
"All of my memories are attached to Lee Seng's experience, so I'm experiencing a lot of things for the first time." Keng smiled. "It looks like an apple yet smells like an orange."
"Daros has many strange combinations of fruits from Earth and fruits you won't have any idea what to match with. But please, eat up. My daughter will be out in a bit. She's helping me with the rest of our affairs. Please make yourself comfortable, alright?"
"Y-yes, ma'am." Keng nodded. Mother Wang looked at her boys before she started to turn.
"Boys, keep your sister's friend entertained, alright? Don't interrogate him too much."
"Yes, momma." The boys answered. Keng took a bite of the apple-orange fruit and was surprised when the fruit tasted nothing like an apple or a orange. It had a sweet flavor that seemed to satiate his thirst.
"Woah, this is good. What's this called?" Keng asked.
"Ry'at. It's sweet like an assortment of berries and satiates your thirst." Jacob answered. "Taste good, huh?"
"Mmm, it does."
"There's Ry'at growing in the forest around this time of year. They grow on the blue-yellow leaf trees. It's really good in stir fry dishes."
"Oh, you like cooking, Jacob?" Keng asked, surprised by his knowledge of food.
"Mom and Dad told us we should know how to fend for ourselves. Cooking is a necessity."
"And Jacob just likes being in the kitchen all the time. I'm surprised he isn't in the kitchen." Philip smiled. Jacob reached across the table and tried to swipe at his youngest brother. Philip moved out of the way as laughter burst out of the boys. Sounds of footsteps alerted Keng. He looked up and noticed another young man step inside. He took his sandals off and rounded the corner, looking left and right.
"Ey, Winn. Over here." Bright called. Winn turned and smiled. His eyes set on Keng and he moved over to sit across from Keng. "Did you get the kids?"
"They ran deep into the forest. I thought something was going to get them!" Winn replied, tired. Philip grabbed a Ry'at fruit and handed it to his brother. "Thanks."
"That forest isn't cursed anymore." Philip reminded him. "They're safe."
"Doesn't mean I shouldn't be worried. They all play in those woods like we all did. So dangerous." Winn remarked shaking his head.
"At least its way safer now, right?" Jacob smiled.
"That's not the point. They're so… Ugh, never mind. I see you all met Lily's friend, Keng." Winn motioned. The brothers all nodded as Keng studied Winn and Bright. Keng's observant nature picked out subtle differences between the identical twins. It seemed so far Philip was the only one who's hair resembled their mother. He had a chill personality. Jacob was very talkative and always joking. Bright was the twin that took on a similar personality to Jacob while Winn seemed more cautious and forthright.
"So," Winn cleared his throat. Keng's eyes went to him. "Why're you here?"
"Dude, that's rude." Bright tapped his brother. Winn motioned Bright away as he leaned on the table. His eyes were studying Keng just like the rest of his brothers did.
"Lily invited me to join you guys since your oldest brother, Isaac, is returning to the village after a long time. I've heard you guys all don't work around here. What do you guys do if you don't mind me asking?" Keng replied.
"Most of us work around Revit." Jacob answered. "Winn's too cautious so he's a soldier stationed at Revit most of the time. Bright guards merchandise for the merchants. He's made connections and seen places all over the region."
"Have yet to leave the region." Bright added. Jacob and the others nodded.
"What do you do?" Keng asked.
"He works at the Adventurer's Guild!" Bright answered.
"Hey, I was getting there!" JAcob smacked Bright across the head. "But yes, I work with the Guild."
"I stayed behind and am learning the trade from Dad." Philip answered.
"He's learning the trade but might have an opportunity to go out of the Region like Isaac." Winn pointed.
"What will Lily do?" Keng asked. The brothers all stopped and looked at him.
"Why do you want to know?" Jacob asked, sliding towards him. "You trying to… Snag our sister?"
"Mmmm, yes and no."
"YES?" Bright shouted as Jacob leaped onto Keng and tackled him onto the floor. The Ry'at fruit rolled out of his hands as Jacob's face looked at Keng with a serious protective expression.
"What do you mean by that? You gonna run away with her?" Jacob slipped from English to Fox tongue.
'I guess they know it too. That isn't too shocking.' Keng observed. Lily stepped outof the kitchen wiping her head with the apron on her. She rounded the corner and realized Jacob was on top of Keng and Bright and the others were watching with glares.
"H-hey! Jacob! What're you doing!?! Get off of him!" Lily ran past her brothers and grabbed Jacob. For her small and growing stature, she easily pulled him away by the shirt.
"Let me go! He said you're running away with him! I won't let that happen!" Jacob shouted.
"He did say yes to that answer!" Bright added.
"But he also said no." Philip pointed out. "I think we should—"
"Lily! What're you doing with this guy? What's your relationship with him? Are you too embarrassed to introduce us to your boyfriend or something? You're too young to have a boy interested in you like that! You don't even know anything! You still have to train!" Jacob went full protective brother mode. Lily rolled her eyes and simply shushed very loudly and her panicked brother's mouth shut forcibly.
"Shut up!" Lily shouted. "He just dropped some pretty important news on me last night. Let him explain!"
"Explain what?" Winn looked at his sister. "Is there something more to this?"
"You're the soldier. What's he telling you?" Lily motioned. Winn turned and looked at Keng, who was fetching and brushing off the Ry'at fruit. He took another bite and sat back down in his spot as Jacob and Bright glared at him.
"What do you mean by 'yes and no', Keng?" Winn asked.
"Well…" Keng scratched his head. "It's better if I explain it to your parents, too. This is a… Big matter and I would like it if everyone was here to hear it from me." Philip looked over at Lily.
"Is it that big of a deal that Mom and Dad have to hear it, Lil?" Philip asked.
"Y-yeah. It's… sudden and… A big deal." Lily replied. A small pop noise went off and Jacob let out a frustrated sigh.
"How big we talkin'? Boyfriend big? Or maybe he wants to—" Jacob felt a slap across his face. A red mark appeared and Lily stood over him annoyed by the situation.
"I'll fetch Mom and Dad. Don't get any ideas, J. If you murder him before he explains, I'll gladly offer you to the wolves." Lily threatened.
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