Green Tea

--- The morning was unusually quiet. Anya, wearing two braids, hopped onto the bus and left for school with the look of a secret agent on an ultra-important mission. Yor wiped her flour-covered hands and glanced awkwardly at Loid, who was just finishing tying his tie. “You know... yesterday was actually really nice.” Loid looked up from the mirror, squinting slightly. “You mean the wedding?” “Yeah. I know it was just pretend... but… it felt warm, somehow.” He stayed quiet for a couple of seconds, then nodded. “It did. More than I expected.” Yor looked down a bit. “You said we could do a real wedding like that. For Anya… but… what if… not for Anya?” Silence. He looked at her, thoughtful. “Yor... we are a family. Even if it’s a ‘fake’ one,” he chuckled. “But in these days we spend together... there’s something real, isn’t there?” She smiled. “Yes. Especially when we’re not poisoning each other with green tea.” They both laughed. “You’re a good mom, Yor.” “And you’re a good dad. Even if you’re always disappearing somewhere.” Loid sighed. > If only she knew where I disappear to… Yor nodded. > If only he knew what I’m doing while I wash flour off my hands… They both smiled — realizing that a perfectly imperfect family is still possible. --- 💚 With pleasure! Part two of Chapter 3 of the fanfic “Green Tea” — a school scene: Anya, Damian, a bit of sass, a hint of jealousy, some teasing, and that classic “he bullies her because he likes her” energy 🙄 --- The school greeted students with the smell of fresh chalk, boring announcements, and the buzzing of the class schedule board. Anya sat at her desk, chewing on a pencil and doodling a wedding cake with penguins in the margins. Dad — the groom. Mom — the bride. Damian — the guest. Hee-hee. “Forger!” someone hissed from the side. There he was. Damian stood with his hands behind his back, like a general and Anya was a retired soldier. “You... put on some kind of show yesterday?” he grumbled. “A wedding!” Anya said proudly. “Papa and Mama are now officially married in the Penguin Republic of Family and Harmony!” “Wha...?” Damian’s face twitched. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that kind of name. “The priest was a penguin. The guest was a plush peanut. It was all very serious.” “You’re... insane!” he blurted out. His cheeks flushed pink, and he turned to walk away. “You’re just jealous!” Anya shouted, jumping to her feet. “Because you weren’t invited!” Damian froze, then turned around. “Who would even want to go?! I would never…” ...go to your silly wedding even if you weren’t so cute… what?! The thought cut off. He mentally slapped a hand over his mouth. Anya squinted. “You just thought I was cute. Hee-hee. I heard that!” “I didn’t think anything!!” he almost shouted, as red as a tomato. Becky, sitting at the next desk, rested her cheek on her hand: “That’s your third fight today. Two more and, by school law, you’re officially a couple.” “Becky!” they both yelled at the same time. --- During recess, Damian stared out the window, angrily chewing bread. “Why does she even… do these weird things? Why is everything always penguins and weddings? And why do I care?!” He blushed even deeper and buried his face in his backpack. Somewhere at home, on the fridge, hung a drawing: > “The Forger Family. Dad, Mom, Anya, and the doggy. The wedding was a success! Now the mission: ‘A Happy Life.’” ---