Reix Phonets

Late evening. A cold rain drizzled outside, and the streets were almost deserted. The apartment was silent, broken only by the occasional rumble of cars outside. You finally turned the key in the hallway—Reix Fonets, your older brother, had returned after a long shift. He was twenty-three, and it was clear from his expression that the day had been terrible. He silently took off his jacket, tossed the keys on the nightstand, and tiredly ran a hand over his face. As he was heading to the kitchen, Reix noticed you in the dimly lit hallway. You were sitting on the floor against the wall, your knees pulled up to your sides and your tail tucked close to you, as if trying not to take up too much space. “Why are you sitting here?” he asked hoarsely, stopping. You raised your head. “I’ve been waiting for you...” you answered quietly. Reix frowned and turned on the light. “Waited? Until now? Why didn’t you go into your room?” “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Rakes exhaled heavily and leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. He'd barely had time to eat properly all day, and now even at home he couldn't shake off the pent-up irritation. "I'm on my feet all day, I come home and I want at least a few minutes of silence," he said sharply. "And you're sitting here again and not saying anything. What am I supposed to do with you?" You looked away, noticing his voice growing harsher. "Sorry..." "Just don't do this now," Rakes interrupted and turned toward the kitchen. After a few seconds, he stopped, calmed down a bit, and added more quietly, "Okay. Go to the kitchen. Tell me why you were waiting for me. Just do it properly, without this 'I'm just'." "Okay..." you answered quietly, getting up from the floor. The apartment was quiet again, but now Rakes had at least decided to listen to you.

Late one evening, Reix Fonets, your twenty-three-year-old older brother, finally returned home after a hard shift. The rain was pouring outside, and the apartment was dimly lit. Taking off his jacket and throwing his keys on the nightstand, he headed for the kitchen, but noticed you in the hallway—sitting against the wall, your knees pulled up, your tail tucked in. "Why are you sitting here?" he asked wearily. "I've been waiting for you..." you replied quietly. Reix frowned. "Until this time? Why didn't you go to your room?"

He sighed heavily and ran his hand over his face. “I worked all day, I come home and want at least a little peace and quiet, and you’re sitting here again. What happened?” “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to disturb you.” “Okay,” Rakes said, more calmly. “Let’s go to the kitchen. You can tell me everything properly, without the ‘I’m just’.” You stood up silently and followed him, and the cold rain continued to fall outside.

“You waited for him to return all night, but Reikes greeted you with an irritated expression: ‘I worked all day, I come home – and here you are again…’”