chapter 2
Amelia sat on the sofa, listlessly flipping through TV channels. After a few years, the shows she used to watch were gone, replaced by unfamiliar programs and faces.
Ethan brought over a plate of washed apples and placed it on the coffee table. Staring at the plump, red fruit for a moment, Amelia slowly reached for one.
"Sorry, I forgot to peel it for you," Ethan said, taking the apple from her hand. He walked back to the kitchen and soon returned with a plate of neatly peeled and sliced apples.
Amelia's spirits, which had dipped slightly at his initial oversight, lifted again at this familiar, meticulous care—a perfect echo of the brother in her memory.
She found a program that looked mildly interesting and slumped against Ethan, leaning her full weight on him. Opening her mouth with an expectant "Ah," she waited.
Ethan speared a piece of apple and fed it to her. Amelia chewed happily, then opened her mouth again for more. In this unfamiliar world, Ethan was her only anchor. She was desperate to fit him back into the mold of the brother from her memories, to reclaim that sense of security. She needed to confirm he was still the brother who indulged her every whim.
As he moved, the necklace around his neck made a soft, metallic sound. Amelia reached out and pulled it closer for inspection: a tiny apple pendant with a ruby and a metal tag engraved with "When U come back." "Did I give you this?"
The chain was short, forcing Ethan to bend his head toward her as she held it. "Yes. It was my gift for starting university."
"You've worn it all this time? Never took it off? Such a good boy," Amelia said with a giggle, releasing the necklace. She nuzzled her cheek against his face in a gesture of pure delight before lying back down across his lap. "Ah. More."
She was full halfway through the plate. As she leaned against him watching TV, Ethan silently finished the remaining apple slices, just as he had countless times with her leftovers in the past. Amelia's gaze drifted from the screen to his face, watching the pale fruit disappear between his lips.
Ethan's white shirt had a zipper, though the pull tab was tucked under the collar. What was it for, then? Purely decorative? Her hand drifted up, fingers finding the tab. She pulled it down. The zipper parted, revealing a sliver of what lay beneath.
He was more muscular than she remembered. Biting her lip, she slipped her hand inside. Warm, firm pectorals. Definitely bigger. She looked up and found Ethan gazing down at her. Her other hand slid up to circle his neck. Holding his eyes, she held her breath, waiting for his reaction.
To her, it felt like she had just seen Ethan "last night." But for him, years had passed. She didn't remember what happened in between, didn't know… what might have changed.
Fortunately, it seemed nothing had.
Ethan's hand came up to cradle the back of her head, gently lifting her upper body. He leaned down and, under her hopeful stare, pressed his lips to hers.
Amelia's eyes widened with happiness. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sat up, cupping his face. He felt thinner. The work of a TMF officer must be exhausting.
"Brother…" she murmured against his mouth, her tongue darting out for a tentative taste. A faint smile touched his lips as he watched her wide eyes. He took over the kiss, their tongues meeting. A familiar sensation, electric and warm, spread through her. She clung to him urgently, seeking security in this kiss, in this Ethan who was now so many years her senior. Ethan held her just as tightly in return, though what solace he sought from her in that moment was unclear.
"Alright now, you're still recovering. You should rest early," Ethan finally said, turning his head away first. He stroked her flushed cheek and brushed a kiss against her damp eyelashes. "Rest well these next few days. Don't be afraid. Your brother will handle everything."
"Mhm." Amelia settled against him, her face buried in the crook of his neck. "Stay with me tonight."
"Okay." Ethan's hand patted her back rhythmically, his cheek resting against her hair. But his gaze was distant, fixed on some point far away.
Lying in bed, Amelia pouted as she watched Ethan place a pillow and a separate blanket on the floor beside her. Just as he set the pillow down, she gave the blanket a firm kick, sending it tumbling off the bed.
"What's this? Being a little troublemaker again?" Ethan grabbed her ankle and tickled the sole of her foot, making her dissolve into helpless laughter and forget all about pouting.
Watching him pick up the blanket, her displeasure returned. "The blanket is huge. We can share. Two blankets will make the bed feel crowded."
"Don't be ridiculous. This bed is much bigger than the one we had at home," Ethan said, spreading the blanket out. "Be good. In a few days, when you're feeling better, alright?"
"...That's not what I meant… Ethan!!" Her face burned crimson. Grumbling, she lay down and yanked the covers over her head. Once the rustling beside her stopped, she hesitated, then turned to look at Ethan lying on the very edge of the makeshift bed. "Move in a bit. The bed is big. I don't want you falling off and blaming me later."
"It's fine, I won't fall. Now go to sleep." Ethan reached over and covered her blinking eyes with his hand. "I'm right here. Sleep."
"I want a story. Tell me about what you've been doing these years," Amelia said from under the covers, only half her face visible. "You became such an important TMF officer. You must have lots of exciting stories."
Ethan smiled faintly, reaching to dim the bedside lamp, shadow falling across his features. "There's not much to tell, really."
Unsatisfied with his evasion, Amelia insisted, badgering him until he relented. He recounted an incident involving rogue entities in the New York underground transit tunnels. Though his tone was even, Amelia's mind painted a picture of thrilling danger, and she grew so excited she kicked at the blankets. Finally, Ethan had to pin her limbs and wrap her, blanket and all, in a firm hug to calm her down.
"Brother, I suddenly feel… really happy," Amelia murmured, wriggling closer to him. "Before I 'fell asleep,' I was so upset you were leaving for university in New York, so far away, for so long. And now I wake up, and you've already graduated and have a job." She rested her forehead against his shoulder. "And I don't have to go to school either. So we don't have to wait for holidays to see each other."
Ethan's hand came up to stroke her cheek. His expression was neutral, but his eyes held a complex swirl of emotions Amelia couldn't decipher.
"Brother…" She raised a hand to trace his brow. "You seem so different."
"So, do you not like this Ethan anymore?" His gaze deepened. He wore a different face when she wasn't looking, but she had never known.
"No, I do. I like any version of you, as long as it's my brother." She kissed the faint crease between his brows and tightened her arms, nuzzling into his chest. "...It's just… a little unfamiliar… Is it too greedy to want you by my side forever?"
"It's not greedy. I was always going to stay by your side forever." Ethan's expression softened remarkably. He nuzzled the tip of her nose. "Don't you remember? We promised as kids that we'd always stay together."
"If you don't remember, it's okay. You can make the wish now. Say, 'I wish for Ethan to stay by my side forever.'"
His words sent a fresh wave of heat to her cheeks. Amelia burrowed deeper under the covers, embarrassed.
"If you won't make a wish, then I will. I wish for you to stay by my side forever." When she didn't reply, Ethan even tried to extract her from her cocoon. "You have to promise. Say 'I will stay by Ethan's side forever.'"
"Ethan, stop it, you're so annoying," Amelia said, pinching his cheek. "You always trick me into saying things like that. Why don't you say it first?"
"Then let's pinky swear. We'll say 'I will always stay by your side' at the same time, okay?" Ethan held out his hand, his usually guarded expression seeming oddly expectant.
"You're so childish," Amelia grumbled, but the corners of her mouth, which she was trying desperately to suppress, betrayed her secret delight. It felt like a promise from him, a guarantee. Putting on a show of reluctance, she hooked her little finger with his.
"I will always stay by your side."
Their voices merged into one.
"Okay. Time for sleep." A deep, irrepressible contentment settled over her. Smiling, Amelia turned onto her side and closed her eyes.
Contents：
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 1）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 3）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 4）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 5）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 6）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter 7）
What If My Brother Is Too Perfect（chapter8）
