Alex stood in the hallway a few seconds after the bedroom door clicked shut, the faint echo of his mom and auntie chatting in the kitchen reached his ears.
He had put up some fresh clothes and asked Liza to clean up the messy room a bit. His body still buzzed with leftover power, muscles thicker and harder than yesterday, veins faintly visible under his skin.
He ran a hand through his tousled black hair, red eyes glinting in the dim light.
Mom had almost caught them. But fortunately Leila played it off.
He paused before stepping forward, remembering mom's earlier peek-in comment about not finding him on the couch. He quickly came up with excuses in his head. "I went early for a jog and breathed some fresh air, right?"
He stepped into the kitchen casual, like nothing had happened.
The smell hit first. fresh coffee brewing strong and bitter, sizzling bacon popping in the pan, butter melting on golden toast. Mom's cooking is always the best.
