Zuri rubbed her eyes and yawned. Kenzo and Kenji had wrapped their arms around her waist, securing her in place and making it difficult to move.
She pinched their cheeks, slid out of their grasp and sat up.
"Did we wake you?" Kenzo asked in sleepy talk.
"No, I have to go to work and so do you." She checked the alarm clock. "It's four in the morning and I need to start my morning exercise."
"It's too early." Kenji pulled her back into the bed. "Sleep with us a little more."
"Not happening." She jumped out of the bed and went to the bathroom to turn on the tap.
Kenzo left the room and returned with a bag. He gave it to her with a little grin.
"Is this the lingerie that your mom promised to give me?"
"Yes and we can't wait to see you in it." His grin widened.
"Incest." She screamed and ran into the bathroom.
"Sometimes, I wonder if we aren't actual siblings." Kenji said under his breath.
Zuri had to wear her uniform since she didn't have extra clothes that she could have gone to work with. She skipped downstairs for breakfast and was pleased to see that Kenzo and Kenji were already there.
"Good morning everyone." She greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning." Miu, Kenzo and Kenji chorused.
"Has Dai left already?"
"Yes, he has. And Dad didn't come home yesterday." Miu had a little frown.
"It's alright." She had a radiant smile.
She knew that her husband was cheating on her but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She left clues and anonymously mailed pictures of them to her.
"Yes, so you can come and eat." She pushed a plate of honey and butter covered pancakes to her. "Hurry up so I can drop you and Kenzo at work and take Kenji to the art gallery."
"No thanks." She shoved the pancakes into her mouth. "I think the walk is the exercise that I so desperately desire."
"If you say so." Miu shrugged and entered the kitchen.
"I have put your Idea book in your bag as well as your drawing materials." Kenzo said. "Remember that we have to submit some paintings to the StarDust company."
Once each year, Old Sir Reyes would hold an event where different artworks of teenagers and young adults.
It was more of a competition than an event. The theme of the paintings would be shared among the twenty participants and they would be given six months to create only one or two of his or her artwork.
This year's theme was to capture the beauty of a sakura tree and she spend hours on her paintings.
She couldn't afford to lose this yet, not after what happened last time
She hated loosing.