Louie woke up before the sun, the air still cool with the promise of dawn. He moved through the kitchen, the familiar sounds of sizzling bacon and the clinking of mugs a comforting symphony. He wanted to coax his sister out of her slumber, to ease the tension that had settled between them.
He carefully arranged her favorite breakfast on a tray – a golden-brown bacon and cheese sandwich, a perfectly runny egg, and a glass of cold milk. He knocked gently on her door, the sound a soft tap against the quiet morning.
“Micay?” he called softly, his voice a whisper in the still room. Micay stirred, her face hidden beneath the covers. Louie placed the tray on the small table beside her bed, the warmth of the food radiating through the cool air. He sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers brushing her shoulder.
Micay’s eyes fluttered open, a flicker of surprise in their depths. She remembered the previous day’s argument, the sharp words that had hung between them.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of annoyance.
“Micay, I’m sorry,” Louie said, his voice sincere.
Micay sat up, her gaze fixed on her brother. “You’re annoying.”
“I’m just worried about you,” Louie said, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Brother, I’m old enough,” Micay said, her voice gaining strength. “Don’t you trust me?”
“I do,” Louie said, his voice softening. “But you’re my only sister. I have to take care of you.”
“But still, brother,” Micay said, her voice laced with a hint of frustration. “Didn’t you promise?”
“Okay, okay, it won’t happen again,” Louie said, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.
“Will you promise?” Micay asked, a smile playing on her lips.
Louie took a deep breath, the weight of his promise settling on his shoulders. “Promise.”
Micay hugged him tightly, her eyes falling on the tray of breakfast. “Wow! Miracle, you cooked.”
Louie chuckled, his heart warming at her teasing tone. “You know, you’re the only one I can prepare to do that.”
He ruffled her hair playfully, his fingers tangling in her soft curls. Micay swatted his hand away, a playful smile on her face.
“Alright, stand there and get ready for breakfast,” Louie said, his voice filled with warmth.
Micay got out of bed, her steps light and quick. She went to the bathroom, the sound of running water and the clinking of her toothbrush filling the air.
Louie watched her, a sense of peace settling over him. He had always been protective of his sister, his love for her a constant in his life.
“Is that delicious?” Micay asked, her voice filled with a hint of mischief as she returned to her bed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Louie watched her eat, a silent observer of her enjoyment.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Micay asked, her voice laced with concern.
“I already ate earlier while preparing your breakfast,” Louie said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Micay nodded, her attention returning to her breakfast.
“Are you still coming later?” Louie asked, his voice tinged with a hint of worry.
“Of course, brother, why?” Micay replied, her voice filled with a playful confidence.
“I just thought that because Arslan Farm is also far away, you might get bored on the trip,” Louie said, his voice filled with concern.
“We’ve already talked about this, haven’t we?” Micay said, her voice firm and resolute. “Besides, I want to see how beautiful that place is so that I can also understand why Uncle Miguel wants to buy that land.”
“Okay, alright, but remember what you promised,” Louie said, his voice laced with a hint of warning.
“You’re the only one who doesn’t know how to keep promises,” Micay said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.
“Fine! I didn’t say anything,” Louie said, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. He stood up, his movements stiff and tense. He took the tray, the scent of bacon and cheese lingering in the air, and left the room.
Micay immediately picked up her phone, the screen illuminating her face. She spoke in hushed tones, her voice barely audible. She then went to the bathroom, the sound of the shower a comforting rhythm in the quiet house.
When she came downstairs, Louie was already there, his face etched with worry as he spoke on his phone. He looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and a forced smile spread across his face. He gestured towards the car, a sleek black sedan waiting outside.
Louie followed her out, his face still etched with worry.
“Who are you talking to?” Micay asked, her voice laced with concern.
“Carlos,” Louie said, his voice tight. “Until now they still haven’t seen Alicia.”
“Who is Alicia?” Micay asked, her voice feigning ignorance.
“She’s the secretary of Dad and became his live-in partner before. She stole a lot of money before she left,” Louie said, his voice filled with anger.
“We have to find whoever that is to get back what she stole,” Micay said, her voice laced with a hint of determination.
“That woman will see how wrong it is to collide and be an enemy of a Davidson,” Louie said, his voice filled with a cold fury.
His hands clenched, his knuckles turning white.
“Just calm down,” Micay said, her voice soothing. “Just think about that when you find her.” She reached out, her fingers gently wrapping around his hand.
Louie took a deep breath, the tension easing slightly. “I’m sorry, Micay, you’re too young to worry about this problem.”
“I’ll deal with such problems one day, won’t I?” Micay said, her voice filled with a hint of defiance. “It’s nice to see at least once how you and Uncle Miguel can overcome business problems.”
Louie nodded, his gaze meeting hers.
The drive to the Arslans’ farm was long and uneventful. Micay drifted off to sleep, the rhythmic hum of the engine a lullaby.
She woke up to the sound of raised voices, the air thick with tension. She was still in the car, but Louie and the driver were gone. She felt a sudden chill, the air around her heavy with a sense of foreboding.
She was about to sit up when she heard a gunshot, the sound echoing through the quiet countryside. She saw an elderly man collapse, his body slumping to the ground, an envelope clutched in his hand. Louie stood over him, the gun still smoking in his hand. He picked up the envelope, his eyes cold and calculating.
Micay watched, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to scream, to run, but she was frozen in place, her body paralyzed by fear.
She returned to her former position, pretending to be asleep as Louie and the driver returned to the car.
“The day I have been waiting for the most is coming,” Micay thought, her voice a whisper in her mind.
“And when that day comes, all your victims will just laugh at you,” Louie said, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
Micay’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes filled with a cold, calculating gleam.
This version focuses on showing the emotions and actions of the characters rather than simply stating them. It also incorporates more sensory details, creating a more immersive and engaging reading experience.