Imperfect Desires

"Nono, where are you taking me?"

Jackie's eyes were looking out the window at the unfamiliar route that his dearest sister took. Unexpectedly, Nora was the one who came to pick him up from school today. He didn't have a good feeling seeing his sister smiling at him with opened arms and now that she was driving towards the road which definitely didn't lead to the house, he was certain she was up to something.

"This is not the way to our house and neither is this road gonna lead to your apartment. So, where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise, little brother," chirped Nora with amusement flickering through her eyes. Jackie was quite familiar with her shenanigans and it really was a wonder how these two were actually siblings.

"Are you kidnapping me?" Jackie shrunk himself towards the door as he gasped in horror.

"Hoho!" Nora played along with his act. "How did you figure it out so soon? I'm gonna bring you to an abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere and then..."

"Then you're gonna tie me up and torture me with your hilarious acts blah blah blah..." Jackie oh so generously finished up her ridiculous nonsense. "Be original, Nono. That's really old school."

"Hey! How can you call your sister old?" Nora wasn't pleased with the way her seven-year-old brother was actually being contemptuous towards her. "Besides, I won't torture you with my hilarious acts, I might resort to tickling you." 

Seeing her eyebrows dancing around, he could only shake his head in disappointment.

"Oh, sorry. I should be calling you a toddler since your brain has stopped growing after that." Jackie's derision made Nora's face twitch.

"Oi, little one! Just because you love acting like a grandpa, doesn't mean I have to as well. I'm still young and free and wild. Well, mostly wild but you got the point right?"

Jackie leaned his head against the windowpane and looked out the window saying, "You should feel ashamed of yourself. At the age of raising a kid, you're proud to act like one yourself."

"Bro, I'm turning 25 next month, why are you acting like I'm some kind of 30-year-old cougar?" She scowled to herself as she grumbled, "I made an effort to catch a break from work so that I can pick up my favorite brother from school and spend some bonding time with him. And here he is insulting me. This is why I say you're the adopted one!"

"Who cares even if I am the adopted one?" Nora was surprised that Jackie didn't create a scene after hearing that as always. "If being an adopted one can make you act like my personal driver, then why not?"

Nora stepped on the break and glared at her little brother who was talking way too much. And way too big for his age as always. Sometimes, she really doubted whether he was the older one or she was the one? Because he certainly acted like he was the older one. He always made her feel like her small brain wasn't able to keep up with his.

"I'm your elder sister, can you please show me some respect?" 

Jackie shrugged his shoulders looking at her, "I try my best." He turned his head to look around and frowned. "You brought me out for shopping?!"

Nora's satanic laughter made Jackie cringe. "Welcome to this..." she pointed at her nose as she went on, "Toddler's world of candies." She alighted from the car feeling pleased with herself. She helped him down and said, "Let's have some fun my dearest brother."

Jackie slapped her hand away which was ruffling his hair in an annoying way on purpose. He knew how much his sister loved shopping. And indeed, shopping to Nora was like candies to toddlers. However, he didn't want to accompany her on this shopping spree! She was gonna rake through every store and he'd be drained by the end of it.

"Nono... My elder sister... My dearest sister... Let's not go inside huh?" he hated the fact that he was too young and couldn't drive a car otherwise he wouldn't have to resort to whining like this before this annoying sister of his. His cellphone was at home, he couldn't call anyone for help. And he didn't have the money for a taxi as well.

Nora smiled to herself seeing how he was acting like fish out of the water and grinned even widely. This was funnier than she expected it to be. She held his arm and dragged him along saying, "Oh, come on, Jackie! Don't be a spoilsport now. Your dearest sister has brought you for some fun here."

"I don't fancy this kind of fun," he screamed at her catching the attention of people around.

When Nora noticed how weird eyes she was getting from the crowd, she simply picked him up in her arms and whispered, "Be a good sport and I'll buy you your favorite ice cream."

"Don't want it," he refused almost instantly.

"Fine, fine. I'll buy whatever you want," offered Nora. She rubbed her face with his making him blanch as she went on, "This sister only wants to have some bonding time with her little brother. Are you really that heartless to not see your sister's love for you?"

"Quit the act, Nono! Xiu is still far better than you in acting. At least, she looks believable when she does it," argued Jackie with a straight face.

"If Xiu'er was here, would you still be so reluctant?"

"No, absolutely not," answered Jackie without any hesitation. "Because when Xiu says that she wants to spend time with me, she doesn't have an ulterior motive like you." He flailed his arm trying to force her to put him down but she didn't. After all, she knew how much he despised it when people treated him like a little kid. There was no better way than this to tease him. "You're taking advantage of this situation now!"

"Jackie, you have no idea. I brought you here not to take advantage of the situation but I plan on taking full advantage of you!"

"What?!"

"Hehehe..."

Nora's evil laughter was really getting on his nerve now. Was it that important for her to act like a hooligan? Ah! How he wished his Xiu sister was here to save him from this exploiter Nono of his. But since Xiu had gone to Lin City two days ago, he had no way of getting out of this situation. He could only give up his attempts to escape.

"You're gonna use me to ask mom to reactivate your cards right?"

Nora quirked her brows at her little brother who really caught on her schemes way sooner than she thought he'd. Damn! He was good! No wonder Xiu always insulted her by using Jackie's name since the younger one was actually way smarter than her.

"Little bro, I'm feeling proud to be a genius' sister right now."

Jackie rolled his eyes at Nora who didn't even bother hiding her true intentions this time.

"You could have just asked nicely instead of kidnapping me." Nora didn't reply and he added, "But if mom got to know that you kidnapped me, she's gonna murder you."

"Don't worry. Dad will save me from his evil wife," replied Nora in reassurance.

"You're a real piece of work," said Jackie feeling depressed all of a sudden. "Now, I really have doubts about whether we are really siblings or not."

Nora glared at him angrily. "Oi! Just because I tease you by calling you the adopted one, don't you dare question our relationship. No matter how stupid I am, I'm still your elder sister and no one can change that. Not even you!" 

Jackie stayed quiet but nodded his head to show his acknowledgment. He didn't just say it, he meant it when he said his sister was a real piece of work. She'd keep repeating for days that he was the adopted one but if anyone else questioned, she'd gouge their eyes out for questioning her bond with him.

She kissed his cheek making him whine as she added, "Besides, I have a genius brother like you, my lack of intelligence can be ignored with you around." She kept coddling him like a teddy bear in her hands as she went on, "Would you really love me any less if I'm a little stupid?"

"No..." Although it looked forced, Jackie still answered honestly.

Nora giggled as she kept bugging him with her kisses, "This is why I love you so much. My little bunny!"