After watching the scenery for a few hours, Masha got bored of it. The trees and the river had lost their charm, not as exciting and beautiful as they were in the beginning.

With a discreet sigh, Masha side-glanced at the two boys sitting on her left, wondering how to kill time. She didn't like to read, so all she could do was to ask the boys to play a game with her, or something along those lines.

However, one was absorbed in thoughts, and the other one was asleep, his breathing slow and rhythmic.

When the teenage girl saw the peaceful sleeping face of her brother, she was unable to restrain her smile and the tenderness in her eyes. She couldn't help but extend a hand to brush his hair over his ear.

Gabriel, who had seen her fingers approaching from the corner of his eye, swiftly turned his head toward the teenager and silently mouthed, "Don't wake him up."

The teenage boy's pleading eyes almost made her burst out laughing. Masha had to bite her lower lip to swallow back her laughter. She repeatedly nodded to let him know that she wouldn't cause trouble, which made Gabriel heave a sigh of relief. Then, he once again refocused his attention on the scenery, ignoring the teenage girl as if she was nothing more than air.

Masha pretended not to notice the boy's rude behavior. Instead, she looked at her brother a bit longer, narrowing her eyes.

In the past month, she had tried to talk with the little boy about what Gabriel had noticed on the day they went to the amus.e.m.e.nt park. However, the few discussions they had did not lead anywhere, leaving her quite disappointed.

For example, when she asked how school was and how his schoolmates were this year, Misha had stared at her with a blank expression, not saying anything for a long time. When he finally opened his mouth, he answered slowly, as if unsure of what to say, "Pretty normal, I guess?"

Afterward, since asking in a roundabout way didn't seem to work, Masha changed her method, and a few days later, she tentatively asked, "No one bullies you in school? You have to tell me if other children are mean to you."

Then, following her words, Misha seemed to be deep in thought. After a while, he tilted his head and answered, a touch of hesitation in his voice, "I don't think anyone bullies me? Even if they did, why should I care about what they say? I only care about what my family thinks of me!"

As he said those last words, he puffed out his small c.h.e.s.t as if asking to be praised, making her chuckle a little. It was obvious that her brother didn't want to talk about school, so Masha decided not to ask further.

Of course, her brother's reaction made her suspicious, but when he was dead set on saying nothing, she wouldn't get anything from him, no matter how much she bothered him. Luckily, there was still Dereck.

Once, before leaving his friend's house, the poor child was cornered by Masha and interrogate until he felt like crying.

Although the two children weren't in the same class because Misha repeated a year when he was eight, they were still in the same school. Thus, Dereck knew more about her brother's situation than her. However, the kid was so afraid of her forceful approach that he ended up stuttering in fright, and she was unable to get anything useful from him.

Since then, she had been thinking over the matter, wondering if she should ask Misha's teachers about her brother's well-being at school. Perhaps, they could enlighten her.

Little did she know that Misha simply didn't remember much about his primary school days. Hence, her questions were tricky to him, and he didn't know what to say, resulting in those vague answers.

In any case, later on, no one dared to mock his pretty face, and so he couldn't care less about those stupid brats. Therefore, he arbitrarily decided that he hadn't been bullied in school and chose not to say anything to his overbearing sister.

Remembering those few discussions she had with Misha made Masha depressed. Although she dearly loved her brother, she had to admit that he was a little silly, and sometimes, it was hard to have a serious talk with him. Her words seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

No, that wasn't exactly true now, not since his fever a month ago. Since then, Misha didn't act as foolishly as he usually did. In fact, he seemed to have become a bit cleverer.

Firstly, his pranks were exceptionally well thought as compared with before. Putting worms in a purse wasn't anything complicated, but baking earthworm flavor muffins, it needed quite the creativity and the means. And it seemed like it was something he had thought by himself. From what she understood, Dereck's words only gave him the idea, and his friend didn't actually help him conceive such a nasty prank.

Secondly, there was this light in his eyes that he didn't have before the fever. Masha couldn't explain why, but from time to time, she had the impression of talking to a small a.d.u.l.t instead of a child with mental disabilities. This feeling always disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, making her feel puzzled.

They also bickered a lot less.

Scoffing at herself, the teenager shook her head, thinking that there was something wrong with her brain. Although the boy was acting a bit odd lately, he was still her cute little brother.

***

Once they arrived at the Oka National Park and found their campsite, they started to unload the car. Misha wanted to help, but his mother told him that it was unnecessary. Still, he insisted for a long time, saying over and over again that sitting and doing nothing was boring. He would much prefer helping them.

In the end, Mrs. Brown took a backpack that was on top of the pile of luggage and took out her son's swim shorts, his sandals, a towel, and a bottle of sun cream. She said, "It's hot today, so how about going to the beach with Gabriel? Go have some fun while we set up the tents."

"But…"

"Children should play and stay out of the way," interrupted Masha, pinching his cheeks mercilessly.

"But Gabriel is not a kid!" pouted the boy, trying to escape from his sister's hands.

"But he is our guest," stated his mother with a firm tone. "And you can't go to the beach alone, so he might as well accompany you. Play and relax by the beach for two hours, then come back."

Mrs. Brown lifted her head and looked at the teenage boy with a gentle smile, "Take care of him."

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to him," replied Gabriel with a polite smile, putting the heavy-looking bag he was holding on the picnic table. While the mother and daughter duo were talking and trying to convince the boy, he helped Alexey unload the car.

And thus, just like this, the teenager and the boy were sent to the beach by the girls, which made Misha want to scream in frustration.

If they kept on spoiling him like this, wouldn't he grow up into a spoiled a.d.u.l.t, selfish and self-centered!?

_____________

Autor's note:

ML: You're already an a.d.u.l.t, Misha.

MC: So, what? Their parenting skills still suck!

ML: Are you saying that they raised you badly?

MC: Of course not! Anyway, my mom died when I was young, and Masha was always working, so…

Autor: In fact, the one who raised you, isn't it Gabriel?

MC: F*ck, you're right! ('◉⌓◉')

Author: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

MC: Gaby, your raising skills are also awful! See how violent I'm?

ML: *Mumbles* I'm pretty sure that's not my fault, though…