"Debbie!" Edwin cautioned, "You shouldn't treat your brother like that!"
"Dad, he is not my brother!"
He looked more worried and shook his head at her, unhappy that she is always putting up a fight with Khanaan.
"He was adopted! That's no brother of mine!"
No matter what her dad says, she wouldn't listen, and her mum knew it, it was only she that could calm her down.
"Come here darling," Chloe stood up and walked Debby away from the dining table into her room.
"Yes, he is not your biological brother, but he is like a brother to you. Your dad and I raised you both together. I think you should find a way to like him and be at peace with him."
"I can never like him, mum!"
"Ok, but you can be at peace with him?"
"I can try!"
"You know your dad and I are travelling, it will be just both of you in this house for a whole week, please Debby, I don't want to come back and see bruises on his face and body like we saw the last time we left you both alone. Promise me you won't lay your hands on him!
"I promise!"
Chloe patted Debby on the head and hoped her little talk with her would save Khanaan some beating before she and Edwin arrive from their trip.
It has always been unpleasant leaving the two of them at home alone, every single time, Debby has always come up with a reason to beat her brother up.
At 19 years old, she was only a year older than Khanaan, but she always bullies him. Perhaps owing to the fact that she has a super athletic body with the right muscle tones, or probably because apart from the fact that she is a year older than him, she had a certain unlike for him because they weren't blood-related and she just never liked him.
Khanaan on the other hand always showed her love, respect and submission. But none of those is never enough to make her like him.
Edwin also came into the room to see how the talk was going, he expressed that he knows by the time they return, It would be the same as always.
"No, no, darling, Debby has promised me, and I know she will stand by her promise, right baby?" she patted her head again.
"Yes, mum, I won't lay my hands in him. I promise!" she replied.
In her very cunny mind, she knew there are other ways to deal with him.
Khanaan remained alone at the dining table wondering how he would survive a whole week with her and Debby home alone. It would be a disaster, except there's someone else coming to replace Chloe and Edwin's presence.
Right there and then, out of fear of being bullied for a whole week, he texted his friends and invited them over, letting them know they could stay for a whole week, they would gist and chat and play video games. His friends responded positively, three of them, there was no better way to spend the summer break.
********************
Chloe and Edwin were gone, but none of his friends had arrived. Debby was up in her room sleeping. Khanaan frantically waited and hoped his friends would arrive before Debby wakes up.
They did.
Debby woke from sleep and walked to the kitchen to grab something to eat, then she heard the noise of the company. She walked the corridor down to the door leading to the living room and saw them; three other boys with Khanaan sorting out which game CD to slot into the Nintendo console.
"Khanaan!" she called out.
He reluctantly left his friends and answered her call. She didn't even wait for him, she walked straight to the kitchen to munch something. He walked after her and caught up with her in the kitchen.
"Who are those in our house? Mum and dad mentioned nothing to me about strangers incoming!"
He explained that they were his friends, but seeing that she wasn't buying it, he knew he had to beg to let them stay, else a fight could start again. And he wanted none of that.
"Mum and dad wouldn't mind them staying, they know them, they know they are my friends!"
"But mum and dad ain't here right now, it's me, Debby!"
Despite the fact that she remembered her promise no to fight or beat him, she was getting emotional already, and anger was beginning to brew on her face.
"Please, Debby, let them stay!"
"That is what you should have said first, instead of trying to impose your friends on me."
"I'm sorry, please, let them stay."