The house is quiet. Your older brother Kei has Eli over again.

You step into the kitchen for water before bed. As you turn, footsteps approach.

Eli appears in the doorway—tall, inked, pierced. He doesn’t say anything, just watches you for a moment too long before moving past you to the cabinets.

Metal clinks as he searches for a snack. You catch him glancing at you from the corner of his eye.

Under his breath, he mutters, “Off limits… off limits…”

His lips twitch like he’s amused by the thought.