1) Let Ria come over.

I couldn't really turn Ria down. She was only caring for her friend, after all, and I didn't mind the help.

"That's okay, but it's not the kind of sickness you can cure with a soup. Rachel may need something more... solid in her stomach."

"Ah, I see!" Disha exclaimed from behind the counter. "Then maybe you should bring her rice, Ria. But not with too much spice."

Disha probably thought my little sister had diarrhea, now, and I had no need to tell her the truth. Despite being pretty much westernized, she still disapproved ****, especially for young women. She didn't need more reasons to forbid Ria from seeing Rachel than she already had.

Ria beamed beautifully. "Great!" She gave me big hug. "Then I'll be there in one hour or so."

I broke from the embrace, slightly embarrassed. Then nodded and waved at them before running back to my apartment.

~

Mom was already gone, and I found Rachel in her bed. She was nearly passed out, her beautiful strawberry blond hair was a mess and her makeup had ran all over her face. I woke her up softly and extended a bottle of water to her.

"Whatzat?" Rachel frowned, then wiped the sleep from her eye. " I think I've drunk 'nough."

"I agree with you, but this is actually good for what you got."

Rachel blinked repeatedly and gave me a dizzy look. Suddenly, she extended her arms and brought me against her. "Hugs are good for what I got."

I didn't resist, not expecting her to act this way. But I quickly gave in. She was not completely wrong, after all. Our parents broke up not long ago, she felt like nobody could really understand what she was going through, and especially not herself. Plus she just got dumped. The girl really needed a hug. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and tried to be comforting. "It's okay," I said in a tone I hoped was reassuring.

"Hmmm... I'm a bitch," she whispered in a sleepy tone.

"What? No!" I protested. Okay, maybe she was kind of a bitch those last few weeks... even months. But it wasn't what she needed to hear right now. "You're a nice girl, just in a bad place, that's all."

"And you're a nice guy and a bad lier," she mumbled. "Mom always worries 'bout me, but I feel like her own problems are soooo big... Y'know, like, there ain't time to care for me." I tried to process it. It didn't really make sense to me, mostly because half of it wasn't really articulated. I was about to answer when she giggled and added, "You smell funny."

Oh crap! There was still the remains of Axe on me, and my little sister had her head buried in my chest. I stood up suddenly and took one step away from her bed. "You... should drink water," I said.

She looked at me, clearly confused. I couldn't exactly explain to her that she risked having sex with me if I stayed too close to her, and it didn't occur to me at the moment that it may look like I was rejecting her after what she just told me. I'm the kind of geek who doesn't really understand how women work. Or any human, for that matter. I quickly walked away, hoping she wouldn't be intoxicated by my scent, and went to my computer to clear my head killing some zombies in a video game.

1) Ria is here with the meal.

2) Rachel wants to talk.

3) Rachel is hungry for sex.