I Like Someone Who Is Completely Contrary to You

“What are you doing?”

Cheska was too preoccupied with what she is doing that she didn’t notice her brother’s presence until he spoke. Nonetheless, preoccupied or not for sure she would still be surprised.

That’s just how her brother welcomes her every single time.

He’s just leaning sideways against the doorway of her room with his arms crossed, still wearing his formal attire.

Her gaze returned to her laptop. “I’m searching for something.”

“Something?”

“Two stories. The Tale of Four Spirits and The Tale of Twin Goddesses. I’m planning to read it but…I can’t find it anywhere.”

“Can’t find it anywhere? Are you even sure it’s existing?”

She’s certain those stories exist. The Tale of Four Spirits is actually familiar to her but the thing is, she doesn’t know what it’s all about.

“I’m sure they exist…” she muttered to herself. “Why are you here anyway? You haven’t told me anything about your arrival.”

“I have a business around here so I decided to drop by to check you.”

“Ooohhh…” she squinted her eyes and gave him a meaningful look. “Could it be a date? Never thought you have a girlfriend huh? Still courting? What?”

“You are delusional.”

She laughed. She knows that’s indeed delusional. She just used that opportunity to tease her younger brother. The outcome is satisfying. It’s amusing to see his irritated face as if the thought I grossing him out.

“You’re not getting younger!”

“I have no time for that.” he waved his hand dismissively, dismissing her sister’s delusional thought. “Don’t make fun of me now. You are older than me. Find yourself a boyfriend.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t asked you your type, have I?”

“I said, I have no time for that—”

“It’s just a type! Ideal type!” she cut off. “What is it that you want from a girl? It’s not like you will have a girlfriend in a blink if you answer my question, right?”

Joshua sighed, eyes are closed. “Answering that question is quite scary. Perhaps the next time I go home, there’s already a girl waiting for me in the living room.”

“Hmp. Boring.”

Joshua opened her eyes and stared at his sister intently. No one would really guess it right that he is the younger one and the sulking girl in front of him is the eldest.

And yet she has the guts to get pissed whenever he’s treating him like a child.

She’s a baby, a child. Truth hurts indeed.

“I like someone that is completely contrary to you.”

“Should I feel offended or…what?”

He ignored his sister's annoyed face. Well, she put herself in that situation. He's just answering it with full honesty.

“I don’t like immature, childish, unreasonable, a girl who yells out of nowhere," he said. "If it’s possible, perhaps a woman who’s older than me? It is safer and more favorable than having a relationship with someone younger than me. It would be a big problem.”

“You should have said ‘I prefer single moms’ than blabbering those things.”

“Rest assured, I have no plans to be involved with someone who has kids. As I said, I don’t like the idea of immaturity. Being in a relationship with a single mom is just the same. I have to deal as well with the immaturity of her kids.”

Cheska said nothing but she’s still avoiding Joshua’s gaze. There’s no way she won’t be offended by what she heard.

Not to mention, she can feel Joshua just trying to hold back his laugh.

To his side, it’s better not to laugh than to console a girl.

“How about you? What’s your kind of a guy?”

He thought his childish sister is ignoring him, but later on, she raised her head and started to think deeply. She hummed softly while playing with her swivel chair, swaying it left to right.

“I can’t think of any.”

“I answered your question.”

“I really can’t! The hell would I know what kind of guy I want in my life? I don’t depend on looks. If it comes to attitude, a guy who is kind and loves you are given—who wouldn’t want that?”

That made Joshua sighed. There he is thinking that Cheska knows exactly the meaning of the word ‘ideal type’. Well, she’s the one who opened that topic so it’s natural to assume such ridiculous things.

“What is it that you want from someone that is hard to be seen from several people? The one that would make him different from others.”

She resumed her analysis. That’s an easier question compare to hers. “I surely want the kind of guy who keeps his promises no matter what the situation is, the one who respects everyone, not just me, has a strong sense of justice, doesn’t disparage the weak ones—and oh! I want him to be so close to our family!”

Joshua blinked twice, processing what he heard.

“What?”

“You will be an old maiden if that is the case,” he commented. “First, the kind of guy you want is a rare type. Second and most importantly, no one is close to our family. You know, even our mom isn’t close to her family. We have no connections to anyone except for the people at the company—the maids and the guards.”

Her shoulders dropped. She only realized it now. It just came out of her mouth, it came right at her heart—just like Joshua, she only answered it honestly.

She sighed deeply. Disappointment is written all over her face. That was the saddest thought she has ever heard in her life.

Old maiden? What a sad story.

Joshua chuckled. “That’s just an ideal type. Don’t lose hope.”

“If only you didn’t tell me that I will be an old maiden then I won’t be like this.”

“It’s a joke. Just as I said, it’s just an ideal type—ideal. You cannot absolutely get a man who has all of the standards you mentioned. No matter how long you look for it, you won’t find him. Don’t use it as your checklist. Use it as a guide instead.”

Instead of being stressed about something she doesn’t understand at all, she decided to change the topic. “What’s the business you were talking about? Is it about the company?”

“Uhm, no. I have two friends. Their parents died so I decided to pay a quick visit and send my deepest condolence.”

“I didn’t know you have…friends.”

“Co-workers. Fair enough?” his brows furrowed.

“I’m just saying! Why are you getting pressed so quickly? I never heard you calling someone a ‘friend’. I wish I can meet them in the future—can I send my condolence?

“Why?”

“If they are your friends I want to send mine as well. I want to meet them!”

“Tomorrow is the burial. Today is the last day of the funeral.”

“Oh, that’s a shame…” she stopped for a moment. “I got…suddenly sad. They lost their parents. I can’t imagine myself living without mom.”

“That’s not something you should imagine. Quit thinking awful things like that.”

“Fine. But still, I can’t help but be sad with the thought. Anyway, will you leave today too? You’re not going to say for long?”

“I can’t.” he checked his watch. I have a lot of things to do at the company. I left it temporarily so I can pay my respects.”

She raised her hand—the answer is expected—and waved slowly. “Alright then. Take care. Tell mom I miss her so much—and her food too.”

When Joshua left, she turned back the swivel chair to the table and went close to it. She resumed what she was doing.

She searched for everything that might give her the answer she’s seeking. She even tried to jumble the words—as long as it still makes sense.

But still, no results.

She’s certain she heard the right words. She can still remember clearly and perfectly her conversation with that woman—

Her eyes widened and smacked her forehead repeatedly while cursing herself.

“I forgot to ask her name!”

More than a week has already passed and funny how she only remembered it now. Their conversation gave her so much joy that she forgot to ask that simple question.

What a waste. Now, she’s hoping to meet her again. Like really. She’s really hoping for that one now.

But when will she be able to go to the mall again? And that woman…does she often go to that place?

Her shoulders dropped. It’s too impossible to see her again. The world is so big and that woman looks foreign as if she’s not from that country.