Sweet Devil [BL]

Because Dereck smoothed things over, Misha didn't insist on teaching Tristan good manners and swallowed his anger.

To calm himself, he inwardly added a few more defaults to Gabriel's stepmother's overall personality—and that woman was already very flawed in the boy's eyes.

His brooding didn't last long, though.

Seeing the boy's pouty face, the teenagers glanced at each other before tacitly urged him to play another round, making him forget about his bad mood.

Tristan also wisely shut his mouth as he realized that what he said had angered the boy, although the child didn't understand what he had done wrong. Truthfully, he felt wronged, but since his mother had told him to be good, he didn't dare utter anything in protestation.

So instead, the boy crawled nearer Gabriel, seeking comfort from his big brother.

Little did Tristan know that him sticking to the teenager was a sight very irritating to Misha.

In his past life, he had seldom heard of Gabriel's half-brothers; it was to the point where he had even forgotten their existence, only remembering Gabriel had such family members when they met at the hospital.

Why? What was so different now!?

Misha discreetly shook his head, telling himself not to overthink. Today was his birthday, and it was better to enjoy it as much as possible, especially since no one knew when was the next time Gabriel would be able to come over.

The depressing and anger-provoking thoughts could wait until tomorrow.

And so, the boy focused all his attention on the game, yet he still kept on losing to Gabriel. In the end, he decided to kick the wooden tower with a flying kick, saying that this way, no one won.

Soon afterward, he shamelessly declared that this game was boring, very dull. With a righteous face, he added that he wanted to play something else, something a bit more challenging.

Therefore, for the next two hours, they played many different games as Misha kept on asking to play something else whenever he was on the losing side.

No matter the game, Gabriel was unexpectedly good today, making the boy bit his nails or puff his cheeks out. Sometimes, he did both at the same time while frowning, presumingly lost in thought.

It was hard for the two teenagers not to laugh at the sight. The boy looked very much like an angry squirrel, when it wasn't a pufferfish, whereas the confused face he showed from time to time was too adorable for words.

As a result of restraining their laughter for a long time, they both ended up with a stomachache and a dry mouth. So, while the child was busy bickering with Vanessa about a rule, Masha went to fetch a few glasses of juice.

When the teenager came back, she discreetly murmured in Gabriel's ear as she handed him his drink, "How about letting him win once in a while? Think about his poor cheeks. He puffed them so much that they must hurt quite a lot by now."

As an answer, the corner of the teenager's lips slightly curled up. He took the glass, silently glancing at Masha with a 'I can't entertain him all the time, can I now?' look on his face.

"…"

Right, Masha had forgotten that Gabriel was also a sore loser, maybe just as worse as her little brother. He had let the child win so many rounds last time, so of course, he had to take his revenge one day or another. But why today of all days?

She couldn't help but gently remind him, "It's his birthday today, you know?"

The same irritating smile answered her, making her sigh lightly. Who exactly was the brat? Her brother? Or Gabriel?

After handing the glasses of juice to the children, Masha sat back next to Misha. Then, she gently poked him in the ribs to attract his attention before asking loudly enough for everyone to hear her words clearly:

"Do you when to team up with me to beat Gabriel to a pulp?"

Although Misha was taken aback by the sudden proposition, it didn't take long before he nodded furiously, his clear blue eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"That's not fair! Let me join the team!" happily shouted Vanessa, bouncing in place. "I want to win against that guy at least once!"

"Then, can I join too?" asked Dereck with a gentle smile; it contrasted vividly with his intention to gang up on someone.

Thus, with the efforts of four people, Gabriel finally ate dirt despite struggling fiercely. Well, it would be hard for anyone to win when they were the target of everyone's wrath, even more so when their teammates became pigs.

As a result, Gabriel lost pitifully and pretended to pout until they asked for forgiveness. Only then did he 'reluctantly' play another round with them.

From beginning to end, Tristan watched the interaction between his brother and the four people with curious eyes. Although Gabriel did laugh and smile at home, it didn't give off the same feeling. Here, his laughter was much noisier, and his smile appeared a lot more carefree.

The little boy didn't know how to explain what he felt, but at the very least, he knew it wasn't a comfortable feeling. It was as if someone was twisting his belly.

Before Tristan could dwell on it too much, Dereck talked to him, snapping him out of his thought. Although his mother had told him not to play with fat people, the boy beside him was very kind, and he even helped him win a few times.

Well, he told himself that Dereck wasn't fat, but chubby, so his mother shouldn't be too angry if he played with a Dereck for a short while. Right?

.

.

As they were about to start the umpteenth round of their umpteenth game, Mrs. Brown popped in the living room, interrupting them, "Misha, can you stop playing with your friends for a second and come over here?"

The petite woman, who was beckoning her son to come closer, was standing near the table covered with birthday gifts. Seeing her son's confused expression, she quickly explained:

"We wanted to give you your presents after eating the cake, but Gabriel and Tristan will leave before supper. So, your father and I thought of giving them to you right now, when everyone was still present. What do you think?"

Misha blanked out for a second.

Did she really have to ask? What child would say no when their parents offered them to open their birthday gifts earlier?

Well, not many.

There was one problem, though. The said birthday gifts were for a ten-year-old boy, and mentally, he was an a.d.u.l.t in his twenties. Instead of toys, he would much prefer a bottle of vodka.

Strangely enough, Misha wasn't very excited about unwrapping the presents.

But there was no way Misha could tell that to his mother, so he said that he did want to open them right now.

With a stiff smile, the boy leaped on his feet and bolted toward his mother; the teenagers and the other children soon followed behind him before sitting on the L sofa.

Soon, Misha proceeded to unwrap his presents, and as expected, it was all toys. Most were dinosaur-related, and he realized once more that he seemed to have loved dinosaurs very much as a child. His room was full of plastic T-rex and such, and when he had woken up in this childish body of his, he was even wearing a dinosaur pajama with a stuffed tail.

"And what about your gift Masha! You didn't give me anything," pouted the boy.

"My gift?" repeated his sister before laughing. "You already received it!"

"Huh?"

Misha didn't understand what she meant. When did she give him something? He couldn't remember.

Tilting his head, he curiously looked at her smiling face, and without explaining further, the teenager bent over and took a bright red bow from the pile of torn wrapping papers on the floor. Then, she very naturally put it on Gabriel's head, nodding with satisfaction as she observed her work of art.

"See? Isn't my present handsome?" winked the teenage girl. "It took everything to convince him to come to your birthday, but you know what, I can be very convincing."

There was a second of silence before Misha burst out laughing, his voice brisk and clear. "Yeah, very handsome!"

With Gabriel's present family situation and him faking having amnesia, Misha had no hope of him coming to his birthday, yet he had suddenly appeared at his doorstep. It seemed like his sister had something to do with this. He wouldn't be surprised if his mother had also lent a helping hand.

After all, when she asked what he wanted for his birthday, he answered that being with his family, friends, and Gabriel was all he wanted. So, of course, they had to drag the teenager to his birthday, whether he liked it or not.

"I love your gift very much," smiled the boy, his eyes curving into crescent moons. "You're the best!"

Masha proudly puffed out her c.h.e.s.t, saying, "Of course I am the best! I'm your sister, after all!"

Her words made people laugh or roll their eyes or both. What a narcissist!

Quickly, Misha shifted his eyes toward Gabriel, asking with a teasing tone, "And you? Where is your gift?"

"Are you saying that am I not enough as a gift?" chuckled Gabriel.

"Cheapskate," snorted back the boy.

"Here," said the teenager after taking a gift on the table and shaking it under his nose. "I didn't have much time, so I couldn't think of many things. Still, I hope you will like it. It comes from your sister and me."

Misha froze for a second before quickly snatching the present from the teenage boy's hands. As the child started to unwrap the gift swiftly but carefully, a smile bloomed on his lips, brightening his face.

He had only wanted to tease him a little; he never thought he had actually prepared something for him. He couldn't help but feel a bit excited, and a bit touched.

When Misha finally got rid of the wrapping paper, the sight that greeted him left him speechless. His eyes widened while his fingers gently stroked the book cover. He read the title a few times, and an amused smile soon curled up his lips.

«100 original ways to prank people» was the title of the book.

"I want to clarify something," said Masha with a serious tone. "It was his idea, so he is the one who's courting death, not me."

"You are the one who ran from bookstores to bookstores and bought it, though."

"Shut up!"

"Thank you," smiled Misha before standing up and hugging the two teenagers at the same time. "I like it a lot!"

"Glad to hear it!" laughed Masha as she ruffled his hair; Gabriel did the same.

This time, Misha didn't have to fake his happiness as he was truly happy. Although his parents' presents were also heartwarming, the toys weren't something he loved. He couldn't help it. He was just too old for the dull-looking plastic dinosaurs.

Truthfully, Misha didn't enjoy reading, but tricks and pranks were his weakness—maybe because they reminded him of his mother and sister. Thus, this book had a special meaning for him, not only because it came from his sister and her boyfriend.