I remember my testing day like it was yesterday.
"Rise and shine you lazy bum. It's your school entrance test today. Grandfather wants to meet you before we go to school later." Emma slammed open my room door, marched into my room as though it was her own and opened the curtains with a flourish.
Bright rays of sunlight streamed in and immediately attacked my eyes.
"Uhhh." I groaned and turned to face the opposite direction.
Whoosh!
Emma pulled my blanket away from me and exposed my warm body to the biting cold of the Chinese Winter.
"Nooooo!!" I curled my body up like a cat and covered my head with my shiny brand new prosthetic right arm.
Even though I was physically enhanced to the point that I could probably punch a steel pipe into two pieces if I wanted to, my senses towards temperature were totally untouched.
I still felt cold like everybody else.
I should have also felt indignant at Emma's lack of respect for my privacy, but I was too sleepy to care.
"Let's go! Breakfast is ready and James is already digging in! He's focusing all of his attention on the bacons-"
My eyes snapped open as a feeling of horror bloomed in my heart.
My bacons!!!
"YOU SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT!" I roared angrily at her and leapt off my bed!
Emma smirked evilly as she watched me run out of my room and straight to the dining room.
"Ah! Justin! You're up early today. Come join me. Breakfast should be served soon. Sigh, if only all my other grandchildren are like you. They are all probably still snoring like little piglets. Thank goodness you're here! You can keep me company!" The old man beamed at me.
I stared at the empty breakfast table and sighed with great relief. The bacons were still safe! I could feel my pounding heart gradually slow down and the day seemed full of endless glorious possibilities.
Chief among those possibilities was one that stood out prominently.
Eating up all the bacons served that day before James came down.
Emma brushed past me as she walked into the dining room and sat next to the old man coolly as though nothing happened.
"Good morning Grandfather." Emma said sweetly.
"Good morning Emma!" The old man lovingly patted her head. "Here, have a glass of orange juice first. Look who beat you to the breakfast table! Justin, why are you standing there? Come have a seat!"
I quickly made my way to the table and glared at Emma as I helped myself to a glass of orange juice. Although her ruse had made me come down earlier than James and placed me in prime position to enjoy all the bacons by myself, the fact remained that she tricked me.
She merely blinked at me and smiled innocently.
Ah that ridiculously beautiful smile. My poor heart which had only just settled down was roughly jolted into action once more. Thankfully, something almost as beautiful as her smile appeared at that moment to pull me out before I could lose myself.
I smelled it before I saw it.
SNIFF!
BACON!!
"Here, let me help you." I told the servant and freed her of the burden of carrying the huge plate of bacons. I placed the plate in front of me and began to dig in shamelessly, all thoughts of being angry at Emma disappearing the instant the frenzy of awesomeness touched my tongue.
Fried bacon.
Nothing in this world is as delicious as fried bacon.
After a few minutes, a horrifying wail of anguish sounded from the entrance of the breakfast table.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" James wailed as he watched the final bit of bacon enter my mouth.
I munched on it slowly as I threw him a triumphant look. I could see his eyes focusing on my jaws and the tiny specks of bacon and oil that was on my lips.
After munching for a few seconds, I swallowed the bacon with an audible gulp and licked up all those bits of treasures around my lips with great relish.
"Good morning James!" I shouted with glee. "Good of you to finally join us! Come! There's toast, and eggs and baco- oh wait! I just finished all the bacon! Sorry! I guess you'll have to do without bacon AGAIN this morning! HA HA HA!
I roared out with laughter while Emma and the old man exchanged glances with each other.
"Why did you bring home a nut case?" The old man's eyes seemed to ask.
"The "nut case" was the only one strong enough to save me." Emma's gaze seemed to reply.
The old man sighed and nodded understandingly.
"Grandfather!" James cried out grievously. "Kick him out of the family! He's evil, cold-blooded and without a shred of kindness in his heart! He KNEW how much I loved bacon!"
James padded into the dining room, sat down next to me and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
After taking a few big gulps, he continued his tirade. "In these five days, he had done nothing but eat, sleep and play in the training room!"
"TRAIN in the training room." I corrected him.
James ignored me and went on. "He is a huge drain on the Whitefrost family's resources! Very soon, we'll run out of critical resources-"
"Bacon, you mean. Critical bacon." I corrected him once more and caused Emma to laugh and almost choke on her orange juice.
"RESOURCES! We'll be out of resources very much required for the growth and success of our own family members!" James shouted and glared at me.
The old man simply rolled his eyes and continued to read the news on his pad.
That James and I had become bosom friends had not escaped his notice even though he was rarely home during the day.
"You shamelessly finished all the critical resources I needed to succeed in my day today." James accused me.
"That I did." I nodded seriously in agreement. I was definitely shameless. Even the old man and Emma didn't get a single piece of bacon.
"I challenge you to a duel!" James slammed his empty glass down on the table after draining it with one big gulp.
"Accepted!" I shouted.
I wasn't going to back down from a duel challenge by the runt (but still older than me) of the Whitefrost Clan!
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