Auntie Vivian’s smile turned a shade more private. "I think that can be arranged."

The rest of the afternoon settled into the usual family rhythm — bags carried upstairs, guests rooms claimed, the low hum of conversation drifting through the house.

Kim and Mei busied themselves in the kitchen starting dinner.

Sato and Uncle Sam talked about business and sports on the balcony, enjoying the urban mid- class neighborhood scenery.

My dad’s simplicity was out of this world even though he could afford the most luxurious life, he still chooses to live comfortably below his means.

Uncle Sam’s children disappeared into their smaller guest room, still unpacking.

I found my aunt alone in the upstairs hallway, standing in the open doorway of the master guest room, folding a silk blouse.

She looked up as I approached, that same, soft curious smile playing on her lips..

"Need a hand?" I offered, stepping inside without waiting for permission. The door stayed half open behind me.

"Don’t worry Kenji, I think I’ve got it," she said, but didn’t stop me. I took the cloth from her hands, fingers deliberately brushing hers again, and laid it neatly in the dresser drawer.

"I still can’t believe you’re the same person I used to think I know. You’re very.. attentive today," she murmured, watching me.

"See for yourself. Maybe I’ve been paying more attention than usual or this is just how I am now," I answered, voice quiet.

I reached past her as of to adjust the curtain, bringing my body close enough that my chest nearly brushed hers. My scent mixed with hers in the small space. "Is that a problem?"

She didn’t step back. Instead her eyes flicked down to my mouth for a fraction of a second.

"That depends," she said softly. "On what kind of attention you mean."

Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Uncle Sam appeared in the doorway, completely at ease, a half- empty glass of iced tea in one hand.

He leaned against the frame with a casual smile, completely oblivious to the charged air between aunt Vivian and I.

"There they are," he said cheerfully. "You’re mom’s already putting me to work on the grill later. You two need any help with the bags?"

Auntie Vivian’s cheeks colored faintly, but she recovered quickly, stepping half a pace away from me as if nothing had happened. "We’re fine, honey. Almost done."

Uncle Sam nodded, clearly seeing nothing unusual. "Great. I’ll be with your dad, Kenji. You guys shouldn’t take so long." He gave a friendly wave and headed down to the patio, whistling under his breath, completely unaware of the lingering tension he’d just walked past.

The moment his footsteps faded completely down the stairs, the half- open door suddenly felt far more private.

Auntie Vivian’s gaze returned back to mine. The curiosity in her eyes had sharpened.

She didn’t move away. She stayed where she was, one hand still resting on the dresser, watching me with that same quiet, assessing look.

"You were saying something about getting to know me better as family and also something about attention?!" She reminded me, voice soft enough that it wouldn’t carry into the hallway.

I took a half step closer, closing most of the remaining distance. "You’re right. I hadn’t finished. I’ve been paying attention. The kind that notices how the clothes you’re wearing sits on you. How you move. How you look when you think no one’s watching." My voice stayed low, casual on the surface, but the words were deliberate.

"I’ve been noticing a lot since you walked through the door."

A faint flush rose along her collarbone. She glanced towards the hallway, listening for any returning footsteps, then back at me.

"That’s a treacherous habit," she murmured.

"Only if someone finds out." I reached past her again — this time with no pretense of adjusting a curtain — and let my fingers trail lightly along the edge of the dresser, close enough that my bare knuckles almost brushed her thigh. "He’s downstairs. Completely distracted. We have a few minutes."

She didn’t pull away from the contact. Instead her breath left her in a slow, controlled exhale. "A few minutes for what exactly?"

I leaned in just enough that my mouth was near her ear, close enough to feel the warmth of my breath. "For you to know me, and for me to keep being attentive. For you to decide whether you like it or not."

Downstairs, Uncle Sam and my dad’s laugh suddenly carried up through the floorboards — loud, easy, completely oblivious — followed by the scrape of a chair on the patio.

Auntie Vivian’s eyes flicked toward the sound , then returned to mine. The corner of her mouth curved, almost against her will.

"You’re bold, and it scares me." She whispered.

"Only when the timing is right." My hand left the dresser and settled lightly on her waist, thumb stroking once along the fabric of her dress. "So what do you think about this?" I said softly, then used my feet to gently push the door behind me.

She held my gaze for another long second after the door settled a few inches closer to shut.

Then something in her expression shifted — cool, measured, unmistakably adult.

She reached up, gently but firmly removed my hand from her waist, and took a small step back.

The space between us suddenly felt deliberate.

"You’re serious!?" She said, voice low and even. Not angry. Not flustered. Just assessing. "You actually think this is going somewhere."

I opened my mouth to speak, but she lifted one finger, quieting me without raising her voice.

"I’m flattered. Truly. The attention is noticeable, but I’m a grown married woman, not some bored housewife looking for a secret thrill in her brother- in- law’s house." Her eyes stayed steady on mine.

"You’re what! — half my age? Trying to know more about me in the middle of a family visit while my husband, your very own uncle is down stairs grilling steak like nothing is happening? Would you dare do such a thing to your father for example."

A soft, almost disbelieving laugh escaped her lips...

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