After her morning ritual,Alicia felt fresh and energized.She had carefully covered her panda eyes with make up but still if one looked closely enough they would be able to see the bruises.Deciding to start afresh,Alicia started to prepare a light breakfast of toast and eggs.Neil,who had been awakened by the smell of food came into the kitchen while rubbing his stomach.

"Al my pal!You are a life saver.How did you know I am hungry?Even I had known that yet...."

Shaking her head,Alicia put the plate of fried eggs and toast in front of him and turned back to the stove to make some more for herself.

Neil,the eternally hungry guy,sat on the chair and started devouring the food.After a few bites,he remembered to thank Alicia and did so with his mouth full.

Ignoring him Alicia made another batch of eggs and placed them with the toasts on a plate.Quietly,she turned to sit at the chair when Neil finished eating his food and looked up.With his stomach full,Neil felt rational and started,"Al,I am going back today.My biggest reason for coming here was you.I can see.."However, he interrupted himself.Something was fishy.Alicia had seated herself and was only staring at the food.She had yet to touch it.For a moment his mind flashed back to when he had first seen her.His heart clenched and without a word he went to her and woung his arms around her.All of Alicia's resolves of not crying and being strong went down the drain.She felt her tears roll down her cheeks silently.Neil felt the wetness of her tears and his own heart ached for her.He was the one who had brought them together.He had wanted them both to be happy but life had it's own plans and never conformed with the others.

Once she had cried her eyes out and her trembling stopped,Neil pulled back,looked at her face and said,"Omo woman.Do you have a river in your eyes?My s.h.i.+rt is all seeped through!I had no idea you would miss me so much and cry at the thought of me going!Don't worry Al,everything is going to be Ok?"Al felt as if a heavy burden had been taken off her shoulders after the good cry and she nodded her head.Yes,Neil was right.Everything was going to be OK.

Composing herself,she flicked Neil on the forehead and said,"Who is going to miss you!I was crying tears of joy that I was saved!Otherwise with your appet.i.te,you would have eaten me hou of house and hearth!"

Neil:"..."

They both laughed at that and the tense atmosphere was suddenly gone.Being serious again,Alicia raised herself on tiptoes and placed a peck on Neil's cheeks and said a soft "thank you."

Before she could continue,a cough sounded in the moment and a dry voice said,"I am sorry to interrupt you.I just came by for water.You can continue what you were doing."With that Ryu walked towards the refrigerator while giving Alicia a derisive glance.

Incensed at his tone and glance and already angry at him for yesterday,Alicia stalked towards the kitchen counter and picking up the jug of water poured it on Ryu's head unceremoniously.Shocked at the sudden attack,Ryu turned to glare at the angry woman who then proceeded to keep the jug back on the counter with a thump and left the kitchen.

Amused at Alicia's angry ways and Ryu's shocked expression,Neil let out a peal of laughter which was cut short when his brother glared at him.Still with a smile on his face Neil said,"Big Bro,Did the accident teach you this or the memory loss?"

"Teach me what?",Ryu gritted out through clenched teeth.

"How to be an as*****?I mean I am pretty sure you were not so bad earlier...I mean I would have cla.s.sified you as a b****** in the past but now you've surpa.s.sed that!"With that,Neil broke into another peal of laughter.

I may be an a****** but I was not the one touching someone's wife inappropriately!"Dripping wet but still seething with anger Ryu retorted back without an once of guilt.

But this time Ryu pushed the wrong b.u.t.tons for Neil.Angrily,Neil punched in in Ryu's stomach hard enough to hurt ans said,"You a******.Who was the one touching inappropriately!Your brain has affected your vision as well!Big bro being jealous is reasonable.Being a fool is not!If you had been sensible,your wife would never have needed to cry her eyes out and now she is going to go to college without having her breakfast.Since you have forgotten let me remind you,Alicia was my best friend before she became your wife.And since you do not remember her past,I will not hold you to it.Bt the sadness I witnessed in her eyes is enough for me to punch you again,regardless of the fact that you are my brother.And you can spit out the vinegar,I am leaving tonight but you better get your head on straight!"

With that Neil angrily swept out of the kitchen leaving his brother in the kitchen.Ryu frustratedly ran his hand through his wet hair and sighed.He really had been drinking vinegar and as a result angered his brother as well as his wife.