“I told you. I’m taking a break from the project” a woman scolds on her cellphone. She climbed out of a car, a pair of sunglasses on and her ginger red hair loose in waves. She wore an autumn v-neck blouse with long sleeves, a pair of jeans and black boots.
She checked inside the vehicle to get her luggage and walked straight into the hotel, rolling the bag behind her.
“Unless absolutely necessary please don’t call me” she hung up on the call and fell in line at the check-in.
Her fingers drummed on the luggage’s handle. She slid up her sunglasses, revealing stormy green eyes. They swept around the hotel lobby while she waited. She craned her neck. The flight had been a doozy. She left right after working late and her mind wouldn’t stop thinking about all the documents she left behind. Despite telling her assistant off, she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist if they called her—which was why they should take the initiative not to.
Speaking of calls, she still hadn’t messaged her fiance about her arrival. She fished out her phone and typed in a short message.
Then, a pair of arms hugged her shoulders from behind.
“Long time, no see, Hachi” The newcomer greeted her.
Hachi turned around, squealing at the sight of her sister-in-law, “Lilly!”
“Well, well, look who finally showed up” Angeline smirked, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Aw, come on” Hachi pouted at her, “The party is tonight. I’m not even late yet. I’m here. See?”
Angeline smiled, spreading her arms to engulf both women in a hug, “We’re just happy to finally see you. You’ve been busy.”
Hachi pulled back and rolled her eyes, “Tell me about it. Getting away from work was a nightmare. More work kept coming up and I couldn’t find anyone to take care of them.”
“That I can relate to” Lilly chuckled, “What do you want to do once you’re settled in?”
“Oh! Can we—”
“Aunt Hachi!” Alex called, waving a hand in the air.
Today, she wore a denim button up shirt and a pair of white shorts with the same shoes she came in with. Her fake hair had been tied up into a ponytail. Although she still didn’t pick them out herself, Emily—and Jae—did do a good job.
Emily trailed from behind her. She and Alex had just stepped out of the spa. Alex immediately spotted her own mother, followed by the rest. If they didn’t greet them, they’d have hell on earth in a matter of minutes.
“You don’t look a day over 20,” Alex said once they reached the group.
“Alex!” Hachi greeted Alex back once her niece reached them. She gave her a quick hug, “How are you doing?”
“Why don’t you ever compliment me like that, Alex?” Angie cocked an eyebrow at her daughter.
Alex smiled innocently, “That’s because you don’t look a day over 30, mom.”
She got a frown in return.
Hachi laughed at their exchange, “Emily isn’t making trouble for you, right?”
“Mom!” Emily pouted.
Angie chuckled to herself. It looked just like Hachi’s earlier.
Hachi squeezed her daughter tightly, “My darling, I missed you!”
“Mom, can’t breathe” Emily choked playfully. It got her a smack on the head.
“You hardly call home, young lady” her mother scolded, her arms crossed over her chest, “If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought you gained a boyfriend.”
Her daughter rolled her eyes, “Ha! Highly unlikely.”
Alex snorted. Emily glared in her direction. Her cousin merely smiled innocently but the scene looked so comical, she couldn’t help but laugh with her lips pressed together.
“Hey, Em. I think you dropped this in the car” Jae said, walking up to her. He held up a keychain in the shape of piano bars. He had forgotten about it when they entered the hotel. He found it again in his pockets when he went to the shower last night.
Emily scowled at the sight of him, snatching it off his fingers, “Give me that.”
“Who is this?” Hachi asked with a knowing smile on her face.
Angie took over the conversation and introduced them, “Ah, Hachi, this is Jae. He’s been looking after Alex’s secret since she went to Woodlands. We thought we’d show our appreciation by inviting him to the party.”
“Oh” Hachi gasped, “That’s wonderful. Nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure is all mine” Jae smiled politely.
“She is Emily’s mom” Alex added. It earned her another glare from her cousin. It seemed like something to mention. Wouldn’t it be normal to explain how Hachi was related to them?
“Oh!” He gasped, “Well, no wonder Emily is beautiful. She got half of her mother’s looks.”
Emily scrunched her eyebrows, “Half?”
Jae merely shrugged, “Yeah, because nothing could never be as good as the original.”
She openly gaped at him. Was this guy trying to sweet talk her mother? Not only that, was he indirectly insulting her?
“My, my, my” Hachi cut in, “You are quite the charmer. Bet you have a lot of girls back home.”
“I’d say that I’m more of a one-girlfriend kind of guy but I don’t have one to present.”
“Probably because you’re an obnoxious prick” Emily muttered quietly.
Jae heard her clearly and whispered, “Is that why you keep rejecting me?”
“Uh, Jae” Angie interrupted, “Where’s Logan?”
“I heard my name.”
Everyone but one person shifted their heads in Logan’s direction. He had gone for a walk outside of the hotel. His hands were tucked in his pockets as he walked up to the group. Despite the numerous eyes on him, he smiled warmly, “I think I’ve gone blind from all the ladies’ radiant beauty.”
Hachi snickered, pointing between him and Jae, “Are you two related?”
“They’re twins,” Angie explained.
“Thought so.”
Logan glimpsed over at Alex. Their eyes met briefly. Both of them seemed like they had something to say but inherently looked away instead. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
This little moment didn’t go unnoticed by Emily. She nudged Jae’s ribs with her elbow, “What the hell happened here?”
“Beats me” He answered, rubbing the sore spot, “They’re both awkward people. What did you expect?”
“Well, we need to break the ice” Emily exasperated, careful not to let the others overhear.
“Do you have any idea?”
“My, my, my, this is quite a party” a woman with spiky white hair shouted over the lobby. With a group of people that big in front of her, she couldn’t help but make sure everyone could hear her.
She wore a pair of knee-high black cotton boots with a flowy patterned dress, the hem swaying around her knees. A bellboy pushed a luggage cart beside her.
She held out her arms like an eagle and said, “My girls!”
“Jaime!”
All three women met her halfway. They took turns hugging the birthday girl.
“Mom, why are you wearing heeled boots?” Lilly demanded.
Jaime Greenwood rolled her gray eyes, “Stop treating me like I’m old. I’m fit as a fiddle. My age is only a number.”
Lilly did know her mother liked being active but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, “Did you have a fight with dad?”
“Had a fight, went out shopping… now, I’m back in my good mood” Her mother shrugged.
“Mom!”
“Stop scowling, dear. It’ll give you wrinkles. Now, what do you have planned before we get to the party?”
“I think Hachi was about to say something,” Angie recalled, peeking at the ginger.
“Oh, yeah. I was” Hachi clearer her throat, “After I got off my flight, I suddenly felt like playing volleyball.”
“Ooo…!” Jaime hooted, “I like the sound of that! 2 vs 2?”
“Actually, I think we could do 4 vs 4” Angie informed her.
Jaime raised her eyebrows, “8 people?”
“Exactly. Us vs those youngsters” Angie grinned mischievously, pointing at the 4 teenagers.
===
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