The Reunion

It was summer vacation, and my days were a monotonous blur of lounging around, playing games on my phone, scrolling through Facebook, munching on junk food, and binge-watching movies and anime. The sweltering heat made the idea of going outside unbearable, and besides, I was more of an indoor person, so I was fine with it. Being an introvert with a family that was both strict and overprotective, I spent most of my time at home. My life felt dull and uneventful—essentially, boring.

Just as I was slipping into my afternoon nap, my mother burst into my room with some surprising news.

"Guess what? Your uncle and cousins from Tenzxanas are coming to stay at Grandpa's house for the vacation!" Her announcement snapped me out of my sleepy haze and filled me with excitement. (Tenzxanas is a distant city)

"When will they get here?" I asked eagerly, with a wide smile spreading across my face.

"Next week," she replied before she left, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.

The whole week, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of my cousins, whom I hadn't seen in years. The youngest, Robin, would be visiting Nosvisca for the first time, and I was especially excited to meet him.

The long-awaited day finally arrived. My older sister barged into my room to inform me that it was time to head to Grandpa's house.

"Get changed, they've already arrived," she said in her usual snippy tone.

Despite the urge to snap back at her, I was too excited to argue. Grabbing my towel, I headed for the shower, only to be cut off by my sister, Florence, who managed to get in first. Annoyed, I yanked her hair, but she pushed past me, taking her sweet time in the shower. I grumbled under my breath as I waited for what felt like an eternity for her to finish.

Finally, she got out, and I took my turn in the shower. Once done, we waited for our father to pick us up and drive us to our grandpa's house which is a 30-minute drive from here to there. As soon as we arrived, I leaped out of the car, eager to find my cousins.

"Caroline!" I called out, my voice bubbling with excitement. 

"Elizabeth, Florence!" she responded, her voice equally bright.

We embraced, our laughter mingling in the warm embrace of family. Just as we were settling into our conversation, my mother stepped in, reminding us to greet Uncle Rick, my cousins' father, and my mom's brother, whom we had overlooked in our enthusiasm to catch up with his daughter.

Normally, I'm the one who lives in the shadow of my sister's brilliance—her beauty, intellect, and charm constantly outshine mine. Friends, family, and even our parents' acquaintances never miss a chance to point out the stark differences between us. But today, something unexpected happened. Instead of the usual comparisons, I found myself on the receiving end of unexpected compliments. People were noting that my sister and I had distinct, unique forms of beauty, and some even preferred my looks over hers. I tried to keep a humble smile on my face, but inside, I was reveling in a quiet victory. It is a relief to get some positive attention for a change.

I then turned to Mico, Caroline's younger brother. We hadn't seen each other since we were kids, and back then, we were more like adversaries than friends. He is a year older, the same as my sister. Back then, he was notably chubby, now, his round frame resembles a sumo wrestler. Those early years were marred by his relentless pinching, leaving bruises and red welts. I remember running in fear all around our grandpa's house, only finding solace when I was next to my parents. My attempts to get help from my parents often resulted in more anger and annoyance directed at me, so I learned to evade him as best as I could.

The mood shifted when I met Robin, the youngest of Caroline's siblings. It was his first visit. He is irresistibly cute with chubby rosy cheeks and the kind of toddler bangs that make him look even more endearing. It was a joy to finally see him in person.

As the rest of our cousins arrived, we naturally formed our own little worlds, each group engaging in lively conversations. Just as I was settling into the rhythm of our gathering, a sudden knock echoed through the house. The sound cut through the clamor, drawing everyone's attention. One of my aunts answered the door, and then there was this mysterious guy. His presence cast a shadow over the room, and I found myself inexplicably drawn to him. Who could he be? Is he someone new to the family?