Sometimes love deserves a second chance,
cause time wasn't ready for the first one.
~Unknown
Chapter 15.
Yesterday was one of those days that just flew by. I was so busy that I lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was already evening. But when I woke up the next day, I felt energized and ready to tackle the day ahead. I woke up earlier than usual and couldn't stay in bed for more than ten minutes. The best part was that I channeled all that energy into a great start to my day.
To kick things off, I had a quick thirty-minute workout session. It always feels good to get the blood pumping and the endorphins flowing. Then, I treated myself to a healthy breakfast to fuel my body. I had some green tea to boost my metabolism, a fresh fruit salad to get my vitamins, and a delicious tortilla for pure pleasure.
I have to admit that I haven't had a tortilla in years. When I was younger, I would eat them with ham and cheese regularly, but I stopped during my teenage years for obvious reasons. However, recently, I rediscovered the taste of a tortilla when I had it with Zoe during a coffee date at the cafe. Now, it's my go-to breakfast item!
Today, we were expecting my mum's best friend's family to come over, but my parents failed to mention when they'd be arriving, and I forgot to ask. No problem, though - I'm making the most of this time by trying out a few tutorials I've had my eye on for days. I've always been interested in beauty but wasn't as skilled as Zoe. Therefore, I could use some luck.
As I sit in my room, lost in my thoughts, I suddenly hear tiny voices calling out my name, "Phia! Phia!" accompanied by gentle pounds on the door. They're my younger siblings, Aris and Areti, calling me by the name Sophia, which I had chosen for myself. They were too young to understand why I chose this name, so I decided to stick with it to avoid confusion.
Curious about why I chose Sophia? Well, for starters, I find it an elegant name. It originates from Greece and means "Wisdom" in English. My parents named my siblings Aris and Areti, both Greek names, so I thought it would be a great idea to adopt the same naming concept. However, the most important reason for choosing Sophia is that it doesn't carry negative memories or associations. It feels like the perfect name for a fresh start, which is my purpose from now on.
As I open the door, I scoop them up and kiss their cheeks. Areti responds with a kiss on my cheek while Aris wipes it off, complaining that "Girls have cooties! Yuck!" I laugh and kiss his cheek again, but he groans and glares at me.
"Does mum know you're here?" I ask, but they completely ignore me instead of answering. Areti plays with my loose curls, and Aris fiddles with the pendant hanging around my neck.
"There they are! I've been looking everywhere for them!" Mum bursts into the room, breathless.
"They came pounding at my door."
"They've been asking for you since early in the morning, but we wanted you to have some alone time." She confesses.
"I don't mind spending time with them." I assure her.
"We know, but your father checked on you and saw you were busy. He didn't have the heart to interrupt you."
She must be referring to my first attempt at a clean girl makeup look. That was the only time I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Trust me. When you have mascara in your eyes, your surroundings are the last thing you worry about.
"I'm going to feed them their fruits. When you're ready, come down. Our guests are ready." She states as the twins start getting restless in her arms.
"You look beautiful, by the way." She compliments me before shutting the door on her way out.
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I hear a soft voice asking my mother, "Where's Sophia? We've been looking forward to meeting her!"
My mother responds, "She'll be down soon. She's been getting ready since early in the morning. She's anxious about making a positive impression."
I think my mother shared too much information. I always worry about people liking me and trying hard, maybe too much, but I hate people knowing how important it is for me to get on someone's good side. I know I can't control others' words or actions, so I try to work with what I have. I'll do that now, too.
With all the courage I can muster, I knock on the formal living room's closed door, put on a big smile, and creak the door open. I notice a family sitting on the three-seat couch. It's a couple, a few years older than my parents and their teenage daughter. All three look like they walked out of a fashion magazine with high-end clothes and vintage accessories. It puts my casual outfit to shame. However, despite their put-together outfits, their style is not my cup of tea. I prefer jeans and leggings to fancy dresses and high heels.
All eyes fall on me. My parents smile at me, and the twins make grabby arms at me. The couple's faces light up, and they wave at me. Their daughter looks the least interested in being here.
"Oh my God, Sophia! You look like your mother's twin!" The blonde-haired woman embraces me tightly. "I'm Emma! That's my husband, Sean, and our daughter, Sylvie."
Her husband, Sean, offers his hand for a handshake, which I accept, and then I return Sylvie's wave. Afterward, I sit beside my parents and take Aris onto my lap.
"She's so grown up, it's bizarre. I still remember when she was born. She didn't want to leave her daddy's arms. She would cry anytime someone tried to hold her. Now, she's grown up, and she resembles you more than she did when she was a baby, if that's possible." Emma directs the last part to my mum.
Mum's smile widens, and her eyes glaze with tears. "She does look like me, right? I wish I had been there when she was growing up to watch her mature into the woman she is now, but I'm grateful she's alive and safe, and she's with us at last."
Areti wipes our mum's fallen tears, and Dad kisses her cheek. I grab her hand and squeeze it to show her it means the same to me to reunite with them.
"Hey, Sophia, how old are you, honey?" Emma asks me to change the subject to a lighter one.
"Eighteen," I reply.
Her eyes widen, and she smiles big. "You are the same age as our Sylvie and only a couple of years younger than our firstborn." I ask, "Firstborn? Do you have another daughter?" She laughs. "We have another child, but it's a he. His name is Julian, and he's twenty years old. He was supposed to come with us, but got held up with pack work."
Mum might have mentioned a second child, but I'm not sure. I space out occasionally.
The two couples are still conversing with each other as they reminisce about old times while Sylvie scrolls on her phone and I entertain the twins.
"I'll go get some water. Does anyone want anything?" I ask, handing the twins back to my parents. I'm thirsty but for some space. They're amazing, but I don't know them that well, so there's an awkwardness that I'm finding uncomfortable.
"We can ask for Marquise to bring some," Dad offers. "Nah, I'll go. My legs are stiff from sitting too long," I reply.
Dad nods, and they return to their conversation.
As I exit the living room, intending to find the kitchen, someone bumps into me, sending me to the ground.
"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" a husky voice asks.
I inhale, and a combination of pinewood and lavender fills the air. It sends shivers down my spine and makes my stomach twist in knots. There was one other time when I felt this way, but it wasn't this intense. It was on my eighteenth birthday when I met my mate.
I look up to the person and gasp. "Mate," we both exclaim at the same time.
Edited: 13/03/2024
Words: 1387