CHAPTER 8
After finding out that Toby's sister disapproves of her, Amber got a bit discouraged but with a few encouraging words from Toby, the couple decided to continue their blooming relationship. Amber also had finally decided to introduce Toby to her friends
"Why am I getting so nervous? It's not like I'm meeting your parents or something, gaah!" Toby waited nervously as they waited at the café for the arrival of Amber's friends
Amber looked at him and smiled, she then reach over and held his hand, "It'll be fine, they'll like you, trust me"
Toby gently squeezed Amber's hand and gave her a smile
A few moments later, Tasha and Brenda arrived
After a brief introduction, the four sat down and started chatting. Tasha then started interviewing him, which led to telling stories and jokes and laughter and fun
"You're an okay dude" Brenda said with a smirk on her face
"Yeah, you're pretty okay" Tasha added, "hey, get your friends together and let's go to the karaoke house this weekend!"
"Yeah! That's a great idea Tasha" Amber commented then turned to Toby, "Is it okay if we invite your friends over?"
"Um.." Toby paused
"It's okay if they're busy, we could just go next week" Tasha interjected, "but we'll definitely going"
"How about I'll ask them first then I'll give you guys a call" Toby answered somewhat with relief
And the conversations went on. Later, when Brenda and Tasha went to the bathroom
Toby looked at Amber with a "distressed "what-am-I-gonna-do" look
"I know what you're thinking" Amber spoke, "I said "invite your friends", not your sister"
"My sister is one of my friends Amber" Toby retorted
"I know, I just figured, if we got closer to your friends first, then maybe I'll be easier to get closer to your sister, since you guys do have the same circle of friends"
"Yeah..you have a point but my friends, they're kinda wary of yours, especially Tasha"
"I noticed. Yuri is an exception though. She just seemed so carefree then again, she is new here" Amber said, "So, is this weekend okay?"
"Like I said I'll ask them first, Yuri just went home so I guess I have to give her a call..."
"Yuri went home? Why?"
"Don't know, she didn't say, maybe there's a celebration in her family or something" Toby answered
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Meanwhile, Yuri had just arrived at her house at the height of daytime
"Dad?" she called out as she entered the house
"Yul?" a very familiar female voice called, Yuri turned and saw her older sister peeking from the kitchen doorway
"It is you!" Yumi stepped out of the kitchen and gave her younger sister and tight embrace, "I missed you Yul!"
"I missed you too Yumi!" Yuri replied happily
The two sisters are closer than ever, with only a 2-year age difference and their closeness in height, they've often been mistaken as twins. Yumi had been working busily in another city so she doesn't get to go home as often as she liked but every time she does go home, Yuri is always there to greet her, well, at least until before Yuri transferred to a farther college. Their schedules conflicted often. when Yumi was home, Yuri isn't and vice versa, so this is the first time they've seen each other in a month or two
"But wait a sec, it's the middle of a school week, you're not supposed to be here" Yumi spoke
"I can feel the love sis, I really do" Yuri answered jokingly which earned her a slap on the shoulder by her sister
"Of course I'm glad you're here, you idiot! I was just wondering"
Yuri smiled slightly, "I wanted to come home for a bit and because tomorrow is her birthday.."
Yumi looked at her sister with sympathy, "how are you doing by the way?"
"...I'm coping..it's hard but I'm still getting used to it"
Yumi put her arm around her sister's shoulder, "c'mon, I made lemonade" and lead her sister to the kitchen
"We should make something for dad" Yumi spoke as she tried to not make her sister anymore sad than she already is
"Like what? toast?" Yuri remarked with a smirk. As much as the sisters like cooking, none of them knows how to really cook. Every time they cook together, something ends up burnt or there's just no taste in the food
"FYI, I'm improving my cooking skills, I can make an omelette without burning it and I can even make side dishes" Yumi boasted with a smile
"Good for you! So does that mean you're the one that's going to do the cooking? I'm pretty sure a sunny side-up turns into an eclipse-side up if I do the cooking"
Yumi laughed at her sister's remark, "okay, then while I do the cooking, why don't you sit there and tell me all about your new college"
"Sure" Yuri smiled and sat at the table as her sister started cooking
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After parting ways with Amber and her friends, Toby then met up with Summer at the badminton court bleachers to talk to her and see if she already talked to his sister
"Yuri was the one who talked to her Toby" Summer said as crossed her legs and lounged at the bleachers, "and I didn't know what Yuri said but it somehow changed Kristen's mind"
"She did? Really?" Toby looked at her with a brightened expression
Summer nodded, "we texted each other last night, the topic came up and she said that she'll try to tolerate them but don't expect much 'kay?"
"That's okay for now" Toby sighed with relief and smiled, "thanks Summer for talking to Kristen and for giving Amber a chance, you're being a real friend"
"No prob, and don't get mushy with me" Summer said playfully and stood
And Toby chuckled and stood as well, "I sure wish Yuri was here so I could thank her too"
"You can thank her when she comes back, you should buy her a pizza, even better, you should both buy us a pizza!" Summer grinned
"I'll buy you a dozen pizza!...only if you and Yuri and Kristen agreed to go to a karaoke house with me, Amber and her friends this weekend..?" Toby smirked after speaking in a slightly faster pace than usual
"And here comes the inevitable" Summer closed her eyes and sighed with her head tilted upwards, "yes, I would like to go with you guys"
Toby then gave Summer a big hug, "Thank you!"
"Okay Toby. I'm feeling the love, you can let go now", Toby let go of Summer with happiness clearly painted in his face
Summer smirked and patted Toby's head, despite him being 3 inches taller than her, "let's go, I still have to tell your sister the slightly disturbing invitation"
Toby looked at her with a raised eyebrow
"You know what I mean" Summer reasoned
And the two friends left the bleachers.
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The whole afternoon, the sisters chatted and caught up with each other's happenings. When their father arrived home, he was surprised but happy to see Yuri so by the time dinner came along, Yumi had already prepared a decent meal and the chatting continued on the dinner table
"So, this girl you two have been talking about earlier, is she still bothering you?" Tony asked Yuri after having a bite to eat
"Not anymore, I think we're on truce mode right now" Yuri answered
"Yeah, I don't think I like that girl, so don't befriend her" Yumi interjected
"She's not that bad Yumi, she's...." Yuri paused and thought for a bit, "I don't know what's going on with her but I think it's possible for us to be friends so I don't want to judge her"
Yumi rolled her eyes, "of course you won't, you're too nice now" she said, "but you have a point...okay, so when the time comes that you and her do become friends, pull her out of that sinkhole she's in and bring her to the light!" Yumi lifted her arms upwards, exaggerating her words
Yuri giggled at her sister's actions, "so are you some kind of prophet now or..?"
"I'm just making a point" Yumi defended, "and no, I'm perfectly happy being a call center agent, thank you very much!"
Tony watched on as the sisters laughed and interacted with each other, their mother might have left them when Yuri was a year old but they managed to make this family feel complete and he's thankful for that.
After dinner, Yuri went to her room to rest for a bit. She opened the door and looked around at her old room, the place she mostly spent her time alone and with her.
The cork board on the wall, beside her bed, are still filled with pictures of them together happily from the start of their friendship to them being a couple
Yuri approached the corkboard and took the photo that changed her life. It was a photo of herself, with long, black hair and another girl, same long hair but blonde. Both smiling happily, their long hair loosely braided with each other's, blonde hair intertwined with black. It was a great combination, kinda like light and darkness but with harmony....
It was summer, their last summer together before heading to college. Yuri and Kaley decided to spend it together, even if it's just them hanging out at each other's house
"Hey, I have something fun I want to try!" Kaley spoke as she laid next to Yuri in her bedroom
Yuri turned to her, "what is it?"
"let's braid our hair!" Kaley said as she sat
"What's fun about that?" Yuri asked, "and I don't know how to do braids"
"No, what I meant is let's braid our hair together and take a picture of it!" she said excitedly, "and don't worry, I'm going to braid it, just sit next to me, c'mon!"
Hesitantly, Yuri sat next to Kaley, she really can't say no to this girl. Kaley brushed her hair to her left shoulder and then brushed Yuri's hair to Yuri's right shoulder. Kaley then took Yuri and her hair and started braiding it. She braided their hair loosely so that they can still turn to each other
"I really don't see why you think this is fun" Yuri said as she stared ahead
"Well, because it's new and it's like we're connected..." Kaley spoke, "..I wanted to take a photo so I could bring it to college, we're going to be miles apart and I don't want us to drift apart Yuri"
"Hey...just because we're miles apart doesn't mean we'll drift apart. We have holidays and if I don't feel like attending a week's worth of classes, I could visit you at St. Jude's and hang out" Yuri turned slightly to Kaley and grinned
Kaley smirked and pulled on Yuri hair, "oh no you won't, Holidays are fine but on school days? nope. I'm going to lock my dorm room so you won't get in"
"Meanie!" Yuri stuck out her tongue and smiled as she stared at the girl she's been in love with for a year now
"Okay it's done!" Kaley announced, "Looks good, doesn't it?"
Yuri smiled as she looked at their braided hair, it does look good. Her attention then went to Kaley
"Kaley..." Yuri spoke
Kaley looked at her, "hm?"
Without an answer, Yuri leaned it and captured Kaley lips with hers and Kaley kissing back with the same passion, both taking in the softness and sweetness of their first kiss. A kiss, both of them had yearned for
They parted, opened their eyes and smiled at each other. No words needed, the feeling of complete bliss was enough for them to know what each other was feeling...it was love.
"Hey...I forgot to mention earlier..." Yuri said
"What is it?" Kaley asked with concern
Yuri leaned in closer and whispered into Kaley's ear "I got accepted at St. Jude's"
"Oh my gosh!" Kaley exclaimed, followed by an embrace that lead them to fall back on the bed with Kaley on top of Yuri, arms around each other
College year started and the two of them went to the same college, but now as girlfriends
But now...all of that are just memories...