Vol 1: Ch 27 - Family Reunion
After eating both El and Lyn voluntarily offer to wash the dishes meanwhile, the other family members are now seating on the couch and the sala set while waiting for the couple to have done washing the dishes. The kids are now clinging to Rei like glue. While waiting for the two, they talk and chat with the kids.
"Kids, your Auntie just finish eating and same all of you, you know."
"It's alright Mei"
"Ken, Ren come here with us and let your two cousins hug your Auntie first"
"We won't Dad, because it's like Auntie is going far away so let and allow us to hug her, okay?" Ren said while feeling something odd.
"Right, right it's weird and I also feel the same thing, it's like Auntie Rei is really going somewhere far away from us," Lynel said and the moment she's done what she said, her parents already done washing the dishes and they didn't let the family members realize their presence because they wait for Rei's reply. Meanwhile, Rei wondering and thinking that these two are really sensitive about this matter but sometimes oblivious enough if it's not about their family concerns but then Rei didn't show any expressions and signs at all.
"Ha, ha, I think it's because you've been away for us and you're just here for vacation right, Lynel and Ren?"
"We're not going back to J Country anymore, Rei," El said in a very serious tone.
"Me too Sis, we're not going back to T Country as of now." followed by Mei.
"See Auntie Rei, our family reunited again after 3 to 4 years," said Ren and Lynel in unison.
"Yeah and it's our first family reunion with Ken, Ren, Ellyn, and Lynel," said Rei in calming voice but the adults notice something's off with her but they can't point out what is it.
"Auntie Rei, how did you recognize us right away? Our matching dress then for Bro Ken and Bro Ren their matching polo shirt are very useless to you since you just guessed it at ease, you know" Lynel pout while remembering that Rei just guesses it without any difficulties at all.
"Ha, ha, you want to know Lynel?" the kids nodded and curious how their Auntie manage to recognize them right away.
"It simple look, Lynel you're wearing a cotton dress because your skin is sensitive while Ellyn wearing the original one. For Ken, the way you insert your polo shirt is very proper and you insert it carefully while Ren just inserts it as long as it's tucked in."
"That's all?" the kids asked in chorus and Rei nodded. "We were going to change and correct that hobbies of us and Auntie Rei well guess it again alright?"
"Go ahead and I will try" then the kids running to their parent's room and change right away.
Meanwhile, after the kids leave and out of sight, Rei facing to the family members of her and said in a very serious tone.
"Ma, Bro El, Mei, Bro En, and Lyn, I have something to tell all of you after making sure that the kids are already asleep."
"Eh, you don't want them (the kids) to hear it, Sis?"
"Seeing their reaction a while ago, I'm afraid that they can't accept it after hearing me you know"
"I understand you Rei but just tell us with the kids around and don't let the kids misunderstand you. It's best that they know the truth rather than to have lied them on purpose."
"But Ma, all of them are still young."
"I know Rei, but just let them know their parents are here, so you don't need to be a worrywart. Do you understand, Rei?
"Yes Ma"
Afterward, they heard the running steps from the stairs, Rei automatically standing and approach near the stairs and warn the kids.
"Kids, don't run in the stairs when getting down, okay?"
"Oops sorry Auntie Rei"
Meanwhile in the living room, while Rei busy talking with the kids, the adults become serious and talk in a very low voice that just enough for them to hear it.
"Ma, what do you think of Sis talking about?"
"I don't have any idea at all, Mei"
"Maybe something working abroad?" The brother and sister just guess jokingly but they didn't expect that they are really right about it.
"How come both of you think about that one El and Mei?" The two just smiling awkwardly.
"What if getting married, El?" got asked from his beloved wife, Lyn.
"How about having a boyfriend already and in a secret relationship but then Rei expecting a baby from him so it's not secret anymore because she's pregnant, My Mei?" got asked from her husband, En.
Both the brother and sister almost got speechless if they are still not used to it luckily they already their beloved partners so they don't show any reactions anymore and then all of them can't really point out what is it about but then both Sister and Brother have a feeling that their Sister is possibly thinking about working abroad but then cross it out because they know how Rei is yet they are still confused as if Rei is not Rei they know anymore, and while all the family members thinking deep they suddenly heard the laugh of the kids and Rei.
"Ha, ha, stop acting and acting like a dumb one Auntie because you already know who is who right?" said all of them in unison.
"But I don't really know, so just after I point out all your hobbies, all of you really change and correct it right away so I don't know who is who anymore"
"Then how about if you guess it wrong, you will have punishment Auntie Rei, okay?"
"Good, good, so what kind of punishment then?"
"Kiss Mr. Vin in front of us"
After hearing them, right away she's glaring at the adults whose seating in the living room calmly, and then Rei told them.
"All of you are still kids and young for that to see and to say that one. But what you mention about Mr. Vin is just my friend and nothing else, okay?"
"Really?" the eyes of the kids lift up and shining brightly after hearing it from their Auntie then when Rei nodded, they hugged her right away.
"Now, now, Auntie tell us who is who."
"Okay, okay I will tell so … (Rei pause on purpose then continue) from right to left, it's Ellyn, Ken, Ren, and Lynel, right?"
"Geez, how did you know Auntie Rei?" Ren asked curiously.
"Maybe it's because I'm already used with Mei, Bro En, Lyn, and Bro El's presence, so that's why I can tell who is who."
"Eh, so don't tell me that I have a presence like Dad, Auntie Rei?" Ken got the point after hearing his Auntie.
Ken realized and then his brother and cousins realized something at the same time.
"Me from Dad?" Ellyn
"Then Sis Ellyn, I have a presence like Mom?" Lynel
"So in other words, for me, I have a presence like Mom?" Ren
Hearing this sentence from their beloved kids both parents laugh and said it together.
"Kids, you just realize it now?" then all the kids pouting and nodded at the same time.
"Auntie Rei, Auntie Rei now we're here we can play every day now and then, right?"
After hearing it from the kids, Rei becomes gloomy all of a sudden and then changes her expression back before the kids notice it. Luckily, the kids didn't notice it because they were too excited on their own thinking about how they will spend and play with their Auntie, but the adults noticed it all and didn't escape from their sight because the moment the kids asking her that one, they already paying their attentions to her.
Rei becomes silent for a while when she hears that one from the kids but then changing the topic right away yet still enough for the kids to notice something's off with her.
"By the way kids, how's your life in J Country and T Country?"
As the oldest among them, Ken asks something to her though he already knows that they're also thinking the same thing.
"Auntie Rei is there something you've been hiding all along to us?"
Most of them gasp because this is the first time Ken asks his favorite Auntie in a very serious tone but both Mei and Rei know why.
"Ken / Bro Ken" they scold him except Mei and Rei.
"Sorry, Dad, Grandma, Uncle, and cousins but I know deep inside that Auntie Rei is hiding something from us, even Ren, Ellyn, and Lynel can feel it too, right?" The three nodded since they agreed with Ken while Ken continue "so Auntie Rei can you tell us what are you hiding from us?"
"Sis, I think it's time for you to tell us what have you've been hiding all along and share what you really want to tell us."
"Yeah, Rei. You're my daughter so I know your hiding something but I can't point out what is it, so can you tell it now?"
"Auntie Rei please tells us, please, okay?" Ren and Lynel ask pleadingly.