"Xiaomin, why not quit working on that cafe? You're in your final year of studies. You're already too busy with your coursework and you still have to go to your part time job. You don't even have time to go on a date anymore!" Jienna scolded her during breakfast.
Charmaine raised a brow and the corners of her lips curled up. "You know Jienna, after giving birth to Luke, you suddenly transformed from a sister to a mother. You nag a lot more than mom, you know!" she joked.
"Oh! That's because you won't grow up! You're already twenty one you know!" she replied.
Jienna chuckled. "Yes. I'm only twenty-one while you're twenty-three and still single." Charmaine argued back.
Jienna paused. She looked at Charmaine with troubled eyes and immediately, Charmaine realized her fault. Love and relationships has always been a taboo topic between them since they used to like the same person, but she just have to bring it up right now.
"I'm sorry Jienna... I..."
"Xiaomin... are you still in love with Leo?" she asked all of a sudden. Charmaine was stunned but just lowered her eyes and didn't answer. She knew the truth would only hurt her sister even more. "Well, what am I doing asking you something so obvious. You refused to date anyone this past few years, it's because you still like him, right?"
Charmaine glanced at Jienna's face. She didn't look angry, but sure looked sad. "I've already given up on him." Charmaine replied.
Jienna sighed then reached out and held her sister's hand on the table. "It's my fault that you weren't together right now. I'm sorry.... I've long accepted that this is your destiny and not mine... Although I do wish that you can find someone better than Leo. Someone who can love you more."
Yes. She wished from the bottom of her heart for Charmaine to someday find someone a lot better than Leo. Someone to love her for who she is inside and not for the power that she's to possess. But everyone knew it was next to impossible. Charmaine's fate was pre-determined by the clan elders a long time ago. No matter how long Charmaine hide from Leo, the truth was that they have a marriage contract and that he will come to take her back someday.
Charmaine stared at Jienna's face. Somehow, she seemed to be acting strange. "What are you saying? Don't you want to reunite with Leo anymore? Don't you want Luke to meet his father?" She has always thought Jienna will come home with Luke one day and the boy will have a whole family at last. Jienna too, didn't date anyone all these years. She thought she's still in love with Leo.
Jienna smiled. "I won't be going back... ever. You will have to bring Luke home yourself... take him to meet his grandparents...and introduce him to his dad. But you can only do that after I'm dead." she said with a sarcastic smile.
Charmaine frowned and stood up."You're crazy. I'm going to school now. I'll be heading out first." she said before leaving the table. Jienna was left seated there, staring in space. That was just a joke, but it might just come true in the near future.
Charmaine kissed Luke goodbye when she saw him playing in the living room before leaving the house. Why was Jienna suddenly talking about death? She won't be dying anytime soon, right? In her premonition, Jienna died when she was twenty one years old. But the month was June and that was four months ago. The time she's supposed to die has already passed!
Jienna was twenty-three by then and her death was an accident. They were arguing about something and Jienna started assaulting her. They were in the Ji mansion's roof terrace and while they were fighting, Charmaine accidentally pushed Jienna to her death. Luke was there when it happened. It was disturbing... She blamed herself for her death for the next few years until she herself decided to end her suffering the through the same way. Life... it was what she owed her and so she paid it back with her own.
Charmaine clenched her chest. No. Jienna is not gonna die. She has done a lot to change their fate. Those dreams will not be realized...
***
"Mama... Look. Aunt Min." Luke told Jienna as he approached her. She was in the living room, checking something on her laptop when she saw Luke coming out of Charmaine's room. In his hand was a framed photo of a couple surrounded by the purple hue of Wisteria flowers.
Jienna smiled. She put down her laptop and picked up Luke. She then put him on her lap. "Yes. That's auntie. And that man beside her is your dad." she said pointing at the stoic man standing beside Charmaine in the picture.
Luke stared at the man in the photo for a while. He was so focused that Jienna wondered what's going on in the little boy's mind. "Dad..." he mumbled.
"Yes. Your dad. His name is Leo." she said. "Do you want to meet your dad?"
The boy didn't answer and just stared at the picture quietly. She gathered he must be too young to understand things. "Luke... listen."
Luke finally turned to Jienna. He tilted his head and waited for what she has to say. "You know... One day, mama might have to leave you. I will go to a far away place and I can't take you with me. If that day comes, Aunt Minmin will take care of you in my place. She will be your new mother."
For a while, Luke just stared at her without blinking. Then she saw him frown. "Where are you going?" he asked.
Jienna opened her mouth but couldn't think of words to explain death, so she gave up and just smiled. Luke saw that and looked away. "You won't come back?" he then asked.
Jienna shook her head. "I was your mama since you were born. But I can't be your mama forever. When I'm gone, Aunt Min will be your new mama. And you must tell her to take you to your Papa." she carefully explained.
Luke didn't say a word. He just fixed his eyes on his mother's face while hugging the photo of his aunt. He neither nod nor shook his head. Perhaps he's just too young to understand her mother's words.