There was no way of knowing when he would explode and cause trouble for them all. "I will. I don't understand why he can't study in Milton when you're both there to look after him."
"It's because he's worried about you and wants to make sure that you're fine," her mother answered her instead. "He's a boy, Marina. He can look after you until Mr. Right comes along."
"Yes, Mum." Evonne kissed her mother and father, then closed the door as they departed. She sighed heavily, leaning against the door, glad everyone had left. But as soon as the door was closed, both Rina and Rosa rushed to her side.
"Explain!" was all Rosa said. Evonne knew immediately what Rosa was referring to, but she didn't want to elaborate on her dilemma tonight.
Tonight she just wanted to drown in self-pity, maybe do something bad, like drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice without even waiting thirty minutes to brush her teeth, or better yet, flag the whole brushing her teeth altogether so they would rot away in that acidic environment in her mouth.
"I…" she began but then choked on her word. "I'm going to get some tissue." Rosa sighed, patting her back. "I have a feeling we're going to cry over this." Rosa jumped from the couch, motioning for Rina to follow.
All alone now, Evonne brooded in self-pity. What could she say when the others came back? That she was scared midnight would strike in two hours and when she woke the next morning she'd have white hair and wrinkly skin, with no one beside her but a walking cane as her only companion.
"Cuz," a deep voice said from behind her, startling Evonne out of her thoughts. Evonne turned around and saw her cousin James Alexander, the subject of her earlier conversation with her parents. She smiled, seeing her favorite young cousin, all dirty brown hair and dimples.
James Alexander was her cousin on her father's side. She didn't have any relatives on her mother's side, as they did not survive during the war. Her mother was the only one that had made it alive. She lived in the Khao camp for many years before meeting her father.
James Alexander had full-on typical European-Kiwi features, fair skin, with a few sprinkled freckles dotted on his nose and cheeks; while she had the typical Asian features in her genes, making her traits stand out more than her other cousins, with thick black hair and fair porcelain skin.
When the two were seen out and about together, no one would even believe they were related. "Happy birthday, you." He hugged her from behind, almost strangling her neck in the process.
"And I'm not going to congratulate you for turning thirty, but I'm gonna get some of that cake on the table over there." He laughed cheekily, eyeing his favorite white chocolate cake. " James, you rascal." She swatted his hand and stood up, facing him.