"Happy birthday," the elder greeted, smiling ever so softly at her younger sister. "Juliet, do you like your cake?" She asked.
"Idiot, I'm blind." She deadpanned, furrowing her brows and shaking her head.
Eleanor chuckled, "I know."
Six years have passed since the incident. Unfortunately, Eleanor and Juliet's parents suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead on arrival, making the sibling the sole survivors of the accident. The pair were lucky enough that their distant relatives were willing to send them money but none were willing to take them in. So, they lived independently.
Of course, it wasn't easy. Eleanor was the eldest and the one who endured less severe injuries and being the eldest, she took the responsibility for her younger sister who had gone blind after the crash. Though, as they grew older, the amount of money being sent has decreased. And by the time Eleanor turned 18, more and more responsibilities weighed her shoulders. She struggled to find a job, worrying for her sister and lack of experience. Thankfully, an acquaintance offered her a job as a waitress in the small family restaurant they operate. And ever since then, news has been spread throughout the entire town that " 'Snow white' was working in a family restaurant named, chill and eat."
Everyone showered the maiden with praise and admiration. 'She was breathtakingly beautiful!' they exclaimed. Adoring her skin that was porcelain white, suiting the flush of red apples on her cheeks and the bloody scarlet of her lips, her eyes had a dull glow but they were enchanting, alluring even, a beautiful shade of red whilst her lashes were long and naturally curled with a mole resting just underneath her right eye. She was quite tall too. 5'7 in height, body slender but curvy with long wavy black hair that reached above her waist. She was like a goddess to some, the definition of perfect.
Though, Eleanor hates the word perfect just as much as she hates attention. Eleanor never enjoyed being in the spotlight. She dislikes it when people would gaze at her for too long or when she felt as if they were talking about her. Why? Because Eleanor felt pressured. The maiden hated it when they assumed she was a flawless pure soul, when she is not. Rumours, assumptions, being the talk of town, attention. She despised it.
Though, that's where her younger sister differs. Juliet too was an attractive girl. Like Eleanor, Juliet was very popular. To be frank, she was more popular than the elder because of her outgoing personality and bright demeanor, she drew in the attention of many. Juliet had the same milky-white complexion, she once had beaming ocean blue eyes, short black hair that caved in on her blossoming cheeks, framing her features perfectly. Her appearance was rather cute and refreshing. Unlike Eleanor, Juliet adored the attention she was given. She loves being the apple of everyone's eye.
"Is it okay if I have a little smoke?" Eleanor asked, fetching her lighter and cigarette stick. Glancing at Juliet from the side of her eyes, waiting for a response. That is one of Eleanor's imerfection. Being too weak and using dirty tricks to solve problems.
Juliet shrugs. "You smoke all the time now, so I don't really care." Lifting a hand and gently tapping the strawberry that neatly adorned the top of her cake. "Strawberry shortcake?" She guessed and earned a simple 'yeah.' From the other.
Silence then occurred after their short exchange, only the soft puffs of smoke and the faint munching of food were heard.
"Ah, by the way," The elder muttered, blinking a few before grinning, her once tensed shoulders relaxing as she puts out the cigar. She then turns to Juliet who rose a brow, urging her to continue.
"Yeah?" She responds before shoving another spoon full of cake in her mouth.
"I got you a gift." She began and immediately, Juliet's face brightened with excitement.
"What is it?" She smiled in anticipation.
"A book." Juliet's smile dropped. An expression of utter confusion and disappointment wrinkling her features.
"Eleanor...I literally can't see. How do you expect me to read?" She sassed, placing the fork down and crossing her arms.
Fully aware that the birthday girl could not see her actions, the elder still held the book. Proudly displaying the item in front of her with an easy grin. "I know." She answered which caused Juliet's face to morph into a more perplexed expression.
"If you know, why did you buy a book, dumbass?"
Eleanor frowned. "Hey! be grateful I even bought you a gift, blind ass bitch."
Juliet gasps. "I take full offense to your words! And who said I wasn't grateful? I am! It's just, who would buy a blind person a book?"
"Me." She replied without hesitation.
"Yeah....you." The younger agreed, nodding her head.
"Don't make it sound like I'm dumb. I have my reasons." Said Eleanor, grabbing Juliet's spoon and taking a bite out of her slice of the cake.
"Yeah, your reasons were probably forgetting that I was blind." She retorts, patting the surface of the table to find her spoon.
"It was not." Eleanor disagrees, handing the spoon to her sister.
"Yeah, right- did you just eat a part of my slice?"
With a whistle, the ends of Eleanor's lips elevated into a smirk. "It's amazing how you could still notice that. But anyway, I bought the book because I wanted to read you stories before bed. Like how we used to, remember?"
For a moment, Juliet paused. A parcel of memories unlocked. She crooked a smile, swiftly recalling "Pfft. What a lame reason."
Eleanor puffed her cheeks." I think it's pretty cool and wholesome!" She defended herself.
"You're such a dork, oh my God." Juliet groaned.
"But, you love this dork of a sister!" Eleanor exclaimed, throwing her arms around the younger's petite frame and bathing her cheeks with feathery kisses. Startled, Juliet yelped and tensed, wriggling her figure in an attempt to escape from the arms of her doting sister.
"Eww! Get off me! I swear, I'll stab you with this fork." She complained, nevertheless, she still had a small smile on her face.
"Alright, alright." Eleanor giggled, returning to her original position.
"So, what's the title of the novel?" She asked whilst wiping her cheek.
"Oh, it's the 'maiden and her seven madly in love male leads.' " Again, an awkward silence arose.
"What kind of title-"
"Just leave it, Juliet. What's important is the content."