When Yuki and her brother arrived at their home, they were greeted with mouth-watering scents of all of their favorite dishes. Their mother had made a feast to welcome their arrival. Thus, without even putting away their things first, the siblings hurried to the dining table with the sole aim of wolfing down the palatable meal.
Mrs. Adlerian's eyes were moist as she looked between her children who ate as if they had not eaten in days. She was happy the two were back to their former selves, especially Yuki, whose eyes were now more animated than the previous days. Mrs. Adlerian hoped whatever the girl had gone through was a thing of their past now.
"Eat more vegetables, Yuki." Mrs. Adlerian brushed the back of her hand against her moist eyes, then put more salad on Yuki's plate.
"Thank you," Yuki expressed her gratitude politely with a warm smile playing on her pink lips.
Jacek smiled while watching the warmth that exuded from the mother-daughter pair. He was content, very content, with moments as simple as these in his little family. He prayed more days like these would characterize their family for a very long time.
But life was not that kind, was it?
After the meal, Yuki went to her room to change into a more comfortable attire. As she stood in the middle of her room changing, her mind was drawn to her opened window without any reason. As her room was on the second floor of their house, she never worried about anyone seeing her from outside, besides, the only thing in view outside her window was a large tree whose branches were so wide, it spread out as far as eyes could see.
Nonetheless, Yuki felt watched. She started to have that feeling back at Ait-Ard. She felt like a little rabbit out in a large forest known to possess numerous predators. It was not a pleasant feeling. Was she just being paranoid?
Yuki's brows creased. She held the blouse she had taken off against her chest firmly, then walked over to her window and pulled it together, shutting it tightly.
Yuki put on a silk chemise and tied her hair into a pony tail. She wiped her tan off and sat in her bed. Her wandering eyes fell on the unopened parcel her mother gifted her on her bedside table. Hesitantly, she picked up the parcel, slowly unwrapping it to unveil a fairly large box. Yuki opened the box to reveal a crepe pink fabric. The fabric, when she lifted it, was a dress. It was a stunning crepe-pink dress. She stood, walked to her full-length mirror and held the dress against her body, then swayed from side to side. The dress was beautiful, it matched her skin perfectly.
Yuki returned to pick the parcel within which she had initially seen a letter. She placed the dress on her bed and opened the letter. It read:
"To Yuki, my dearest daughter.
Happy birthday to you in advance. I love you greatly. I am so happy for your presence in my life, daughter of mine. I hope your birthday is a memorable one…
I was not sure what to gift you on your special day. While thinking about what you might want or need, I came across this beautiful dress in town. Immediately I laid eyes on it, I could only think of it on you. I know you may dislike the color or its modern sense, but I hope you hang it somewhere in your wardrobe, it will brighten up the gloom in there. Moreover, you are of age now, many gentlemen will venture to court you. I hope when that happens and you find among them one who makes your heart flutter, I will see you in this dress when you go for an outing with them. The sheer thought of such a sight brings tears to my eyes.
Happy birthday once more, love. I adore you. I wish you all the good things in life, you deserve it."
Yuki wore a broad smile after she read the letter. She folded it and placed it in her drawer, then she went to open her wardrobe. All there was to see, were grey upon greys, black and black, several shades of brown and no fair-colored clothes. Yuki chuckled when she remembered how her mother described her wardrobe in the letter. She parted the clothes and hanged between them the beautiful dress she received from her mother. Just as her mother predicted, the colorful dress brought life to her lifeless wardrobe.
Afterwards, Yuki joined her mother and brother in the living room to have a leisurely conversation. Echoes of laughter from the mother and siblings resonated throughout their house until the setting of the sun.
"The dress is lovely, thank you mother," Yuki whispered to Mrs. Adlerian amidst Jacek's jests. Mrs. Adlerian looked at the girl and smiled, "You are welcome, Yuki."
"But…" Yuki put on an innocent and naïve guise as she sheepishly fidgeted with the hem of her chemise.
"What is the matter, dear?" Mrs. Adlerian's concern was carved on her face and in her voice.
"Jacek said… he said he wouldn't allow me to be courted until I am twenty-two. It makes me worried that I would have outgrown the dress by then," Yuki spoke bashfully.
Mrs. Adlerian's mouth parted, her brows raised and her eyes opened widely. "What!?!" she exclaimed before looking from Yuki and glaring at her son.
Jacek, having no clue what had transpired between the mother and daughter, returned his mother's gaze with a puzzled one. However, as soon as he saw the mischievous grin on Yuki's face, he knew he was doomed.
Before Jacek could react, Mrs. Adlerian removed her slipper and threw it into his face. Jacek groaned and clutched his nose. "Mother!" he exclaimed painfully and rose.
Yuki was taken aback by her mother's violence, but that did not take away the satisfaction she felt upon seeing Jacek's offended expression. She hid her joy and feigned concern and innocence at the turn of events. "Mother, please calm down. Brother has my interest at heart, I am sure it is for my own good," Yuki said with sentiment.
Jacek looked at Yuki in confusion. He could not understand anything that was happening to him at that point. That imp! He glared at Yuki through his fingers as he still held his nose that felt like it would fall off the moment he let go.
"What interest!" Mrs. Adlerian grumbled. "Which woman waits until twenty-two to be courted. All the fine suitors would have been married by then!"
Jacek finally grasped the head and tail of what was transpiring. "Don't be ridiculous, mother, how could all potential suitors be married in four years." Jacek released his hand and inspected it for blood. When he looked away from his palm and towards his mother, he saw her other slipper flying into his face. Luckily, he dodged in time before the slipper reached him.
"Mother!" he yelled at her after regaining his footing.
"Shut your mouth! Do not even try to ruin the poor girl's life with your distorted ideas! She is a woman now; I will not have you leading her astray!" Mrs. Adlerian's face was red with rage.
"Oh please. You are being dramatic, mother. How is Yuki waiting till she is twenty-two, considered leading her astray? Besides, eighteen years is still too young for a girl to be courted."
"Most girls her age already have children, you clown!" Mrs. Adlerian fumed, her chest lifted and fell rapidly as she looked at her son.
Jacek shrug, a nonchalant look on his caramel face, "Most girls you said, Yuki isn't most girls; she is my sister. I will not allow for her to be courted till she is twenty-two, I say that on my authority as the man in this…"
Before Jacek could complete his statement, a vase came flying his way. He dodged, then stared at his fuming mother in shock. Did she really throw a vase at him? He wondered, still in disbelief.
Yuki silently snickered behind her mother upon witnessing how shook Jacek became after their mother's outburst. Served him right for thinking he could win an argument when their mother was his opponent.
"What did you say you were in this house again?" Mrs. Adlerian questioned her son provocatively while closing the distance between them.
Jacek took a step back every time his mother treaded forth. There was no way he was letting her get close to him, not when she had that deadly look in her eye. "Nothing…" he surrendered.
"And what was it about Yuki's courting age you spoke of?" Mrs. Adlerian continued to approach Jacek.
Jacek was quiet for a brief moment after his mother's question. "I said she can only be courted when she is twenty-two." He was definitely not backing down from that decision, not in a million years!
…
As Yuki strutted up the stairs, heading back to her room, a warm smile spread across her face, radiating with contentment. She exuded a sense of fulfillment, like a puzzle piece finally in place. If she died that day, she would die a happy girl, for she had witness her brother finally defeated.
When she reached the door of her room and opened it, a strong wind surged from her window, jolting her. When the wind calmed, Yuki steadied herself and stared at the open window with narrowed eyes. Did she not close it before?