Chapter 18 - Loose Ends

The last few months before going to the states was hectic. Not because I was preparing for my departure, but because I was planning some things before I leave.

First, my parents. When I announced that I wanted to study in the states, my mother cried for days. My father, although supportive, still couldn't hide the loneliness in his eyes. And the twins avoided me, not talking to me for weeks before they realized that I'd be gone for four years and only be home during Christmas and breaks. They cried and insisted on sleeping in my room up to the day of my departure.

Now that we could all support ourselves, my mother somehow lost her purpose. She and my father managed our family business. But since our maternal cousins operated even that, they didn't have anything to do most of the time.

Thus, I bought a building near our store, renovated it a little, and turned it into a vocational school. I invited prominent chefs around the world to teach, and have my mother managed it. I also urged her to enroll, so she has a degree in the thing she was passionate about.

It worked like a charm.

Each day, my mother busied and enjoyed herself in managing, sending invites, and advertising her new school.

Second, my father was a hardworking person by heart. If he had nothing to do, he disassembled and assembled parts of his cars. Although my father often visited the store to help, he mostly spent his time on our farm and ranch.

In a piece of land beside our house, I asked an architect to design a toy store and gallery. I plan for my father to busy himself with big remote control toys like cars, planes, tanks, boats that used real mini parts.

Besides farming and playing with big toys, my father also loves to paint. The gallery would exhibit and sell his works. It had been so long since my father last held a paintbrush. It was high time he gets in touch with his hobbies.

Third, the twins. It was a bit tricky on what could make the twins happy. It was a good thing that they were distracted by their investments at the moment.

"Sis will just be on the other side of the globe, waiting for you two. When you finish high school, you can be together with me," I said to them when we were lying on the bed in my bedroom. It was dark and cold, and not even a shadow was present.

Lance wrapped me in his little arms. "Sis, you have to wait for us. Sis is hopeless. We have to be together so you won't get sad."

I stifled a laugh and stroked his hair. "That's right, so be good and do your best in school so you can join me in the states after you graduate."

"Mmmm . . . ," Lance mumbled before sleep overtook him.

I caressed his hair and was about to stroke Lawrence's hair when the latter said, just above a whisper, "Sis, we can go with you in the states. We can start our high school there. We can migrate."

I stared at him, discerning his expression in the dark.

"Lawrence, mother, and father grew up here. Their life revolves here. It's difficult for them just to pack and leave. If you come with me, who will take care of mother and father when all of us are gone?" I said in a soft voice.

". . ."

Lawrence didn't speak for a short time.

"Sis . . . Are you going to be alright by yourself?" Lawrence sniffled and asked with an innocent tone enough to melt my heart.

I smiled and caressed his cheek. "Your sis is strong now. Whoever bully me will regret it."

After much time reassuring him, he fell asleep with tears in his eyes. Eventually, I followed them to dreamland.

----

Meanwhile, in the master's bedroom.

Lean was engrossed chatting with someone on her computer.

"Have you gotten the papers ready? How many minutes will it take to get to Artem University coming from there?" Lean glanced at the papers in her hands and flicked her attention at the person on the computer screen.

"Not far, about fifteen to thirty minutes," a familiar voice replied.

"Then, we're all good. E-mail me the papers for signing."

"What signing?" a deep voice asked.

Gyagh!

A bolt of scream pushed thru Lean's throat as her body jolt in surprise. She turned to see her husband, Leon, standing at the door, looking at her with questioning eyes. Lean rose from her seat and hid the computer screen behind her.

"Nothing! You scared me," she said. "Do you want to take a bath? Or do you want to watch a movie . . . ?"

Leon approached her until he was standing just inches away from her.

She smiled her sweetest and brushed her hand over her husband's cheek. "Or . . . do you want . . . me?"

She looked at him with an affectionate expression while Leon closed his eyes and smiled at her –– he then grabbed her by both shoulders and shoved her aside.

Before she registered what was going on, her husband already took a glimpse on the computer screen and the pieces of papers on the table.

She gasped and ran, but he grabbed her by the collar.

"Y-you . . . ! YOU BOUGHT A HOUSE IN NEW HAVEN?!"