The One

Plans

Two days after her electrifying experience with the wolf, her heart danced wildly with memories of that brief contact. For the first time, they had truly connected, not just gazing at each other from afar.

Now, on the fourth day of relentless dreams that haunted her sleep, she longed for that connection again. At first, she dismissed her feelings as mere imagination, but soon the memory replayed in her mind, sparking a restless anxiety. Her university work piled up, adding to her stress, and she felt increasingly hollow as if something essential had slipped away. It was as if her spirit were a vessel, empty and unanchored, leaving her mood brittle and irritable, haunted by the lack of the wolf's presence.

"I really hate this feeling. I feel so helpless in my own life. I miss those nights when I dreamt of that majestic wolf," she thought, cradling her head, lost in her thoughts.

Just then, her sister burst into the study room, shattering the silence. "Yo, sissy! How about a short vacation together?"

Karol looked up, bemused, shifting her position to rest her chin on her hands. "When? Where? And why the sudden urge?"

"Erm, I don't know! No specific place in mind. I just thought we could escape this concrete jungle," her sister replied with enthusiasm.

"Alright then, just the two of us, or are Mum and Dad tagging along?"

"Let's make it a family trip! How does that sound?" Sharon smiled warmly at her sister, who appeared like a zombie. After a brief pause, she slowly closed her laptop and replied, "Sure, why not? I could use some relaxation."

"Brilliant! I'll sort out our transport and hotels."

"Okay then, let's find somewhere good, but we should tell Mum and Dad about this tonight. They'll need time to prepare, especially Daddy, who will need to apply for leave."

Karol smiled, raising an eyebrow as she opened her laptop and began typing. Her sister nodded and left the study room, leaving the door ajar, prompting an exasperated sigh from her.

Later, at the dinner table, Sharon seized the moment to present her family trip idea. "Mum, Dad, how do you feel about a family trip with us?"

"When?" her parents asked, intrigued.

"On Mum's birthday, the 15th of August! It's been ages since we went on a spontaneous trip. Plus, Karol loathes celebrating her birthday—ideal timing for a getaway, don't you think?"

"Sure, why not?" Karol said, stuffing her mouth with food, her tone half-hearted.

Sharon chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So we'll go on the 15th of August and return on the 4th of September?"

"Yes!" Sharon laughed, her joy infectious. "We'll celebrate Mummy's birthday there! We all know you, Karol—you absolutely loathe the idea of celebrating your own birthday. So instead, why not explore somewhere new? At first, I thought we could do a two-week trip, flying out on the 15th and returning on both your birthdays, like a sandwich, but honestly, I bet we wouldn't have any fun that way. So why not make it three weeks?"

She let out a soft laugh at her own joke, which elicited a chuckle from their dad. Their mother giggled, shaking her head at their silliness. Karol watched them, shaking her head slightly, and with a small sigh said, "Tell me again why I belong to this family?"

The night concluded with the family wrapped in laughter, enjoying their time together before drifting off to their respective rooms.

A few minutes later, Karol decided she wanted to join her sister and headed to Sharon's room, knocking lightly before entering.

"Sissy, it's me. Can I come in?"

"Come in!" Sharon called, glancing up from her phone.

"What are you up to?"

"Searching for places for us to visit on our three-week trip," Sharon said, her fingers tapping rapidly.

"Then let me help you find a good spot!" Karol replied eagerly, snatching Sharon's iPad from her bedside.

"How's your MBA going? Harder than you expected?" Sharon asked, her eyes focused on the glow of her screen.

"Not really! I mean, I know the basics like the back of my hand, and it's almost just like my job," Karol said, her voice brightening. "But compared to my other studies? Yeah, definitely a bit trickier. If I hadn't taken that year off, I would've finished my MBA at 23, not 24."

"Baby girl, we all know you needed that year off. Don't be too hard on yourself," Sharon said, her tone soothing.

"Hmm," Karol replied, her gaze drifting away, sensing the distance in the room.

Sharon turned to her, meeting her sister's eyes with a bored, playful expression. "What?! Is there something on my face?"

"Yes, there is. Your ugliness!" Sharon laughed at her own joke, prompting her sister to retaliate with a pillow smack to her face.

"You're four years older than me but still act like a kid!" Karol exclaimed, giggling as she pelted Sharon with the pillow.

"Okay, okay! Peace?" Sharon squeaked, trying to shield herself.

"Peace," Karol grinned, finally stopping her attack.

Sharon adjusted her pillows, patting the side of the bed. "Let's sleep now; I need to wake up early and you've got university too."

"Okay, let's sleep now. Goodnight, sissy. Love you."

"Goodnight, baby girl. Love you too."