𝑀𝐴𝐺𝑀𝐴 | 𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒

𝟏𝟖 | 𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

・𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐀・

𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐎

"𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘'𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 in ten minutes, Reina. Say hi, and then go to your room."

The stern look on her mother's face was an expression Reina had grown accustomed to over the years. And if she wanted to avoid a lecture and slap across the face, she had to just bow her head and mutter a "Yes," which was exactly what she did.

"Tell them you have a school project to finish," her father, who was fixing his belt, added. "Lock your door, too. The boys might try to get in."

"Okay."

Reina walked into the living room and flopped onto the couch as she waited. She folded her hands and gazed down at the hardwood floor. A few years ago, she would've been upset with the fact that she wasn't allowed to have dinner with her extended family. Now, she was just used to it.

Tiny footsteps slapped against the wood as her brother raced toward her. He had a boxed lego set in his hands—probably something Star Wars-related, he had a million of those to finish.

"Reina!" he exclaimed, skidding to a stop in front of her. He held the box out—the Death Star—and grinned. "Wanna build this when Bryan and Johnny come?"

"Sorry, Henry, you guys will have to do it without me." She gave him a small smile. "I've got some work to do. I can build something with you tomorrow, though."

He frowned. "You always have work to do."

"School is hard," she chuckled, licking her thumb and wiping off the jam that had stained his chin. "Lots of work. You'll get to it one day."

Henry just sighed in return, and he placed the box on the coffee table.

"Henry!" their mother, still in the kitchen, called. "Come! I need to fix your hair."

He frowned, lightly bringing his hand to his hair. "My hair's fine!"

"Come, anyway!"

He still didn't listen, instead turning to Reina and gesturing to his hair. "Reina, is my hair okay?"

She leaned over and ruffled it, despite his immediate protests. Some of his hair stuck up for a moment, though it all just fell back into place. "Perfect."

"Mom!" Henry cupped his hands around his mouth. "Reina said it looks perfect!"

"Just come, Henry! You better not make me ask again!"

Henry grumbled under his breath. Still, he grabbed his lego box, tucked it under his arm, and trudged to the kitchen.

Reina glanced at the clock. If they came on time—which they usually did—there was about six minutes until they arrived.

What could she do for the rest of the night? She did have some homework left for her chemistry class, and there was also that English essay that she had to finish typing up. Then again, she wasn't really in the mood to do her homework, and wondered if she should instead grab one of the many books on her shelf that were waiting to be read.

When the doorbell rang a few minutes later, she got to her feet. Her father beat her to the door, and she heard the small shouts of Bryan and Johnny. She sighed.

When they were younger, Reina loved playing with the twins. They were cute, adored her, and giggled at just about anything. But now that they were nearing the age of twelve, they were at the troublemaking stage—and no one was safe from their pranks and attacks.