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the night of the grand opening


Olivia
Friday

Olivia watched as Charlie slipped away from Star's side, a prudent smile playing on his lips as he began mingling with the other guests. Charlie was always the social butterfly, effortlessly charming everyone in his path. Olivia admired that about him, even if she sometimes felt overshadowed by her older brother's effortless charisma - by everyone's effortless charisma. 

To her left, Eddie stood alone at the bar, scrolling through his phone. Olivia's face lit up with joy - the long-awaited reunion after spending weeks apart from her beloved brother was unbearable, and now that he was here, she couldn't help but salvage the moment. Eddie had been in Singapore for a month, working on an internship as part of his university's business program. He'd mentioned it briefly to Olivia, but there had been something unusual about the way he spoke—like he was holding something back, something that noticeably bothered him. 

It was a relief to see Eddie back home, but Olivia couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong. Eddie had always been the reserved one, rarely sharing his true feelings, especially when something was troubling him. Olivia made a mental note to corner him later and ask him what was really going on.

Her eyes drifted across the room to where their mother sat at a table with a few close friends. She seemed relaxed, but Olivia knew better. Ma always put on a brave face in public, no matter the discomfort she felt. Pa was absent, detained at home with a last-minute business meeting. Olivia was disappointed by her father's absence—if anything, she had hoped to tell him about her future plans after University.

And then, through the crowd, Olivia spotted Kita and Nino. She immediately made an effort to grab their attention, weaving through the swarm of people, excusing herself repeatedly as she pushed forward. "Kita! Nino!" she called out, her voice filled with excitement. 

Her two brothers turned, their initial confusion melting into bright smiles. Olivia embraced them both, holding them at arm's length as she took them in. It had been a while since she'd seen Nino, especially. Now married with a child on the way, Nino had been busy with his own life, rarely visiting the family home. Yet, despite the time apart, there was a warmth in his eyes that Olivia hadn't seen in a long time.

Kita, on the other hand, hadn't changed a bit. Boarding school hadn't depleted his mischievous spirit, and he still flashed that same boyish grin that could charm anyone. But as Olivia looked closer, she noticed something different in Kita's eyes—an uncertainty that hadn't been there before.

However, it was nothing compared to how he seemed last year.

"When did you get back?" she asked, giving Kita a light punch on the arm.

"A few hours ago," Kita replied, grinning. "I got out of there just in time, thank God."

"Have you guys talked to Akira," she asked, her gaze shifting between Nino and Kita. It felt good to have them here, even if just for the night. She knew Akira would be thrilled to see them - wherever he was.  

"No, I haven't seen him anywhere," Kita replied. 

Nino patted her on the shoulder, his usual stern expression softened. "Let us hope he's not behind the bar drinking," he teased with a sly grin. "Excuse me," he said, turning on his heel to rejoin his wife, Anna. She stood a few metres away, her hands resting protectively on her pregnant belly.

Nino's remark did not sit comfortably with Olivia. She shifted uneasily, her mind already racing with the possibility. Just then, Kita's voice interrupted her thoughts. 

"God, he can't leave her alone for a minute, can he?" Kita joked, nodding towards Nino and Anna. They stood arm in arm, chatting in a circle with older guests, whose faces Olivia floundered to recall. 

She turned back to Kita, who seemed to be lost in thought. "One day, you'll understand when you have a wife of your own," she teased, though there was an edge to her voice.

Kita's smile faltered, and he shifted uncomfortably, biting his lip as he glanced around the room. Then, leaning in close, he whispered, "What if I already do?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "What?" Her voice came out louder than intended, attracting a few curious glances from nearby guests. She quickly offered an apologetic smile to them before turning back to Kita, her emotions a flurry of confusion, concern, and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Not like that," Kita said, patting Olivia's shoulder in an attempt to reassure her. "I mean, I know what it's like to want to be with someone all the time."

"So, you've got a girlfriend?" Olivia pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

Kita hesitated, his gaze dropping as he bit his lip again. Olivia couldn't quite understand - only a year had passed since...

She was about to answer when the shrill wail of an ambulance siren cut through the air, halting the words in her throat. The noise reverberated inside the restaurant, forcing conversations to pause as heads turned toward the windows. As the ambulance sped past the restaurant, its neon red and blue lights flashing in the dark, Olivia felt her blood run cold, but decided to let the moment pass. 

"That's great news, Kita," she said, grinning. "You've got to bring her home one of these days."

Kita shrugged, still looking uneasy. "It's not official yet."

"Well, make it official before someone else snatches her up," she advised, but she could tell Kita wasn't as relaxed as he pretended to be. There was something deeper going on, but before Olivia could press further, he spoke up.

"Come on, let's go say hi to Ma," Kita suggested, nodding toward their mother's table across the room.

As they approached, Olivia noticed Ma on the phone, her face unusually blank. One of her friends held her hand, while the others watched with concern. Kita hesitated, looking up at his sister with a raised eyebrow, but the moment came to an abrupt halt when Ma suddenly screamed, a sound that pierced through the lively chatter and music, instantaneously silencing the room.

Her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor as her anguished cries filled the space. A sense of dread crept into the air. Olivia's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as he tried to process what had just happened. What could have possibly triggered such a hysterical reaction from their mother?

Whatever it was, she knew it was only the beginning of a night that was about to take a very dark turn.

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