Beyond Boundaries

Chapter Four

  This chapter is dedicated to my namesake, Kosi. Thank you for always hyping me up and being such a good example to emulate.

~CHRISTIAN~

  Chloe wasn't exaggerating when she said everyone was coming back, I realize when I walk past the living room after having woken up incredibly late. It was at least three o'clock in the afternoon already.

  The earful I had gotten from my mother the previous night may have had some part to play in that.

  "Well, look who it is" I retrace my steps when my cousin Drew dramatically announces, making a big show of walking over to me and throwing his hand over my shoulder.

  The gesture almost makes me laugh because while Drew is a tall guy for his age, I'm taller by a few inches so now I'm forced to bend so he doesn't hang by an awkward angle.

  I feel all ten pair of eyes on me at the same time and I wave, sporting a smile on my face "You guys are early"

  "And you're alive" Armani, another one of my cousins and Drew's brother counters when I finally free myself from Drew's grip and walk over to him.

  I shrug "When did you get back?" I plop down on the couch next to him. Armani had just graduated with honors and had earlier flown out to Switzerland for his Masters so I definitely wasn't expecting to see him this soon.

  "A week ago" He answers "You'd know that if you bothered with your phone or the group chat"

  "Well, you guys don't really make it fun to be in" That was a lie. I made sure to steer clear of the group chat and never really bothered with it ever since I archived it. I haven't felt very eager to bond with family for a while now.

  Before I can say more, I'm hit by a pillow and I look up to see my cousin Jasmine glaring at me from where she's sat beside my other cousins and I laugh before going to sit beside her "Someone's moody" I comment, nudging her with my elbow.

  "Maybe because you're a big liar" She says, folding her hands and making a face. Jasmine was my uncle Arthur's last child and second daughter. She didn't get to know much about her father as she was just six when he passed so when I could, I told her stories about her father and tried to act like a figure she could look up to.

  "Liar?" I repeat slightly confused "What did I lie about?" I ask after racking my head for all possible answers and coming up with none.

  "You told me you'd come see me last year" She accused, poking my chest with her middle finger "You said even if you didn't want to, you'll come because of me but you didn't"

  "Ohh, that's what you're mad about" She glares at me " School was a real pain in the ass so I couldn't, I'm sorry" I lie effortlessly, giving myself a mental pat on the back for it.

  " Ugh, you're always so busy with school" She mumbles " Maybe that's why you don't have a girlfriend"

  I'm taken aback by her statement as the image of a certain someone flashes before my eyes. It takes me a minute to recover and reply her "And what would you know about having a girlfriend?"

  "I know enough to know you don't have one" She retorts " Maybe you'd end up marrying that course of yours"

  I smile at that, the thought of ending up with a course as horrid as architecture seeming ridiculous to me before my gaze falls on my brother and I immediately recall our little tiff from last night. He hadn't said a word to me since then but I wasn't in the least bothered.