At the dinner table, the lively energy of the family filled the room. Ciize, ever the chatterbox, was sitting beside her beloved Phi Jelly. She was talking non-stop, recounting every little detail about her day at school, her friends, and even the funny faces her teacher made during lessons.
"...and then, the teacher said, 'No, Ciize, you can't bring a turtle to school!' Can you believe it, Phi Jelly?" Ciize giggled, looking up at her older sister.
Jelly, who was patiently feeding her little sister spoonfuls of rice, smiled softly. “I think your teacher might have a point, Ciize. A turtle doesn’t really belong in a classroom.”
Ciize pouted dramatically but quickly broke into a grin as Jelly handed her another bite. “But it would’ve been so much fun!”
Across the table, Marc and Daisy were in the middle of their usual banter. Marc, always the teasing older brother, was poking fun at Daisy for her endless appetite.
“So, Daisy,” Marc said with a playful smirk, “do you ever get full, or is eating just your hobby now?”
Daisy narrowed her eyes at him, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed. She swallowed quickly and shot back, “At least I don’t steal other people’s food like a thief!”
Marc laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction. “You’ve got to be quicker, Daisy. Survival of the fittest!”
“Hia Marc!” Daisy yelled, waving her spoon at him. “One day, I’m going to get revenge!”
Fang and Tan watched the exchange from their seats at the head of the table, smiling at the kids’ antics. They were deep in their own conversation about business but couldn’t help chuckling occasionally as they overheard bits of the lively chatter.
“I think the client will go for the proposal,” Fang said, cutting into his meal. “But we need to make sure the presentation next week is airtight. I’ll handle the numbers, and you can focus on the creative side.”
Tan nodded, his tone relaxed yet focused. “That works. I’ll finalize the designs tomorrow and run them by you in the evening.”
Their quiet discussion was occasionally interrupted by the kids’ laughter and playful arguments. Despite the different conversations happening all at once, the warmth of the family’s bond was unmistakable.
As dinner went on, the noise, laughter, and teasing filled the house with a sense of comfort that made every moment special.
At the dinner table, the unique bonds between the siblings were on full display. Daisy and Marc, as usual, were locked in their playful teasing.
“Hia Marc, you better watch your back!” Daisy warned, pointing her fork at him dramatically. “I’m going to get even for earlier!”
Marc leaned back in his chair, laughing. “Oh, Daisy, you couldn’t catch me even if you tried. Maybe you should stick to chasing snacks instead!”
Daisy huffed but couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. Their banter was constant, but it was always in good fun, and everyone at the table knew how close they were beneath the teasing.
Meanwhile, Ciize sat beside her Phi Jelly, her endless chatter filling the quieter moments of the meal. Jelly listened attentively, nodding and offering the occasional soft smile as Ciize talked about everything from school to her favorite stories.
“And then my friend said I couldn’t draw a unicorn with wings because they’re not real,” Ciize said, her voice a mix of indignation and amusement. “But I told her I could draw anything I want!”
Jelly chuckled, gently wiping a speck of rice from Ciize’s cheek. “Of course you can, Ciize. Your unicorns can have wings, rainbows, or whatever you want.”
