Perfectly Imperfect 1

87- I, Elle Kayla Thomas, Am All Grown Up Now

KAYLA:

Ding dong

"THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE HERE!!!" Sam squealed, ripping the dress she had been trying on off her head. Grinning excitedly, she grabbed my hand and, laughing, the both of us charged to the door of our studio apartment that we had rented especially for this occasion, where we could hear muffled voices coming from the other side.

Sam reached the door before me. Breathlessly, she unlocked the latch with fumbling fingers- and was almost thrown back by the screams and laughter that exploded the moment the door swung open.

"SAMKAYHONEYGOODOHMYSOLONGBEAUTIFULELLEBEARPRESENTSHUG"

I felt myself being smothered by kisses and hugs, and beside me, judging from Sam's lack of speech, I guessed that she, too, was being dished the same treatment. Giggling and laughing, I let myself be succumbed to near-suffocation, before I finally stepped back to study my family.

My dad were beaming at me. Since I had graduated from high school, the number of white hairs on his head had increased exponentially, but apart from that, he was the same old dad. Mum was as elegant as ever, but with a few more crow's feet around her eyes. Emma, on the other hand, had absolutely blossomed. She had lost her baby fat, and at 12 years old, she was already well on her way to become a heart breaker.

"Wait, where's Ivan?" I asked, confused.

Emma grinned and pointed her finger to Sam. I turned around, just in time to see Ivan and Sam share a tender kiss.

"Hem hem," I said, narrowing my eyes. 

Ivan and Sam sprang apart, and Ivan looked guilty.

"I don't believe you! You haven't seen me for three months, yet you chose your girlfriend over your sister?"

Ivan looked abashed, then, grinning suddenly, he walked towards me and pulled me into a hug.

"It's so good to see you, Kayla," he murmured, as I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Sure have a funny way of showing it. You'd better have something good for me in those luggages of yours!"

I peered around him, frowning at the number of suitcases and boxes that were blocking the doorway.

"Uhm, you guys do realize that you'll only be here for like, one week, right?" I asked, as Emma pulled up her keyboard bag. "And after graduation, you guys promised to help me lug my stuff back, remember?"

Dad grinned, taking off his jacket.

"Honey, trust me, we only have one bag each. Except for Ivan, of course. He insisted on moving out his stuff from his house all the way to here. Ah, Sam! It's so good to see you!"

I turned an accusing eye to Ivan, who raised his hands in defeat.