Emily and Samuel ✔️

FIFTEEN

You loved me and I froze in time

I laid back on the headboard with my laptop propped on my knees as I sang along with the platinum-haired Youtuber. Between all the YouTube covers that I've come across for this song, I can't say that there was a better version of it – other than the original of course.

Looking across the thousands of tabs I have opened, I looked for the National University of Singapore's tab and clicked it. Although I still had a few more months before I send in my application, it wouldn't do any harm to research the different courses that I can apply for when the time comes.

Hungry for that flesh of mine

Should I go for a double major? A double degree? A joint degree? Or maybe I could take a break this time round and just do a normal degree? But what will I do? Business? Law? Science? Medicine? But do I really want these courses?

Exhaling loudly, I closed all the tabs regarding the universities in Singapore and switched over to the Buzzfeed webpage.

But I can't compete with the she-wolf who has brought me to my knees

Just as I was halfway through the article on the 16 creepy things that happened in 2016, the door to my room burst open and Sandra stood there in a pink polka dot dress, a pair of yellow shoes and her brown hair tied into two buns on the top of her head.

Before I could question who took the time to dress her like Disney characters every day or even why she was standing there, she ran over to me and jumped up on the bed, throwing herself on me.

What do you see in those little eyes?

"Emily! You're ok!" She shouted, throwing her arms around my neck as she positioned herself on my stomach.

Switching off my laptop, I pushed it under my pillow but before I could return the hug, she was taken away from me and I was greeted by Samuel who was standing by the bed in a maroon hoodie and jeans, holding a pouting Sandra. "You can't just jump on her Sandy. She's injured."

"Hey, it's ok. It's ok, really. I'm ok." Standing up from the bed, I moved over to the siblings and Sandra took the opportunity to jump into my arms. "Hey you. Aren't you a pretty Minnie Mouse."

I was rewarded by her loud giggles as she planted a big open-mouthed kiss on my cheek. "We have a surprise for you! Everyone is – "

It was like déjà vu again as Samuel once again swooped in and took her out of my arms with his hand over her mouth. He turned around with her in his arms so that he was showing me their backs. Not sure what to make of this, I stood there with a dumbfounded look hoping they would turn around soon so I don't feel as awkward in my own room.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for them to turn back but it didn't ease my confusion as they stood there with a sombre look.

Samuel placed his sister down and it was like the life was drained out of her as she walked over to me in an almost robotic way. She tugged on my hand and led me out of the door as I watched Samuel picked up my jacket from the floor.

Puzzled couldn't even begin to cover how I was feeling with their change of attitude. When I realized she was leading me to the backyard, I paused my footsteps in perplexity. As though sensing my hesitancy, Samuel – who was walking behind me silently the whole time – placed his hand on my back and pushed me forward into the backyard.

"Surprise!" The minute I set foot in the backyard, party poppers were popped and confetti rained down on me.

After the shock from the sound that emanated from the party poppers wore off, I allowed my eyes to take in everyone who was standing in front of me with trays of food and drinks. From my parents, my grandmother, granny Theodora and Mr and Mrs Smith who walked out from behind the trees to Grayson and the floor ball team who ran over from the Smith's backyard to Noah who was hanging upside down on the roof holding onto the party poppers and lastly to the Smith siblings who walked up to me from behind with a bouquet of peonies.