The sky has a bizarre mix of yellow and orange when we finally arrived at the house. We’ve help piled the boxes at the garage and heads to the living room to rest. It surely is tiring if you’re working on your own in the farm. I wonder how Juliet survived this every day. Juliet and Julius teamed up to cook for dinner while the rest of us just sit around in the sofa, busied ourselves looking at the old stock photos of the Ealdwine family.
“Tasha” Jasmine called.
“What?” I replied without looking at her- giving her the atmosphere that I don’t like to talk.
I smiled as I saw an old photo of baby Julius crying with a man who was wearing a big smile and a look that he was the one behind it. I found another picture with three year old Julius, together with an older boy and the same man on the first picture- who was holding a little girl whom I presumed was Jasmine, with big smiles pasted on their lips.
This man must be Victor, their father. And the older boy could be their brother, Joseph. I wonder what my family could be like. I wish I could remember.
“Can we talk Tasha?” Jasmine spoke again.
What does she wants? Wait, will she ask about me and Kernel? If she has a chance for Kernel? I looked at her. I’m not going to let you steal Kernel away from me.
“What for?” I saw at the corner of my eye Kernel motioned and fixed his eyes on the two of us.
“Outside.” Jasmine said. You have some guts, but I won’t backed out!
"Is that necessary? For you two to go outside?” Kernel said. Was he worried that we’ll fight? Stupid corn.
“I wanted to talk to her. Her only.” Jasmine said coldly.
Sometimes, Jasmine surprises me on how good she acts that she hates Kernel, but I’m no fool. We may be friends but no one steals my Kernel!
*** *** ***
“What is it?” I ask. Jasmine sat in the stairs of the porch.
“Why do you hate me so much? I just wanted to talk about the incident earlier.” Incident?
“What incident?” Jasmine stared at me like I just said the corniest joke.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Can’t believe this.” She said and lets out a sigh.
What incident was she- Oh, wait… ah yeah. I remembered. Was she talking about Julius and Kernel almost getting caught up in an accident?
“Was it Julius and Kernel almost-”
“Yes.”
“Getting caught up in an accident, you should let me finish!” I protested.
“What are you a kid?” Just so you know I’m older than you girl.
There was silence. I stared at how Jasmine continuously lets out a sigh. Wait, was she worried? Damn it, of course she is! Stupid brain. She’s worried about Julius. That it might be because of the curse. But they said only the eldest dies.
“Wait, are you worried that the curse might kill Julius?” I said as I sat next to her.
No answer. Nice talking to me, hooray.
“But you two said only the eldest dies. Julius isn’t the eldest.”
“But only the girls survives.” Jasmine said almost like a whisper.
“No, I don’t think so. Why won’t we ask now your Granny about that? That’s the reason why we’re here right?” I suggested.
Jasmine lets out another sigh, “I don’t know, maybe. I’m just scared that it might be true. I don’t want to lose another brother.”
