Fire & Flame

Chapter 5 : Surprise Gift

“What do you mean? Do you want to be annoyed by those police officers?”

Rachel raised her eyebrows, but did not answer him. Instead, she pulled out an envelope from her pocket and passed it to Konnor. He took the envelope cautiously, as if it were a bomb that can explode any moment.

“What’s this?”

Rachel nudged him. “Open it.”

Gently, Konnor opened the envelope. Due to it being in Rachel’s pocket for a long time, there were a lot of creases on the envelope. As soon as he opens it, he spots a pale pink card, with the words, ‘You’re Invited!’

“A birthday party? Really, Rachel?”

“What the- Read the card’s content first, dumbass.”

Konnor gave her the stink eye and simultaneously, flipped the card open.

We’re Getting Engaged! Please join us to celebrate our engagement. Details of the engagement party have been listed behind this card. Remember to confirm your attendance with us beforehand!

Love,

Adelric Sander & Rachel Marita

Konnor stared at the card without blinking. Slowly, he placed his hand over his wide-opened mouth and froze. What in the world-

“Rachel, you’re getting engaged? Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?” Konnor asks as he rubs his eyes continuously.

“No, Konnor. My doppelganger is.”

Konnor stares at Rachel. “Holy guacamole, my sister is getting engaged!?”

“Why is that so difficult for you to comprehend?” Rachel scoffs.

“Since when did you get yourself a boyfriend? And from this bastard’s name, I can tell he’s not a local.”

“Hey! Don’t call him a bastard. If anyone’s a bastard, you are! Don’t think I forgive you for abandoning me to fend for myself.”

“Not the point, Rachel.”

Rachel groans. “Why does it matter when I got myself a boyfriend? I’m getting engaged anyways.”

“It matters because I need to make sure you weren’t forced into this!”

“Stop trying to be the better person here.”

“Well, if you’re here to give me this, then I believe I have all the rights to know. Most importantly, I am your family.”

Rachel bit her inner cheeks. She is feeling a tad bit of frustration with her brother’s behaviour. Not to mention, the surrounding heat is causing her to melt. A typical summer day here shouldn’t be this hot, but it seems like the Gods are making it hard for her to have a simple conversation with her brother. However, she didn’t want to argue with her brother. So, she took a few deep breaths until her anger dissipated a bit.

“I met him even before that incident happened.”

“Now that’s great. Drop more bombs. What’s next? You’ve met aliens? Made a secret handshake with them? Learn all the secrets of the universe?”

“Konnor, I’m being serious.”

“I am too. How dare you not introduce him to me 2 years ago! We are twins, Rachel. We’re supposed to be inseparable. I told you everything happening in my life, and you just kept such a big event from me?”

“I wanted to tell you okay! I really did! I had everything planned out, the dinner, the official meeting, but that happened. And after the incident, you disappeared without a trace,” Rachel huffed.

Konnor’s eyes narrowed. Oh, so now it’s my fault-

Then, it dawned upon him. He recalls his mother telling him about the dinner and how important it is. His father also mentioned something about a surprise, but at that time, Konnor was too busy with his responsibilities as a corporate worker. He merely agreed to his parents to be there, but wasn’t planning to show up. After all, he was new to the working environment and should be working three times harder than everyone else if he wanted to succeed. His luck is incredibly great, but his father always told him that hard work is most of life. The harder he works, the better the outcome.

At least in the past.

“I- I’m so sorry, Rachel. I-”

“Save it, Konnor. Your sorry will not turn back time. Our relationship is no longer like last time, but I really wish you can be there with me during my special day.”

Konnor felt a pang in his chest. He made his sister mad.

“Will you at least tell me, where and how did you meet him? It's not too much of a problem to understand your dating history, right?”

“Remember I was working part time in an art studio? He is the owner’s son. Spilled paint on him on my first day, and that memory has been stuck with me ever since. Not going to lie, he was pretty furious. But he fell for me. Hard. ”

Konnor laughs. “Typical you. Clumsy as always.”

“You do realise you and I share the same genes, right? Calling me a klutz is equivalent to calling you one.”

Konnor flipped her off. “Shut up, Rachel.”

“No.”

Rachel grins. She glanced at her teal watch. Although it seemed a bit old and definitely does not belong to the current trend, it was one of her father’s treasured watches. So, she treasures it like her own child.

Perhaps, this watch is the only thing that keeps her memory of her father alive.

“I need to go. Alderic and I have to make final arrangements for the party in two days. I really hope it will be perfect.” Rachel stands up and dusts herself.

Konnor smoothens the creases on the envelope gently using his thumb. His eyebrows furrowed, seemingly thinking hard. He wasn’t sure whether or not he should attend the party. He is being chased more frequently nowadays, will attending the party jeopardise his sister’s life in the future? But Rachel made it clear that she wanted him to be there.

“I’ll try my best to be there, Rachel.”

Rachel snorts. “Try your best? It’s compulsory! I already told Alderic that you’ll be attending, so if you bail on me, I will kill you for real.”