Chapter 2: Sister

Days had passed and   I can see that Chelsea is trying to make efforts to get closer to me. I was usually polite and trying my best to hang around with her sometimes.  She smiles a lot and was sweet as well.  I can see he brings too much happiness to my dad so who am I to refuse her efforts to get close to me.   Though I never seen him treated my mom endearingly that way, I tried to be okay with it as I gradually begin to get the answers to all of these questions.  The way he looked at her and the way his face lighting up in merriment, I can see the intense admiration and deep love reflects in it.  His actions show how much she loves Chelsea, I can't help to feel sad and bitter for my mom. Sometimes I wanted him if he ever did love Mom?

I coped up with Chelsea's presence and intervention in the house. I used to somehow get along with her. She was kind and sweet but occasionally strict. I knew it is bad to compare the woman to my mom, but they have big difference in a lot of things.  Chelsea was impeccably fashionable, favoring designer labels and luxury goods. She loves expensive things like jewelry and well-known branded bags while my mom, although stylish, valued simplicity. She doesn't like spending too much on expensive stuff because simple things make her happy. Chelsea is a bit arrogant and hostile to the servants while my mom treated the maids with generosity reason why she was loved by them. Chelsea maybe sweet and kind but only to me and Dad. I couldn't help to think sometimes if the treatment she was showing to me was true or just pretensions.

One afternoon when Dad and Chelsea came home together with a girl taller and somewhat a couple of years older than me. They arrived bringing a lot of shopping bags from an expensive brand then the maids brought them upstairs where the guest rooms are located.

"Gav, sweetheart. I want you to meet Leanna. She'll be your sister from now on." my eyes automatically flew to the girl the moment I heard what my dad said. 

The girl is skinny and has a fair complexion that matches her height. She has round blue eyes and a curly blonde hair like Goldie Lock's.  I met her curious eyes, a wide smile automatically plastered on her naturally pink lips.

"She was Chelsea's daughter, and she will now live with us. She will be going to occupy the room next to yours from now on." Dad gave me a worried look as if he was thinking I wouldn't like her. I responded a warm smile giving him assurance that It's okay with me.

 A new sister? I think that's awesome!!!

"I want you to remember darling that you will always gonna be our baby so don't you ever think that we will love you less, now that Leanna was here okay?" Chelsea emotionally stated then caresses my hair. 

I couldn't understand but Chelsea's reaction seemed.... unreal. I suddenly felt irritated on that remark. Did she think of me that way? A selfish girl who wanted all the attention? That I wouldn't understand the situation and get upset because I want all their attention to be mine? Well, my stepmother must have thought the worst of me, I guess.

"Leanna was 2 years older than you and I want you to treat her as your big sister." Dad explained then gently turned to Leanna.

" And I want you to treat me as your dad like how Gav treats your mom as hers. We are now family, so I want you to get along and treat each other like sisters, understand girls?"

"Yes, Daddy!" The girl excitedly replied

Seeing her excitement, I felt a surge of happiness too. I was so lost for words and overwhelmed by too much joy.  As an only child, I'd always longed for a sibling.  Specifically, a little sister or brother, but a big sister wasn't so bad after all.  I'd welcome Leanna with open arms.

"You must be Gavriella. Oh my! You look so pretty. I'll be your big sis from now on. Are you cool with that?" the girl sweetly stated that warmed my heart. 

"Nice to meet you," I came closer to her and gently hugged her as a welcome.

"Thank you, sweetheart " Dad said, his voice filled with relief and gratitude.

As days go by, Leanna and I got along with each other. We used to bathe in the tub and swim in the pool together. Leanna was chic and very conscious of herself while I on the other hand likes sports especially playing badminton and volleyball. I love watching sports channels while she preferred to watch drama movies and fantasy series. She loved make-up and hair styling, and I often helped her fix her hair.  Although it seems like we were different poles, we manage to still to get along with each other despite those differences. Well, that's what I thought on my part. There are times I wanted to do some things and Leanna was not interested, I notices she gratifies my will just to make me happy. She's nice and I'm glad for having a stepsister like her. I just hoped she never change in the future.

*  *  *

It was a weekend when the family decided to go camping. We hiked up a steep part of the mountain and set up our tents. The view from there was amazing.  I had fun skipping stones in a creek and even rode a canoe across a lake. Dad said the view from the other side was even more spectacular and that's where we should set up our tent. Camping for the first time was fun, I never thought that I will really enjoy it. 

After setting up the tent, we started a water balloon fight. Chelsea and Leanna joined us, so it became more fun. We end up bathing at the lake then played volleyball in the water until noontime. At night we had barbeque and s'mores for dinner. It was a fun experience, and I realized dad might be right that having Chelsea and Leanna in our family will somehow help us to cope up for the loss of my mom.

I requested to share the tent with Leanna and Dad immediately obliged as if he was happy, we are getting along with each other. I planned to have chit chats with her until we fell asleep because it was nice and really fun to be with.

"It's fun camping right?" I asked her while we prepare our sleeping cot.

"No, sorry. I don't like camping. To tell you honestly, I don't really enjoy this activity." she confessed, her voice flat. I wonder why because she seems happy a while ago when Dad and Chelsea were around.

"It's my first time camping and I like it." I managed to reply.

"Seriously? You've never been camping before, not even on a school trip?" I'm not sure but I felt hint of sarcasm edged her tone.

"Mom needed me," I explained. "With her illness, I couldn't leave her." Leanna fell silent, her gaze distant.

"What are you thinking?" I bother to ask her.

"Nothing." She mumbled, shrugging. 

"Why do you hate camping? This is fun for me?"

"I don't like sleeping in a cot. Who knows some insects will bite us here? And I hate the idea of sleeping in a grassland or soil area," she grumbled as her face shows irritation.  

My brow furrowed. That is not what it looked like to me when the adults were around.  Wait, is she somewhat pretending that she was having fun just not to disappoint them? Then I realized that there are a lot of times that she gratifies my will and favored me in so many ways. I am also aware that she always wanted to please me, and I appreciate it. I know even real sisters have different preferences so that's completely okay with me. I wanted us to be comfortable with each other and I will never hold a grudge on her if she ever disappoints or unintentionally hurt my feelings by her choice of words. Thats what sisters should be, respecting each other's decisions and accepting whatever each other's likes and dislikes. 

"So, you don't enjoy hiking or camping?" I asked.

"It's tiring hiking on a mountain. I don't like walking on muddy ground and getting my feet dirty. I'm sorry but I don't enjoy such activity. I hope I didn't disappoint you for not liking what you like," she said with an obviously worried look on her face.

"Oh no, that's okay. " I reassured her.

"You prefer a beach vacation on a weekend, right?"

"Yeah, I like sunbathing, wearing a bikini instead of this camping attire. I would love to a more convenient, classy, and comfy resort than bring a heavy backpack, walk on steep ground, and camp in a steep mountain."

"I love the beach too." Of course, who doesn't love the beach? I love snorkeling, to try to ride a jet ski, build sandcastles, and even try surfing and scuba diving too.

"See what I mean?"

"The view of sunset on the beach is what I love but the view of a sunrise in a mountain was amazing too." I added.

I noticed her wince as if she wasn't interested in what I just said. What I was trying to let her know is I was up to the beautiful view not about the comfort and luxury of the place will give me. That I was up with the fun activities not to enjoy the luxury amenities of a resort for whims and caprices. But of course, I would not dare tell her that, it will disappoint her for sure, so I just managed to be silent. I noticed she wants to sleep and chose not to continue our conversation anymore. I then decided not to push it through. As she settled down to sleep, I closed my eyes, too.